Following Jesus

A DISCIPLE PROCLAIMS THE KINGDOM

2012-02-13T13:55:00.004-05:00

But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.”
(Luke 9:59–60)

It has finally happened to me! The uncontrollable urge to tell everyone I meet about my grandchildren. I used to think this was an annoying quirk I had to endure when I was around old people. But now I’m finding that even as a young guy, I’m having a blast! I’ll even show pictures to perfect strangers! I don’t have to work hard at bringing the grandkids into the conversation. I’ll just naturally cram it into what ever we’re talking about. Jesus says His disciples are a lot like zealous grandparents – they want to make sure everyone around them knows about the Kingdom of God. They will go across the street or across the ocean. They will talk to a friend or a foreigner. They will tell you about the King and His rule morning, noon, and night. Grandparents and disciples of Jesus have one thing in common – they will tell you about their passion!

Did I mention this picture is of our grandson for whom I'm praying - that he will know the King and advance His Kingdom? And did I mention we have two more grandbabies on the way? Just thought you needed to know :)

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A DISCIPLE FORFEITS PERSONAL COMFORT

2012-02-08T17:33:00.002-05:00

As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Luke 9:57–58)

I was watching the news during the invasion of Iraq and I saw some soldiers sleeping on the ground in the middle of a sandstorm. I have always marveled at the commitment of soldiers and the level of discomfort they endure as part of their profession. But you know, the disciple of Jesus is called to the same forfeiture of comfort for the sake of the mission. Jesus was constantly on the move and sleeping heaven knows where. He gives ample warning to the would-be follower, “I don’t even have a place to lay My head”. He calls His disciples out of their “comfort zones” and into the battle for the souls of men and women. He calls us to a life of blood, sweat, and tears for the sake of His kingdom. Just like the soldier, a disciple can expect discomfort to be a part of the job description.

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A DISCIPLE KNOWS THE ART OF SAYING NO

2012-02-04T22:36:00.002-05:00

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”
(Luke 9:23)

Another piece of chocolate cake, a second glance at that pretty girl, buying that new car I can’t afford, harboring anger toward a friend, skipping that workout, or super gluing my friends shoes to the floor – all things I ought to say "no" to. Winning those little battles in our heads is essential to following Christ. But a life of "no’s" would be a miserable existence at best. Jesus gives us ample opportunity to say "yes" – yes to following His ways, yes to loving others, yes to serving the less fortunate, yes to helping another follow Him, yes to accepting the love He has for us, yes to forgiveness and mercy. That is the abundant life. Jesus has far better plans for our lives than we do. But we need to practice the art of saying "no" to the flesh, world, and our spiritual enemy – and "yes" to Him.

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A DISCIPLE HAS RELATIONSHIP PRIORITIES

2012-01-28T22:54:00.002-05:00

“If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.”
(Luke 14:26)

My wife, Deb, and I had just scheduled a date to see downtown Denver when the phone rang. It was a friend of mine who needed my help in Colorado Springs. I promptly canceled the date with Deb and headed down the road. WHAT?! You canceled a date with your wife?! It seems outrageous until you know the circumstances. All of us experience tensions with relationships. Who gets priority – family, friends, co-workers, the boss, a stranger? As you already know, it’s not as easy as “focusing on the family”. That’s why I let one relationship govern the rest. When I put Jesus first, His principles instruct and guide me in all my relationships. And in case you’re wondering, we date often (even as a married couple) and Deb has the same relationship priorities that I do.

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A DISCIPLE IS NOT OWNED BY POSSESSIONS

2012-01-26T07:19:00.003-05:00

“So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.”
(Luke 14:33)

The luxury car commercial boldly stated “This is the first car that will own you.” Although people have been owned by their cars since they were invented, the announcer was expressing a startling truth: possessions can possess us. How many times have we come to realize that our car, house, clothing, or other stuff was dictating where we spent our time, money, and affection? It’s startling, isn’t it? Jesus warns us against such dangers. He knows that we could actually go as far as making our possessions an idol – an object of worship. Here are some simple test questions to see where we stand with our possessions. What things am I unwilling to share with others? What things get in the way of spending time in prayer or the Word? When is the last time I gave something of great value to someone in need? How much time do I spend maintaining my things? Do those things take priority over people?

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A DISCIPLE IS SALTY

2012-01-19T13:10:00.003-05:00

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
(Matthew 5:13)

“Your blood pressure is too low. When you feel dizzy, just eat a bag of chips.” Not exactly the advice you would expect from your cardiologist, but hey – it was the silver lining in my dark little diet. His recommendation had nothing to do with eating potatoes. It had everything to do with the salt. The sodium raises your blood pressure back to a normal range. Can you imagine what potato chips without salt would taste like? I’m not sure I’d be so excited about following my Doc’s instructions. Jesus wants us to be salty – not too much, but to have the kind of flavor that causes people to want more. We are to be seasoned in such a way that we make people thirsty for the Living Water in us. But if we have no spiritual salt in us, then it’s like eating a bag of saltless potato chips – nasty. Be salty!

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A DISCIPLE IS DYING TO LIVE

2012-01-16T22:54:00.003-05:00

“Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

(Luke 14:27)

An old Green Beret was explaining their attitude toward the possibility of death during the Vietnam War. He told me the way they were able to operate so efficiently in some very dangerous situations was to count themselves dead already. They saw themselves as dead to their futures, families, and fame. They had only one driving value – complete the mission. In a real sense, this is the same attitude we need to adopt in our relationship with Christ. He calls us to place our lives on the cross, an instrument of death. Like the Green Beret, we also die to our futures, families, and fame. We die to all except one compelling value – Him! We are to love, serve, glorify, and become like Him. But there's a big difference between the follower of Jesus and those who are fighting this world’s wars. The disciple’s death leads to eternal life, abundant life, real life. This is the way of true discipleship – we die to live!

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A DISCIPLE IS A REFLECTION OF THE LIGHT

2012-01-08T08:34:00.004-05:00

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world” (John 8:12)

I did a lot of “hiking” at night when I was in the Army. We didn’t normally use lights, so it was great when the moon gave us a little illumination -- the fuller the better. But there where nights when the moon did us absolutely no good. The earth was blocking the sun and the moon was completely blacked out. We were left to grope around in total darkness. We all know why: the moon has no light of its own. It merely reflects the light of the sun. This parallel is so true for those of us who follow Christ. The disciple has no light of his own to shine in this world. And the more the world gets between us and Jesus, the less the Savior’s light can be reflected. But when there’s nothing between us and the Son, man oh man, does that light shine! Of course it’s not physical light that we're reflecting, but spiritual light. The attributes of God Himself are being reflected in our thoughts, words, and deeds. We look like the Son to a dark, dark world. Reflecting with you!

I'll be off the net for about a week. Back to blogging then!

