Growth

Others ~ Key Verses — GLORIFYTHELORD

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“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”  Philippians 2:3-4  NLT

I have a friend who says, “You gotta rock Philippians 2:3-4!!!”  His enthusiasm for treating others well and better than himself challenges me!

When Jesus touches our life we start to love others rather than use others. Servanthood means that I can temporarily suspend my own needs in order to attend to the needs of others. This means I’m sacrificial; I have a “whatever it takes” attitude in my circles of concern.  You know what annihilates service? Preoccupation with ourselves. Or a desperate need to be pumped up, propped up and applauded by other people. Or plain and simple — pride — we think we are better than everyone else. The Gospel meets each one of these black holes to not only plug them but to reverse the flow. Jesus transforms us into servants like Him. Now we can pour out our life secure in the knowledge of our unmerited, graceful exaltation with Jesus and by Jesus.

“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.  Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others too.” Philippians 2:3-4

Lordship ~ Key Verses — GLORIFYTHELORD

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“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.”  Matthew 7:21 NLT

Over the last week I’ve been reflecting on the twin themes of relationship and responsibility as they are revealed in God’s Word.  Jesus invites us into relationship with God by way of His grace and truth.  Now we call Him Lord.  In response to being loved by Him, we take up the responsibilities of citizenship in His Kingdom.  Now we seek to do the will of our Heavenly Father.  To reverse the order is poison and is NOT the Gospel.  We do not take up responsibilities in order to gain our identity with Him (That’s religion.)  Rather we receive Him as Lord and accept the responsibilities He gives to us (That’s grace.)  Jesus warns us, we do not really know Him as Lord if we are not also spiritually enabled to desire and to do the will of our Heavenly Father.

“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! ‘Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  Only those who actually do the will of Father in heaven will enter.”  Matthew 7:21

Hindrances ~ Key Verses — GLORIFYTHELORD

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“But all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.”  Mark 4:19 NLT

God is always sowing good seed into our lives. But we are not always prepared to bear the fruit that God intends.  The message of God can be crowded out, keeping us unfruitful.  Jesus wants us to be fruitful so he warns us.  I want to pay attention to what God is saying to me.  We are so easily distracted from trusting Him, obeying Him, entering into a life of faith with Him.  Repentance means that I change my mind about those things in respect to His grace and truth.  Then the pathway of faith brings me to  new thinking and new action.

“But all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.”  Mark 4:19

Thanksgiving ~ Key Verses — GLORIFYTHELORD

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“Always be joyful.  Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I have a friend who visited Vancouver and had this to say of her week here:  “Vancouverites need someone to thank.”  In a place so stunning and blessed, the absence of gratitude was notable.   Gratitude is generated by knowing you have someOne to thank.

Without knowing God, who shall we thank?  At our table before a meal I said, “Let’s give thanks to God.”  A visiting friend of one of our kids said, “Why should we do that?”

How would you answer his question?

“Always be joyful.  Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Youth ~ Key Verses — GLORIFYTHELORD

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“Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young.  Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.”  1 Timothy 4:2 NLT

Well I keep getting older and these verses continue to inspire and encourage me!  In the Disciple-Making journey we are to always be sharing the Gospel life with those who are younger / newer in the faith than we are.  However, sometimes we will get to share this life with those who are older too, even in age.

As a follower of Jesus, “youth” is never an excuse for behaving badly.

Paul lived with the motto, “imitate me.”  So to, we are to have that internal mindset.  Someone else may be inspired to receive Jesus’ grace because of the way we live.

“Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young.  Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.”  1 Timothy 4:2  NLT