Lying With Our Lives...

Ok, guys, I didn't say lying with our wives so don't get so worked up...  In Titus the Apostle Paul gives a good warning to believers who don't really believe.  Check this out:

15 Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.  -Titus 1:15-16 NLT

Have you ever found yourself saying one thing and doing another?  Yeah, that's the whole struggle with the Christian life.  Jesus says one thing and we really, really want to pursue the exact opposite.  The Apostle Paul also struggled with that...  Check out Romans 7:14-25.  That's the danger in saying we believe in something or in our case someone.

If we say we believe something our lives should reflect what we believe. For instance, if we believe that debt is bad, we'll do everything in our power to get rid of debt. That means getting another job, selling the stuff that put us in debt, and deciding ahead of time to live within our means. Often times, though, this doesn't translate in our faith.  We say we believe in Jesus but we do the exact opposite of what he calls us to do.

Even worse, we put hidden expectations on those around us to act a certain way even when we ourselves aren't living out the very thing we expect of others.  That's what Paul was warning against in his letter to Titus.

Paul makes it clear that those who claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live are detestable, disobedient, and worthless.  Ouch!  That hurts because we've all been there.

Are you there today?  If so, what do you need to do to allow God to make your heart pure?  Repent? Ask forgiveness from someone? Ask Jesus to take full control?

If you've been there, what have you done to get past this hypocritical position? (Encourage us by commenting below!)

It's time for us to stop lying with our lives and start living in the power of the Spirit!

How To Become A Solid Rock In Times Of Trouble!

In Romans 5, the Apostle Paul gives us guidance and encouragment when it comes to handling problems in our lives.  In fact, the Apostle Paul tells us to rejoice in these times...

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.  -Romans 5:3-5 NLT

It seems out of touch that we should rejoice in times of trouble.  However, Paul is right.  When we rejoice, we trust that God is working out something in our lives that will bring about good.  If you've ever experienced a troubling time, and approached it from this biblical view, you know that Paul's words are true.

When we approach life's struggles with rejoicing and faith in God (He'll never leave us nor forsake us), the result is rock solid lives laid on the foundation of Jesus, built with the tools of endurance, character, and hope!  So that when the winds of life's troubles beat against our lives, we won't be swayed, rather, we'll outlast the storms and deliver the hope we have to those whose live's have been destroyed.

So how do we become a solid rock in times of trouble?  Rejoice!

Hey God, Do What We Want!

Since Genesis chapter 3, it's been tough for us to give God the honor he deserves.  Actually, let me re-phrase that—It's been impossible to honor God rightly.  Sin has certainly tainted every aspect of our humanity.  God has been laying on my heart, one area, in particular, where we usually don't honor God rightly—prayer.

© Carl Durocher | Dreamstime.com

Prayer is simply communication with God.  Through Jesus' sacrifice for us on the cross, we are able to pray directly to God by the Spirit of God.  In fact, it is the Spirit who speaks for us when we don't know what to say!

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. -Romans 8:26 NIV

Sometimes, though, our prayer times can become more self-focused than God focused.  Actually, I would say most of the time our prayers are self focused rather than God focused.  For instance, how many times have we prayed for God to reveal His will to us?  How many times have been consumed by begging God to meet our financial needs?  How many times have we asked God to deliver us from a situation of stress and give us his blessing?

All of those things are good and fine to ask and God cares about those things, but when they become the sole focus of our prayers, then our prayers become self-focused and God is left to do our bidding.

There's a situation like this in the Old Testament in 1 Samuel 8.  Grab your Bible and open it to 1 Samuel 8 and read that chapter.  I'll be here when you get back.