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A DISCIPLE IS A LIGHT

2012-01-06T15:47:00.002-05:00

“You are the light of the world.”
(Matthew 5:14)

I was holding a flashlight for my dad as we worked under the car. As my mind would drift to other things, so would the light. My father had to remind me to shine the light on the spot where he was working. Jesus reminds us that this is exactly what we should be doing as His disciples. Our spiritual job description is to illuminate where the Father is working. As we live our lives and do the good work of His Kingdom, it should be obvious to the people around us Who God is and what He's doing. The light that we shed is meant to illuminate Him and His glory. But just as I did with my earthly dad, we may also do with our Heavenly Father. We can get distracted and begin to shine the light on ourselves, pet doctrines, worldly philosophies, or even other people. It takes a certain kind of spiritual concentration and the power of the Holy Spirit to stay focused and to keep the light squarely pointed at His Kingdom. Let your light shine…in the right direction!

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WHAT DO DISCIPLES DO ON REALLY BAD DAYS?

2012-01-05T12:42:00.003-05:00

I’d like to take a break from my series “Reflections on the Great Commission” and share an excerpt from a prayer letter I recently received. Josh and Mandy Brown are missionaries ministering in a cross-cultural setting in Detroit, Michigan. In the letter Mandy describes a situation and response that’s worth being reminded of as disciple of Jesus. Let’s let her example sink deep into our minds, hearts, and actions.

“I came back to Michigan on December 26th to return to work while Josh has remained in WA with his dad and brother to continue grieving the loss of Diane. By the time I got home it seemed that anything that could be wrong was. I got a pretty bad cold, our heater was broken, my luggage was lost on the flight back, most of our friends were out of town, and Josh’s car was stolen & completely destroyed and our insurance won’t cover any of it, and my first nights back to work were miserable!

All I wanted was for Josh to be home to fix everything. I quickly became bitter with him for not being here to take care of his poor, pitiful, pregnant wife and allowed the frustration to continue to grow over the next couple of days. Thankfully in one of my quiet times our great God spoke to me with a strong rebuke…

Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." – Jeremiah 17:5-8

God revealed to me that the root of my anger and frustration was that I had been putting my hope and trust in my husband rather than in my God! I longed for a sense of security and protection but I was looking in the wrong place. God showed me that HE allowed all of this to happen, especially when Josh wasn’t home, so that I could really learn to trust in HIM rather than the strength of man!”

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BEING JESUS AS THE BODY

2012-01-04T17:51:00.002-05:00

For the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12)

A young disciple asked me an excellent question: “Is the Great Commission an individual or corporate responsibility?” To which I answered, “Yes”! None of us has all the gifts and abilities needed to thoroughly disciple others. That’s why we are to function as the Body of Christ. Together, we become like Jesus in the fullest sense and can disciple others more effectively. That’s one of our primary tasks as the “Ekklesia” (the assembly, the church). I have benefited tremendously, both in being discipled and in making disciples in the context of the Body. I call it "discipleship by the village". But the assembly must understand that this is one of their chief functions before God. Are you assembling with those who have a vision for the Great Commission and are they able to train and empower others for the sake of making disciples corporately? It works a lot better together!

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BEFORE YOU SWING TOO FAR

2012-01-03T15:16:00.002-05:00

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.”
(John 14:12)

“Well, He was God!” is a common response by some of the guys I encourage to be like Jesus. As I’ve mentioned before, there are certainly things that we'll never be able to imitate. But before we let the pendulum swing too far the other way, we need to take a harder look at the works we can imitate and the things we can’t. Miracles seem to be one of the bigger areas we dismiss immediately as “God’s department”. But we see several cases where others raised the dead, healed the lame, gave sight to the blind (all in His power, of course). But what about developing people? Can we be expected to teach the masses, train up laborers for the harvest, and invest in the next generation of spiritual leadership? It's certainly possible! And considering our great commission to reach the world for Christ, shouldn’t we at least try?

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A DISCIPLE IS COMMITTED

2012-01-01T11:54:00.002-05:00

But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)

As the legend goes, the Spanish Conquistador Hernando Cortez set sail for Mexico on a mission. Once safely ashore, he had some of his men return to the ships and burned them. There was no returning to Spain until the mission was accomplished. The requirement of this level of commitment for the disciple of Jesus is no mere myth. For the disciple, it's all of Jesus or nothing. There's no “Plan B.” When Jesus called His first disciples, they were fishing. Upon hearing the call, they left their business, their families, and probably their reputations to follow the Rabbi. What kind of leader demands such allegiance? A Leader Who knows Who He is and what’s at stake. He is the King Who holds our very eternity in His hands. He also knows the consequences of ignoring such a call. He invites us to be all in for Him and His Kingdom or not at all. (Revelation 3.15-16)

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SOME LIMITATIONS OF IMITATION

2011-12-28T22:54:00.002-05:00

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19)

My son clumsily walked into the living room sporting his little camouflage uniform and my combat boots. It was hilarious to see those huge boots on a four-year-old boy who wanted to be just like his dad. But as cute as it was, he was having an awful time walking. That perfectly illustrates some limitations of imitation. It’s not only important to figure out how to be like Jesus. It’s just as important to understand areas we will never be like Jesus. God may not expect you to be single all your life, wander the countryside of Palestine, have long hair and wear sandals, and live only 33 years. It’s important to identify the principles of becoming like Jesus and not just the forms. Attributes like compassion, obedience to the Father, introducing others to God, prayer, depth in God’s Word, etc., are principles we can all imitate. As we carefully read the Scriptures, we should ask this question, "How can I become like Jesus and practice the principles He modeled?”

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WHAT IS A DISCIPLE?

2011-12-27T10:33:00.002-05:00

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19)

Ever try to make something -- only to have it turn out to be a disaster? Many times, it's because we put something together without looking at the instructions. And then we wonder why it doesn’t work like it was designed to! The same thing can happen with making a disciple. In fact, Jesus has strong words for those who make disciples and have no clue what they're doing (Matthew 23.15). So what is a disciple of Jesus supposed to look like when we get done? Let me make this really simple. A disciple of Jesus is supposed to be like…well…Jesus! (Luke 6.40, 1 John 2.6, Ephesians 5.1) The first thing we need to do is to take a long, hard look at Jesus in the Scriptures and begin to emulate His character and ways. Then, we become not only a student of Him, but we begin to practice His ways and words and make them our own. The highest form of adoration is emulation. Now, we're on our way to becoming disciples of Jesus and making disciples.

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A DISCIPLE ASKS QUESTIONS

2011-12-19T14:36:00.003-05:00

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19)

I recently complimented an atheist on the fact that he asked good questions. I met him in the Food Court while I was sharing the gospel with strangers. That led to a friendship where we would periodically get together and talk about Jesus. It was important for me to provide an safe environment, where he could ask any question he wanted. And he asked a lot of them. Jesus did the same thing with His disciples. And what were the results? They were given the mysteries of the Kingdom of God! (Mark 4.11) That's another crucial attribute of a disciple. They listen carefully and ask a lot of questions. As you read the Scriptures, ask God questions and pray that He will answer them. When you're around other Christians, ask questions. Have two or three questions ready at all times to ask Christian leaders. Become a good question asker. By the way, my atheist friend is no longer an atheist --He’s now a follower of Jesus!

