Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: - Philippians 2:5
As Christians who are empowered by the Holy Spirit the standard for our life is Christlikeness. It's plain and simple, "Whoever claims to walk in him must live as Jesus did." (1 John 1:6). There's no negotiating room. We are expected to live as Christ did.
But how is that possible? I am not Christ. I am full of sin. Once we've trusted in Christ the Holy Spirit comes to indwell our hearts. We are filled the the power of God, the same power Christ had. And so we now have the means to accomplish the very task we've been called to.
So if we've been called to live like Jesus what does that look like? What "attitude" does he have that we are to emulate? Well, look at the verses that follow. How is Jesus characterized? He is a servant, he is humble and obedient. Jesus is described as many other things, but this is a good place to start.
Lord, I want to be like Christ, but sometimes that feels like too high of a standard. I constantly fall short. Forgive my shortcomings and purify my heart of wickedness. Empower my with your Spirit and help me set my mind and desires on the things that honor you. I give you permission to develop me into the kind of humble, obedient servant that Christ was.
For His glory,
Matt
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
PROGRESS AND JOY
. . . I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, . . . Philippians 1:25b
I like the way Paul has tied together two descriptive words—progress and joy—in this passage.
In any church, either of these outcomes—progress or joy—would be enough to encourage the pastor and his flock, but a wonderful thing about progress and joy is that we rarely experience one without the other. When a follower of Christ makes strides forward in obedience to God, the church family (and the believer) rejoices. When the church finds their joy in Jesus, believers advance in one or many aspects of their faith. For God’s people, growth brings gladness and gladness encourages growth.
Of course, it’s not really news that progress made results in positive attitudes which, in turn, encourage further progress. You don’t have to follow Christ to experience this phenomenon. But Paul specifies that the Christian’s progress and joy is “in the faith,” and that raises the experience far above even the best stuff of this life.
So, let’s continue to work together for each other’s progress and joy in the faith. Focus your efforts on remaining in the cycle of progress and joy. Encourage (and help) those who are struggling, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ, meet together one on one and in small and large groups, pray diligently for each other, read and study and memorize God’s Word; in short—stay close to God and to each other.
Lord, how great and marvelous are Your ways. Guide me by Your Holy Spirit to make steady progress in obeying, serving, and loving You. Thank you for the joy and peace I experience in following You. Bless our church with progress and joy in the faith as we continue together as one family in You.
God’s grace to you,
JIM
I like the way Paul has tied together two descriptive words—progress and joy—in this passage.
In any church, either of these outcomes—progress or joy—would be enough to encourage the pastor and his flock, but a wonderful thing about progress and joy is that we rarely experience one without the other. When a follower of Christ makes strides forward in obedience to God, the church family (and the believer) rejoices. When the church finds their joy in Jesus, believers advance in one or many aspects of their faith. For God’s people, growth brings gladness and gladness encourages growth.
Of course, it’s not really news that progress made results in positive attitudes which, in turn, encourage further progress. You don’t have to follow Christ to experience this phenomenon. But Paul specifies that the Christian’s progress and joy is “in the faith,” and that raises the experience far above even the best stuff of this life.
So, let’s continue to work together for each other’s progress and joy in the faith. Focus your efforts on remaining in the cycle of progress and joy. Encourage (and help) those who are struggling, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ, meet together one on one and in small and large groups, pray diligently for each other, read and study and memorize God’s Word; in short—stay close to God and to each other.
Lord, how great and marvelous are Your ways. Guide me by Your Holy Spirit to make steady progress in obeying, serving, and loving You. Thank you for the joy and peace I experience in following You. Bless our church with progress and joy in the faith as we continue together as one family in You.
God’s grace to you,
JIM
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Attitude Toward Authority
7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, - Ephesians 6:7
Our attitude towards authority reflects our understanding of the Lordship of Christ.
If you tend to resist those in authority over you or if you begrudge your earthly duties it isn't just a reflection of your work ethic, it reveals that you aren't fully submitted to Christ.
When your life is fully surrendered to Christ people around you will notice. They will see it in the way you do your job, or in the way you parent, or in the way you talk about people in leadership, or in the way you lead. Your attitude toward authority is a witness for Christ.
