How can you have more life? I don't mean to ask, how can you live longer. But how can you have more life from God? Look at 1 Thessalonians four verse three and then verse seven. "It is God's will that you should be sanctified..." and "God did not call us to be impure..." Paul goes on in the next paragraph to stress that we should grow in love for brothers and sisters more and more. Finally in the next paragraph, he stresses that we should work with out hands and abilities so that we are not dependent on anybody. You can grow in purity, in love and in the work and service you give with your hands.
Jesus said in John chapter ten, that he came to give us life, abundant life, life to the full. When you were saved, you were given new life. But what if there is more life to receive from God! As I grow in the Lord, as he sanctifies my heart, mind, emotions and responses, I gain more life! As I grow in love for people, in purity of heart and willingness to serve, I gain more life. As I work with my hands and talents, I am not dependent on others, the government, my church, my family, I gain more life!
I recently did a funeral for a wonderful believer. The family asked me to read from her journal. I found a 20 year old entry titled, "Things I am Thankful For." This dear saint wrote this at seventy-two years of age. Item one said, "I am thankful for my job so that I am not dependent on anybody." She nearly quotes the scripture in her thanks. She was living a full life!
I encourage you today from Hebrews twelve, "...throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." As a follower and believer in Jesus, you have life, but there is more to have as we walk closer to him.
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
What I am Reading
My sister texted me and my brother. She and her husband are planting a church in Oneonta, NY. My brother is a campus/teaching/worship pastor at a church in Iowa. My sister started a conversation about some things that she is reading that she wanted to share with us. It was a really great conversation.
Usually, I feel like a real bum when someone asks what I am reading. Most successful pastors can always tell you what they are reading. That question usually makes my mind go blank and I cannot remember what I am even reading at the time. I usually assume that others read so much more than me. I am a slow reader. Today I realized that maybe I am not such a bum. I am actually reading a ton when you consider what I have been reading to be prepared to preach. So, here is what I have been reading.
One, I just finished Born Again by Chuck Colson. Lance Langenberg loaned it to me.
Two, for fun I am reading The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gains
Three, for Wednesday Bible study I am in the middle of reading three commentaries on 1 Corinthians. Authors are Hammar, then Fee, then The Complete Biblical Library.
Four, for my small group on Friday nights I am on chapter seven of a commentary on the book of Isaiah. It is a volume also from, The Complete Biblical Library.
Five, I am slowly reading through a book on church health from a Baptist Pastor in Washington D.C.
Lastly, I am reading through my Bible in a year as I do every year. It is a Bile reading plan on YouVersion called Eat This Book.
After the conversation with my brother and sister, I think I have all the rest of the books that I could possibly read this year!
Usually, I feel like a real bum when someone asks what I am reading. Most successful pastors can always tell you what they are reading. That question usually makes my mind go blank and I cannot remember what I am even reading at the time. I usually assume that others read so much more than me. I am a slow reader. Today I realized that maybe I am not such a bum. I am actually reading a ton when you consider what I have been reading to be prepared to preach. So, here is what I have been reading.
One, I just finished Born Again by Chuck Colson. Lance Langenberg loaned it to me.
Two, for fun I am reading The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gains
Three, for Wednesday Bible study I am in the middle of reading three commentaries on 1 Corinthians. Authors are Hammar, then Fee, then The Complete Biblical Library.
Four, for my small group on Friday nights I am on chapter seven of a commentary on the book of Isaiah. It is a volume also from, The Complete Biblical Library.
Five, I am slowly reading through a book on church health from a Baptist Pastor in Washington D.C.
Lastly, I am reading through my Bible in a year as I do every year. It is a Bile reading plan on YouVersion called Eat This Book.
After the conversation with my brother and sister, I think I have all the rest of the books that I could possibly read this year!
Monday, February 6, 2017
Make Questionable Investments
Think about the inner circle of disciples that Jesus kept close to him. These three disciples seemed to have a little greater investment from Jesus. These were invited to special moments in Jesus life. They were invited to an inner room to see a girl raised to life, invited to the mount of transfiguration and invited to a closer location to Jesus at Gethsemane to name a few.
Peter:
Very active in the book of Acts.
A leader in the early church.
Assisted Mark in his gospel.
Wrote two epistles.
John:
The disciple Jesus loved.
Active in the book of Acts.
Wrote one gospel, three epistles and Revelation.
James:
Listed as a disciple in Acts 1.
Killed by Herod in Acts 12.
If Jesus knew James' end, why did he invest so much in a disciple who would be martyred so early in the spreading of the church and is not mentioned often? What was God's plan for James? What kinds of things did he accomplish in the life of his brother John that we can only infer? What was the purpose of his close connection to Jesus in the inner circle of the twelve if his life was snuffed out in a surprisingly premature way. We may never know this side of heaven.
When I find a nugget like this in the Bible, I always ask, "How do I apply the principals of this situation in the Bible to my life?" Here are some possible answers. One, investment in people is not based on what they will produce later. People matter, because people matter. Two, investment in people has a depth factor that may not be noticed in the big public events and news items. Depth of impact and affect matters. Three, there are a lot of people in your life that need your investment regardless of their potential to produce statistically noticeable fruit. Four, invest in people because the Father leads you to do it. Leave all the results up to God and know that you obeyed his call to serve. Only God knows the depth of impact you will make, and you will not face the future regret of "what if I had done something?" Someone will always question the wisdom of your investment when it does not produce according to their assumptions. Lastly, Always learn from the examples of how Jesus made disciples.
Peter:
Very active in the book of Acts.
A leader in the early church.
Assisted Mark in his gospel.
Wrote two epistles.
John:
The disciple Jesus loved.
Active in the book of Acts.
Wrote one gospel, three epistles and Revelation.
James:
Listed as a disciple in Acts 1.
Killed by Herod in Acts 12.
If Jesus knew James' end, why did he invest so much in a disciple who would be martyred so early in the spreading of the church and is not mentioned often? What was God's plan for James? What kinds of things did he accomplish in the life of his brother John that we can only infer? What was the purpose of his close connection to Jesus in the inner circle of the twelve if his life was snuffed out in a surprisingly premature way. We may never know this side of heaven.
When I find a nugget like this in the Bible, I always ask, "How do I apply the principals of this situation in the Bible to my life?" Here are some possible answers. One, investment in people is not based on what they will produce later. People matter, because people matter. Two, investment in people has a depth factor that may not be noticed in the big public events and news items. Depth of impact and affect matters. Three, there are a lot of people in your life that need your investment regardless of their potential to produce statistically noticeable fruit. Four, invest in people because the Father leads you to do it. Leave all the results up to God and know that you obeyed his call to serve. Only God knows the depth of impact you will make, and you will not face the future regret of "what if I had done something?" Someone will always question the wisdom of your investment when it does not produce according to their assumptions. Lastly, Always learn from the examples of how Jesus made disciples.
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