Do You See What I See ... ?

Jesus is teaching in the sermon on the mount when He says the following that is found in Matthew 6:22-23 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"

So what do our eyes tell others about us? Here we see that they tell volumes about us and our soul's condition. So how do our eyes become good our bad? Well, here we find that they are windows to our soul. So they let things directly into our souls. What you look at, watch and read will impact your souls condition. After this stuff is in there then others can see it as clearly as looking into a window. Just a note about windows back then, they were usually just opening with no glass. If you could see in the window then you could see everything. Often times people think that they can hide their 'secret' sin, yet anyone looking at them can see that something is wrong.

We need to guard our eyes/souls protecting them from the evils of the world ... 'be careful little eyes what you see.' Now the best way to guard what we let in our eyes is not by have barriers and blinders up that prevent us from seeing. They best way to guard our eyes is by making sure that they are focused on the right things. The right things are God and His Word. Is this where you re focusing?

Are You Salty Enough?

In Matthew 5:13 we find the following statement from Jesus, "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."

Here we are reminded of what God has made us to be. We are to be salt which has three major applications in life. First, it is used for purification (least common); second it adds flavor and enhances the flavors around it; third it is a preservative. This is what God has designed all who follow after Him to be.

So are we living up to God's design or are we letting circumstances and people rob us of these properties? Everyone will run out of the ability to 'the salt of the earth' unless we stay connected to the Source. It is only by staying in constant connection with God, allowing that relationship to grow on a daily basis, that we will be able to stay effective. So, how is your relationship with God these days? If you are wondering just look at the lives of those around you and see if you are adding flavor, helping preserve and bringing purity. If you don't see these things happening because of your influence then you know that you need to work on your relationship with Him.

What is it that you want from life and God?

Hosea 10:12 give us an amazing promise regarding what we want in life: "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you."

What is it that you want from life and God? What we really want is seen in what we are doing right now. If we want the fruit of unfailing or God's love, then we must put in the effort to live according to God's standards of what is right and wrong. Now this is done as He teaches us and we conform our actions to His desires, making Him Lord of all. It is then that we will see the fruit, evidence or reminders of His unfailing love.

Now knowing and acting according to His standards isn't done by pursuing knowledge about the standard ... it is only found in pursuing the One who sets the standard. We are to start seeking God now, and we are to continue until He comes. It's not enough to start and get enough of Him to make us feel good. We are to seek Him continually, knowing Him more and more until we know Him face to face after He has come again.

Are you willing to do this? Are you willing to put in the effort on starting and building a growing relationship with God. A relationship that will last the rest of eternity, changing everything for the better. God has promised this if we are willing to do our part.

Believing and Living the Truth

Thoughts on 2 Peter 1:3-8 "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Do we believe the truth state here? That God has given us everything we need for life and godliness. We often live like God has given us a started kit for life and godliness and we must develop and add to it what is necessary. Yet if we do this we are saying that God's grace is incomplete.

We must take note of what we have been given. Here it is stated as 'through our knowledge of Him.' Often we mistake this for knowledge about God and His ways. However, this is talking about our knowing Him through a growing personal relationship. God has called to us to join Him. The next few verses show us how to develop a deepening relationship with God, one that will not be ineffective or unproductive. This last statement show that our relationship/knowledge of God should always be bring about changes in us producing more and more of God's character in us.

Is this the kind of relationship we have with God or are we more focused on ritual, acquired knowledge and religious habit?

Prayer and the Power of God

Take a look at verse James 5:13-16 "Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

There are several things to take notice of in these verses. First is the power and prominence of prayer. Prayer, communicating to God should be our natural and first response to every situation that life throws at us. This could be prayer of praise and worship or of intercession.

Second, when we pray as people in right standing with God, those prayers are unstoppable and powerful bringing change to everything prayed for. Do we really believe this? If we do it should be seen in our expectation and anticipation.

Now there is one very important aspect of prayer that is emphasized here that we need to take note of and practice. This kind of prayer is done in community. Yes, we can and should have our private times of prayer. However, we also need regular prayer with and for others Christians in our church. This is prayer with those who know our weaknesses and failures and will stick by our side, praying for us. Do we have this kind of prayer? Do we live in this kind of church? Are we open and honest enough with those God has placed in our lives to receive this kind of prayer? If we can answer yes then we should be seeing the power of God on a regular basis.

Are You Being the Minister God Wants?

Have you ever wondered what God expects from those He has called to be pastors/shepherds? Ezekiel 34:4 is a great summary of what He is looking for and will hold ministers accountable for. Here we find a list of 5 aspects of what ministry should include.

• First, we are to help those who are weak to become stronger.
• Second, we are to help bring health to those who are sick.
• Third, we are to help those who are injured become stable bring them comfort.
• Forth, we need to be encouraging and helping those who are wandering and becoming distracted come back to God.
• Fifth and finally, we are to actively search for the lost ... those who don't know where they are or what condition they are truly in. 

Now you might be thinking, "I'm glad that's not me, I am not a pastor." But the truth is we are all called to be ministers for God. So every church and every person should be involved in doing these things. If we do this, our churches would grow in health, strength and size. So, are you doing your part today?

Knowing and Avoiding the Cycle of Sin

James 1:13-15 "13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."

Throughout this chapter we are given some very practical methods, systems or cycles that we should follow or avoid to live the life God wants for us.

Here we are give the Cycle of Sin. We see why we sin and how that sin develops and grows in our lives. In knowing this we can ask God to help us avoid or stop the cycle before it cause death.

1. First comes temptation that spring from our own evil desires.
2. When this evil desire is left unchecked and dwelt on it leads to sin, or intentional choices and actions that are contrary to living the way God desires.
3. When we continue to sin, it grows consuming our lives. This happens one part at a time and will cause death in each part of our lives. Our dreams and desires, our friendships, entertainment, work, ministry ... every part of life becomes sick and dies.
4. When each part slowly dies it eventually causes us to died from the inside out and leads to eternal death.

May God grant all of us the vigilance to see how we are truly living and guard against this in our daily lives.