Over the next three weeks I will be talking about how God wants us to have the best possible life. His desire is that we live life to the fullest and be fulfilled as we carry out the work of the kingdom. Since God designed us, He knows what’s best for us and gives this information to us, in great detail, through His word, the Bible.
In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul describes how to live at a higher level. As we give ourselves over to God, He will produce fruit in our lives through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit’s activity will help us have— different perceptions about what life is all about, stronger relationships with those God brings into our lives, and lifestyles that fulfill God’s purpose.
This week we will look at different perceptions we have about life and how sometimes we need to change how we perceive life because our take on life does not match the view that God intended.
Perceptions are weird. We are so easily fooled by circumstances or appearances. Our views are tainted by our sin and the influence of our culture, whose values are usually polar opposite to those of God. We look through the lens of history in a vain attempt to see clearly, only to discover that we usually repeat the same mistakes over and over.
How we view life, death, people and possessions is vitally important. Our worldview communicates to those around us what we deem to be important, significant, and eternal. What do your perceptions say to others about Jesus and the transformative power of the gospel? Is your witness helped or hindered? Do you live a fulfilled and fulfilling life or just eek out an existence day by day? We’ll try to answer these questions as we explore how to live at the next level with regard to our perceptions.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Developing A Healthy Soul
Just where is our soul and what does it do? These might be questions a child might ask but by the time we reach adulthood we’ve given up on such quandaries. We’ve settled for ill defined terms regarding our soul. If God wants us to love him with all our soul, we should make a valiant effort to discover just what one is.
The word “soul” is used 129 times in 125 verses in the New International Version. The New Bible Dictionary defines it as follows. “The use of the word ‘soul’ may emphasize his individuality and vitality with emphasis on his inner life and feeling and personal consciousness.” In other words the soul is what distinguishes us as individuals in our inner life. But how does that explain how to love God with our soul.
We must realize that although the text distinguishes between heart, soul, mind, and strength that what Jesus is trying to get over is that we are to love God with the totality of who we are and not to compartmentalize our spiritual lives. Having said that, it is important to distinguish our, “psyche” as a tangible part of who we are. Although we may never be able to ascertain exactly where our soul is located we can see expressions of it in our personality traits, the twinkle in our eyes, the joy in our laughter, and various other aspects of our life. Our soul is the life giving force which animates our body.
We must do everything we can to make sure it’s healthy.
There are elements of the soul which we may not be able to define but we can sure detect when they are diseased with fear, doubt, guilt, depression, bitterness and a host of other maladies.
As we consider our soul’s health, maybe a checkup is in order. Have we lost our zest for living, for relationship, for God. Let’s get on the road to recovery by reestablishing the health of our souls.
The word “soul” is used 129 times in 125 verses in the New International Version. The New Bible Dictionary defines it as follows. “The use of the word ‘soul’ may emphasize his individuality and vitality with emphasis on his inner life and feeling and personal consciousness.” In other words the soul is what distinguishes us as individuals in our inner life. But how does that explain how to love God with our soul.
We must realize that although the text distinguishes between heart, soul, mind, and strength that what Jesus is trying to get over is that we are to love God with the totality of who we are and not to compartmentalize our spiritual lives. Having said that, it is important to distinguish our, “psyche” as a tangible part of who we are. Although we may never be able to ascertain exactly where our soul is located we can see expressions of it in our personality traits, the twinkle in our eyes, the joy in our laughter, and various other aspects of our life. Our soul is the life giving force which animates our body.
We must do everything we can to make sure it’s healthy.
There are elements of the soul which we may not be able to define but we can sure detect when they are diseased with fear, doubt, guilt, depression, bitterness and a host of other maladies.
As we consider our soul’s health, maybe a checkup is in order. Have we lost our zest for living, for relationship, for God. Let’s get on the road to recovery by reestablishing the health of our souls.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
The Value of a Godly Mother
You never get too old to be your mother’s child. There is something about the connectedness between a mother and her child that never ever fades. Perhaps it is due to the physical connection which provided our nurture for the first 9 months of our lives. Whatever the cause your mother’s life will always impact you in a special way.
What does God have to say about a mother’s role in the life or her children. Isaiah says that a mother should have compassion for her child and should comfort her children (49:15, 66:13).
