Why do you believe what you believe?
This is a question every Christian needs to ask themselves at least once. If you've grown up in a Christian home and the only thing you've got to assure your salvation is that you asked Jesus into your heart when you were 5, I'm worried for your soul. I know for myself that when I realized this it was the turning point in my faith. I'm very thankful for the environment that I grew up in, but it's that very environment that brought me a false sense of security. I thought that since I had prayed the prayer and I went to church that I was home free.
The point when I realized that Jesus was so much more than fire insurance was the point where my life gained direction, meaning and no ending.
So why choose Jesus? I looked into the other religions and thankfully I could see the deception created by each of them. I knew that there was a God and I had to find Him. It took stumbling into God's word expecting nothing and receiving everything to make me see that there was a God that loved me. I can't properly explain what it takes to come to belief in Christ, because it is such an unimaginable experience. I knew that my sin stank and I needed to be clean. So here is are some things God offers that the world doesn't:
-hope of something after life
-Reconciliation of sins through Jesus
-Love in an unfailing form
-Joy
-A Father that guides and keeps us
-Peace
-A spirit to Guide us
-the Perfect Father
-satisfaction that nothing on earth can offer
There are so many more than this, please add to the list!
I believe because Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old testament and the sacrificial Lamb for mankind. I believe because God's power is evident in his book and in the people which he works through now. Most of all I believe because once the blindness of my heart was gone I could see Jesus and I could see the light that is Faith and I have never wanted to turn away from Him. I think I'll be given more answers as I continue to seek God in my life.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Poor
"Blessed are the poor in spirit" Matthew 5:3
What does it mean to be poor in spirit? What does it mean to be poor? It means to be in poverty or have low quality.
Jesus teaches blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. So as I see it, when you are poor in money you need and want more money. To compare the spirit to money is not the greatest but it will work. To get more money you have to work at a job, put in more hours and more effort. To gain more spirit is exactly the same! When Jesus says this he knows that when someone is poor they are always trying to escape their poverty. Do you think your spirit is really satisfied? Our human spirit will never be satisfied with the worldly things, it takes new birth, it takes the coming of the holy spirit into you.
Look at the Israelites they lived most of their lives unsatisfied and always looking to other religions. They didn't have the holy spirit to guide them.
Don't deprive yourself the riches God has laid up for us in him. Feed your spirit, pray fast and read. So blessed are the poor in spirit because they continually hunger for what only God can give.
What does it mean to be poor in spirit? What does it mean to be poor? It means to be in poverty or have low quality.
Jesus teaches blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. So as I see it, when you are poor in money you need and want more money. To compare the spirit to money is not the greatest but it will work. To get more money you have to work at a job, put in more hours and more effort. To gain more spirit is exactly the same! When Jesus says this he knows that when someone is poor they are always trying to escape their poverty. Do you think your spirit is really satisfied? Our human spirit will never be satisfied with the worldly things, it takes new birth, it takes the coming of the holy spirit into you.
Look at the Israelites they lived most of their lives unsatisfied and always looking to other religions. They didn't have the holy spirit to guide them.
Don't deprive yourself the riches God has laid up for us in him. Feed your spirit, pray fast and read. So blessed are the poor in spirit because they continually hunger for what only God can give.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Bombardment
Well since my last post I have got an extremely clear answer. I was told through books, through two different sermons and by way of the bible. The one thing that rang true in all these sources was to love. I'd forgotten that I'm supposed to be like Jesus and not just proclaim him. I have to actually live a life in which I imitate Christ as best I can.
I have to be willing to drop my own agenda to show love to someone. I don't think Jesus would have said "Sorry I can't heal you now because I have to get to my bible study".
"Love the lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, Love your neighbor as yourself" Matthew 22:38-39
I have to be willing to drop my own agenda to show love to someone. I don't think Jesus would have said "Sorry I can't heal you now because I have to get to my bible study".
"Love the lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, Love your neighbor as yourself" Matthew 22:38-39
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Why are we so afraid?
Okay, so we profess ourselves to be Christians but we won't preach in the streets, it's even hard to say the name of Jesus in the workplace. I'm guilty of all these thing; I keep to myself on the bus, and I won't tell a co-worker about Jesus unless they ask. What is the problem with me? With a lot of Christians?
"For we were not given a spirit of timidity; but a spirit of power, of love and self discipline" 2 timothy 1:7
I feel like a runner that got stuck in the block. My eyes want to go but my feet won't carry me. I don't know why I won't step out of my comfort zone. I have nothing to fear , not even death can hold me. Is this something that everyone experiences? I know I'm not old in the faith but neither were the disciples.
"For we were not given a spirit of timidity; but a spirit of power, of love and self discipline" 2 timothy 1:7
I feel like a runner that got stuck in the block. My eyes want to go but my feet won't carry me. I don't know why I won't step out of my comfort zone. I have nothing to fear , not even death can hold me. Is this something that everyone experiences? I know I'm not old in the faith but neither were the disciples.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
A time for what?
It seems like January has an effect on me which causes me to rethink what my motives are for where I am and what they are for where I'm going. Thankfully I found the answer in the bible and not within my own sinful motives. Micah 6:1-8
1 Listen to what the LORD says:
"Stand up, plead your case before the mountains;
let the hills hear what you have to say.
2 Hear, O mountains, the LORD's accusation;
listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth.
For the LORD has a case against his people;
he is lodging a charge against Israel.
3 "My people, what have I done to you?
How have I burdened you? Answer me.
4 I brought you up out of Egypt
and redeemed you from the land of slavery.
I sent Moses to lead you,
also Aaron and Miriam.
5 My people, remember
what Balak king of Moab counseled
and what Balaam son of Beor answered.
Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal,
that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD."
6 With what shall I come before the LORD
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
It's not like we are still offering rams, but it doesn't mean we aren't trying to appease our own conscience with works. God has done everything for us! He put the breathe in our lungs, the food in our stomaches. The best thing we can do before the Lord is humble ourselves in everything we do. If there is no pride in us then there is room for God. Put off yourself and seek him alone.
1 Listen to what the LORD says:
"Stand up, plead your case before the mountains;
let the hills hear what you have to say.
2 Hear, O mountains, the LORD's accusation;
listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth.
For the LORD has a case against his people;
he is lodging a charge against Israel.
3 "My people, what have I done to you?
How have I burdened you? Answer me.
4 I brought you up out of Egypt
and redeemed you from the land of slavery.
I sent Moses to lead you,
also Aaron and Miriam.
5 My people, remember
what Balak king of Moab counseled
and what Balaam son of Beor answered.
Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal,
that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD."
6 With what shall I come before the LORD
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
It's not like we are still offering rams, but it doesn't mean we aren't trying to appease our own conscience with works. God has done everything for us! He put the breathe in our lungs, the food in our stomaches. The best thing we can do before the Lord is humble ourselves in everything we do. If there is no pride in us then there is room for God. Put off yourself and seek him alone.
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