As humans, most of us will put in the bare minimum. Whether its teens doing their homework, or kids doing any sort of work. They'll put in the bare minimum (generally.) This is me ... all the time, I'll put in JUST how much is required, no more, generally a little less.
But, this CANNOT be the same with my faith. No. Jesus doesn't require me to do as little as I can for him. He doesn't even do things by half measures. He calls on me to live my WHOLE life for him. Not just some of it. He (and his friends) tells me to do some pretty crazy stuff that someone only wanted to do the bare minimum would hate doing:
- Pray for your enemies. (Matthew 5:44)
- Suffer for him. (2 Timothy 1:8)
- Forgive everyone, not just the ones its easy to forgive. (Examplified by Jesus, on an instrument of torture, looking at the people who brought it upon.)
-Love everyone, not just the ones who are easy to love. (Inspired by the story of the 'Good Samaritan' (Luke 10:30-35), where the enemy of a bleeding man goes out of his way to help him.)
- There are so many things just scattered across the pages of the bible that show Jesus doesn't just want out bare minimum. So what are you giving to Him? Nothing? Everything? Somewhere in between. Let me challenge you (if you are a 'Christian') to take up your cross right now and live with your EVERYTHING for the king.
Friday, February 25
Trials
Trials (or if you like, hard times) are coming. Coming soon. I can pretty much feel them coming. Do you know what? God is actually preparing me for them. Leading my eyes to the right verses. Leading my hand to the right book. There would be way too many references to make if I were to list them, so here are the conclusions I've come to:
- God has sealed me with his spirit. Nothing can shake me. Nothing can take his spirit from me.
When I'm going through hard times, I may ignore him, but I will never be taken from him.
- I will say stupid things in trials. People will judge me. Their judgements don't even matter.
- I have a steady rock, that will never shake. People will disappoint. Experience will disappoint. Pleasure will disappoint. God will not. He will stay steadfast strong.
- God won't just support me, but LOVE me. When trials and hard times come, God will love me. No matter if people if love me.
In case you haven't figured out, I want God to be my one & only rock. The one that I turn to in times of despair. Because he's worthy of it. I will fail. People will fail. God will not. He deserves my love.
This doesn't mean I never trust people. People are often worthy of my trust, God is ALWAYS worthy of my trust.
- God has sealed me with his spirit. Nothing can shake me. Nothing can take his spirit from me.
When I'm going through hard times, I may ignore him, but I will never be taken from him.
- I will say stupid things in trials. People will judge me. Their judgements don't even matter.
- I have a steady rock, that will never shake. People will disappoint. Experience will disappoint. Pleasure will disappoint. God will not. He will stay steadfast strong.
- God won't just support me, but LOVE me. When trials and hard times come, God will love me. No matter if people if love me.
In case you haven't figured out, I want God to be my one & only rock. The one that I turn to in times of despair. Because he's worthy of it. I will fail. People will fail. God will not. He deserves my love.
This doesn't mean I never trust people. People are often worthy of my trust, God is ALWAYS worthy of my trust.
Wednesday, February 16
Selfless Service
I think the greatest kind of service is the service that hinders. The kind of service that makes the person actually go out of their way to play out their service. It doesn't sound like fun, but I believe its the greatest.
Jon Foreman agrees; 'I would like to suggest that the best parts of our human nature can be seen in sacrifice or surrender ... moments of unmerited kindness.'
I really like that quote, and I think a great example is my friend, who, on a camp I went on recently, would stay behind pretty much every meal. She would clean, and miss out on stuff. This doesn't sound massively sacrificial, but she had the choice to be outside, where I'm sure she could hear our laughter, and imagine our fun. But she made the choice to stay inside, and serve everyone on camp.
Ok, so that example may not have been relate-able, but I hope you understand the concept. The greatest kind of service is service that hinders & requires sacrifice. Actual sacrifice. Service can be fun, and thats great too, but I'm suggesting that its not as great as hindering & sacrificial service.
