I Corinthians 6:9-11

I Corinthians 6:9-11 “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

Mark 16:15 “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.’”

The pastor at the singles group I attend told us about a church member explaining about his friend. The church member said his friend was living with his girlfriend, and even though he told the friend that he needed to move out or get married, because living together was wrong, the friend, who isn’t a Christian, didn’t think there was anything wrong with it and just ignored him.

That’s when the pastor stopped the church member and said, “What are you doing talking to your friend about his sex life? Are you trying to populate hell with good people?”

That brought me up short. When we let someone’s behavior become more important to us than their salvation, then we’ve got our priorities all messed up. It is Christ, through the Holy Spirit, who helps people mend their ways. He alone has the power to wash them, sanctify them, and make them into His image—just as He did (or is still doing) with us. His commission to us was to preach the gospel, not help people get their act together.

Are there people in your life who aren’t believers? Are you trying to help them come to know Jesus, or are you trying to help them become better people for the day they end up in hell?

Let’s let our hearts be like that of Christ, who saw past the sin to the person in need of Him. Let’s do what we can to introduce them to the One who makes all things new.

Brenda

Psalm 19:1

Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

There is glory in the heavens and on the earth. We see it in eclipses and auroras, in rainbows and in shafts of sunlight slicing out through the clouds to brighten part of the surface of the ocean or a lake. We see it in a crescent moon curving toward Venus in a clear night sky. We see it in a field of golden poppies bobbing in the sun.

God gave us a sense of wonder, He gave us an appreciation for beauty, and He gave us laughter. He made us in His image, something He didn’t do when He created the animals.

A lion hunts his prey and doesn’t notice the bloom of flowers at his feet. A dog sniffs the air outside the house and doesn’t stop to marvel at the sky. A young monkey doesn’t laugh because he’s just made up his very first joke.

We’re unique among all creation, made in the image of a God who loves and who takes delight in His people. As His people, let us renew our sense of wonder at all God has created and all He has given us to enjoy during our time here on earth.

As His people, let us join the heavens in declaring His glory.

Brenda

Jeremiah 1:5

Jeremiah 1:5 “’Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’”

Jeremiah 29:11 “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

I have a digital camera, and I love it. It has a 10-X zoom that lets me get close to the subject. And I took some pictures with it that really amazed me. They would look stunning as 16 x 20 photos, matted and framed and hanging on my wall. I’ve had plans to get some glossy paper and start with 8 x 10’s and see how they look. But then I learned how to calculate the maximum size I can print, based on the number of pixels in the digital image. The biggest good quality print I can get from my camera is just over 5 x 7, and I’m so disappointed. Because of the limitations of my camera, I’ve had to scale back on my plans.

And it makes me wonder what kind of limitations I’ve placed on the vision God had for me. What did He see when He made me? What did He make me capable of? And is He disappointed when He sees me go only so far and then stop short of all I can do for Him?

Because of my camera, I’m back on my knees asking the Lord questions I don’t remember asking Him before, at least not in the same way. I’ve focused so much on what I love to do that I’ve forgotten to ask what He’d love for me to do. What future does He plan to give me? What did He set me apart to be or do for Him? And how much strength will I need (all of His, certainly) in order to do this?

Where is your focus, and has it limited God’s plans for you? Seek His face. Seek His will. Seek a new look at the vision He has for your life.

May He open our eyes to the light of His glory.

Brenda

Matthew 5:22

Matthew 5:22 “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”

This year my church is focusing specifically on outreach to the unchurched and non-believers. Our minister even warned us at the end of last year that his sermons this year will be targeted at non-believers and not at believers. Members have been asked to think of outsiders and what we can do that would make them feel more comfortable, things like wearing jeans to church instead of fancy outfits. And I’ve tried to be more aware what I can do and say that will be welcoming.

But when I was walking to my car after church a few weeks ago, I saw a bumper sticker on someone else’s car. It said, “One World. One Future,” and it was published by some globalization foundation. My first reaction was scorn. If I saw this bumper sticker out there in the rest of the world, I would think the owner was some kind of left-wing global, environmental socialist (not a good thing in my mind). But this was church. The car was at my church. And my heart was revealed to be wrong.

The bumper sticker was right in one sense. There is one future for our world: destruction and replacement by the new heaven and new earth. But for the people on our one world, there are two possible futures: heaven or hell. And by my scorn, I was saying in my heart that there are some people about whom I don’t care what their future is. God is not pleased.

I’ve had to turn back to the Psalms and start praying some of David’s prayers, especially Psalm 139:23-24. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts. And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Where is your heart when it comes to people who aren’t like you? When it comes to people who upset you? Is it where the Lord would like it to be? Turn to Him and ask Him to change your heart, make it more like His, and to lead you in the way everlasting.

May He fill your heart with His love.

Brenda

John 8:58

John 8:58 “’I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am.’”

How many times do I use that phrase, “I am…,” every day? I am a Christian. I am a computer programmer. I am a writer, a photographer, a blogger. I am a mom, a daughter, a sister, a cousin, a friend, an ex-wife. The answer I give depends on the context of the question, “Who are you?”

But when I look at what John the Baptist said—“He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30)—I can see that I have a long way to go. My life gets wrapped up too much in what I do for a living and in keeping track of my schedule, so that I lose sight of the important “I am’s.” Ultimately, it’s not about me. It’s not about the direction my life is or isn’t taking. It’s about Jesus, who said:

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is and who was and who is to come” (Revelation 1:8). “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11). “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). “I am the vine” (John 15:5). “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). “I am gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29). “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves” (Matthew 10:16). “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Who is greater in your life, and who is less? Let us look for times and ways in our lives to focus more on Jesus—not on what He does, but who He is.

Brenda