Have you ever felt a moment of convergence in your life in which your entire existence seemed to come together and connect at that point in time? i'm sitting at lunch today eating taco boat with Kevin and we're talking about the vision that God has given him for the ministry here at Haven. We're discussing the vital link that connection in community has with growth when the question hits me: Is growth even possible without connection?
Ephesians 4:16 says, "He [Christ] makes the whole body [the church] fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." (NLT) Without the rest of the body, growth is not possible.
John 15:4-5 says, "Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing." (NLT) We cannot grow without being connected to Christ. How are we connected to Christ? According to the Ephesians passage mentioned above, we're connected to Christ through His body, the Church.
We have this idea that we can be "Lone Ranger" Christians, that we can make it on our own. We can pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. Yet this is the very thing that Christ tells us is impossible. We are connected to Him through His body, the Church. Therefore, failure to connect with others within the context of the Church is failure to connect to Christ making growth impossible.
God has gifted every believer in order to be an instrument in His hand to make an eternal impact on the lives of others. How then can we make that impact or be impacted ourselves if we are disconnected from the body?
What then is connection? Connection cannot be simply coming to Church and sitting in a pew. Connection is not coming to Church and teaching a class, passing an offering plate, leading in worship, caring for infants or directing children's ministry. Attendence and service opportunities are excellent, but they fall short of the connection with our brothers and sisters that we need as a body in order to grow.
Connection is "koinonia" or community. It's not just "fellowship", it's living life together. It's sharing the load of the burdens that we struggle with (sin, stress, grief, finances, devotions, marriage, family, purpose, difficulties...). It's sharing what God is doing in our lives and what the Holy Spirit is teaching us so that we can grow together. "Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2) "A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need." (Proverbs 17:17) "God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God Himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ." (1Pet. 4:10-11)
Connection then is not just something that is useful--it is vital. Connection is not just something to "get around to"--it is urgent. Without the connection of community with our brothers and sisters within the body of Christ we are trapped in a shallow, spiritually impotent existence.
How about you? Are you part of a vital connection group within the body of Christ? If not, what's stopping you? Get connected so that you can take your place within the body of Christ and experience significance, purpose and growth like never before. Thanks for reading.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
An Instrument in God's Hands
This past Sunday, we started a video series in our teen Sunday School class called "Your Divine Design." It's a study of how God has gifted each person to serve in a different capacity with the same purpose: God's glory. For me, i see it as yet another thread God is weaving into the grand design of my life.
He has been teaching me that each day has purpose and meaning because of the connection that i have with those He has placed in my path. How often do i simply let each day pass by without ever pondering this important truth? i am meant for greatness--but not as the world sees it.
i've heard numerous times about the story of Jesus washing the disciples feet and then teaching, "The greatest among you will be the servant." It is as I am writing this that the Holy Spirit is revealing to me His truth that the reason for the servant's greatness is the fact that he is an instrument in God's hands.
The servant realizes that he's nothing great in and of himself. He's no one special. However, he realizes that his value, his worth and his greatness come from the fact that he is an instrument in God's hands. God is using him to make an impact on the lives of others that would be otherwise impossible.
Every good and perfect gift comes from God. Even the unbelieving philanthropist can only donate funds that God has entrusted him with. Therefore, in a sense, no matter who you are or what your motivation might be, God is in control. You are an instrument in God's hands.
So thinking this through, God is teaching me that He is in control and ultimately He will be glorified. Yet for me, my life can only have true meaning, my life can only be complete, my joy can only be full when I yield to God's hand. What's more, my life does have meaning and purpose. I'm here for a reason. My life is significant--but only as an instrument in God's hands.
This again is another universal truth applicable to all of humanity. Michael Jordan's significance worldwide was only a result of the grace of God: the talents, abilities and passions placed by his Creator. Andrew Carnegie's grand philanthropy was only the result of the resources he was granted to utilize by the very God who created them. "In Him we live and move and exist...We are His offspring." (Acts 17:28 NLT)
So what am i learning? Each day has purpose, meaning and significance because God makes it so. I am an instrument in God's hands for the purpose of impacting the lives of those around me...and so are you. Thanks for reading.
He has been teaching me that each day has purpose and meaning because of the connection that i have with those He has placed in my path. How often do i simply let each day pass by without ever pondering this important truth? i am meant for greatness--but not as the world sees it.
i've heard numerous times about the story of Jesus washing the disciples feet and then teaching, "The greatest among you will be the servant." It is as I am writing this that the Holy Spirit is revealing to me His truth that the reason for the servant's greatness is the fact that he is an instrument in God's hands.
The servant realizes that he's nothing great in and of himself. He's no one special. However, he realizes that his value, his worth and his greatness come from the fact that he is an instrument in God's hands. God is using him to make an impact on the lives of others that would be otherwise impossible.