Notice the Israelites want a new form of Government.  They want what everyone else has—a King.  Israel wanted to be just like their neighbors; to experience what their neighbors experienced. (Sound familiar?)  Up until this point Israel was ruled by judges.  Many judges were corrupt, but Samuel was one true judge that God hand-picked to serve Him.  The people went directly to Samuel and demanded he anoint a King to rule them because of the corruption of other judges (Two of which happened to be Samuel's sons.) The people used the excuse of a bad government to overthrow God's plan.  The people didn't trust that God would hold His own judges accountable.  In other words, the people used this opportunity to ask God for something they wanted.  Under worldly influence, they became self-focused.

It's interesting what God says in response to Samuel bringing this petition before Him.

"Do everything they say to you," the Lord replied, "for it is me they are rejecting, not you.  They don't want me to be their king any longer.  Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods.  And now they are giving you the same treatment.  Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a  king will reign over them." -1 Samuel 8:7-9 NLT

God is willing to give the people what they want; however, He warns the people of the experience of a human King's rule.  (1 Samuel 8:10-18)  Amazingly, the people refuse God's warning with this statement: "Even so, we still want a king.  We want to be like the nations around us.  Our king will judge us and lead us into battle."  Little did they know that God's warning would prove powerfully true.  In fact, if time travel were possible, their grandchildren would probably travel back and smack sense into them.  Evil kings plagued the people of Israel and quenched the blessing of God.  There were some good kings, but most were greedy.

So why do I share this story?  Because we often ask for things that are outside of God's plan, blessing, and purpose for our lives.  They are often driven by the question, "Why me, God?"  "Why am I experiencing this financial burden?  Why am I stressed out to the point of depression?"  Whatever the "why" question is, most of the time, it drives our prayers.  Essentially we say, "Hey God!  Do what we want!"

Instead, we should pray with God at the center.  When we focus on Him and His Word and listen to His Spirit, He is responsible to lead us.  When God is leading, he will always provide.  It won't always be easy or comfortable or nice but the sense of peace he will give us through His Spirit will abound much.

When our prayers are self-focused, God might just give us what we ask and let us experience the pain of the consequence.  God won't leave us, but He will certainly use those situations to grow us!  Instead let's pray asking, "Dear God, how can I serve you?"  The question is dangerous, but a Christian can't live life without asking it daily.  The result might be as simple as saying goodbye to a habit or as radical as departing a job, a community, or best friends for the sake of the Gospel.

The experience of following God is one that few people have enjoyed.  Most people reject God and exchange his blessing for a human, self-focused curse.  God wants us to walk in His will, he wants us to tell him our needs, but it must come from a heart of humility and honor.  Not a heart clouded by false gods and idolatry.

How will you pray differently today?

This Memorial Day...

As we move toward Memorial Day Weekend, I want to challenge you to look back on your life and remember and say thanks for the times of God's blessing and direction. The Israelites were commanded to do so after God delivered them from the iron fist of the Egyptians. We should do so as well.

We've all experienced tough times at school, work, and in our families. It's easy to recall those memories. But can you specifically recall a time when God delivered you from one of those tough situations? It's easy to forget that God's hand often guides us through tough times and gives us victory at the right time. I'm sure the Israelites were anxious and even scared as the Egyptians pursued them to the Red Sea. After God provided deliverance at the Red Sea the Israelites knew their God cared about them and had their best in mind!

The same is true for us. As we go through tough times, remember that God is going to provide a deliverance. That is, if we ask Him for it! We must take time and remember those situations and say thanks to Him for what He's done for us. It wasn't too long after the amazing deliverance at the Red Sea when Israelites fell prey to fear again. Only this time, a whole generation had to pass away because of their disbelief in God. All except for two: Joshua and Caleb. Joshua and Caleb believed God for the victory in tough situations and they had to wait quite a long time to experience God's blessing. But when God blessed them by delivering them into the promised land, it was worth the wait!

So this Memorial Day weekend. Be sure to say thanks to a veteran or active duty soldier. But most of all, be sure to say thanks to God. Only He can deliver us from the ultimate and final tough situation—Hell. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. And just as the Israelites were commanded to do at Passover each year, let's remember and say thanks to God for all He's done in our lives!