Today's Bible studying really got me thinking about what it means to have real faith in God. Matthew 17:20 Jesus said "...if you have faith...you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible."
Real faith says that I can speak to a mountain, tell it to move, and it will move. Jesus is trying to tell us that real faith produces real results in our life. I believe Jesus is disappointed when our faith produces nothing (Vs. 17). Our faith in God should become something tangible that can be seen. Faith in God is more than just a faith in some mystical force. Faith in God has to play itself out in our life and become something real and tangible.
I was reading in Genesis 24 about Abraham and his servant. Abraham sent his servant back to his father's land to find a wife for Isaac. Abraham's servant found Isaac's wife because his faith in God became a reality in his life. He prayed to God for guidance and direction. God lead him every step of the way. Rebekah came out to the well and as they say "the rest is history". Abraham's servant could have tried many different ways to find a wife for his master's son. But, his choice was to pray and have faith that God would move on his behalf. Listen, we can choose to try to tackle our life problems in our own ways and our strength. Or, we can choose to put this faith we claim to have in God into action. When we try to live out our faith and make it more than just a belief, but instead make it a reality, God will move in a real way in our life. Maybe God doesn't show up in our life like we want Him to because we fail to put a real faith and trust in Him?
Lord, help me to have a real faith. I want to live out my faith in my real life circumstances so I can see you move in a real way. Help me to make my faith a reality so you I can see tangible results in my life. I want to personally experience that "Nothing is impossible". Nothing!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
The greatest treasure
In my studies today I have been reading in Job, specifically chapters 28-29. I really feel like God is trying to teach me what the greatest treasure on earth is. In Vs. 12 Job asks "But where can wisdom be found?"
Job begins to break down just how valuable wisdom really is. He starts describing how it is more valuable than all the precious metals and jewels the earth has to offer. Job describes how there is nothing that can even compare to the value that true wisdom offers to our life. If it cannot be purchased with gold and no precious jewel can compare to it, than it must be a valuable thing we need. So how do we find it? In Vs. 23 he answers his question, "God understands the way to it (wisdom) and he alone knows where it dwells." God is kind enough to tell us how exactly we find it. Vs. 28 reveals to us how we find wisdom, "And he (God) said to man, 'The fear of the Lord - that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.'"
Do I value true wisdom like Job described? If having a relationship with God and staying away from any sin that may destroy that relationship is this great wisdom, than do I treasure it like I should? I think at times we don't treasure our relationship with God as the greatest treasure we could ever gain on earth. We treat material possessions that way. We treat our jobs that way. We even treat our families like they are the greatest possession we could have. Now is the time for us realize and live this truth - One day when we stand before God we will fully understand the great value of serving God and shunning all that is evil. All other earthly treasures will fade away and all we will be left with are the treasures we have stored up in Heaven. That is truly the greatest piece of wisdom anyone can attain on this side of eternity.
Father, help me to treasure you above anything else this world has to offer. I want my life to be a reflection of the reality that you are the greatest treasure I could ever find. Help me to live that out by remaining your humble follower and servant, and by avoiding the evil pleasures this world tries to entice me with. May I treasure your truth and wisdom above all else.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Get out what you put in...
Today I was reading in Matthew 12. The second half of verse 34-35 really stuck out to me today. It says, "...For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him."
The heart Jesus is talking about isn't the organ in our chest that is pumping blood. In the Bible the heart is referring to our intellect (knowledge), our emotions, and our will (decisions). The Pharisees struggled to recognize the work of God Jesus was doing because they had filled their hearts with themselves and not with God. Their knowledge, feelings, and decisions were about fulfilling selfish desires and not about truly pleasing God. They should have been rejoicing that Jesus set a demon possessed man free, not condemning or accusing him. Their words revealed their true heart.
When it comes to our relationship with God, you get out what you put in. If you are struggling in your relationship with God or struggling with sin, than what are you putting into your life? What knowledge are you filling your life with? Is it the Word of God or things from the world? What are you allowing to appeal to your emotions? Is it time in prayer with God, or is it personal pleasures and selfish desires? Are the decisions you make for your life based of what God desires of you, or what you desire for yourself? Remember, you get out of your relationship with God what you put into your relationship with God. I need more of God in my life, so I need to put more of God into my heart! When people look at my life, my words and actions, do they see the goodness of God or the evil of this world? What about you?
