In Matthew 13:44,45 Jesus gives some parables about the kingdom of Heaven;
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
These seem like two very simple parables that when we read them, we say "yeah, I get it, the Kingdom of heaven is worth everything". But do we really understand?
In the both parables, after finding the treasure and the pearl the man and merchant hid them again after he found them. Both knew that what they found was so valuable that the treasure and the pearl just had to be had. But think about the worry that was caused. If they had found them, what made them think that someone else wouldn't find them too? They knew that they must be diligent and hurry to get the money to purchase what they wanted before someone else found them. What a horrible thing it would have been to sell everything you own only to find out that what you so desired was gone. Knowing this risk, these treasures were worth selling out for.
Next, they actually had to not only sell everything they had but they had to get enough money for their possessions that could purchase these treasures. They had to find the right buyer that valued their possessions and had enough money to purchase them. Time was critical but these men couldn't settle for the first offer unless it was generous enough to meet their needs.
Once they found the right buyers, they had to make an offer for their desired treasures. What if the owners wouldn't sell them? They couldn't be concerned with that, they had to trust if they did what they had to, if they sold out, the treasures they so desired would be theirs.
After going through so much to get what they wanted, imagine the great joy and peace that they had when they were able to purchase the field with the treasure and the pearl. It's the same way with the kingdom of Heaven. It's not always easy to attain but if we do everything we have to, it will be ours.
This brings me to the real topic today. So many times, the Gospel of Christ is watered down so we can understand it or accept it. I find this more and more often when it's being presented to youth. So many adults believe that a teenager won't or can't accept Christ on the same terms that an adult can. How sadly mistaken this philosophy is. Teens are rebellious by nature. They don't want to do what is normal. I believe that teens are looking for something to sell out for. I believe that teens can be the most powerful evangelists we could have. Once they find something to sell out for, they have no shame or fear to try to get others on their bandwagon.
I believe we don't need to water down the gospel when trying to "convince" our teens to be Christians. I don't think we need to convince them of anything. I believe the best way to share the gospel with a teen is to show them these parables, present the gospel, and let them know that the gospel is worth selling out for. As a matter of fact, if you don't sell out you will probably come up short and miss out on the treasure altogether.
Jesus is worth selling out for. Have you sold out? Would you risk everything for your salvation? More than that, would you sell everything for your relationship with Jesus? Think about these things.
I love you and God does too!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Living with the effects of sin
Romans 8:1 says that there is no condemnation for those that are in Christ because we are set free by God (paraphrased). I don't know about you but I've done things that even though I knew I had been forgiven, I still felt condemnation sometimes. There are a couple of things that I want to touch on briefly that I hope will help someone.
First, if you don't want the condemnation, you can't stop at Rom 8:1. You have to get to Romans 8:5 that says "...but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." As you grow in Christ, you have to realize that you no longer have any rights or ownership of property. When you mature in Christ, you know that everything we have belongs to Him and you no longer have personal rights because you are a slave to Him. To grow into that realization you must have your mind not only on God (the Spirit in v.5) but you will also have your mind fixed on what He wants. When we do this, the condemnation must go away because God has forgiven us, so we don't have the right to feel condemned by sin even though He has forgiven us for it.
Second, let's face it, once you have committed a sin it doesn't go away. I can be forgiven for murder till the cows come home but that won't bring back the person that I killed. I know that is an extreme example but the same holds true for all sin. Sin has an effect. Whether it is lying, stealing, murder, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, or jealousy, there is always a scar left behind by sin. David said my sin is against you and you alone (Psalm 51:4), so why is it that someone else felt the pain of my sin? That's what I mean when I say that sin has an effect. I guess what I'm trying to say is that even though we are forgiven of our sins as soon as we ask for forgiveness and repent (turn away from), we still must live down the effects of my sin.