We are all subject to the authority of Christ. So, work as though God were your boss, obey as though God were your parent, and serve as though God were the one watching, because he is.
Lord, examine me. Help me to see if there are any areas of my life that aren't honoring to you. Lead me to honor and respect those in authority over me. You are Lord over all - my life included. I submit myself to you. Use my life to show my co-workers, peers, friends and family that you are the one true God. My trust is in you.
For His Glory,
Matt
Our attitude towards authority reflects our understanding of the Lordship of Christ.
If you tend to resist those in authority over you or if you begrudge your earthly duties it isn't just a reflection of your work ethic, it reveals that you aren't fully submitted to Christ.
When your life is fully surrendered to Christ people around you will notice. They will see it in the way you do your job, or in the way you parent, or in the way you talk about people in leadership, or in the way you lead. Your attitude toward authority is a witness for Christ.
We are all subject to the authority of Christ. So, work as though God were your boss, obey as though God were your parent, and serve as though God were the one watching, because he is.
Lord, examine me. Help me to see if there are any areas of my life that aren't honoring to you. Lead me to honor and respect those in authority over me. You are Lord over all - my life included. I submit myself to you. Use my life to show my co-workers, peers, friends and family that you are the one true God. My trust is in you.
For His Glory,
Matt
Monday, August 2, 2010
ONE ANOTHER
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21
I have particular difficulty living out this verse. Perhaps you do, too.
Embracing the counter-everything word submit is radical enough, and I do seek to submit to God. However, it's the dynamic one another that gets my goat.
I think I give the public "submit to one another" thing a sincere attempt. It's the private (friends and family) act of submitting that sneaks up on me. Is my reverence for Christ so limited? Do I reverence myself more than Jesus? These thoughts trouble me.
I hope you'll join me in a more comprehensive and conscious pursuit of our mutual concern and love for each other, because of our reverence for Christ. Let's pay attention to how well we submit to each other, and seek to glorify God in this, as well.
Father, I want to submit to You and to my brothers and sisters in Christ. Help me to think of others more than I think of me. Guide me to live in reverence to Your Son.
Have a blessed day,
JIM
I have particular difficulty living out this verse. Perhaps you do, too.
Embracing the counter-everything word submit is radical enough, and I do seek to submit to God. However, it's the dynamic one another that gets my goat.
I think I give the public "submit to one another" thing a sincere attempt. It's the private (friends and family) act of submitting that sneaks up on me. Is my reverence for Christ so limited? Do I reverence myself more than Jesus? These thoughts trouble me.
I hope you'll join me in a more comprehensive and conscious pursuit of our mutual concern and love for each other, because of our reverence for Christ. Let's pay attention to how well we submit to each other, and seek to glorify God in this, as well.
Father, I want to submit to You and to my brothers and sisters in Christ. Help me to think of others more than I think of me. Guide me to live in reverence to Your Son.
Have a blessed day,
JIM
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
God's Masterpiece
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10
The Greek word translated "workmanship" is a word from which we get our English word poem. As people saved through God's grace in Christ, we are God's poem, His work of art, His masterpiece. Through the good works that flow out of our life as a result of His grace in us God shows His amazing handiwork to the world. The transformation of a life from sinful self-centeredness to Christ-like goodness in word and deed is a work of art that only God can perform through His amazing grace in Christ Jesus. Let His handiwork shine forth through your life today.
Father, I rejoice in the grace You have given me in Christ and pray that Your master workmanship will shine forth out of my life today to the praise and glory of Your name.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
The Greek word translated "workmanship" is a word from which we get our English word poem. As people saved through God's grace in Christ, we are God's poem, His work of art, His masterpiece. Through the good works that flow out of our life as a result of His grace in us God shows His amazing handiwork to the world. The transformation of a life from sinful self-centeredness to Christ-like goodness in word and deed is a work of art that only God can perform through His amazing grace in Christ Jesus. Let His handiwork shine forth through your life today.
