live like Jesus

assuming that motives matter

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It is possible to have the right behaviour and still be an absolute mess!  It seems to me that when we live without congruence between motives and behaviour we will ultimately be served a gut check that forces us to examine our motives and adjust.  One of the dangers we face in relationships is the temptation of playing god by assuming we know exactly why a person is doing what they do.  We misplay and fall into the trap of judging when we sort out the “why” of another person’s behaviours based on ourselves rather than on their self-reporting.

A culture of trust assumes the best until proven otherwise.  And a culture of distrust assumes the worst until proven otherwise.  The fellowship of Jesus has another way of sorting behaviour through the lens of Scripture and of the motivating power of the Holy Spirit.  Paul indicates that he can celebrate the brothers and sisters in Thessaloniki through the lenses of thankfulness and of “faith, hope, and love.”

“We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.  We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

So assuming that motives matter… when we confess that “Jesus is Lord” behaviour is to be increasingly shaped by Jesus and by the faith, hope and love He produces in our lives.  My view of others will move up when I am first thankful–they are a gift from Jesus.  Hopeful–Jesus is working them.  Loving–I can accept them as Jesus accepted me.  Faithful–let’s stick it out together.

your personal needs are fuel for temptation

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Sunday at Cityview in the Integrity Test series we explored another reality that we have in common with Jesus:  temptation.  The text was Luke 4:1-13.  There we see Satan tempting Jesus by tapping into His personal needs.  You can listen to the message at the Cityview site later this week.  The notes are below:

integrity-test-2

The Big Idea:  Your personal needs are fuel for temptation.

 

1.    Temptation is not sin.  It is a reality of the spiritual life.

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.  Luke 4:1-2

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes…In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Ephesians 6:11, 16

 

2. When you have become a follower of Jesus, temptation is about making you un-godly, less trusting of God, less useful to God, and less influential in the kingdom of God.

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble.  If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. 2 Timothy 2:20-21
 

3.  Temptation targets our “neediness” in order to displace our devotion to Jesus.

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.”  For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.  Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.    James 1:13-15

Jesus’ Needs               His Response
vs. 2        Hunger            Trust God for provisions.
vs. 5-6    Success           Worship God & serve Him only.
vs. 9-12  Significance  Don’t test God to prove you matter to Him.

 

4.  Temptation can be defeated.

 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.  1 Corinthians 10:13

Our Needs                The Way
Physical                       Choose dependence & trust on/in Jesus.
Finances & Time       Choose devotion to Jesus & His Kingdom.
Emotional                   Choose dedication to Jesus’ ways.

Jesus passed the integrity test in regard to temptation, over and over and over.  You and I do not.  We need a Saviour to give us grace.  We need to repent of what has become habituated patterns of sin in the realm of temptation.  We need His strength to face temptation daily.

We implore you on Christ’s behalf:  Be reconciled to God.  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

 

 

     

 

 

seen at Cityview this weekend

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Here is the video we showed Sunday morning before the service set to Toby Mac’s song Lose My Soul.  The song is based off Jesus teaching on following Him found in Luke 9:23-27.  Specifically verse 25:  “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very sefl?”  What a big difference from the message my kids sang at the table last week, “Baby you can have whatever you want!”

be a king…ask a question

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I regularly encourage my children as they go to school to ask a good question.  Questions accelerate learning.  Questions can take us into the frontier realms of the universe and our souls.  The failure to ask questions is evidence of decay and death.  King Solomon, author of many of the Proverbs in the Bible, says, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.”  (Proverbs 25:2)  So be a king; ask a question; see where the pursuit of understanding leads you.

Here are some questions that I use; they are listed in no particular order.

1.  What does _________________ (put in the person’s name) need from me in order to grow?

2.  How can my wife and I work together to advance the vision of family we have adopted?

3.  Why am I feeling the way I feel?

4.  What could I add in or take away from my work patterns/practices that would create more effectiveness?  or What small adjustment made as a habit  in the right direction would deliver an accumulative increase in effectiveness?

5.  What is the story and who are the main characters behind the sucess or failure I am observing?

6.  What adjustments in earning, saving, giving, or spending will make the greatest contribution toward my family’s values and vision?

7.  How does what I am doing fit into the Kingdom values, vision and mission of Jesus Christ?  and a related question:  Am I remaining obedient and faithful to the last word I had from Jesus?

8.  Did I honour Jesus Christ in everything today?

OK, your turn.  What questions or types of questions do you regularly ask?