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A DISCIPLE HUNGERS FOR TRUTH

2011-12-15T17:18:00.005-05:00

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…" (Matthew 28.19)

I shared Jesus with a young man and he was very interested in learning more. I told him to begin reading the Gospel of Mark and we would talk about it the next time we got together. By our next meeting, he had not only read Mark --but Matthew, Luke and halfway through John, too. He really wanted to know Jesus, which was a demonstration of his hunger. He soon became a follower of Jesus and sure enough, God used the Living Word to change his thinking and his eternity (Heb 4.12, John 6.68). In every true disciple, there is a hunger for truth. They long to be set free from the bonds of lies and deception of this world and our enemy Satan (John 8.32). They boldly step into the light with integrity (John 3.21, Ephesians 5.9). Ultimately, it translates into a hunger for Jesus Himself (John 4.16; 18.37). A disciple of Jesus hungers for the truth!

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A DISCIPLE IS A GOOD LISTENER

2011-12-07T10:42:00.005-05:00

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… (Matthew 28:19)

When I was a kid, I loved the word 'okay'. It had magical power in pacifying instructing adults. “Make sure you do your homework.” Okay. “Clean your room.” Okay. Only the wise looked into my glazed little eyeballs and realized I didn’t hear a word they said. Have you ever treated God like one of those pesky adults interrupting your escape from reality? Jesus knew this propensity. He began the Parable of the Sower with “Listen!” (Mark 4.3) and ended with “He who has ears, let him hear.” (Mark 4.9). Later, He would give a strong warning about the way we listen (Mark 4:24-25). Even the Father weighs in on this matter, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” (Mark 9.7). The first skill we must learn as His disciples is to be a good listener. But how can we hear Jesus? God can speak to us in many ways, but His primary and clearest way to speak to us is through His Word, the Bible (Heb 4.12, 2 Tim 3.16). How well are you listening?

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INTENTIONALITY

2011-12-03T14:05:00.002-05:00

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… (Matthew 28:19)

The simple act of purchasing four quarts of oil and setting them on the hood of your car doesn’t mean you changed the oil. Nor can you bake a cake by memorizing the recipe on the box. You have to intentionally finish the job. This is so apparent in the natural world. But when it comes to making disciples, we could over mysticize the process. Comments and attitudes like “That’s God’s department” or “I’m not Jesus” not only lack integrity and understanding of the Great Commission, but they also lead to disobedience. We must remember that even though the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the ultimate disciplers, we have been mandated to participate in the process. We must be engaged mentally, emotionally, and physically in helping others become more like Jesus. God does the heavy lifting, but are we playing our role in discipleship and following His command?

What does it take to make a disciple?

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THE CENTERPIECE

2011-11-30T14:31:00.002-05:00

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… (Matthew 28:19)

Smart phones are fun but they can also be very distracting. Once you open it, your eyes are flooded with endless apps that lure you away from your original purpose. If you’re not careful, an hour later, you could be asking “now what was I going to use my phone for?” (Angry Birds, anyone?) The very same thing can happen in our walk with Jesus. We get so involved in all the good things that we miss one of our main purposes in life. There are four verbs in The Great Commission: "Go", "Make", "Baptize", and "Teach". Only one of those verbs is primary; the others simply help the one. The word "make" is actually one word in the Greek: make-disciples. It’s the center of action for the going, baptizing, and teaching. Jesus focused all His authority and our attention on one single activity in His Great Commission: make disciples. And since this was so important to Jesus, we're going to spend some time unpacking the centerpiece of His last command.

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ARE YOU PLUGGED IN?

2011-11-26T13:46:00.006-05:00

"Go make disciples of all nations..."

(Matthew 28:19)

As I sit here typing at my keyboard, I realize that it doesn’t matter how excited I am, no words will appear on the page unless my computer is plugged in (even if I have had three cups of coffee). I could type really fast or type really hard – no electricity, no words. I could have the most brilliant and poetic prose, unless I've pushed the “on” button, the best I can do is make a bunch of annoying clicking noises. But once I have power, words miraculously begin to show up on the page. The same is true of our going. It’s interesting that after Jesus commanded His disciples to go, He commanded them to wait (Acts 1.4). They were to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came upon them. And then as they went, they went in power (Acts 1.8).The Holy Spirit has been given to all believers (Rom 8.9) and it is our privilege and responsibility to tap into His power for the sake of making disciples (1Thes 1.5, Gal 5.16).

So how does one "plug-in" to the Holy Spirit for making disciples?

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

2011-11-23T19:34:00.003-05:00

Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving. Remember to pray for our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who serve our Nation and may be for from home during this holiday.

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GO!

2011-11-21T12:34:00.004-05:00

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…
(Matthew 28:19)

The race official stands at the starting line and raises a pistol in the air. “On your mark, get set…” As he pulls the trigger everyone knows what to do and how to do it. There's only one compelling option, GO! But you know, I’ve heard a hundred messages where it is correctly pointed out the this word “go” in verse 19 in the Greek can mean, “As you are going.” It's true that it can be translated that way. But after Jesus’ huge pronouncement of having all authority in the universe, do you think one should take this as, “Oh, by the way, as you meander through life, if you get a chance, make a few disciples?” By no means! There's a sense of regal empowerment that shocks men and women into action. It’s like flipping the switch on a big generator. Suddenly there’s a million volts of electricity coursing through the cable looking for something to charge full of energy. That’s how we should feel when we hear Jesus say “Go!”

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THE MASTER SWITCH

2011-11-18T15:03:00.002-05:00

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…
(Matthew 28:19)

Every house has a circuit breaker panel where the central electrical line distributes the power to the rest of the home through a series of switches. The most important switch is the master switch. It is the one switch in which all the power passes to all the other switches. The word “therefore” is the master switch in the great commission. As soon as Jesus says “therefore,” He flipped the master switch that allows “all authority in heaven and earth” to flow into every believer to ”make disciples of all the nations.” The Master Switch is in the on position and the power is flowing. But interestingly enough, it takes more than just the master switch being on to bring electricity to the rest of the house. Each individual circuit has a switch that must be turned on in order for power to flow to other parts of the house. So here’s the question; the Master Switch is on, are you?

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ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN

2011-11-16T10:36:00.010-05:00

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18)

Everybody wants to go to heaven (well, almost everybody). But if you look carefully at the Scriptures, you'll notice that God is always trying to bring a little bit of heaven to earth (Mat 6.10, 9.6, 18.19, 23.9). We always think of the “hereafter”. But God is trying to get us to live in Him in the “here and now.” This is especially true when it comes to bringing His creation under submission to His greatest act of love -- Jesus, His Son. Jesus is the big connection between heaven and earth. God became man, the incarnation (John 1.14) . And He commands us to become His disciples, to follow Him, to become like Him and help others do the same. He dwells in every one of His disciples. And for every disciple that is made on the planet, the earth intrinsically becomes a little more like heaven. So why wait? Let‘s get this party started now! Make disciples!

