I've recommended this book before, and I'll do it again. Check our "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. It's an easy read that gets to the heart of real Christianity. Nothing in the book is truly groundbreaking but it can be life-changing.
Chapter 8 is called "Profile of the Obsessed". I want to share with you a couple of the profiles in this chapter.
"People who are obsessed with Jesus give freely and openly, without censure. Obsessed people love those who hate them and who can never love them back."
This is an awesome profile. Obsessed people love those who hate them. I used to believe that loving those who hate you meant to tolerate them. However, love and tolerance aren't the same. Love is so much more than tolerance, we are commanded to love not to tolerate.
Frederick Buechner says in "The Magnificient Defeat" (I'm taking this from "Crazy Love" too) "The world is always bewildered by its saints... love for the enemy... love for the one who does not love you but mocks, threatens and inflicts pain. The tortured's love for the torturer. This is God's love. It conquers the world"
Do you love your enemy?
"A person who is obsessed thinks about heaven frequently. Obsessed people orient their lives around eternity; they are not fixed only on what is here in front of them."
Paul says in Philippians chapter 3, "Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven."
We need to remember where our citizenship lies. We should be as foreign here as a foreign exchange student is here. People should recognize that we aren't from around here; we are just visiting for a short time.
Do you think about heaven?
"People who are obsessed with Jesus do not consider service a burden. Obsessed people take joy in loving God by loving His people."
Chan writes, "I question whether many American churchgoers are really in love with God because they are so hesitant to do anything for Him."
Do you love to serve?
Be a lover of all people, think about heaven, look for ways to joyfully serve and be genuinely obsessed with our Lord Jesus today.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Charlie Sheen vs. the Easter Bunny
I'll take a short break from the reasons Jesus came to die. Today I'm a little upset about how we Christians have let Easter become marginalized.
I speak with a lot of business owners for my job and this Easter season I've heard one thing frequently. Easter really isn't that big of a deal. Now they mean for business. Now, I'm not arguing for the commercialization of Easter. But to most, Easter means maybe going to church, eating lunch or breakfast, looking for Easter eggs, maybe an Easter basket filled with chocolate bunnies and Cadbury Eggs and then nothing more.
Easter is so much more than that. Why have we Christians allowed a tradition like that to be a tradition? I'm not saying the Easter Bunny is evil, I'm saying that it is a ridiculous way to celebrate the greatest event in history.
Easter is not about having a casual day, or about the Easter Bunny, it is, to quote Charlie Sheen, about "winning... duh". You don't have to have tiger blood and adonis D.N.A. to figure that out.
Christians, Easter should be our biggest celebration of the year. Yes, Good Friday can be sad and convicting, but Easter needs to be a party.
Easter is about "winning... duh."
1 Corinthians 15:54-58: "'Death has been swallowed up in victory.' 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
Jesus defeated death, sin and Hell in His resurrection. He won, and He gives us the winnings. All we have to do is accept Him for who He is... the Undefeated Champion of the Universe and Beyond. Jesus on the cross and in the resurrection was "winning... duh."
Celebrate this amazing victory with all your might today.
I speak with a lot of business owners for my job and this Easter season I've heard one thing frequently. Easter really isn't that big of a deal. Now they mean for business. Now, I'm not arguing for the commercialization of Easter. But to most, Easter means maybe going to church, eating lunch or breakfast, looking for Easter eggs, maybe an Easter basket filled with chocolate bunnies and Cadbury Eggs and then nothing more.
Easter is so much more than that. Why have we Christians allowed a tradition like that to be a tradition? I'm not saying the Easter Bunny is evil, I'm saying that it is a ridiculous way to celebrate the greatest event in history.
Easter is not about having a casual day, or about the Easter Bunny, it is, to quote Charlie Sheen, about "winning... duh". You don't have to have tiger blood and adonis D.N.A. to figure that out.
Christians, Easter should be our biggest celebration of the year. Yes, Good Friday can be sad and convicting, but Easter needs to be a party.
Easter is about "winning... duh."