Father, help me fill my life with you. Help me to put you first and foremost in my life. Show me areas of my life where I am struggling. Reveal to me things I need to remove so I can put more of you into my life. I don't want to be a wellspring of this world. I want to be a spring of life. I want You to be what flows out of my life.
The heart Jesus is talking about isn't the organ in our chest that is pumping blood. In the Bible the heart is referring to our intellect (knowledge), our emotions, and our will (decisions). The Pharisees struggled to recognize the work of God Jesus was doing because they had filled their hearts with themselves and not with God. Their knowledge, feelings, and decisions were about fulfilling selfish desires and not about truly pleasing God. They should have been rejoicing that Jesus set a demon possessed man free, not condemning or accusing him. Their words revealed their true heart.
When it comes to our relationship with God, you get out what you put in. If you are struggling in your relationship with God or struggling with sin, than what are you putting into your life? What knowledge are you filling your life with? Is it the Word of God or things from the world? What are you allowing to appeal to your emotions? Is it time in prayer with God, or is it personal pleasures and selfish desires? Are the decisions you make for your life based of what God desires of you, or what you desire for yourself? Remember, you get out of your relationship with God what you put into your relationship with God. I need more of God in my life, so I need to put more of God into my heart! When people look at my life, my words and actions, do they see the goodness of God or the evil of this world? What about you?
Father, help me fill my life with you. Help me to put you first and foremost in my life. Show me areas of my life where I am struggling. Reveal to me things I need to remove so I can put more of you into my life. I don't want to be a wellspring of this world. I want to be a spring of life. I want You to be what flows out of my life.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Unswayable character
I was readying in Matthew 11 today about John the Baptist. His life is a great testimony to us today. I think we can learn a lot from him.
As you read about John you can learn about why he was in jail. He was one of the few if not the only voice who was directly confronting the sin of the ruler Herod. In Matthew 11:7 Jesus is says this about John, "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?" Herod was involved in an inappropriate relationship with his brother's wife. John was unashamed to confront sin with the truth of God's Word. It cost him his freedom as he was thrown into jail. As you read in Matthew 14 ultimately, it cost him his life because Herod had John beheaded.
We face this challenge still today. We have to find a way to reach this world that is lost and dying without Christ. We as the church must be relevant and present the Gospel in a way that it directly impacts this present generation. But, we cannot afford to water down the truth or compromise God's Word in order to accomplish reaching this generation. We will never be truly effective in reaching this world with Christ if we allow society to sway our Godly character. We will be most effective when we remain faithful to God's essential truths. We have to be like John, a reed that is not swayed by the wind of what is socially acceptable or politically correct. We must be relevant and go, but we must remain absolutely anchored to the total truth of God's Word.
Lord, help me to remain faithful to You and your Word. May I never allow myself to compromise your truth to please the crowds. In love, may I make my stand on your truth and in doing so help others make their stand on your absolute truth.
As you read about John you can learn about why he was in jail. He was one of the few if not the only voice who was directly confronting the sin of the ruler Herod. In Matthew 11:7 Jesus is says this about John, "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?" Herod was involved in an inappropriate relationship with his brother's wife. John was unashamed to confront sin with the truth of God's Word. It cost him his freedom as he was thrown into jail. As you read in Matthew 14 ultimately, it cost him his life because Herod had John beheaded.
We face this challenge still today. We have to find a way to reach this world that is lost and dying without Christ. We as the church must be relevant and present the Gospel in a way that it directly impacts this present generation. But, we cannot afford to water down the truth or compromise God's Word in order to accomplish reaching this generation. We will never be truly effective in reaching this world with Christ if we allow society to sway our Godly character. We will be most effective when we remain faithful to God's essential truths. We have to be like John, a reed that is not swayed by the wind of what is socially acceptable or politically correct. We must be relevant and go, but we must remain absolutely anchored to the total truth of God's Word.
Lord, help me to remain faithful to You and your Word. May I never allow myself to compromise your truth to please the crowds. In love, may I make my stand on your truth and in doing so help others make their stand on your absolute truth.
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