Physical skills need to be developed. No matter what the skill, a pianist, a juggler, a basketball player, a singer, all need and become better with practice. If we are going to increase our spiritual qualities we must practice and develop them into what God wants them to be.
Have you ever seen an inactive or barren Christian? I have seen plenty of them. Most of them became that way because they never developed the skill of making their Christian life productive. God wants our lives to produce fruit. If we are going to have fruit that remains we must be developing our lives in such a way that we are able to bear that fruit.
No one becomes a solid, grounded Christian on accident. It must be done on purpose. Become productive. You can do it.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Paul's View on Life
In II Timothy 4 the Apostle Paul, reveals to Timothy that he is coming to the end of his life. In doing so, Paul gives what his view of life had become over the years God granted him life.
The first thing I see is that Paul viewed life as an offering. Not just any offering, but he offered his life for the Lord. What have you offered your life for? Your spouse, your children, your job, your recreation, your church or your Lord? If you have offered you life for anything other than for the Lord, all of those other things mentioned suffer. In order to be the right spouse, parent, worker, or church member, we must first be the right kind of Christian, and that requires offering your entire life to the Lord.
The second thing I see about Paul's view on life, is that he viewed it as a battle. We are not going to have a good battle in this life if we do not take orders from the Commander in Chief, and that's the Lord Jesus Christ. There are a lot of things that can happen during battle and we must be in direct contact with what the Lord wants for our lives.
The third thing I see is that Paul viewed life as a test of Faith. Don't base your faith on others. They will let you down every time. It doesn't matter if it's you own mother or father. They will disappoint you at sometime. Put your faith and trust in the Lord. No matter what happens in this life, keep the faith. Life may test your faith, but you must pass the test.
The first thing I see is that Paul viewed life as an offering. Not just any offering, but he offered his life for the Lord. What have you offered your life for? Your spouse, your children, your job, your recreation, your church or your Lord? If you have offered you life for anything other than for the Lord, all of those other things mentioned suffer. In order to be the right spouse, parent, worker, or church member, we must first be the right kind of Christian, and that requires offering your entire life to the Lord.
The second thing I see about Paul's view on life, is that he viewed it as a battle. We are not going to have a good battle in this life if we do not take orders from the Commander in Chief, and that's the Lord Jesus Christ. There are a lot of things that can happen during battle and we must be in direct contact with what the Lord wants for our lives.
The third thing I see is that Paul viewed life as a test of Faith. Don't base your faith on others. They will let you down every time. It doesn't matter if it's you own mother or father. They will disappoint you at sometime. Put your faith and trust in the Lord. No matter what happens in this life, keep the faith. Life may test your faith, but you must pass the test.
Monday, November 16, 2009
"When God Speaks - Do you listen?"
John 15
Have you ever tried to go an entire day without speaking? I find it near impossible. I like talking so much, I even talk to myself from time to time and have even had disagreements! Speaking is one of the most vital aspects in our lives. Communication is highly important. It's how we express everything. Now while there is verbal communication, there is also non-verbal communication. You know exactly what I'm talking about. When your spouse is across a crowded room and your about to say something very stupid (men, we probably already did) then you get the look. Yes, everyone knows "the look." That is the non-verbal communication.
Have you ever been ignored, or maybe been the one doing the ignoring? Of course you have! We all know what being ignored feels like, yet even so, we still do it to others.
The question today is simply this: When God speaks - do you listen? Does God have your undivided attention? In John 15, Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice". Have you placed your life in a position to hear God's voice? You must be near by in order to hear him. I have found in my life that God often speaks to me in 3 different ways.
Have you ever tried to go an entire day without speaking? I find it near impossible. I like talking so much, I even talk to myself from time to time and have even had disagreements! Speaking is one of the most vital aspects in our lives. Communication is highly important. It's how we express everything. Now while there is verbal communication, there is also non-verbal communication. You know exactly what I'm talking about. When your spouse is across a crowded room and your about to say something very stupid (men, we probably already did) then you get the look. Yes, everyone knows "the look." That is the non-verbal communication.
Have you ever been ignored, or maybe been the one doing the ignoring? Of course you have! We all know what being ignored feels like, yet even so, we still do it to others.
The question today is simply this: When God speaks - do you listen? Does God have your undivided attention? In John 15, Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice". Have you placed your life in a position to hear God's voice? You must be near by in order to hear him. I have found in my life that God often speaks to me in 3 different ways.
- Sometimes He speaks directly - that still small voice. That voice that if I'm not close enough I miss what He's saying.
- Sometimes He sends a messenger - the preacher. I can't even begin to count the times that God has spoken to me through the preaching of His Word.
- Sometimes He sends a Text message - the Bible. Again, to count the times God has given me something just from reading His Word would be a lame attempt.
Notice the similarities between these three ways. We must be in the right position. If we are not walking daily with Him we may miss that still small voice. If we skip church for a ballgame or a family reunion we may miss what God wanted to say to us. If we neglect our Bibles, how can we expect God to speak to us. Stop ignoring what He is trying to say to you. Listen.
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