Saturday, October 30, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Divine Curiosity
How many times have you heard someone say, "Don't worry about what people think"? I have heard it many, many times and have even said it myself.
Have I been guilty of worrying about what other people think? Yep! Have I ever let it keep me up at nights? Yep! Have I ever been influenced by what people think? Yep! Haven't we all?
Do you think Jesus wondered about what people thought of Him? In Matthew 16, Jesus was divinely curious if just for a brief moment.
He asked His disciples, "What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?" The disciples knew what they were saying. (Jesus probably knew, too.) They quickly replied: "Some think you are John the Baptizer. Some think you are Elijah. Some say you are Jeremiah or one of the other prophets."
Jesus then turned His attention to the disciples. He must have been really curious because the Message Bible says, "He pressed (pushed, pressured) them saying, 'How about you? Who do you say that I am?' "
Peter responded, "You are the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
Jesus answered, "God bless you, Simon . . . My Father in heaven, God Himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am." Jesus could have stopped talking there, but He didn't. What He said is amazing: "And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are." Wow!
Jesus is still curious today. He still asks, "Who do you say I am?" Sadly, many of us stop listening after that first revelation of who God is. However, God has so much more to say to us besides that. He longs to tell us who we really are and that we have total access to Him and the riches of His kingdom and that we have an awesome future secure in Him. No more barriers!
Oh, may we always press in and listen as He reveals more secrets about Himself, and as He speaks those precious words, may we be open and listening for all His precious words to us.
Have I been guilty of worrying about what other people think? Yep! Have I ever let it keep me up at nights? Yep! Have I ever been influenced by what people think? Yep! Haven't we all?
Do you think Jesus wondered about what people thought of Him? In Matthew 16, Jesus was divinely curious if just for a brief moment.
He asked His disciples, "What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?" The disciples knew what they were saying. (Jesus probably knew, too.) They quickly replied: "Some think you are John the Baptizer. Some think you are Elijah. Some say you are Jeremiah or one of the other prophets."
Jesus then turned His attention to the disciples. He must have been really curious because the Message Bible says, "He pressed (pushed, pressured) them saying, 'How about you? Who do you say that I am?' "
Peter responded, "You are the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
Jesus answered, "God bless you, Simon . . . My Father in heaven, God Himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am." Jesus could have stopped talking there, but He didn't. What He said is amazing: "And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are." Wow!
Jesus is still curious today. He still asks, "Who do you say I am?" Sadly, many of us stop listening after that first revelation of who God is. However, God has so much more to say to us besides that. He longs to tell us who we really are and that we have total access to Him and the riches of His kingdom and that we have an awesome future secure in Him. No more barriers!
Oh, may we always press in and listen as He reveals more secrets about Himself, and as He speaks those precious words, may we be open and listening for all His precious words to us.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Tech Report
We weren't able to get up our 10-10-10 service Sunday morning on Ustream.
Traveling the "L" in the Chicago area puts one in touch with people and their lives. Living in North Alabama almost everyone you pass is in a car or truck. So here are all these people going by but they (and yourself) are enclosed by all that glass, steel and plastic. You are close but separated. You can't sense them spiritually, emotionally or physically. But put them six inches away in a subway car and you become quite aware of their presence on all levels. Being with hundreds of people for a week affects you. One tends to pray for the person next to you. I rarely pray for people driving by except to ask God to help their driving skills! Today I would say: "Get close, get involved, and God will flow through you."
Traveling the "L" in the Chicago area puts one in touch with people and their lives. Living in North Alabama almost everyone you pass is in a car or truck. So here are all these people going by but they (and yourself) are enclosed by all that glass, steel and plastic. You are close but separated. You can't sense them spiritually, emotionally or physically. But put them six inches away in a subway car and you become quite aware of their presence on all levels. Being with hundreds of people for a week affects you. One tends to pray for the person next to you. I rarely pray for people driving by except to ask God to help their driving skills! Today I would say: "Get close, get involved, and God will flow through you."
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