Religion Verses Faith: Motivation

A teacher had students make a poster of a "quote" that motivates them and encourages them.

Interestingly enough those who were of Christian faith picked quotes immediately that were based on the bible or directly from the bible but those who weren't Christian didn't have a quote that motivated and encouraged them.   In fact, those who didn't have a quote searched and searched and having only a little amount of time to decide picked quotes they really didn't have any sort of attachment to whatsoever.

I think this is interesting.   How often do we "do" in life just because it's in some human obligation, requirement or understanding not because we have some real conviction about something.

I believe these Christian students wrote what they wrote because God had put those things on their heart.  It wasn't out of some "religious" obligation.

“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people."  Jeremiah 31:33

How often do I hear, "I am not religious"... but God isn't about religion but relationship.   A REAL relationship.   Life is about about discovering God and seeing God become a great source of strength and encouragement in our life.

I once was very lost in my own understanding about life.  I was "in the dark".   I didn't really get this Christianity "religion".    I mean I knew there was God and Jesus but I didn't pay them much attention unless I got in trouble or in a pinch.  Then I would pray.. hoping he would listen to my plea. 

I didn't understand God could really speak to us and show us things.  I didn't understanding he could give us deeper insight into his word and build upon his word.  I didn't realize God created me for a plan and purpose.  And because I didn't understand these things I might as well been a chicken locked in a chicken coop with a fox.  I might as well be chasing the wind.   I might as well be digging in wet sand and it filling back in.

I think most people have this fear of surrendering their life to God or becoming dependent on God so we take the religious route but that gives very little comfort for the soul in the long run.   

God is about RELATIONSHIP not religion.

Take some time and look at a bible online.... http://www.biblegateway.com/

Look at all the verses that say such things as:

-As to the LORD
-Do in the name of the LORD
-In Christ
-Through Christ
-Walk in him (Christ)
-dwell in him (Christ)
-abide in me (Christ)

Look at those things carefully... they all speak of relationship not religion.

As a Christian, the Lord becomes our everything.   The things of this world go strangely dim.   They lose importance.  It's God that keeps us going strong.

When you are in love with someone, the love peps you up does it not?   You do things that you wouldn't normally do because of this love.  As you mature in the Lord it is very much the same. 

The Lord becomes your everything.  He becomes the source of your strength and encouragement.   He is your driving source and influence.

Read this:

"And it is impossible to please God without faith.   Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." Hebrews 11:6

Faith.... not religion. People call faith religion because they don't understand faith as a relationship.

Religion is often ritualistic and legalistic.   It cuts God out of the picture.  Rituals and legalism don't save the soul or help the soul endure the things of this life but God does!

Proverbs 3:5-6 says
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths."

"All of your heart"....  hence the "relationship" and "faith".  Our own understanding keeps us away from God.  It often confuses us and troubles us and puffs up in pride and arrogance.

Troubled people think things like, "I have to get myself right before I come to God.."  But no one "makes" themselves right with God.  God makes them right with Himself.   All we have to do is surrender our life to him.  God is the one who changes us and He introduces us to the mighty Savior Jesus!

He is the one who turns the light on in the attic of our mind.

This is often a daily thing!  As Christians, we are plugged in but we have to "let go" and focus on God so the switch comes on-  so his ebb and flow of hope, mercy, grace, peace, love, wisdom, faith, nourishes our soul and make us capable to endure all the things in this life.    

Through this partnership God builds and grows us supernaturally in our relationship with Him.

Those with some bible knowledge think about this:
Who was the man of God? David or King Saul?

Who was only after the things God could give him? David or King Saul?

How was shallow in his thinking and understanding? David or King Saul?

"Beware least any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." Colossians 2:8 

David's focus: was to have a relationship with God.  He knew it was God who gave him strength and encouragement.  (The Giver)

King Saul's focus: was on the gifts he could receive from God for being king. (The gifts of the Giver.)

David: Abiding in God's love.

King Saul: Not abiding in God's love.  Not trusting or obeying God.

