Friday, July 31, 2009
The Way of Wisdom
Monday, July 27, 2009
The Cost of Discipleship: Grace
Costly grace confronts us as a gracious call to follow Jesus. It comes as a word of forgiveness to the broken spirit and the contrite heart. Grace is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says: “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Down To Earth
Friday, July 24, 2009
Lose the Gentile mind. Seek Him.
Matthew 6:31-34
Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear? For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all. But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.
Lives are consumed with anxiety, but God has promised to supply all of our needs! The trick is, He already knows them and has said that he will take care of them.If we loose our natural our "gentile" minds - seeking, craving the things of this world. In exchange we must let our thoughts become captivated, totally saturated in Him!
Let the desires of this world pass us by!
Two keys : Seek His Kingdom
Seek His righteousness
1) Seek the kingdom of God
Kingdom or Basilela:
(1) royal power, kingship, dominion, rule
(a) not to be confused with an actual kingdom, but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom
(b) of the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah
(c) of the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah's Kingdom
(2) a Kingdom, the territory subject tot he rule of a king
(3) used in N.T. to refer to the reign of the Messiah
When we truly allow and seek for the Kingdom of God we are allowing Him to reign in total dominion: royal power. As we walk after his ways, thoughts, wishes, plans, and purpose our lives and thoughts become subject to His rule.
2) Seek his righteousness
Righteousness or Dikaiosune:
(1) in a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be, righteous, the condition acceptable to God
(b) integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking, feeling and acting
In the multitude of my [anxious] thoughts within me,
Your comforts cheer and delight my soul [desire, emotion, passion!].
Ps. 94:19
O Lord, You are the delight of our souls! Our desires, emotions, passions must come from you! Let our every thought be taken captive, subject to You! That our thoughts, feelings and actions would be correct in your sight. Let our eyes be blinded to the cares of this world as we seek your kingdom & righteousness. Our eye fixed, truly trusting, looking to you!