1 Corinthians 15:54-58: "'Death has been swallowed up in victory.' 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
Jesus defeated death, sin and Hell in His resurrection. He won, and He gives us the winnings. All we have to do is accept Him for who He is... the Undefeated Champion of the Universe and Beyond. Jesus on the cross and in the resurrection was "winning... duh."
Celebrate this amazing victory with all your might today.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
More Reasons Jesus Came to Die
I'll continue, in the spirit of Easter, with reasons Jesus came to die according to John Piper and Scripture.
6) Jesus came to die to show His own love for us.
Ephesians 5:25 "Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her."
7) Jesus came to die to cancel the legal demands of the law against us.
Colossians 2:13 "And you, who were dead in your trespasses... God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross."
8) Jesus came to die to become a ransom for many.
Mark 10:45 "The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."
9) Jesus came to die for the forgiveness of our sins.
Matthew 26:28 "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."
10) Jesus came to die to provide the basis for our justification.
Romans 5:9 "We have now been justified by His blood."
Here are more reasons why Jesus came to die. Think about how Jesus was obedient and loving enough to come and die for you, even when He knew what the plan was. Jesus could have ran. He didn't because He loves you.
Feel alive because of the blood of Christ today.
6) Jesus came to die to show His own love for us.
Ephesians 5:25 "Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her."
7) Jesus came to die to cancel the legal demands of the law against us.
Colossians 2:13 "And you, who were dead in your trespasses... God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross."
8) Jesus came to die to become a ransom for many.
Mark 10:45 "The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."
9) Jesus came to die for the forgiveness of our sins.
Matthew 26:28 "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."
10) Jesus came to die to provide the basis for our justification.
Romans 5:9 "We have now been justified by His blood."
Here are more reasons why Jesus came to die. Think about how Jesus was obedient and loving enough to come and die for you, even when He knew what the plan was. Jesus could have ran. He didn't because He loves you.
Feel alive because of the blood of Christ today.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Why Jesus Came to Die
Before I begin to write about why Jesus came to die, I'd like to get some info from Mr/Ms. Anonymous. I've been praying for you and I feel lead to give you something, so if you would write your address as a comment I'll send it to you. Don't worry, I'm not going to go Unibomber on you or send a religious tract or a Bible, It's just that I am supposed to give you something. I'm sure you'll like it, but I'll understand if you don't want to give out your address. And if you get it and don't like it you can send it back.
Okay, so John Piper wrote a book called "Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die". With Easter approaching I think it's fitting to take a look at a few of these reasons.
1) Jesus came to die to absorb the wrath of God.
1 John 4:10 "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
2) Jesus came to die to please His Heavenly Father.
Isaiah 53:10 "Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush Him; He has put Him to grief."
3) Jesus came to die to learn obedience and be perfected.
Hebrews 5:8 "Although He was a son, He learned obedience through what He suffered."
4) Jesus came to die to achieve His own resurrection from the dead.
Hebrews 13:20-21 "Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will."
5) Jesus came to die to show the wealth of God's love and grace for sinners.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."
Here are five of the fifty reasons Piper lists that Jesus came to die. Meditate on them today.
Okay, so John Piper wrote a book called "Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die". With Easter approaching I think it's fitting to take a look at a few of these reasons.
1) Jesus came to die to absorb the wrath of God.
1 John 4:10 "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
2) Jesus came to die to please His Heavenly Father.
Isaiah 53:10 "Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush Him; He has put Him to grief."
3) Jesus came to die to learn obedience and be perfected.
Hebrews 5:8 "Although He was a son, He learned obedience through what He suffered."
4) Jesus came to die to achieve His own resurrection from the dead.
Hebrews 13:20-21 "Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will."
5) Jesus came to die to show the wealth of God's love and grace for sinners.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."
Here are five of the fifty reasons Piper lists that Jesus came to die. Meditate on them today.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Chrieasters
As we approach Easter we need to be in prayer. Much of America can be categorized as "Chrieasters". "Chrieasters"are those folks or families that go to church two times a year, Christmas and Easter.
Going to church or hearing about God and His love two times a year is not enough. But it could be enough for God to change hearts. Pray that all the churches in our nation have God's word to reach the "Chrieasters". Pray that we Christians that have the tendency to have the "been there, done that" mentality with Easter do not get in the way of God's word for our "Chrieaster" friends.