Every good and perfect gift comes from God. Even the unbelieving philanthropist can only donate funds that God has entrusted him with. Therefore, in a sense, no matter who you are or what your motivation might be, God is in control. You are an instrument in God's hands.
So thinking this through, God is teaching me that He is in control and ultimately He will be glorified. Yet for me, my life can only have true meaning, my life can only be complete, my joy can only be full when I yield to God's hand. What's more, my life does have meaning and purpose. I'm here for a reason. My life is significant--but only as an instrument in God's hands.
This again is another universal truth applicable to all of humanity. Michael Jordan's significance worldwide was only a result of the grace of God: the talents, abilities and passions placed by his Creator. Andrew Carnegie's grand philanthropy was only the result of the resources he was granted to utilize by the very God who created them. "In Him we live and move and exist...We are His offspring." (Acts 17:28 NLT)
So what am i learning? Each day has purpose, meaning and significance because God makes it so. I am an instrument in God's hands for the purpose of impacting the lives of those around me...and so are you. Thanks for reading.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
i Am Nothing. HE is EVERYTHING.
For my personal devotions i've recently been reading the book of Ezra. Although i'm certain i've read the book before, never have i allowed God to speak to me through its pages. It's easy for me to forget the admonition of Paul in 2Tim. 3:16 when he says that ALL Scripture is inspired (literally, breathed out) by God.
Within Ezra, i've been able to see God at work fulfilling the promises He made to Israel's forefathers that the nation would always exist and that He would always preserve a remnant to return to the land.
What God especially showed me this past week is that HE changes the heart, NOT me. Ezra recounts the exciting ways in which God uses Persia to restore and rebuild the nation of Israel but then relates how Israel had turned from God and broke His law by marrying the people of the land. Even some of the Levites (priests) had taken wives from among the surrounding unbelieving nations and broken the very law of God they had been entrusted with upholding and maintaining.
What follows is Ezra's brokenness for what the people have done. He weeps and tears his garnment in a vivid display of his deep seated contrition over the sin of his people. Certainly, this type of penitance is very moving and in a sense admirable. Would to God i had such a perspective of sin. Yet the thing that God impressed upon me was not his display of grief and distress, it was his prayer that followed.
His godly sorrow led him to an emotional outburst, but Ezra's prayer led to national revival. Ezra says absolutely nothing to the people following their admission of guilt in breaking God's law. He passionately and desperately cries out to His God and God moves the hearts of the people to respond and to repent.
i often fall susceptible to the self-deceiving notion that ministry depends upon me. i think that somehow i've got to say the right thing or come up with a clever anecdote or show some kind of video clip in order to connect with those whom God has entrusted to me. Yet here i see one man on his face crying out to God on behalf of the people and THAT is what makes the difference.
Were i in Ezra's shoes, i would have undoubtedly been relying on my intellect to recall different passages of Scripture that might deal with repentance. i would make certain that i used multiple verses to create a compelling arguement and then cunningly try to wrap everything in a nice, neat, logical package so that God would use what i had proclaimed to change the hearts of the wayward.
Though certainly somewhere in the process prayer would have been cursory, it would not have been primary and that is where i fall so short. i depend upon the abilities and gifts God has given me instead of depending upon the God Who enables and gifts people for service. Planning, though important, is not what moves hearts--God does when we depend upon Him. It's only when i remember and practice that i am nothing and that HE is EVERYTHING that God can take this imperfect vessel and use it for something great. Otherwise, it's my glory and not God's.
What about you? Are you guilty of neglecting God and relying upon yourself? How much and how earnestly do you pray? Remember, we are nothing, but HE is EVERYTHING. Thanks for reading.
Within Ezra, i've been able to see God at work fulfilling the promises He made to Israel's forefathers that the nation would always exist and that He would always preserve a remnant to return to the land.
What God especially showed me this past week is that HE changes the heart, NOT me. Ezra recounts the exciting ways in which God uses Persia to restore and rebuild the nation of Israel but then relates how Israel had turned from God and broke His law by marrying the people of the land. Even some of the Levites (priests) had taken wives from among the surrounding unbelieving nations and broken the very law of God they had been entrusted with upholding and maintaining.
What follows is Ezra's brokenness for what the people have done. He weeps and tears his garnment in a vivid display of his deep seated contrition over the sin of his people. Certainly, this type of penitance is very moving and in a sense admirable. Would to God i had such a perspective of sin. Yet the thing that God impressed upon me was not his display of grief and distress, it was his prayer that followed.