A mother treasures the things about her child (Luke 2:51) and has a vital role in influencing a child in his/her faith in Christ (2 Timothy 1:5). A mother also demonstrates tender care for a child (1 Thessalonians 2:7). There are many other scriptures which mention the word mother but usually they communicate how a child is to act toward his/her mother. In fact, I was a little surprised that there wasn’t more said about how a mother should rear children, act toward them, etc. I know that God’s principles for living a life that honors Him are applicable to all genders and that as mothers follow those it will help them to be a better mother, but I think that God has instilled into the life of moms certain intuitive traits which prepare them for the role of motherhood. Their actions define them! When Solomon was trying to ascertain which woman was the true mother of a child claimed by both, it was a mother’s love for her child that helped him decide the case justly
(1 Kings 3:16-28).
My mother has been with the Lord for over five years now, but the love, faith, and hope she poured into me will last a lifetime. Be sure to spend time with your mother if you still can. Thank her for the values she lives out before you and the love she gives you. You won’t ever regret it!
What does God have to say about a mother’s role in the life or her children. Isaiah says that a mother should have compassion for her child and should comfort her children (49:15, 66:13).
A mother treasures the things about her child (Luke 2:51) and has a vital role in influencing a child in his/her faith in Christ (2 Timothy 1:5). A mother also demonstrates tender care for a child (1 Thessalonians 2:7). There are many other scriptures which mention the word mother but usually they communicate how a child is to act toward his/her mother. In fact, I was a little surprised that there wasn’t more said about how a mother should rear children, act toward them, etc. I know that God’s principles for living a life that honors Him are applicable to all genders and that as mothers follow those it will help them to be a better mother, but I think that God has instilled into the life of moms certain intuitive traits which prepare them for the role of motherhood. Their actions define them! When Solomon was trying to ascertain which woman was the true mother of a child claimed by both, it was a mother’s love for her child that helped him decide the case justly
(1 Kings 3:16-28).
My mother has been with the Lord for over five years now, but the love, faith, and hope she poured into me will last a lifetime. Be sure to spend time with your mother if you still can. Thank her for the values she lives out before you and the love she gives you. You won’t ever regret it!
Monday, May 5, 2008
Measuring Life
We measure all kinds of things. We measure time, distance, mass, density, height, weight, light output, volume, temperature, speed, wealth, education, circumference, just to name a few. But how do we measure life? What gauge do we use to determine our core values and morals?
Some people will contend that Jesus actually said that we should not judge people at all (being interpreted means that we should never say that something is right or wrong in someone else’s life). If that is true then I guess we can throw out all out standards of Judeo-Christian ethics and shut down our entire justice system. We can also forget about any sense of truth or fairness for anyone and just accept the rule of the strongest to all things. This throws out the window any concept of equal rights for all people based on their inherent God-given rights and reduces us to the barbarism that at times plagues the human race.
I don’t hold to that interpretation at all. Jesus was not proposing some type of moral relativism where everyone determines their own truth. What Jesus warns us about is that our standard of measuring others (the critique of how and why we live) must be one which we are willing to be measured with. The truth is we all evaluate people. Some means of evaluation is necessary. As we judge and establish benchmarks for living we must not condemn people (that’s God’s responsibility). We are to be determinative according the measures of grace, mercy, and love which God has extended to us. The question really is, can I treat other people like God is treating me? When I adopt this measure then certainly I will be willing to be measured by the same standard.
Some people will contend that Jesus actually said that we should not judge people at all (being interpreted means that we should never say that something is right or wrong in someone else’s life). If that is true then I guess we can throw out all out standards of Judeo-Christian ethics and shut down our entire justice system. We can also forget about any sense of truth or fairness for anyone and just accept the rule of the strongest to all things. This throws out the window any concept of equal rights for all people based on their inherent God-given rights and reduces us to the barbarism that at times plagues the human race.
I don’t hold to that interpretation at all. Jesus was not proposing some type of moral relativism where everyone determines their own truth. What Jesus warns us about is that our standard of measuring others (the critique of how and why we live) must be one which we are willing to be measured with. The truth is we all evaluate people. Some means of evaluation is necessary. As we judge and establish benchmarks for living we must not condemn people (that’s God’s responsibility). We are to be determinative according the measures of grace, mercy, and love which God has extended to us. The question really is, can I treat other people like God is treating me? When I adopt this measure then certainly I will be willing to be measured by the same standard.
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