So, be in pray for these services.
Also, what did you learn in your church service or time in the word today?
Going to church or hearing about God and His love two times a year is not enough. But it could be enough for God to change hearts. Pray that all the churches in our nation have God's word to reach the "Chrieasters". Pray that we Christians that have the tendency to have the "been there, done that" mentality with Easter do not get in the way of God's word for our "Chrieaster" friends.
So, be in pray for these services.
Also, what did you learn in your church service or time in the word today?
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Capstone
Psalm 118:22-29
"The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
O Lord, save us;
O Lord, grant us success.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
From the house of the Lord we bless you.
The Lord is God,
and He has made His light shine upon us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
You are my God, and I will exalt You.
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
His love endures forever."
Without Jesus becoming the capstone of the new building, the Church, we have no reason to celebrate as Gentiles. But since Jesus is the capstone of the new building, the Church, we are guaranteed all the promises of the Old Testament that were first given to Israel.
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Be thankful for our great God today.
"The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
O Lord, save us;
O Lord, grant us success.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
From the house of the Lord we bless you.
The Lord is God,
and He has made His light shine upon us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
You are my God, and I will exalt You.
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
His love endures forever."
Without Jesus becoming the capstone of the new building, the Church, we have no reason to celebrate as Gentiles. But since Jesus is the capstone of the new building, the Church, we are guaranteed all the promises of the Old Testament that were first given to Israel.
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Be thankful for our great God today.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Matthew 21:33-46
Take time to read this section of Matthew 21.
Jesus tells the Parable of the Evil Farmers. In the parable Jesus is basically telling those who are plotting to kill Him that He knows exactly what they are up to. Jesus is not going to be surprised by their plot and this made them more determined to kill Him.
So, what does this section of Matthew 21 mean for us? I think the most important part for us is found here:
Verses 42-44, "The stone the builder rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes' Therefore I tell you that the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."
Jesus is the stone the builders rejected that has become the capstone. Jesus was killed, but after His death He was exalted as the capstone. He is the capstone of His Church.
Jesus as the capstone is the Truth. People respond to Truth in really just two ways.
Some people will build on the Truth. These folks are buildibg on a firm foundation and can rely on its strength.
Some people hate the Truth. These folks will be crushed by it. They will be broken to pieces.
We are all given the opportunity to build on the Truth. God's amazing grace gives us this opportunity and if you take it you will be building a home for eternity... no doubt about it. If you reject this opportunity in this life you will be crushed... no doubt about it. God's grace is amazing, but it does have an expiration date; when you expire, so does it.
How have you responded to the Truth? Have you built on it or will you be crushed by it? I pray that you all choose to build on the Truth because it is the only logical option. Why would you want anything else? Begin to build on the Truth or continue to build on the Truth today.
Jesus tells the Parable of the Evil Farmers. In the parable Jesus is basically telling those who are plotting to kill Him that He knows exactly what they are up to. Jesus is not going to be surprised by their plot and this made them more determined to kill Him.
So, what does this section of Matthew 21 mean for us? I think the most important part for us is found here:
Verses 42-44, "The stone the builder rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes' Therefore I tell you that the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."
Jesus is the stone the builders rejected that has become the capstone. Jesus was killed, but after His death He was exalted as the capstone. He is the capstone of His Church.
Jesus as the capstone is the Truth. People respond to Truth in really just two ways.
Some people will build on the Truth. These folks are buildibg on a firm foundation and can rely on its strength.
Some people hate the Truth. These folks will be crushed by it. They will be broken to pieces.
We are all given the opportunity to build on the Truth. God's amazing grace gives us this opportunity and if you take it you will be building a home for eternity... no doubt about it. If you reject this opportunity in this life you will be crushed... no doubt about it. God's grace is amazing, but it does have an expiration date; when you expire, so does it.
How have you responded to the Truth? Have you built on it or will you be crushed by it? I pray that you all choose to build on the Truth because it is the only logical option. Why would you want anything else? Begin to build on the Truth or continue to build on the Truth today.
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