His godly sorrow led him to an emotional outburst, but Ezra's prayer led to national revival. Ezra says absolutely nothing to the people following their admission of guilt in breaking God's law. He passionately and desperately cries out to His God and God moves the hearts of the people to respond and to repent.
i often fall susceptible to the self-deceiving notion that ministry depends upon me. i think that somehow i've got to say the right thing or come up with a clever anecdote or show some kind of video clip in order to connect with those whom God has entrusted to me. Yet here i see one man on his face crying out to God on behalf of the people and THAT is what makes the difference.
Were i in Ezra's shoes, i would have undoubtedly been relying on my intellect to recall different passages of Scripture that might deal with repentance. i would make certain that i used multiple verses to create a compelling arguement and then cunningly try to wrap everything in a nice, neat, logical package so that God would use what i had proclaimed to change the hearts of the wayward.
Though certainly somewhere in the process prayer would have been cursory, it would not have been primary and that is where i fall so short. i depend upon the abilities and gifts God has given me instead of depending upon the God Who enables and gifts people for service. Planning, though important, is not what moves hearts--God does when we depend upon Him. It's only when i remember and practice that i am nothing and that HE is EVERYTHING that God can take this imperfect vessel and use it for something great. Otherwise, it's my glory and not God's.
What about you? Are you guilty of neglecting God and relying upon yourself? How much and how earnestly do you pray? Remember, we are nothing, but HE is EVERYTHING. Thanks for reading.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Obey or Wander
It's been several months since my last post. i attribute that to a touch of burnout. It seems that i've had so much going on in my life that i have nothing left to give. i'm certain you've all been there before. Yet God is blazing this mantra upon my soul so deeply that i feel that i must share it.
Kevin is preaching a series right now through the book of Joshua entitled "A Brand New Focus". i've heard several sermons on Joshua. In fact, i just listened to our chapel speaker speak out of the book of Joshua yet again. However, this past Sunday was different. This time God is speaking directly to me. His precision blade is cutting deep into my soul to expose its thoughts and intentions. He is warning me lovingly with His gentle whispering voice, "Obey or wander."
This message is changing the very core of who i am. Just as Israel had the opportunity to enter the land of promise, I also have the opportunity to enter into the tremendous plans God has for this life He's redeemed. Here it is that the adage rings ever so clear and so true, "Those who fail to learn from the past will be doomed to repeat it." Will i obey and enter in, or will i reject God's Word and be forced to wander?
How many are the wilderness experiences i've had in my lifetime: times that God wanted to take me into something great but was unable to because of my disobedience? This seems to be a direct correlation to Christ's hometown in Matthew 13:58 which says, "And He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith." How many steps have I wandered in the wilderness because I refused to trust God by following Him? As Hebrews 3:19 explains, "So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief."
The danger of wandering, as seen in the example of Israel, is that we can drop dead in the wilderness. We can continue so long that God simply leaves us there to waste away and waste our opportunity for something great. This is the vivid reality God is impressing upon my life at this point in the journey.
Each time this week that i've found myself in a situation where i have the choice to sin, the Spirit impresses upon my soul, "Obey or wander." What about you? Are you at a critical juncture in your life where God's wanting to do something spectacular but you're struggling with unbelief? God may be calling out to you today, "Obey or wander." Thanks for reading.
Kevin is preaching a series right now through the book of Joshua entitled "A Brand New Focus". i've heard several sermons on Joshua. In fact, i just listened to our chapel speaker speak out of the book of Joshua yet again. However, this past Sunday was different. This time God is speaking directly to me. His precision blade is cutting deep into my soul to expose its thoughts and intentions. He is warning me lovingly with His gentle whispering voice, "Obey or wander."
This message is changing the very core of who i am. Just as Israel had the opportunity to enter the land of promise, I also have the opportunity to enter into the tremendous plans God has for this life He's redeemed. Here it is that the adage rings ever so clear and so true, "Those who fail to learn from the past will be doomed to repeat it." Will i obey and enter in, or will i reject God's Word and be forced to wander?
How many are the wilderness experiences i've had in my lifetime: times that God wanted to take me into something great but was unable to because of my disobedience? This seems to be a direct correlation to Christ's hometown in Matthew 13:58 which says, "And He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith." How many steps have I wandered in the wilderness because I refused to trust God by following Him? As Hebrews 3:19 explains, "So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief."
The danger of wandering, as seen in the example of Israel, is that we can drop dead in the wilderness. We can continue so long that God simply leaves us there to waste away and waste our opportunity for something great. This is the vivid reality God is impressing upon my life at this point in the journey.
Each time this week that i've found myself in a situation where i have the choice to sin, the Spirit impresses upon my soul, "Obey or wander." What about you? Are you at a critical juncture in your life where God's wanting to do something spectacular but you're struggling with unbelief? God may be calling out to you today, "Obey or wander." Thanks for reading.
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