Jesus said,  "I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me should not abide in darkness." John 12:46

What motivates us? What are we abiding in?

Let us be silent before the Lord and have him speak into our heart.  In Jesus Name Amen.



 


 



  

Abiding in God's Love Part.3

About a week ago, as the Lord was speaking to me about His love he reminded me of the exchange he had with Peter in the book of John, Chapter 21, verses 15-19.

“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”

“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.

Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”

“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. Once more he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was grieved that Jesus asked the question a third time.  He said, “Lord, you know everything.  You know I love you.”

Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep….”

I thought of many different aspects of this passage.  I thought about John who quietly observed this conversation.  How there was probably the scent of fish and smoke on their clothing.  I thought about how Peter’s understanding brought tears to his eyes.  I thought about Jesus’ word use of lambs and sheep.   I thought, “Was Jesus asking me to feed and take care of his lambs and sheep?  And in what capacity does Jesus wanted me to do this in? And after reading the passage a couple times through, I noticed Jesus wasn’t asking Peter if he loved Him more anyone else love Him but He was asking Peter if he loved his family/friends more then he loved HIM (Jesus)?  Did his family and friends take precedence over Him (Jesus)?

But most of all it came down to the words….”Do you love me?”

“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Matthew 22:37

Remember what I shared with you before?  I cannot love the Lord my God with my heart, my soul and my mind unless I accept and submit to God’s love first.    

1 John 4:19 says, “We love because he first loved us.”

Acceptance and submission to God’s love… is a great benefit in finding peace in all the unknowns in life... is it not?   Abiding in God’s love we are made perfect in hope, faith, and love. Note: 1 John 4:18

“Do you love me?”   These red-hot words were rivets to anchor Peter to the ROCK of his faith (JESUS).  They would anchor is faith in the most difficult and trying times.   We know this because Jesus concludes this part of the exchange with:

 “The truth is, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked and go wherever you wanted to.  But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will direct you and take you where you don’t want to go.” Jesus said this to let him know what kind of death he would die to glorify God.  Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

Most people in this world find it hard to understand how death might glorify God because God is the one who is suppose to save us and heal us.  If God loves us why do Christians die?  Why do Christians suffer?   Why do Christians go through challenges and trials in life?  They don’t understand that even when bad things come in life, God can turn them into something good.  He can build a stronger relationship with a person in the trials and circumstances in life then if they went through nothing at all.  Does God still heal?  Yes!  Does God still do miracles?  Yes!  Does it mean God doesn’t love us when we face troubles in this temporary life? No! God faithfulness and love endures forever.  

What would you say if a person knew they were going to die of cancer but trusted in Jesus every step of the way down that path?  How about those who don’t give up Jesus Christ knowing they will die for their faith?  People find it hard to understand but if you know something is true, you are willing to die for it- not in hatred or prejudice but simply knowing God holds your life in his hand and even though those who hate you are probably going to take your life you are about to enter eternity in Heaven where you will get to see your Jesus face to face.  Where the streets have no names.  People find it hard to understand because they hold on to this life too much.  They put too much of an emphasis on this life then the life to come.

DO WE UNDERSTAND THIS?  Do we understand this completely and wholeheartedly?

Peter would get know God’s love in such a deep way and manner that despite painful and heart wrenching situations and circumstances of this life… these things would not measure up or budge him from his faith in Jesus Christ.  When oppressions and siftings of life were put on the scales next to God’s love, they would not be heavier then Peter’s reality of God’s love.  Peter would learn to abide in God’s love in such a deep way he probably couldn’t even imagine how deep it would be… and now God is asking us to experience that same type of love.

Christian… put your name in Simon Peter’s spot.  “_________________ , do you love me?”

Life happens and people are cheated out of their lives everyday but could you say… “Thank you God that I have gotten to know your love in such a deep way that I am not afraid of death?”    

Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy…. But he can’t separate you from God’s love.  It is us that allow our selves to believe in such lies.  