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THE DIVINE ALIGN

2011-11-12T22:30:00.001-05:00

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18)

THE DIVINE ALIGN

I’ve had leadership roles in my life where I had a lot of authority. But I was never under the delusion that my authority had no constraints. Not so with Jesus’ authority. It had no limitations, no restrictions, absolutely no boundaries. It is completely and unequivocally limitless. How could such authority be given?! Because the Father and the Son were completely aligned in thought, word and deed (Jn 5.19-20, 14.10). And when Jesus used all that authority for making disciples, it wasn’t just a good idea. His command is in perfect sync with what the Father wants. God has ordained that making disciples of Jesus is the primary plan and the only plan to redeem man. In fact, that was their plan from the beginning of time (Rom 8.29). Now with all that power poised behind a single command, it kind of makes you want to sit up and listen, doesn’t it?

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THE GREATEST POWER PLAY IN HISTORY

2011-11-09T22:35:00.002-05:00

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18)

THE GREATEST POWER PLAY IN HISTORY

What would you do if you had absolute power and authority to do anything you wanted? Okay, now that you have those less-noble ideas out of the way, think of some things that would change the whole planet for the better. Maybe something like ending hunger or sickness. Or how about eliminating all crime or war? That would have put me out of a job for 29 years -- but hey, I'd flip burgers for world peace! You know, as noble as those may be, Jesus didn’t do any of them. We ask the question, “What would Jesus do?” Well, here’s a clear illustration of what He did do, and there’s no guesswork about it. Having all power and authority in the universe, He turned to 11 ordinary men and said, “Go and help people live their lives like Me. Teach them how to be just like Me. Go and make disciples of Me.” Perhaps if we did a better job of making disciples, those other menacing problems would sort themselves out.

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11 LOSERS

2011-11-07T15:57:00.002-05:00

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18)

11 LOSERS

It was the most epic failure in all of history. Twelve of His closest companions, those He had loved to death, abandoned their Messiah. Judas went as far as betrayal. The others forsook and denied Him. Do you remember what it felt like the first time your best friend betrayed you? The confusion and the sting may have lasted days, weeks, and maybe years. It’s hard to even look such a person in the eyes without absolute disgust. I would have voted the whole team off the island. But not Jesus. Not only had He predicted this great crime, He completely and unconditionally forgave all but he “son of perdition”. But forgiveness is only one third of His grace. Through His death and resurrection, He imputes the righteousness of God on them (2 Cor 5.21). And then He gives them the greatest venture ever undertaken by man: to win the world to Him by making disciples.

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DOWN TO EARTH

2011-11-05T13:50:00.008-04:00

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18)

DOWN TO EARTH

I was talking to an Army Colonel the other day and it was like a breath of fresh air. He wasn’t trying to impress me or be overbearing. He had nothing to prove and was…well…humble. Don’t you just love it when you meet a leader that’s real? You respect them even more for their ability to relate to you on your level, even though you know they're in positions of great authority. They're “down to earth”. Jesus not only came down to earth, He was down to earth. He is God with skin on. When he “came up and spoke” to the disciples, there was no motorcade, no fanfare, and no hoopla. Oh, He could have had a bazillion angels announce His arrival, but instead He simply walked up to them. This is incarnational leadership at its best. As we practice the Great Commission, we lead. And as we lead, we would do well to practice the same humility as Jesus (Phil 2.5-8).

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WHO SAID SO?

2011-11-03T21:36:00.003-04:00

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18)

WHO SAID SO?

When I was a kid, young messengers were always challenged with "Who said so?" We wanted to verify whether the message came from an adult with authority or just a whim of a younger brother. If it was an adult (especially Dad), then there was a 99% chance that the message was going to be obeyed (or at least considered). If it was a little brother, fat chance! One of the reasons the Great Commission is so great is because of "Who said so" -- Jesus! The One who purchased our souls with His blood. The One who loved us to death. The One who had just conquered death! This same Jesus is the One who now has all authority in heaven and earth. The One who will judge the nations. The King of kings and Lord of lords. That's Who said so! Are you listening yet?

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18

2011-11-02T19:10:00.002-04:00

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (Matthew 28:18)

18

Some numbers are more important to me than others. Like the number of seats in an airplane verses the number of functioning engines. Or how many loaves of bread I was supposed to pick up verses the number of my kids I should have when I leave the grocery store. The number 18 is pretty important to me. I've often heard the Great Commission (GC) preached or quoted without verse 18. Every fiber in my being wants to stand and shout, "What about verse 18!" Quoting the GC without verse 18 is kind of like trying to start a car with no engine: it just doesn't have any power. Verse 18 is the 'Who' and the 'Why' of the Great Commission. It's essentially what makes the Great Commission so great.

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Revival for America?

2011-11-01T13:49:00.003-04:00

Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand...Some of you know that the LORD has been waking me up for months now at 3:30am to pray. On Sept 13th the LORD brought Jeremiah 33 to mind. In October I was waking up at 3:30 every night for several nights in a row. I was led to Jeremiah 33 over and over again throughout the month of October. This morning, November 1st, at 3:30am the LORD got me out of bed (in a very persistent manner) and brought me back to Jeremiah 33. Yesterday I was listening to a message by Michael Frost talking about how to advance the Gospel in a post-Christian Context. It falls in line with Jer 33. I believe God is promising revival for America. I don’t know when but I know I'm supposed to pray. I feel a little crazy but I'm also am reminded of Ezek 33.1-6.

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Prayer for Our Nation

2011-07-24T13:55:00.001-04:00

“O God of hosts, turn again now, we beseech You; Look down from heaven and see, and take care of this vine, Even the shoot which Your right hand has planted, And on the son whom You have strengthened for Yourself. It is burned with fire, it is cut down; They perish at the rebuke of Your countenance. Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself. Then we shall not turn back from You; Revive us, and we will call upon Your name. O LORD God of hosts, restore us; Cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.”

(Psalms 80:14-19)

O Lord I pray this prayer for America. Please wake us from our slumber. Cause us to turn to You. Revive us O Lord in Christ Jesus! Be our King!