Thats all for now. I feel as though this didn't really go anyway, but as ever, I hope you can get something from it :)
Jon Foreman agrees; 'I would like to suggest that the best parts of our human nature can be seen in sacrifice or surrender ... moments of unmerited kindness.'
I really like that quote, and I think a great example is my friend, who, on a camp I went on recently, would stay behind pretty much every meal. She would clean, and miss out on stuff. This doesn't sound massively sacrificial, but she had the choice to be outside, where I'm sure she could hear our laughter, and imagine our fun. But she made the choice to stay inside, and serve everyone on camp.
Ok, so that example may not have been relate-able, but I hope you understand the concept. The greatest kind of service is service that hinders & requires sacrifice. Actual sacrifice. Service can be fun, and thats great too, but I'm suggesting that its not as great as hindering & sacrificial service.
Thats all for now. I feel as though this didn't really go anyway, but as ever, I hope you can get something from it :)
Friday, February 11
I don't know just yet ...
Ok, here's a song without a title. Usual deal; don't want your praise, only God is worthy of praise. This one's a little more cryptic than the others, and I hope you can still take something from it :)
Its a shocking revelation,
That I know line by line,
An inspiring chant,
Bringing my flaws to the floor.
Ho-oh-oh-oh (x4)
Your love has no conditions,
And I am so glad,
An inspiring view,
As I'm watching the king die.
I've so much sin,
To wash away,
But its already done (x2)
Am I waving my white flag,
Do I numbly succumb?
This is how you made me,
Should I even resist?
Ho-oh-oh-oh (x2)
How dare I say that?
Lend me your strength,
Give me new legs,
To stand firm on.
There's so much guilt,
You cleansed me of,
And all of the shame (x2)
Ho-oh-oh-oh (x4)
How can I stand there and watch you burn?
Dear all of my non-Christ-loving friends,
I want you to know this deep and hurtful concern I have for you. It has almost brought me to tears on VARIOUS occasions (just know, I have pretty much lost my tear ducts, so almost crying = crying a lot.) Do you see how deep this concern is?
Do you want to know the cause of this deep, terrible concern? It is my conviction (not just belief, I am thoroughly convicted of this) that, because of my belief in Jesus Christ, I get to have an unbroken and beautiful relationship with Jesus for all of eternity. But, it is also my conviction, that you will not be with me in eternal awesomeness. This saddens me above all other things.
I dare you, I implore you, I challenge you to challenge Christ. Come to His people with questions. Every question can be answered, for ever question has an answer. Of this I am sure.
Lovingly beyond measure,
Luke.
I want you to know this deep and hurtful concern I have for you. It has almost brought me to tears on VARIOUS occasions (just know, I have pretty much lost my tear ducts, so almost crying = crying a lot.) Do you see how deep this concern is?
Do you want to know the cause of this deep, terrible concern? It is my conviction (not just belief, I am thoroughly convicted of this) that, because of my belief in Jesus Christ, I get to have an unbroken and beautiful relationship with Jesus for all of eternity. But, it is also my conviction, that you will not be with me in eternal awesomeness. This saddens me above all other things.
I dare you, I implore you, I challenge you to challenge Christ. Come to His people with questions. Every question can be answered, for ever question has an answer. Of this I am sure.
Lovingly beyond measure,
Luke.
Friday, February 4
Maturity & Genuinity
I'm often discouraged when I see Christians who are more mature and wise in my faith. At points it has even made me doubt my own faith, as I look at them and wonder why I am not like them. If I love Jesus, just like they do, why am I not like them? Why do I still struggle with things I have never seen them struggle with.
HOWEVER, I have come to a conclusion; if a person is less mature or less wise then another, does that make them any less of a person? NO, in my mind, the same is true of Christians. If one is less mature then others it doesn't make them any less of a Christian. God doesn't require maturity, He doesn't require anything. I don't need maturity or wisdom, all I need to do is trust God, and love God.
Something that I also feel discouraged by, is when someone makes a long & beautiful prayer and all I can say is; You are amazing God. And my prayer suddenly seems worse. Not as worthy. BUT God doesn't care about the words I say, he cares about the sincerity of my prayer. Both of us can be sincere, and genuine in our prayer. I can be just as genuine in my 4 words compared to their 5 minute prayer.
