As you go throughout your days, are you pursuing a life of holiness? Are you consciously striving to be the person God created you to be, a person who is consumed by the love of Jesus? This isn’t a new concept, but it has been brought to my mind in fresh ways through recent teachings by Bill Hybels and David Platt. Not only has God placed a unique combination of passions and skills in each of us in order that we might do the work He created us to do, but He has also charged us to conduct ourselves in a manner that is pleasing to Him (Philippians 1:27).
humility
The Lie of Acquired Significance
We all want to feel significant; we want to know we are here for a purpose and are making a difference in the world. I think the reason so many people ask the “Why am I here?” question is because they feel insignificant and are searching for something to fill the emptiness within them. Even Christians who realize that Christ is the only one who can satisfy the deep longings in their soul often struggle with trying to figure out their purpose in life. This is another of Satan’s favorite tricks; he has convinced you of the need to search for something to make you feel significant. [Read more…] about The Lie of Acquired Significance
Spectators and Participants
Within Christianity there are two camps; those who are spectators and those who are participants. The true followers of Jesus are those who participate in His mission on earth. Spectator Christians are those who have prayed the “sinner’s prayer” and are content to go to church on Sunday and perhaps volunteer every now and then for one of the various ministries of their congregation. To which group do you belong? I believe those whom Christ will welcome into His kingdom are those who have chosen to do the things He commanded us to do: to feed the hungry and care for the orphans, the widows, and the sick. Following the commands of Jesus means that we will have to get our hands dirty and, yes, participate in the work itself.
Role Reversal
When the faces of hungry children live half a planet away, it is easy to forget them. When our schedules are tight and we are running late, it is a simple matter to look the other way when we see a homeless person with an outstretched hand. Rationalizations for not lending a hand to help are easy to come by when our lives are already stressed out and booked solid.
In theory, we know we should be helping those who are in need, the people who are less fortunate than ourselves. In practice, most of us struggle to carry on the mission of Christ. We are too wrapped up in our own problems and absorbed in our own lives. But let me ask a simple question: what if the person in need was you? [Read more…] about Role Reversal
Why Do We Follow Jesus?
Looking around the world today, it seems that each new sunrise brings word of a new political uprising. Almost without fail, these demonstrations turn violent and people are killed and wounded. Oppressive regimes grow in power and the persecution of Christians grows more frequent and violent with each day. European nations have all but abandoned the way of Jesus, and exchanged it for a life of relativism, cynicism and ultimately hopelessness. In America, a nation once considered the shining light of the world, we see a downward spiral of respect for authority and for God. The whole world has seemingly gone crazy, and perhaps we should expect nothing less from a planet that has abandoned its Creator to seek selfish pleasure and gain.