The Invitation is a Declaration

Matthew 4:19, “’Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’”

Jesus’ first invitation to those who would become his disciples (and the apostles) is really more than an invitation - it’s a challenging declaration too. Most invitations give you an option of refusal. Jesus’ invitation gives you the option of a transformation to live life with a cause that is bigger than yourself.

Jesus was very clear. First, He said “Come” – which means a directional change toward Him and not away from Him. Second, He said, “Follow me” – which means an understanding that the leadership of their lives will not be left to them alone. Third, Jesus said, “I will make you” – which calls for the submission and humility in the student-teacher relationship. Last in His invitation, He says they would become “fishers of men” – this would mean a commitment to change  and be in His family’s business.

This invitation, and declaration, is still a clarion call to every Christ follower today. What will we choose? His hope is that you respond much like those first disciples did, “At once they left their nets and followed him.” Leave what you must, choose today, and follow Him!

a 21-day journey is coming...

It's been way too long since I have blogged. I have written a 21-day devotional I will post daily beginning Sunday, January 5 on my blog for your reading pleasure. My hope and prayer is that it will encourage you to grow as a Christ follower. If you are not a Christ follower now, then I encourage you to read and learn from these snapshots what being a Christ follower is supposed to be.

Today I was reading Acts 2:42, "All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer." (NLT). I prayed for the Lord to keep me devoted to these same things to which the early church was devoted. They are very relational - all under the same teaching, fellowship, sharing in meals, the Lord's supper, prayer. I also prayed for Bethel Church, where I serve, to be the same. A precious retired pastor that attended a church I once served said to me, "Pastor, if everyone in the church had their oar in the water rowing, they would not have time to complain." His nuggets of truth were so encouraging. So in this new year we can be devoted to rowing.
 
It is encouraging to me that when Jesus is the center of the church, He is the unifying factor. When we keep our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects of our faith, we become a unified bunch. (Hebrews 12:2). When our eyes are focused on Him, it's difficult to look at others who can distract us. My prayer for all of us is to stay focused and devoted and not be distracted with any spiritual ADD - attention deficit disorder.

On a personal level, I choose to make Jesus the center of my life (and not a top priority). If He is a top priority, it is a challenge to involve Him in all the priorities down the list. However, if He is the center of my life, then everything I am and do comes from this relationship I have with Him. This is a paradigm shift for many of us. In making Jesus the center, I encourage you to follow me as a I follow Christ.

Jesus, may those who read this blog today hear your voice calling to them, "Follow me." Let them walk in your blessing and favor this year. Help them to keep their eyes on You! Amen!

Make the most of it...

It's amazing how fast a year can speed through our lives. Does anyone realize I am writing this blog just 13 days before Christmas? And if I remember correctly just seven days after comes a new year. Unbelievable.
Paul (the apostle) told us to make the most of every opportunity. How do you slow the opportunities down long enough to make the most out of them? They keep flying by. Just last night I experienced one of the greatest opportunities to date in my work with the great Bethel church in Tampa. We celebrated Christmas with various arts sharing the wonderful story of God's plan for our salvation. With over 800 people in attendance, I personally had the privilege of inviting our guests to have the great gift of Christmas, Christ himself. After asking them if they knew what God wanted for Christmas, I shared with them it was their lives. Many responded. It was awesome. Pray with us as we continue to reach out to the precious friends and invite them to become family.
How about you? What are you giving God for Christmas? Make the most of it...

daily bread

in a prayer we often call "the Lord's prayer" we find a phrase He teaches us to pray. This phrase is give us this day our daily bread. A great friend in the ministry shared in a meeting last week about this phrase. He shared some challenging thoughts. This is a one day at a time prayer. God does not advance money to our accounts until we need it. He is our source. As God calls us to a place of ministry, service and opporunity, He will provide. Just a great reminder... Enjoy your daily bread!

Embrace Him NOW!

An amazing passage of the Bible is found in Paul's letter to the church @ Philippi, 3:8-9 (the message), "...I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by Him. I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ-God's righteousness."

This embracing is more than a moment. It's embracing with our lives. It's embracing with our all. It's living with "it" all dumped in the trash in order to embrace Him. It is impossible to embrace Him when we are holding tight to "it" - things, good or bad, or holding too tight to ourselves. I wonder if God sees that I am holding too tight to anything so I cannot embrace Him. We should ask Him to reveal those things to us, so we can "dump" them immediately. This is challenging but well worth the journey.

When He embraces us, or as Jesus stated it in John 4: 23-24, worshipping in spirit and truth, we will be found in Him. And in Him we will keep his covering over us (Psalm 95:6-7); adjust our atmosphere (Acts 16:25+); find His favor (2 Chronicles 5:13-14); and bring His blessing (Psalm 1). It just worth embracing Him. Why don't you get your embracing on right now?

Have a great week!

God $ense, overcoming economic chaos

When you are in so deep it is easy to loose perspective and you cannot find your way out. That may be exactly where we are as a nation economically. Lost perspective is borrowing more money to pay off loans you already have (then you owe more money). This does not make "good sense". And it certainly does not make "God $ense".

God $ense gives us perspective, purpose and process to manage our finances even in economical chaos. Let's start with Proverbs 3:5-10...Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

If we can trust God to actually do life (including finances) His way, then we will walk in provision and blessing. Amazing isn't it? Trusting God means not trusting your heart, mind, ways or personal wisdom. Let Him lead and guide you every step of the way.

Trusting Him may take a heart transplant. Our heart is "deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"(Jeremiah 17:9) Our selfish and grieving heart should be replaced with a generous and grateful heart. Read Deuteronomy 15:7-15.

Trusting Him takes a commitment to contentment. Paul says in Philippians 4:10-13, ...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances...I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or want...I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

We often quote the last phrase, I can do all things..., about many things, but Paul was specifically writing about his commitment to contentment. It is only through Christ that we can learn and live in contentment (having our soul @ rest).

God $ense is what I want for me. And it is what I am praying for you. Have a great week!

Be Strong!

Paul concludes his letter to the church at Ephesus with the admonition to be strong. Have you ever wondered why God said to us throughout the Bible through different stories and passages to be strong? This is not really a trick question. He says is often because His followers are not strong - at least in His perception - which is what matters most.

In this conclusion, Paul gives some valuable insight how we can be strong. It is not with our own might. He tells us to take on the full armor of God. In other words, we cannot be strong on our on.

Some people with deep church or religious backgrounds may have actually fallen into a bad understanding that God will not allow you to take on more than you can bear. In fact, if you look up the verses in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 that thought is derived from, you will find there is more to the story. Paul, speaking of temptation in this passage, does say God will not let you have more than you can bear. He continues to say that God will provide a way of escape in those situations. So it is more than you can handle by yourself, but not so with Him.

Look at what Paul said in this letter to the Ephesians, "Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting, you'll still be on your feet." (6:13, The Message).

Here again we are told this life stuff is larger than us. The only way we can stand firm is to completely, without reservation depend on and trust in God. We must take on the full armor. We must take it all - every weapon God has issued. Battles with our enemy are coming - it's a guarantee. But we can stand firm to our victory only if we take on His help.

Have a great week. (I took a little vacation and missed some weeks - but i am back in the saddle now)