Galatians 5:13 "For you have been called to live in freedom -- not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love"
At the time this letter was written, certain Jewish Christians, known as Judaizers, were intent on making sure new gentile (non-Jewish) Christians were following portions of the Jewish law. The Judaizers believed that in order to be a true Christian, you had to still be partially Jewish and adhere to the law. They were wrong! Paul writes this letter to the young gentile Christians in Galatia and explains that they are to live in freedom from the law-not freedom to do as they pleased, but freedom to love one another.
Jesus has freed me from my sins so that I can serve him and love others. In fact, Jesus took things a step farther and freed me from even having to pay for my sins, so that I can serve others. Before Jesus came, you had to continually offer sacrifices and participate in certain rituals and traditions to solve your sin problem. Think of all the time and energy that took! Now, my salvation and my forgiveness come from Jesus, leaving me to focus on serving others in love. Jesus wants me to stop focusing on my sin-he's got that-and focus instead on others. I love that! It's a major shift from focusing on myself and my problems (pretty selfish if you think about it) and instead focusing on others and serving them! Jesus frees us to be less self centered and more "others centered!" It's a cool thing. Today, I will serve others in love. Yep, that's what I'll do 'cuz I'm free to do so!
Dear Jesus, thank you for the forgiveness and freedom you have given me. Help me use my freedom to love others. Amen.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Strong Foundation
Luke 6:48 "He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock..."
Jesus has been teaching the crowds and here tells a parable of two men. One man builds his house on rock, the other man on sand. When the storms come, one house stands and one house falls. This is how it with those who either practice Jesus' teachings or ignore them.
I didn't have to read any further this morning. This parable was a punch in my arm. It seems lately, the little storms in my life, have been rattling me. I loose sight of the fact that I need to daily be building my house on the rock. I need to be hearing Jesus' words and acting on them. I need to keep working on that foundation so that I can better stand against the storms. I am not about to let the storms of my life defeat me-especially my relatively small storms. I have Jesus and that is all I need.
Dear Jesus, help me build my life on you, the rock. Amen.
Jesus has been teaching the crowds and here tells a parable of two men. One man builds his house on rock, the other man on sand. When the storms come, one house stands and one house falls. This is how it with those who either practice Jesus' teachings or ignore them.
I didn't have to read any further this morning. This parable was a punch in my arm. It seems lately, the little storms in my life, have been rattling me. I loose sight of the fact that I need to daily be building my house on the rock. I need to be hearing Jesus' words and acting on them. I need to keep working on that foundation so that I can better stand against the storms. I am not about to let the storms of my life defeat me-especially my relatively small storms. I have Jesus and that is all I need.
Dear Jesus, help me build my life on you, the rock. Amen.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
He's Got the Moves Like Jagger
Luke 4: 30 "But he walked right through through the crowd and went on his way."
Jesus has raised a ruckus in his hometown of Nazareth. He knew he would not be accepted as the messiah there and he called them on it. Upset, the townspeople take Jesus to a nearby cliff to toss him off. But Jesus, with his Jedi-like powers and Jagger-like moves, walks right through the crowd and escapes!
I have often read right over this story. It's pretty awesome. Jesus can do anything. I'm not feeling too deep today so what I am taking from this today is simply, there ain't anything Jesus can't handle. So today I put my trust in him that he can handle my troubles.
Dear Jesus, thank you for being awesome! Amen.
Jesus has raised a ruckus in his hometown of Nazareth. He knew he would not be accepted as the messiah there and he called them on it. Upset, the townspeople take Jesus to a nearby cliff to toss him off. But Jesus, with his Jedi-like powers and Jagger-like moves, walks right through the crowd and escapes!
I have often read right over this story. It's pretty awesome. Jesus can do anything. I'm not feeling too deep today so what I am taking from this today is simply, there ain't anything Jesus can't handle. So today I put my trust in him that he can handle my troubles.
