Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Because the Lord has need of it?


Because the Lord has need of it?

Do we truly understand that all we have is not our own? Everything we have should be available for the Master's use when He needs it, including our spouse, children, material possessions, money, etc. This is the case here in Luke 19:28-40, Jesus Triumphant Entry. When the disciples began to untie the colt, the owners asked what they are doing, in which they said the Master has use for it, enough said!
Walking out our salvation means to live a surrendered life. We no longer have any rights, so we cannot base our decisions on how we feel but by the word of God in faith. This means that everything we are and own, we surrender.
As a colt was set apart for the Master's use, so have we been set apart for His use. We may feel insignificant, our life wasted, but despite how we feel, God sees us fit for His use. As a child feels so special when their Father needs their help so let us feel the honor of being the Lord's chosen vessel.
As the colt was loosed by it's owners let us be loosed from whomever and whatever has tried to own us apart from our God. Jesus paid the ultimate price for us, death on the cross, He found us that worth it. He believes in us so let us believe in Him, if He finds us worth saving then we know He finds us worth using.
He rode the colt to get from point A to point B, but with us we are made His permanent dwelling place through the Holy Spirit. We are His entry into the world to establish His eternal victory. We are His body and without our obedience His power is limited. So let us like this wild independent colt allow Jesus to take full reign and be the ones who carry His presence into the world.

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Friday, September 14, 2012

Greatest Investment


Greatest Investment

I don't know much about the stock market, but I know it is best to invest in what you believe will bring the best results. If you invest too wide, in too much, very little profit follows. It is best to invest much in little for the greatest payoff. Now it just takes good discernment to realize what to put that investment in.
God has recently taken me to a place of brokenness realizing that I have been investing too thin. I have placed my interests in too many directions and therefore I am not seeing the results that should be expected. I no longer possess anything, I am in Christ, I am just a stewards of what is His. Therefore, He is my Shepherd, my guiding force, and as His sheep, I just follow. 

God has given us field's, first of all our own heart, then our immediate family, extended family, spiritual family, and those in our neighborhood, work, school, etc. He commands us to bear fruit. We are only capable of cultivating just so much. When we overextend ourselves the proper care that each plant in each field needs is neglected and weeds grow choking out the seeds resulting in fruitlessness. When fruitfulness comes, multiplication follows, but it comes as each plant grows and blossoms and as fruit abounds, seeds spread, and other plants develop.

We change the world by making one disciple at a time who makes other disciples. The question is are we investing enough into those whom God has put before us. When we are too busy we don't have time for the relationship factor that is truly needed for discipleship to develop.

We see this teaching in the Parable of the Ten Servants (Luke 19:11-27). Jesus gives this parable to help His followers understand that our time on earth is all about investing into the future. Taking what He gives us and planting it into whom He gives us. Not just being idle while waiting around for His return or pursuing fruitless gain but making the most of what He has given.

Good servant are ones who are faithful in what little that has been given to them and therefore He promises much will come in return. The question I have been asking myself is will God say to me, "well done good and faithful servant." It would be sad if I was one who would say I did this and I did that in your name, and He tell me depart from me you worker of iniquity.

What we do does not matter unless He is the one doing it. If He is not abiding in me then fruit can never follow. Only in obedience is His presence.
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Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Rich or Poor (Luke 19:1-10)


Rich or Poor

In the previous chapter we see the story of the rich ruler who obeyed the law yet would not obey Jesus when it came to selling everything he owned, we then heard the story of the blind beggar, who desperately cried out to Jesus and was healed, and now we have the story of a rich tax collector, Zacchaeus.
With the rich ruler Jesus described the difficulty of the rich entering the kingdom of God and the disciples asking who then can really get saved? Jesus responded what is impossible with man is possible with God. God has no limits! He can reach anyone!

The problem with the rich ruler was He was not seeking Jesus, He was seeking to be justified by His good works. Many today believe they are going to heaven because they are a good person. One seeks God because they realize they need Him! As long as one is teachable they are reachable, this is what we see with Zacchaeus. He didn't let his bad image and short-comings get in the way! The bible says "those who seek Him will find Him" and "if you draw near to God He draws near to You." There are no requirements to meet Jesus but seeking Him, no matter one's past, no matter one's background, those whom seek Him, find Him.

In my small community, growing up, the Christians were looked down as low class, hypocritical, phonies. When I got saved it was one thing to say I was a Christian but to be identified with the local church was a completely unacceptable social norm. I was ostracized by most of my "so called" friends and had to build brand new relationships with the outcasts of the community. Jesus does not care about our image all He wants is that His image be seen in us.

It takes brokenness and humility to seek God, such as Zacchaeus, and it is these that Jesus will have fellowship with and therefore transform. Zacchaeus after his encounter with Jesus, repented of his ways by getting right with God and with man, returning to each one the lawful requirement four times what he stole.

We don't look for something unless we know it is lost, until we realize we are lost without God, knowing Him personally will never be found.
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Thursday, September 6, 2012

Are You Desperate? (Luke 18:35-43)


Are You Desperate?

In my natural eye I am drawn to people whom look good, dress nice, and walk confidently. Many of these folks are often full of pride and not desperate enough to truly seek God. So ministering to them would have little to no life changing effect. Often, it is those that look a mess who are desperate enough to cry out to God. It is those who have had enough of living on their own, who are tired of being blind, that their hearts have now been opened to receive Christ, in His fullness.
Jesus here in Luke 18:35-43, heard the blind beggar shouting "have mercy on me!" "Shut up!" the people yelled at him. Though he was shunned by man, Jesus heard his plea, and responded by healing him.

It is the cry of desperation that God responds too. We must remain in a place of desperation to remain continually connected to Him. We must daily acknowledge our need for Him, like a child clings to their parents when afraid we must cling to God with holy fear of the consequence of living apart from Him.

This blind beggar became undignified before Jesus, He didn't care what others thought, He wanted Jesus attention and shouted loud enough to make sure. Why do we think we can ever arrive in a place where we are too dignified to cry out to God? Is it only when our circumstances are drastic enough, why can't we see that every day no matter our circumstances we need Him.

God is not just a rope we grab a hold of when drowning but He is our lifeline every day. Only in Him do we have life, apart from Him we are nothing. Often we are bewitched to believe our nothing is really something that our good works really matter to the world. God alone is the author of life and only when we are filled with Him do we have any good to give away.

We need to forget about pleasing man, and truly worship God, undignified, with a desperate cry for Him. It is those that come to Him hungry and thirsty that are given food (word) and drink (spirit). We must realize that we are all blind unless He allows us to see. The bible says the pure in heart see God. When we cry out to God, He comes like the rain, cleanses us from our sin and clothes us in His righteousness. Then and only then can we see as He sees and not be blind to the true reality of the spiritual world all around.

When Jesus touches us like the blind man in Luke 18:35-43 we live in a continual place of Praise because we see God in everything and therefore we can count all things as good.

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