Father, I rejoice in the grace You have given me in Christ and pray that Your master workmanship will shine forth out of my life today to the praise and glory of Your name.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Consecration and Prayer
"Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it up as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on Israel's behalf, and the LORD answered him." 1 Samuel 7:9
Samuel's ministry on behalf of Israel involved consecration and intercession. Offering a lamb as burnt offering was a symbol of consecration (total commitment to God). The lamb was offered to God as a symbol of the worshipers dedication of his life to God. Samuel was personally consecrated to the Lord and he led the Israelites to consecrate themselves to the Lord (see 1 Sam. 7:3-6; click reference to read). Following the consecration of their lives to the Lord Samuel then prayed for God to deliver the Israelites out of the hand of the Philistines. God answered his prayer and brought a great deliverance to Israel.
Consecration of ourselves to God must precede powerful praying. "The prayer of a righteous (i.e. consecrated) man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16). Prayer from a consecrated soul will find favor with God. Let all your praying first begin with a time of soul searching through the light of the Holy Spirit and confession of sin as He convicts you. Then with a cleansed life proceed to seek God's powerful working in your life and the lives of those around you.
Father, search me today and cleanse me from all sin that I may prevail with You in prayer as You desire.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Samuel's ministry on behalf of Israel involved consecration and intercession. Offering a lamb as burnt offering was a symbol of consecration (total commitment to God). The lamb was offered to God as a symbol of the worshipers dedication of his life to God. Samuel was personally consecrated to the Lord and he led the Israelites to consecrate themselves to the Lord (see 1 Sam. 7:3-6; click reference to read). Following the consecration of their lives to the Lord Samuel then prayed for God to deliver the Israelites out of the hand of the Philistines. God answered his prayer and brought a great deliverance to Israel.
Consecration of ourselves to God must precede powerful praying. "The prayer of a righteous (i.e. consecrated) man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16). Prayer from a consecrated soul will find favor with God. Let all your praying first begin with a time of soul searching through the light of the Holy Spirit and confession of sin as He convicts you. Then with a cleansed life proceed to seek God's powerful working in your life and the lives of those around you.
Father, search me today and cleanse me from all sin that I may prevail with You in prayer as You desire.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Monday, July 26, 2010
More Like Jesus
"Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load." Galatians 6:3-4
One of the temptations we face is to compare our self to somebody else whom we deem less faithful or spiritually mature than our self. In so doing we comfort our self that we are doing quite well after all and we slip into complacency.
There is only one to whom we are to compare our self and that is Jesus Christ. To be like Him is the whole aim of our Christian life (see Romans 8:29; click on the reference to read the verse). Until we have reached the full measure of the stature of Christ (see Ephesians 4:13) we cannot rest in our effort to grow and mature spiritually.
We may grow discouraged in striving to become like Christ but we need to remember that our success does not rest with us but with God. He has given us His Holy Spirit to conform us degree by degree into the likeness of Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 3:17-18). Keep the goal of Christ-likeness before you. Never be content with any lesser standard. Rely on the Holy Spirit to help you. Enjoy the journey. You will not arrive overnight but you will arrive by His grace and for His glory.
Father, help me to never be content to measure my spiritual maturity and faithfulness against another sinful man but inspire me daily to strive for the high calling of being conformed to the image of Your Son, my Savior.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
One of the temptations we face is to compare our self to somebody else whom we deem less faithful or spiritually mature than our self. In so doing we comfort our self that we are doing quite well after all and we slip into complacency.
There is only one to whom we are to compare our self and that is Jesus Christ. To be like Him is the whole aim of our Christian life (see Romans 8:29; click on the reference to read the verse). Until we have reached the full measure of the stature of Christ (see Ephesians 4:13) we cannot rest in our effort to grow and mature spiritually.
We may grow discouraged in striving to become like Christ but we need to remember that our success does not rest with us but with God. He has given us His Holy Spirit to conform us degree by degree into the likeness of Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 3:17-18). Keep the goal of Christ-likeness before you. Never be content with any lesser standard. Rely on the Holy Spirit to help you. Enjoy the journey. You will not arrive overnight but you will arrive by His grace and for His glory.
Father, help me to never be content to measure my spiritual maturity and faithfulness against another sinful man but inspire me daily to strive for the high calling of being conformed to the image of Your Son, my Savior.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
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