Dear Jesus, thank you for being awesome! Amen.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Eloi Eloi
Mark 15: 34 "And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani'-which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'"
Jesus has been hanging on the cross for six hours. His only companions are two thieves on crosses of their own who mock him. In extreme agony and on the verge of death, Jesus calls out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
I always thought this was odd. For one, Jesus had the power to save himself if he wished. And second, surely God had not forsaken Jesus, this was the plan-right? However you think about it theologically, the point is, for a moment in time, Jesus himself felt he had been forsaken by God. And we all have had that feeling at one point or another as well. In times of illness, loneliness, failure, regret and fear I know I have at times thought God has given up on me and left. And then I feel bad about feeling that way or I question my faith. But again, Jesus himself went through this! He experienced this same thing. So when I feel despair, who better to hear my prayers and my cries than Jesus? He knows what it is like and is always there to gently whisper..."three days my son."
Dear Jesus, be with me in my times of despair and worry. Amen.
Jesus has been hanging on the cross for six hours. His only companions are two thieves on crosses of their own who mock him. In extreme agony and on the verge of death, Jesus calls out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
I always thought this was odd. For one, Jesus had the power to save himself if he wished. And second, surely God had not forsaken Jesus, this was the plan-right? However you think about it theologically, the point is, for a moment in time, Jesus himself felt he had been forsaken by God. And we all have had that feeling at one point or another as well. In times of illness, loneliness, failure, regret and fear I know I have at times thought God has given up on me and left. And then I feel bad about feeling that way or I question my faith. But again, Jesus himself went through this! He experienced this same thing. So when I feel despair, who better to hear my prayers and my cries than Jesus? He knows what it is like and is always there to gently whisper..."three days my son."
Dear Jesus, be with me in my times of despair and worry. Amen.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Love God, Love Others
Mark 12:34 "...and from then on no one dared ask him any more questions."
A teacher of the law asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was. Jesus answered that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. The second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. After this exchange with the teacher of the law, the text tells us that "no one dared ask him any more questions." Why didn't anyone ask Jesus any more questions? Were they afraid? Did they feel stupid? Maybe it was because Jesus had just given them the answer to all answers. Love God and love others. What more needs to be discussed!?
I can sit around and talk theology and philosophy all day. I love it. I love politics, current events and sports too. But at the end of the day, all that matters according to Jesus, is if we are loving God and loving others. That's it. Case closed. No more questions. And there are no more questions because that is the answer of all answers. That's the meaning of life in a nutshell. Love God, love others. How am I doing with that today? I know I could be more loving today.
Dear Jesus, help me to love you and love others with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength today. Amen.
A teacher of the law asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was. Jesus answered that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. The second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. After this exchange with the teacher of the law, the text tells us that "no one dared ask him any more questions." Why didn't anyone ask Jesus any more questions? Were they afraid? Did they feel stupid? Maybe it was because Jesus had just given them the answer to all answers. Love God and love others. What more needs to be discussed!?
I can sit around and talk theology and philosophy all day. I love it. I love politics, current events and sports too. But at the end of the day, all that matters according to Jesus, is if we are loving God and loving others. That's it. Case closed. No more questions. And there are no more questions because that is the answer of all answers. That's the meaning of life in a nutshell. Love God, love others. How am I doing with that today? I know I could be more loving today.
Dear Jesus, help me to love you and love others with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength today. Amen.
Friday, August 23, 2013
The Heavenly Zone
Matthew 6:21 "Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be."
This passage of scripture contains some beautiful words from Jesus. In Matthew six, Jesus tells us to not store up treasures on earth, focus on material needs, or worry about what we have and don't have. He simply says focus our lives on heavenly things. That's what will bring true joy.
This was Jesus' way of saying "get in the zone." It's true that where our treasure is, that's where we can find our hearts. How I spend my money, where I spend my time, and the people I chose to hang with all say something about the condition of my heart. If I spend 10 hours a week playing fantasy football, it's clear I care a lot about that. If I eat at Chipotle every day for lunch (and who wouldn't want to do that!) I must love Chipotle more than other restaurants. So what do my choices say about my heart? What are my "treasures" saying about me? And do my treasures bring me to the "zone?" Are my treasures, heavenly treasures? What zone am I in? Is it a worldly zone or a heavenly one? Today I will seek to place my treasures in God's zone for my life.
Dear Jesus, help me forget about the worlds treasures and instead focus on your will for my life. Amen.
This passage of scripture contains some beautiful words from Jesus. In Matthew six, Jesus tells us to not store up treasures on earth, focus on material needs, or worry about what we have and don't have. He simply says focus our lives on heavenly things. That's what will bring true joy.