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Methodolatry

2011-07-23T21:55:00.001-04:00

methodolatry.mov Watch on Posterous

The Viral Spread of the Gospel (1 Thess 1.1-10)

2011-07-19T15:53:00.001-04:00

1ThessMovement.mov Watch on Posterous

What Happened to Chuck? (4/4)

2011-06-27T13:10:00.001-04:00

Movie on 2011-06-27 at 12.28.mov Watch on Posterous

What Happened to Chuck? (3/4)

2011-06-27T13:04:00.001-04:00

Movie on 2011-06-27 at 12.24.mov Watch on Posterous

What Happened to Chuck? (2/4)

2011-06-27T12:51:00.001-04:00

Movie on 2011-06-27 at 12.21.mov Watch on Posterous

What Happened to Chuck? (1/4)

2011-06-27T12:43:00.001-04:00

Movie on 2011-06-27 at 12.17.mov Watch on Posterous

What is the Great Commission Movement to Me

2011-06-25T15:38:00.001-04:00

Movie on 2011-06-25 at 15.22.mov Watch on Posterous

GCM Update (12-18 Jun 11)

2011-06-21T19:50:00.001-04:00

GCM Update (12-18 Jun 11).pdf Download this file

Bringing People to the Point of Decision

2011-06-20T21:05:00.001-04:00

Movie on 2011-06-18 at 17.33.mov Watch on Posterous

How I Share the Gospel

2011-06-19T19:49:00.001-04:00

Movie on 2011-06-18 at 17.00.mov Watch on Posterous

How I'm Sharing the Gospel

2011-06-18T18:01:00.004-04:00

Short video on sharing the Gospel of the Kingdom (Mt 4.23; 9.35; 24.14; Lk 10.8; 16.16)

http://disciplesobey.posterous.com/4-divine-encounters-in-the-last-week

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Neil's First Attempt at the 8 Commands

2011-06-12T19:57:00.002-04:00

We are now 10 weeks into trying to start a Jesus movement and we are seeing a lot of encouraging signs. This was the first fruits of Neil's labor after spending the day before in a local Dunkin Donuts sharing the gospel. He's on vacation in Peoria for a couple of weeks so he'll have to hand the discussion group off to a brand new believer. Pray that Tommy will not only give his life completely to Jesus as his King but that he will begin laboring for him as well.

Chuck,

It went well. I didn't pay close enough attention before I started so I didn't ask the four questions about each verse- instead I asked them to sum up how the verses applied to the questions they were under. We had two guys, Tommy who said he wanted to make Jesus his king and he prayed a prayer of repentance and seems really serious and his buddy Chris who grew up in an evangelical church but hasn't done anything with it. Chris agreed with me that he was still just checking Jesus out so I didn't give him the challenge to apply it. The study went smooth. I didn't have to teach almost at all. Between the two of them they were able to get to the point on almost every verse (or at least if I continued to ask clarifying questions). I think Tommy is excited about handing his life over to Jesus. We are going to try and meet again on Thursday and I told him he'd be leading the group then and I'd help him.

Thanks again for praying. My expectation of this group are low but I do believe that if Tommy gives his life truly to Jesus you might see a multiplying GCG here in Peoria.

For the Glory of the King,

Neil

www.jmovement.net

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Why Share the Gospel Daily?

2011-06-09T21:12:00.003-04:00

Why am I sharing the gospel every day? Because I believe we can reach 1000 people for Christ, establish Great Commission Discussion Groups in all 50 States and 15 different countries, and launch a worldwide movement of the gospel by December 2011 because Jesus Christ is worthy of this kind of devotion! www.jmovement.net

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Today I am an Arminian, Tomorrow a Calvinist

2011-03-10T07:10:00.003-05:00

Today I am an Arminian, Tomorrow a Calvinist

Lord Jesus as I think about Your sovereign plan for me

I am moved to love You more

Every fiber is motivated to stretch in Your direction

My will is changed by Your mercy

I am compelled by Your grace

My actions follow in the paths of Your lovingkindnesses

Lord I will work hard at getting to know You

I will wield the Word like a hammer in my own life

Shaping and molding my will to Yours

I will run with endurance down trails of prayer

Seeking Your face early in the morning

And Lord, by the sweat of the brow

I will work all day in Your vineyard

And shepherd Your flocks by night

Because You have loved me with an everlasting love

This is no chore or duty

It is my reasonable gift of worship to You

I pour out my life and I wish I could give more

And as a lay my head down at night

I give You all honor and glory

Because I realize all this zeal comes from You

Every ounce of effort originated with Your divine purposes

I am only a servant of my sovereign King

“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;”

(Philippians 2:12 NAS95S)

“Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;”

(2Peter 1:10 NAS95S)

““Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”

(Luke 13:24 NAS95S)

“For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.”

(1Timothy 4:10 NAS95S)

“Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12,14)

Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,”

(Hebrews 6:1 NAS95S)

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Today I am a Calvinist, Tomorrow an Arminian

2011-03-09T07:12:00.002-05:00

Today I am a Calvinist, Tomorrow an Arminian

Lord Jesus how wonderful You are

Last night we were talking about You

How You are our only hope

Nothing we can do and nothing we can say

Will be enough to save us

You and You alone determine our fate

Your grace is what we hope in

It is Your grace that gives us our faith

It gives us our works

There is no merit in us

Except You created in Your image

You alone save us

“For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”

(Romans 12:3 NAS95S)

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

(Philippians 2:13 NAS95S)

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;”

(Romans 8:29 NAS95S)

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

(Ephesians 2:10 NAS95S)

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YOU AREN’T THE BOSS OF ME

2011-02-20T09:55:00.001-05:00

Read Matthew 21.23-27

“When He entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?”

(Matthew 21:23)

YOU AREN’T THE BOSS OF ME

This became a pretty popular saying a few years back. It was probably started by a couple of kids on the playground and became the mantra for many young adults. And even though it sounds cute, it's very telling of the human condition. We don’t like anyone to have authority in our lives - let alone be our boss. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were no different. When God showed up on their doorstep, they were unwilling even to yield to Him. It’s imperative as His disciples that we get a handle on the authority of Christ and surrender our lives accordingly. It’s called Lordship and if we can’t make Him Lord in our lives, we aren't disciples at all. Is there any area of your life where Jesus doesn't have complete authority?

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HOLY ANTI-ARBORIST

2011-02-13T09:58:00.001-05:00

Read Matthew 21.18-22

“Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He said to it, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.” And at once the fig tree withered.” (Matthew 21:19)

HOLY ANTI-ARBORIST

The poor fig tree was just standing there minding its own business and POW! Jesus put the whammy on it. Is Jesus just some anti-arborist or a vandal or something!? Actually, I think He was making a statement about the condition of Israel and how He feels about fruitlessness. There was a major shift in Jesus’ ministry at this point. He had been rejected by His own and now the Gentile Age, the Age of the Church, would be ushered in. But this lesson isn't only applicable to Israel. We could stand a little fruit inspection ourselves. I can think of two types of fruit we should bear: Character – Galatians 5.22-23 and People – John 4.35-36. Jesus is serious about fruitfulness (John 15.8).

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NO INHIBITION

2011-02-12T09:48:00.001-05:00

Read Matthew 21.12-17

“Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABIES YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF” (Matthew 21:16-17)

NO INHIBITION

One of my sons proclaimed in a loud voice, “Mama, that man’s cigarettes are stinky!” Oops! As a parent, you learn very quickly to watch what you say around your young kids. They have no shyness when it comes to speaking the truth, even in very public places. The young children of Jesus’ day did the same. They carried the praises of the adults on the road into the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Perhaps the parents of those children were a little more cautious around the religious leaders, but the children held nothing back in their excitement. It would be good to take a few lessons from children and speak of Jesus a little more boldly, no matter where we are.

Tell someone about Jesus this week.