If I steal from my boss, God will forgive me but I will probably still get fired. If I shoplift from Wal-Mart God will forgive me but I will still go to jail for shoplifting. If I lie to my friend God will forgive me but it will be a while before my friend trusts me. Where the devil tries to steal our joy and victory is when he tries to convince us that this act of living down the effect of our sin is condemnation. If he can do that then he can then begin deceiving you that either A) the bible was wrong, there is condemnation in Christ or B) you really aren't forgiven.
Now comes the hard part; the people that feel the effects of our sin the most (or the one's we have hurt), tend to remind us about our sin even after they have forgiven us. Ouch! It can really be hard when other people are effected by our sin because people are the best tools that the devil has to steal our victory and create strongholds. For that matter, let an old-fashioned church find out about your sin. You'll never get away from the looks of contempt, you'll never forget your sin. People are cruel and they forget that they have been forgiven and, like you, they aren't perfect either.
I know I could talk for days about this topic but I shouldn't so I'm gonna sum it up like this; if you have been forgiven you are not condemned. Others will remind you of your sin but don't let that steal your victory. Sometimes you just have to grin and bear it. Help others get past your sin by proving to them that you are worthy of their forgiveness by being Godly.
Let me know if you have an opinion on this or if you would like me to go deeper.
God loves you and I do too!
First, if you don't want the condemnation, you can't stop at Rom 8:1. You have to get to Romans 8:5 that says "...but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." As you grow in Christ, you have to realize that you no longer have any rights or ownership of property. When you mature in Christ, you know that everything we have belongs to Him and you no longer have personal rights because you are a slave to Him. To grow into that realization you must have your mind not only on God (the Spirit in v.5) but you will also have your mind fixed on what He wants. When we do this, the condemnation must go away because God has forgiven us, so we don't have the right to feel condemned by sin even though He has forgiven us for it.
Second, let's face it, once you have committed a sin it doesn't go away. I can be forgiven for murder till the cows come home but that won't bring back the person that I killed. I know that is an extreme example but the same holds true for all sin. Sin has an effect. Whether it is lying, stealing, murder, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, or jealousy, there is always a scar left behind by sin. David said my sin is against you and you alone (Psalm 51:4), so why is it that someone else felt the pain of my sin? That's what I mean when I say that sin has an effect. I guess what I'm trying to say is that even though we are forgiven of our sins as soon as we ask for forgiveness and repent (turn away from), we still must live down the effects of my sin.
If I steal from my boss, God will forgive me but I will probably still get fired. If I shoplift from Wal-Mart God will forgive me but I will still go to jail for shoplifting. If I lie to my friend God will forgive me but it will be a while before my friend trusts me. Where the devil tries to steal our joy and victory is when he tries to convince us that this act of living down the effect of our sin is condemnation. If he can do that then he can then begin deceiving you that either A) the bible was wrong, there is condemnation in Christ or B) you really aren't forgiven.
Now comes the hard part; the people that feel the effects of our sin the most (or the one's we have hurt), tend to remind us about our sin even after they have forgiven us. Ouch! It can really be hard when other people are effected by our sin because people are the best tools that the devil has to steal our victory and create strongholds. For that matter, let an old-fashioned church find out about your sin. You'll never get away from the looks of contempt, you'll never forget your sin. People are cruel and they forget that they have been forgiven and, like you, they aren't perfect either.
I know I could talk for days about this topic but I shouldn't so I'm gonna sum it up like this; if you have been forgiven you are not condemned. Others will remind you of your sin but don't let that steal your victory. Sometimes you just have to grin and bear it. Help others get past your sin by proving to them that you are worthy of their forgiveness by being Godly.
Let me know if you have an opinion on this or if you would like me to go deeper.
God loves you and I do too!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Send me a donkey Lord!
I've got a situation that came up today that has the potential for some serious change in my life. Whether it is good or bad remains to be seen but to be quite honest, I'm worried to death about it. That reminded me of a story I heard on K-Love the other day.