Do we love God in such a degree that our sorrows would be washed away in the tide of God’s love?  Could we overlook the difficulties in life and turn them to praises and thanksgiving because we have continually sought the comfort of God’s everlasting love?  And as we have sought the comfort of God we have seen God's blessings and provisions along the way.

 

From the evidence I have experienced, seen and read, it is only by abiding in God’s love does one overcome adversity, fear and even death.  Clothed…. Clothed in light and love…. only by accepting, submitting and abiding in his love…

Is Jesus challenging you to accept and submit to his love in a deeper way?  Is he challenging your heart…?  Is he calling you out?  And are you living a godly life regardless of the trials and challenges because you are abiding in his love?

 

It is not a strong testimony to continue in the faith in amongst trials and challenges? Is it not a strong testimony to continue in the faith when this world dismisses God but you don't?

Jesus is calling…… “Do you love me?”

However you want to say it... run... hide... abide in God's love.

 MAY GOD BLESS YOU IN THE REALITY OF HIS LOVE!!!!

Abiding in God's Love Part 2

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 Shadows of Men and Women

How often do we stand in the shadows of men and women to find they are not who we thought they were?

Two young ladies had Marilyn Monroe immortalized on their desktops.   They were surprised when I told them Marilyn Monroe wasn’t a blond but a red head.   They were even more surprised that Marilyn Monroe wasn’t her real name but Norma Gene.   They then looked up pictures of “this” Norma Gene to find that she was indeed Marilyn Monroe.   Suddenly utterances such as, “Why did she color her hair and why did she change her name?  She was so pretty as a red head?  Norma Gene is a pretty name.”  Of course this led to more searches of people changing their appearances where they discovered, for the most part, that these changes weren’t necessary improvements.

 

I found that when we try to change who we are, to impress others, we only end up with disappointing results.   We end up isolated because we can’t be who we really are.   Think about it?

When we try to impress others, we only falsify who we are.   People like not us but mere shadows of our selves. They like the lie more the then the REAL thing.

God made you for himself.  He didn’t make you like everyone else.  He is the one who created you for his purpose and pleasure.   

We must remember the lie will burn…. Everything that is false will burn.  Everything is false will be exposed. 

“The time is coming when everything will be revealed; all that is secret will be made public.  Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!” Luke 12:2-3

On the same note, we must not walk in the shadows of men and women but upon the foundation of Jesus Christ.  We should abide in HIS love.   Men and women may do works and say many words but take pride in God, no men or women. Take no pride in your church affiliation but in Christ and Christ alone.  Thank God for your accomplishments and your provisions.

“It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in people.   It is better to take refuge in the LORD than trust in princes.” Psalm 118:8-9

Paul writes: “Because of God’s special favor to me, I have laid a foundation like an expert builder.  Now others are building on it.  But whoever is building on this foundation must be careful.  For no one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have- Jesus Christ.  Now anyone who builds on that foundation may use gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay or straw.  But there is going to come a time of testing at the judgment day to see what kind of work each builder had done.   Everyone’s work will be put through the fire to see whether or not it keeps its value.   If the work survives the fire, that builder will receive a reward.  But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss.   The builders themselves will be saved, but like someone escaping through a wall of flames.   Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will bring ruin upon anyone who ruins this temple.  For God’s temple is holy, and you Christians are that temple.   Stop fooling yourselves.   If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you will have to become a fool so you can become wise by God’s standards.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.  As the Scriptures say, ‘God catches those who think they are wise in their own cleverness.’ And again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are worthless.’  So don’t take pride in following a particular leader.  Everything belongs to you:  Paul and Apollos and Peter; the whole world and life and death; the present and the future. Everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.” 1 Corinthians 3:10-23

Stay out of the shadows, for we don’t know when a gust of wind will blow and the shadows will decide to become falling trees instead. 

John 2:24-25 “But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew what people were really like.  No one needed to tell him about human nature.”  
 Abide in God's love. 

Praise the Father, Praise the Son. Praise the Spirit. Three in One

  

Here is the song..... the Spirit encouraged them to write.