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Reflections on Ezra’s Prayer (Ezra 9.5-15)

2011-02-10T09:34:00.003-05:00

Reflections on Ezra’s Prayer of National Contrition and Repentance (Ezra 9.5-15)

Father, I humble myself before You. I am a lump of clay, nothing without the breath of life from Your mouth. You are my reason for living; there is no other. I can’t even exist without Your divine will for me to do so. And then in my living, I have been unthankful and disobedient - making my existence even more absurd. Lord, how merciful You have been to a creature who barely acknowledges You...to one who walks in darkness, groping for significance in wrong places. If it were not for Your light, I would be utterly lost.

Our sins? My sins are weight enough to condemn me in the strongest way. I alone have made myself a wretch and needed no help from another. But I understand Ezra’s plea. Because with this symphony of iniquity, You must groan. How You must dread looking into every work place, every home, every cell, every bedroom, every hotel room, every bar, and every heart where sin is conceived and where its birth gives way to a grotesque miscarriage of Your original intent. O God, forgive us!

Father, we as leaders lead Your people to the gallows. We happily trudge along toward death without mind or thought of our eternity. And we march over the flaming edge with arrogant confidence in our ways and understanding. We have pronounced ourselves as godlike. We are the center of all things. We know best. And in this proclamation, we march multitudes into destruction, simply because we will not bend the knee to Divine love.

But through a small crack in the door, the Light comes streaming into the darkness. It is the sliver of Light that gives an unmistakable call, “Come unto Me.” It is Your hand extending in the crucial time of our rescue, grasping my hand as I fell. In the last second, I am rescued by my God, a Savior strong and able. In a time of last breaths, You came -- barely time in the glass left for me. I am saved!

He has broken the chains of darkness. I was a slave with no worth to a cruel master. You came to my deliverance, You remembered the place of my captivity, and Your love for us compels Your strong presence to free the oppressed. A cup for the thirsty and bread for the hungry, You revive my soul from destitution. I enter into the courts of my God, the brilliance of Your presence. And I am in awe. I am safe!

And now, I kneel before Your throne because of the realization that nothing, nothing, nothing was done on my part to merit such love. I was utterly captive to my own destruction. There was no strength. There was no hope. I should have perished with millions of others. Why me, O Lord? Why extend Your hand to me? Fairness is the pit. Justice is the flame. Right is judgment and wrath. But instead, I have mercy. Oh, the wonderful grace of Jesus! How precious the entrance into the Kingdom of God through His mercy. I am on my face. I have no strength as I consider the disaster I have escaped. I am saved! I am safe!

And now, left with only a second in the stretch of eternity, what shall I do? I will give the whole in service to You. I will proclaim my Rescuer’s love for all. It is no duty. I do not need to strain. I am compelled by His lovingkindness to invite others to this wedding feast of the Lamb. Come to Him! Come to the light! Be saved! Be safe! Warn others before the second slips into eternal darkness! Trade your chains for light and love!

The second gone, any suffering has faded from memory. The King enters. We bow. Now begins eternal gratitude and praise of the weary soldiers of the Lamb. Now His victory is won. We are a testimony to Your love and glory forever! AMEN

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GUESS WHO

2011-02-09T05:50:00.001-05:00

Read Matthew 21.1-11

“When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.” (Matthew 21:10-11)

GUESS WHO

We used to play a game where we would come up behind someone and cover their eyes and say “guess who”. It was a game that was meant to surprise but to also bring obvious joy to the recipient as they recognized the voice of the other person. But every once in awhile, the recipient would guess wrong and it was kind of a letdown. The children of Israel had guessed wrong on their Messiah. “Who is this?” they asked. “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.” What a letdown that must have been for God. Jesus wasn’t entering Jerusalem as a prophet, He was entering as the King. Who is Jesus in our lives? A teacher or prophet? Or do we proclaim and treat Him as Who He really is: the King of kings?

How do you treat Jesus as your King?

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COMPASSION COMPARTMENT

2011-02-07T09:44:00.002-05:00

Read Matthew 20.29-34

“Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.” (Matthew 20:34)

COMPASSION COMPARTMENT

I barely know her, but I constantly remember her in prayer. She’s been diagnosed with cancer once again and my heart aches for her. I’m normally not this moved by illnesses, but this one is special. This is the same kind of cancer my wife Deb had. Now, anytime I hear about it, I’m moved to compassion. When I think about it, that same feeling that grips me and causes my insides to twist is the same feeling Jesus had for people over and over again. From the blind men to hungry people, Jesus really cared. Makes me want to broaden my horizons in the compassion compartment.

How are you stretching yourself to be more compassionate?

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LEAVING YOUR HIGH PLACE

2011-02-03T09:13:00.002-05:00

Read Matthew 20.20-28

“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28)

LEAVING YOUR HIGH PLACE

In 1722, Count Zinzendorf financed a safe haven on his own property for those being persecuted for the faith. It turned into a small village with many of the new denominations. Unfortunately, it became a hotbed of strife. He and is family moved out of his plush mansion and into the village with the people and began to lead them by reconciling relationships. This act of servant leadership became the Moravian Missionary Movement* that lasted 150 years and sent 2158 missionaries around the world. They had a huge impact on men like William Cary (Father of Protestant Missions) and John Wesley (Founder of the Methodist movement). Zinzendorf led like Jesus: he left his high place and served the people.

How can you use your high place to serve others?

*Movements that Change the World, Steve Addison

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THE INNER CIRCLE

2011-02-02T07:05:00.002-05:00

Read Matthew 20.17-19

“As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves…” (Matthew 20:17)

THE INNER CIRCLE

If you ask me to keep a secret, I’ll probably ask you if I can tell my wife. I don’t keep many secrets from Deb because we try to tell each other about everything that happens in life. That’s how close Jesus was to His disciples. He just had to pull them aside and give them the inside scoop on what was about to happen to Him for their sake and the glory of God. I know many of us have this kind of relationship with our spouse. But do we have it with men and woman we are discipling? Is there someone we feel compelled to let into the inner circle for the sake of protection, instruction, or rejoicing? It’s amazing how affirming this act of trust can be. If you're looking to build a special relationship with a few disciples, let them into the inner circle of your life.

Who’s in your inner circle? How much can you tell them?

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DO YOU WANT WHAT YOU DESERVE?

2011-02-01T09:57:00.004-05:00

Read Matthew 20.1-16

“When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us” (Matthew 20:11-12)

DO YOU WANT WHAT YOU DESERVE?

My son Wes had learned a crucial lesson in life. His Gameboy was taken away by his teacher and he wasn’t even playing with it in class like the other boys. When we asked him what he learned from the whole circumstance, he calmly replied, “Life isn’t fair.” Wow! Fifth grade is pretty early to be making that observation. Sometimes you’ll hear people demand justice or complain about not being treated fairly. One of the things we need to come to grips with is that grace is never fair or just. In fact, it’s counterintuitive for us -- unless, of course, we personally need the mercy. It's God’s prerogative to extend His grace when and how He wishes. Can you imagine what our life and future would be like if we got what we deserved or if God was “fair”? That's what makes grace so amazing!

