Hater? Lover?

“Christ’s love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do. Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat.    He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.    Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore.    Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it!    All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other.”   2 Corinthians 5:14-18 (MSG)

God’s Love has changed everything.  Love is the place that all else should flow from.  Especially in how we relate to others.  Because of what Christ did, we all are in the same boat.  Jesus made provision for all humanity.  He died for all.  He did this so all people could find life, resurrection life.  His love took Him to the cross for everyone.  Therefore, we should treat others the same.

Being united with Christ should cause us to look at others the way He does.  We no longer look at people in the flesh.  We look at what Jesus has done for them. 

United with Jesus makes us totally and completely new inside.  We are new people.  If we are in Christ, we must treat people the way Jesus has treated them.  If unbeliever, we love them as those Jesus died for.  If believer, we love them and look at them as those who are new people in Christ. 

As God has reconciled the relationship between us and Himself we are to also reconcile our relationships with others.

1 John 2:10 tells us if we love our brother, we will not be a stumbling block.  If we do not love our brother, we become a stumbling block to other people.  Unfortunately, this usually happens because, in our deception, we talk to others about those we hate.

1 John 3:15 reveals a startling fact.  God sees our lack of love for others as murder.  If we do not love others, eternal life is not in us.

1 John 4:10 give us a warning.  Do not fall into deception.  You cannot love God if you do not love others and act righteously toward others.  As Christians, we have to be careful in how we relate to others. 

How are you loving those around you?

How do your actions reveal your heart toward others in your life?

Are your conversations about others loving or do they reveal something else?

Are you a Christian?

So if by definition Christian means “Christ follower” and the Bible tells us to put on Christ and to have the likeness of Christ…..How does your life line up with this definition?  If you were Jesus what would you be doing right now?  How would you be living right now?  What should change about your life in order to be what you really claim to be?  Do we really believe if we do not live like what we say?  James said “You say you have faith, I’ll show you my faith by what I do.” (James 2:18 my paraphrase)

You may not like this statement.  I believe being saved and being a Christian are two different things.  Being saved depends on me believing in the finished work of Christ in His death and resurrection.  However, being a Christian has to do with me cooperating with the Holy Spirit’s work in and through me.  Notice my job or work.  I must work to cooperate with Him.  My job is to obey His leading in following Him and daily conforming to Him and acting like Him.

I have witnessed lately in my own life, people who are saved but not Christian.  They believe in the saving work of Christ but look and act like they don’t know Him.

Are you a Christian?

BIG or small?

We must believe in a BIG GOD or we will live small lives.

Qualities of people you entrust leadership to (pt.1)…

I want my leaders to do great things for God.  I want them to have an impact in the lives of people.  The Bible describles where this greatness comes from in Matthew 20:26b. (msg) “Whoever wants to become great must become a servant.”

The Apostle Peter said we each have received a special gift from the Lord and that we should use it in serving one another as those who have received God’s grace. (1 Peter 4:10)

When I am looking for leaders, I first look for those who have a heart to serve.  These are the ones who don’t have to be asked.  They are eager to do whatever you need.  They just want to serve.  Their joy is in giving to others as Jesus has given to them.  They don’t shy away for lack of experience or because it may cost them something.  They trust God and are thankful for the privilege to serve.  They serve God, not man.  They know God will reward them in due season.

Our churches today are full of those who are eager to receive.  They show up every week with their hands out and their mouths open for the next serving being dished up.  There is a fatness in the body of Christ that is unhealthy.  When all we do is receive and take and never give and pour out, we become like those whose bodies have become overweight and unable to do the things they used to do.  We become led by our appetites.  We find ourselves eating alot and doing little. 

However, when we are active serving, it increases our apetite and brings a healthy balance to our spiritual life.  There must be an inflow and outflow of the Spirit in our life.

Servant leaders are not always the most gifted or mature.  However, they mature quickly and are used greatly by the Lord.  God blesses those who serve and these are the ones I am looking for.