While reading Josh Harris's "Stop Dating the Church", I was caught once again thinking, "How much more passionate are we about the things of this world than the things of God?" I can start the long list of things that are in my top priorities, and I wonder how often I squeeze God out so I can make room for them?
John Stott said, "If the church is central to God's purpose as seen in both history and the gospel, it must surely also be central to our lives. How can we take lightly what God takes so seriously? How dare we push to the circumference what God has placed at the center?" Thinking about that in relationship to our priorities, but also with respect to how we worship God in His house, how can we know what God desires and expects of us except through His Holy Word? Will we choose to dictate to God how we will run our lives and how we will worship Him? Who are we to say this to God, who has created us and formed our innermost being?
The next time we want to push God out so we can fit our activities in, we should ask ourselves, "Do I live for myself, or for Christ Jesus, my LORD and Savior?"
Monday, May 22, 2006
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Thinking Before You Speak
Ever wonder what it was like before the fall, when all communication was perfect, honoring to God, and free from evil motives? Can you imagine being in perfect communion with God, coming to Him without caring about your own interests, but instead fully intending to glorify Him and advance His purpose? How wonderful and awesome it must have been for Eve to be able to talk to her husband, Adam, and for him to be able to understand her, because both of their objectives were to obey and glorify God!
When we realize that most of our communication struggles come from the sin in our own hearts, it makes a big difference in how we think about people. When we finally see that our own sinful motives and desires are both keeping us from saying what we need to and causing us to say what we should not, we would take extra care in saying things, and perhaps would not be nearly as outspoken as we once were.
When we complain, we speak out against God, and when we get angry with another, we are angry at God for not giving us what we think we deserve - which in fact is death! Praise be to God that He does NOT give us what we deserve!
Some closing verses to dwell on:
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. Prov. 10:19
A fool finds no pleasure in understanding, but delights in airing his own opinions. Prov. 18:2
When we realize that most of our communication struggles come from the sin in our own hearts, it makes a big difference in how we think about people. When we finally see that our own sinful motives and desires are both keeping us from saying what we need to and causing us to say what we should not, we would take extra care in saying things, and perhaps would not be nearly as outspoken as we once were.
When we complain, we speak out against God, and when we get angry with another, we are angry at God for not giving us what we think we deserve - which in fact is death! Praise be to God that He does NOT give us what we deserve!
Some closing verses to dwell on:
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. Prov. 10:19
A fool finds no pleasure in understanding, but delights in airing his own opinions. Prov. 18:2
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