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INVESTING WISELY

2011-01-28T11:47:00.005-05:00

Read Matthew 19.27-30

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:29)

INVESTING WISELY

After I quoted a Scripture verse to answer his question he said, “I wish I could do that.” “Do what?” I replied. “I wish I could remember where Bible verses are and be able to answer peoples' questions like that.” I assured him, “Oh, but you can! It just takes a little time memorizing and you can do exactly what I did.” I could tell by his expression he wasn’t even remotely interested to do the work that it would take to make his wish a reality. There is reward for sacrifice and hard work. Jesus promises as much. It's true that God is very gracious and gives to us even what we don't deserve. But He is also the “Great Multiplier.” See how He exponentially increases our small but important efforts. His ways are always a wise investment.

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SAVE YOURSELF?

2011-01-22T13:05:00.001-05:00

Read Matthew 19.16-26

“And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

SAVE YOURSELF?

My son, Chuck, was recently in a firefight in Afghanistan. He told me how bullets kicked up dirt in front of and behind him. His tactics were sound, he was doing the right thing, and yet the enemies bullets still came that close. By the grace of God, he was spared. It only goes to show how impossible it is to completely protect ourselves from danger. The rich young ruler wanted to be saved but he was relying on his own ability. Until, of course, Jesus raised the bar. The standard was set so high that the young ruler was forced to acknowledge that he didn’t have it in him. We need to remember the same: we don’t have it in us. It's impossible for us to do enough to save ourselves. Ultimately, our fate rests in the grace of God. Only the mercy of Jesus and His work on the cross is powerful enough to do the impossible.

How does knowing you can’t do enough to earn your salvation effect you?

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BRINGING OUR CHILDREN TO JESUS

2011-01-19T11:28:00.002-05:00

Read Matthew 19.13-15

"But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14-15)

BRINGING OUR CHILDREN TO JESUS

One of the greatest mistakes I made in raising my boys was not emphasizing Jesus enough. There were so many things that clouded a clear view of our Lord: ministry, career, religion, school, discipline, finances, recreation, and the list goes on. If I had to do it over again, I would have talked about Jesus as though He were really in the room (and He is) and all that He is and does for us. I would have majored on His teaching and life instead of the classic Sunday school stories of David and Goliath or Noah and the Ark. I would have majored on reading the gospels over and over again until being like Jesus was second nature. Why will we teach our kids about everything else and only give them a little bit of Jesus? My advice to parents today? Bring your kids to Jesus. Make Him the focus of Your teaching.

How often do You talk about Jesus with your kids?

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THE MAINTENANCE FREE MARRIAGE

2011-01-18T13:40:00.001-05:00

Read Matthew 19.1-12

“The disciples said to Him, “If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry.” (Matthew 19:10)

THE MAINTENANCE FREE MARRIAGE

As a Chaplain, I counseled hundreds of couples who had made a train wreck of their marriage. Most expected me to wave a magic wand and “poof” everything was better. Instead, I would lay out a plan for them to work their way back into a healthy relationship. Why do we expect this to be easy? You can see our attitude in the statement made by the disciples, “Man, if I have to work at this thing, I may as well not even start.” Jesus says it could work for those with the gift of celibacy but not for the normal Joe and Josie. Couples need to realize that marriage is work. Love is work. God expects us to be diligent in the labor of love. It’s amazing to see what can happen when we put a little elbow grease into our relationships. There's no such thing as maintenance-free marriage.

Are you giving daily attention to your relationships?

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A DISASTROUS MISCALCULATION

2011-01-12T10:22:00.002-05:00

Read Matthew 18.21-35

“My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18:35)

A DISASTROUS MISCALCULATION

I watched him quickly descend the face of the cliff. He was showing off in front of the students and his Australian Rappel was flawless until he hit the small ledge at the end of the rope. Now, having run out of rope, he would fall another 50 feet because he had misjudged his speed. He survived the fall but his miscalculation cost him dearly. The unforgiving slave in Jesus’ parable made a gross miscalculation, as well. I don’t pretend to understand how to reconcile total forgiveness of all sin and Jesus' pronouncement about conditional forgiveness based on forgiving others. But I do know this; I am at the end of my spiritual rope and desperately need to be forgiven for my sins. So I will slow down and carefully forgive others as I have been forgiven. Then I will land safely on the ledge of His grace. Failure to do so could be a disastrous miscalculation.

Who do you need to forgive? Do it today and don’t look back!

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WHO LOVES YOU THIS MUCH?

2011-01-10T10:50:00.002-05:00

Read Matthew 18.15-20

“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.” (Matthew 18:15)

WHO LOVES YOU THIS MUCH?

It stung to hear the words coming from my friend. He told me that I was being petty and had lost focus on what was really important. My normal reaction is to be defensive and hurt by the frankness and the truth of what he was saying. But he had evaluated the situation accurately and now I was exposed in the nakedness of my sin. My first inclination was to do exactly what has been done since the first sin in the garden: hide. Then, to give justifications and excuses so that I could maintain the veneer of my reputation. But instead, I listened and took it to heart. He was right. But much more than that, he loved me enough to risk our relationship and draw me out from my hiding place. True friends enter these very dangerous places. They go to the depths of the crevices to rescue us from our disastrous falls.

Do you have a friend like this? Have you made it easy for someone to be this kind of friend?

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THE POWER OF ONE

2011-01-08T11:19:00.003-05:00

Read Matthew 18.12-14

“If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray.” (Matthew 18:13)

THE POWER OF ONE

If you try to call my cell phone while I’m in a one-on-one discipleship meeting, you’ll have to leave a message. It’s because at that moment this one person has my undivided attention. Why am I so dogged about this ministry? Because I realize the potential residing in this one person. So much of what we do in Christendom is oriented toward the 99 but I have found people merely get lost in the masses. One of the reasons people don’t become healthy, reproductive disciples of Jesus is because they don’t get the individual attention required to pull off such a feat. Imagine what the Church would look like if every individual could help another individual grow in their relationship with Christ. I tell you there is no building big enough to contain such a movement.

Who is your one sheep you are helping follow Jesus?

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REMOVE ALL OBSTACLES

2011-01-07T10:58:00.003-05:00

Read Matthew 18.1-11

“Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks!” (Matthew 18:7)

REMOVE ALL OBSTACLES

Just a few days ago, I became “that guy.” I got confused in the mall parking lot. You know, the ones where there are no stop signs where there should be and are where they shouldn’t be. I got confused, but proceeded across the intersection anyway and got caught in the middle. Now I was stuck with traffic hemming me in on all sides, the center of attention. I had become an obstacle to many committed Mallsters and their shopping pleasures. Jesus talks about obstacles that are in the way of eternal life. He says, “Woe to the man” who becomes a stumbling block to peoples' spiritual growth. And it’s better to whack off body parts than to be a stumbling block to one’s own spiritual growth. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather face a mob angry shopaholics than hear Jesus say “Woe unto you” because I became an obstacle to His plans for me or another.

How can a person get in the way of another’s relationship with Jesus?