A woman takes her kids to the movies but the theater is empty. After a few minutes one of the workers tells her that there is a problem with the projector and the movie should start in 10 minutes. The woman's two kids are pretty pumped up about the movie but they wait patiently. After about 20 minutes the worker comes back and tells them they can't get the projector fixed so they are sending them to a different theater to see the same movie. With this news, the youngest of the boys pitches an outrageous fit. He begins to scream and cry and tells his mom "NO" he wants to see the movie where he is because that is where the movie is supposed to be. He then asks why she brought him here just so they can't see the movie. She tries to talk some sense into him but he won't hear of it. She then drags the boy, kicking and screaming to the other theater to see the same movie. When they get there, the movie screen was bigger, the seating was more comfortable, and when the young boy gathered himself he saw that they were actually in a better place. Once the movie started, the mother asked him if he felt silly about the way he acted. He just said no and then he said he wouldn't have acted that way if she would have just told him it was going to be better.
Isn't that the way we are sometimes with God? Maybe I'm the only one that doesn't like change but I have to admit that, against my better judgement, I sometimes ask God why. Sometimes God has to shut one door just so we are forced to walk through the door he has opened for us. I wish I could tell you that I'm super-spiritual and can see with God's eyes 24x7 but the truth is, I generally see with God's eyes only when it is convenient for me.
In most of my posts, I tend to extend a challenge to the readers but today my challenge is for me as well. Have faith! Sometimes we have to have blind faith, not knowing what lies ahead. God doesn't always send a talking donkey like he did to Balaam. God was steering Balaam one way, by way of the donkey, but Balaam wanted to go another. After trying three times, the donkey finally had to talk to Balaam (Numbers 22:21-34).
Right now, I feel like screaming "SEND ME A DONKEY LORD" but what he really wants me to do is listen to his voice so that I won't need a donkey. I encourage you today (and me too) to listen to God's voice and have faith that he will guide your steps. Let's pray that we only go through the doors that he wants us to and that we don't try to open the doors that He has shut.
God loves you and I do too!
A woman takes her kids to the movies but the theater is empty. After a few minutes one of the workers tells her that there is a problem with the projector and the movie should start in 10 minutes. The woman's two kids are pretty pumped up about the movie but they wait patiently. After about 20 minutes the worker comes back and tells them they can't get the projector fixed so they are sending them to a different theater to see the same movie. With this news, the youngest of the boys pitches an outrageous fit. He begins to scream and cry and tells his mom "NO" he wants to see the movie where he is because that is where the movie is supposed to be. He then asks why she brought him here just so they can't see the movie. She tries to talk some sense into him but he won't hear of it. She then drags the boy, kicking and screaming to the other theater to see the same movie. When they get there, the movie screen was bigger, the seating was more comfortable, and when the young boy gathered himself he saw that they were actually in a better place. Once the movie started, the mother asked him if he felt silly about the way he acted. He just said no and then he said he wouldn't have acted that way if she would have just told him it was going to be better.
Isn't that the way we are sometimes with God? Maybe I'm the only one that doesn't like change but I have to admit that, against my better judgement, I sometimes ask God why. Sometimes God has to shut one door just so we are forced to walk through the door he has opened for us. I wish I could tell you that I'm super-spiritual and can see with God's eyes 24x7 but the truth is, I generally see with God's eyes only when it is convenient for me.
In most of my posts, I tend to extend a challenge to the readers but today my challenge is for me as well. Have faith! Sometimes we have to have blind faith, not knowing what lies ahead. God doesn't always send a talking donkey like he did to Balaam. God was steering Balaam one way, by way of the donkey, but Balaam wanted to go another. After trying three times, the donkey finally had to talk to Balaam (Numbers 22:21-34).
Right now, I feel like screaming "SEND ME A DONKEY LORD" but what he really wants me to do is listen to his voice so that I won't need a donkey. I encourage you today (and me too) to listen to God's voice and have faith that he will guide your steps. Let's pray that we only go through the doors that he wants us to and that we don't try to open the doors that He has shut.
God loves you and I do too!
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