This was Jesus' way of saying "get in the zone." It's true that where our treasure is, that's where we can find our hearts. How I spend my money, where I spend my time, and the people I chose to hang with all say something about the condition of my heart. If I spend 10 hours a week playing fantasy football, it's clear I care a lot about that. If I eat at Chipotle every day for lunch (and who wouldn't want to do that!) I must love Chipotle more than other restaurants. So what do my choices say about my heart? What are my "treasures" saying about me? And do my treasures bring me to the "zone?" Are my treasures, heavenly treasures? What zone am I in? Is it a worldly zone or a heavenly one? Today I will seek to place my treasures in God's zone for my life.
Dear Jesus, help me forget about the worlds treasures and instead focus on your will for my life. Amen.
Monday, August 05, 2013
If You Can
Mark 9:23 "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Jesus has been asked to cast a demon out of a boy. The father asks Jesus to cast the demon out by saying "but if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." Jesus replies that everything is possible for him who believes.
I wonder if Jesus was insulted by the "if you can" statement? He's Jesus after all. He's the Son of God. If you can? Of course he can. It's almost laughable. But I catch myself thinking the same thing. I doubt. I have a hard time truly believing God will take care of me and provide what I need. Jesus was clear, everything is possible for him who believes. I need to believe today. Today I am going to believe that we are going to move and be in our new home this fall! It seems such a huge hill to climb and has already been expensive and exhausting, but I will believe.
Dear Jesus, I am trusting you with this today. Amen.
Jesus has been asked to cast a demon out of a boy. The father asks Jesus to cast the demon out by saying "but if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." Jesus replies that everything is possible for him who believes.
I wonder if Jesus was insulted by the "if you can" statement? He's Jesus after all. He's the Son of God. If you can? Of course he can. It's almost laughable. But I catch myself thinking the same thing. I doubt. I have a hard time truly believing God will take care of me and provide what I need. Jesus was clear, everything is possible for him who believes. I need to believe today. Today I am going to believe that we are going to move and be in our new home this fall! It seems such a huge hill to climb and has already been expensive and exhausting, but I will believe.
Dear Jesus, I am trusting you with this today. Amen.
Friday, August 02, 2013
Jonah Points to Jesus
Matthew 12:40 "For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so I, the Son of Man, will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights."
Jesus is speaking to his favorite audience (the Pharisees) and is trying to point out to them how blind they are. He tells them that their wickedness tops that of any other generation and they will surely pay the price for it. They don't get it and they don't see that Jesus himself is the messiah-the one who was to come and save Israel and all the world. Jesus looks back to Jonah and explains to them just as Jonah was in the belly of a fish for three days, he too will be in the "heart of the earth" or dead for three days. Jonah was a foreshadowing of Jesus. Everything points to Jesus!
I love how so much of the Old Testament points to Jesus. The focal point of all history is Jesus. Even the story of Jonah reflects Jesus. Does my life and does my story reflect Jesus? Am I pointing to him? Am I telling others of his coming, his life, his death and his resurrection? Jonah was not knowingly foreshadowing the life of Jesus perhaps, but can I? What can I do today or say today to help others see Jesus?
Dear Jesus, help me tell your story to others today. Amen.
Jesus is speaking to his favorite audience (the Pharisees) and is trying to point out to them how blind they are. He tells them that their wickedness tops that of any other generation and they will surely pay the price for it. They don't get it and they don't see that Jesus himself is the messiah-the one who was to come and save Israel and all the world. Jesus looks back to Jonah and explains to them just as Jonah was in the belly of a fish for three days, he too will be in the "heart of the earth" or dead for three days. Jonah was a foreshadowing of Jesus. Everything points to Jesus!
I love how so much of the Old Testament points to Jesus. The focal point of all history is Jesus. Even the story of Jonah reflects Jesus. Does my life and does my story reflect Jesus? Am I pointing to him? Am I telling others of his coming, his life, his death and his resurrection? Jonah was not knowingly foreshadowing the life of Jesus perhaps, but can I? What can I do today or say today to help others see Jesus?
Dear Jesus, help me tell your story to others today. Amen.
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