I also feel as though the temptation for the person with the long prayer is there to pray for man's eyes and not God's. The temptation is there for them to be working to receive praise for their prayer, and for people to think 'You're such a great Christian.'
God doesn't care about length, or beauty in our prayer; wisdom or maturity in our Christian walk (while they are great attributes.) He cares about genuinity & sincerity of our prayer; trust & love in our Christian walk.
Side note: genuinity is not a word, I use it because it fits and sounds cooler than genuineness.
HOWEVER, I have come to a conclusion; if a person is less mature or less wise then another, does that make them any less of a person? NO, in my mind, the same is true of Christians. If one is less mature then others it doesn't make them any less of a Christian. God doesn't require maturity, He doesn't require anything. I don't need maturity or wisdom, all I need to do is trust God, and love God.
Something that I also feel discouraged by, is when someone makes a long & beautiful prayer and all I can say is; You are amazing God. And my prayer suddenly seems worse. Not as worthy. BUT God doesn't care about the words I say, he cares about the sincerity of my prayer. Both of us can be sincere, and genuine in our prayer. I can be just as genuine in my 4 words compared to their 5 minute prayer.
I also feel as though the temptation for the person with the long prayer is there to pray for man's eyes and not God's. The temptation is there for them to be working to receive praise for their prayer, and for people to think 'You're such a great Christian.'
God doesn't care about length, or beauty in our prayer; wisdom or maturity in our Christian walk (while they are great attributes.) He cares about genuinity & sincerity of our prayer; trust & love in our Christian walk.
Side note: genuinity is not a word, I use it because it fits and sounds cooler than genuineness.
Tuesday, February 1
Privileged
I am so privileged. SO privileged. And so ungrateful.
I have enough food on my table to feed me and my entire family. I have enough food to have likes and dislikes. To be able to say 'I don't really eat that.' Instead of (the 9 million people) eating to survive, and having to take whatever comes at them.
I have a doctor just up the road. Within WALKING distance. I have friends that go to the doctor, essentially, so they can miss school. To get a certificate to prove their slackness. Instead of people living in MUCH poorer conditions, much poorer hygiene and they have NO medical aid, no money for the doctor, they are simply left to die.
GAH, there is SO much more I could rant about but I want to make 2 final points;
Do you know the difference between me and the 9 million starving and dying people? Where I was born. Thats the only difference. It all comes down to where I was lucky (and privileged) enough to be born.
Now, do you want to THE single greatest privilege I have? Knowing Jesus Christ.
The fact that he (the infinitely powerful & infinitely perfect Jesus) would reach down his hand to pull me (impossibly weak & impossibly rebellious me) to his kingdom.
AND, the people who are starving and sick ... they can look forward to the next life in Jesus. They can feel the burn and know that they're gonna be spending eternal paradise with Jesus. There is SO much hope in Jesus.
I have enough food on my table to feed me and my entire family. I have enough food to have likes and dislikes. To be able to say 'I don't really eat that.' Instead of (the 9 million people) eating to survive, and having to take whatever comes at them.
I have a doctor just up the road. Within WALKING distance. I have friends that go to the doctor, essentially, so they can miss school. To get a certificate to prove their slackness. Instead of people living in MUCH poorer conditions, much poorer hygiene and they have NO medical aid, no money for the doctor, they are simply left to die.
GAH, there is SO much more I could rant about but I want to make 2 final points;
Do you know the difference between me and the 9 million starving and dying people? Where I was born. Thats the only difference. It all comes down to where I was lucky (and privileged) enough to be born.
Now, do you want to THE single greatest privilege I have? Knowing Jesus Christ.
The fact that he (the infinitely powerful & infinitely perfect Jesus) would reach down his hand to pull me (impossibly weak & impossibly rebellious me) to his kingdom.
AND, the people who are starving and sick ... they can look forward to the next life in Jesus. They can feel the burn and know that they're gonna be spending eternal paradise with Jesus. There is SO much hope in Jesus.
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