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SOMETIMES BEING RIGHT ISN’T ENOUGH

2011-01-04T10:29:00.001-05:00

Read Matthew 17.24-27

“However, so that we do not offend them…” (Matthew 17:27)

SOMETIMES BEING RIGHT ISN’T ENOUGH

He wasn’t a Christian but he was hungry and curious. He had been coming to Bible study for a little while and knew just enough to be dangerous. He would regularly mix up Biblical characters like Abraham and the Ark, Samuel slaying Goliath, and Peter parting the Red Sea. He was zealous to share his newly-found information, even though it wasn’t catalogued quite right. Instead of correcting every little error, I patiently continued to teach. I had the right answers and could have blasted him in front of the group. But I probably would have just embarrassed him and run him off. Having all the right answers isn't everything. The truth needs to be coupled with love. Sometimes being right isn’t enough.

Are you sacrificing any of your relationships over insignificant facts?

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FAILURE IS AN OPTION

2011-01-01T06:13:00.002-05:00

Read Matthew 17.14-23

“I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.” (Matthew 17:16)

FAILURE IS AN OPTION

The chainsaw kicked back and it was a near miss. “Whoa! I won't do it like that again!” Ever utter those words? Can you imagine what your life would be like if you just gave up after a failure? Think about the Apostles. They had been given power to cast out demons way back in Chapter 10 and here they were failing. They just could not get this tough little bugger out. Jesus comes, casts out the demon, and gives further instructions on how to succeed the next time. The guys may not have had enough faith, but at least they kept trying. Think about it. Jesus put those guys to work handling people’s spiritual and physical problems before they were “experts.” That’s a little more dangerous than handling a chainsaw! Jesus has given us the command to go and make disciples, too. (Matthew 28.18-20) The truth is, we will never be good enough to do ministry. It’s all by His grace, anyway. So let’s roll up our sleeves and make some followers of Jesus.

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HE HAS NO EQUAL

2010-12-29T11:53:00.003-05:00

Read Matthew 17.1-13

“This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” (Matthew 17:5)

HE HAS NO EQUAL

I received an email from my son, Wes, saying that he got to hang out with the President. I was impressed! I wrote him back asking for more details. Then he let the cat out the bag. It was only the president of an organization not the President of the United States. Very funny. That’s kind of what Peter should have noticed on the Mount of Transfiguration. He was so amazed at the company of Moses, Elijah, and Jesus, that he wanted to make all three a shelter right there on top of the mountain. Peter mistakenly lumped all three of these heroes of the faith together. But the Father squared him away in one small but significant statement: "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” Suddenly, there is only One Hero and it is Jesus, the Son of God. He has no equal among men! He deserves our undivided attention!

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HERO TO ZERO IN NOTHIN’ FLAT

2010-12-28T09:46:00.002-05:00

Read Matthew 16.21-23

But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” (Matthew 16:23)

HERO TO ZERO IN NOTHIN’ FLAT

In my younger days, I was known as the life of the party and could be pretty funny. But inevitably, I would get on a roll and then resort to something off color or make a lame comment and ruin the whole atmosphere. That’s kind of what Peter did. He was doing pretty good, having identified Jesus correctly and Jesus praised and affirmed him. (Matthew 16.17-19) Then, just as he was feeling like he was in the groove, he rebuked Jesus. Big mistake! Now mister smarty-pants was put on the same level as the Devil. Whoa! Here’s a good proverb that reminds us to be careful when we get “on a roll.” “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.” (Proverbs 10:19)

Have you ever experienced this? How can you guard your lips?

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IDENTITY CRISIS

2010-12-26T12:21:00.003-05:00

Read Matthew 16.13-20

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15)

IDENTITY CRISIS

Our family was spending the hot summer’s day at the pool and I decided to get the boys a popsicle. Being 25 cents short, I went to my wife and put my arm around shoulders and said, “Give me a quarter.” Only one problem, she wasn’t my wife! Oops! This was, what you might call, an identity crisis. Fortunately, the woman had a good sense of humor. It’s one thing to misidentify your wife but its quite another to misidentify Jesus. Peter got it right when he said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And is it any wonder that in Peter’s second letter, a letter of reminders, he would remind us of this one thing: “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18) Identity Crisis or Christ’s Identity? We choose.

Who is Jesus to you, really? Are you helping others to identify the real Jesus?

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MASTERING THE OBVIOUS

2010-12-25T07:33:00.002-05:00

Read Matthew 16.1-12

“Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?” (Matthew 16:3)

MASTERING THE OBVIOUS

I had looked all over the house for my reading glasses and just couldn’t find them. I had just used them and they couldn’t have just disappeared. Finally I asked Deb if she had seen them. She said, “Yeah, they’re on your head.” I think we’ve all experienced this kind of embarrassment. Have you ever missed things that were spiritually obvious? The Pharisees missed the signs of the times and consequently missed the Messiah. The disciples missed the fact that Jesus could produce bread out of thin air and couldn’t connect the dots on a key lesson He was trying to teach. The only way I know how to keep from making the same blunders is to pray that God will open our eyes and ears and to hang out with people doing the same.

Who are the wise people you hang out with? Are you praying for wisdom?

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THE PRINCE OF PATIENCE

2010-12-24T10:54:00.004-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Read Matthew 15.32-39

“And Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, “I feel compassion for the people…” (Matthew 15:32)

THE PRINCE OF PATIENCE

Ever struggle in the patience department? I know I do. But let’s watch Jesus as He feeds the 4000. The first thing you should recognize is that He has fed the multitudes before. He fed 5000 earlier (Matthew 14.15-21) and He actually challenges them on their motives for wanting to be with Him (John 6.1-14, 26-27). He tells them they are just following Him because He filled their bellies. Now after you and I have discovered folks are using us, what do we do? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me, right? Not Jesus. He actually feeds them again. Father, give us the patience of Your Son so that we can love the way He did.

Who in your life do you need to be patient with and “feed” again?

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WHERE’S THE LOYALTY?

2010-12-18T14:54:00.001-05:00

Read Matthew 15.29-31

“So the crowd marveled as they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.” (Matthew 15:31)

WHERE’S THE LOYALTY?

How many people did Jesus heal? Was it hundreds or maybe thousands? And what about the friends and family members who experienced a loved one being healed? Now, maybe we’re up to three thousand or more. And then there are the thousands who heard of His good deeds. Wouldn’t all those people have constituted a small army who could have risen to His defense? Surely they were in His camp - they glorified God! And yet, when He stood before His accusers, there wasn’t even one who stood to defend Him in earnest. Perhaps it's better to live with a lifetime of infirmities and still glorify Him, rather than an occasional flash-in-the-pan kind of praise that only happens when we treat Him like a cosmic vending machine. Lord, help us to glorify You even when You don’t heal us.

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DOTTED LINES

2010-12-17T15:39:00.000-05:00

Read Matthew 15.21-28

“But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 15.18)

DOTTED LINES

The disciplemaker with no boundaries won’t last very long. He or she will be pulled in so many directions that they will eventually lose all sense of direction. But I’ve learned to draw my boundaries with dotted lines like Jesus did. His boundary was “the lost sheep of Israel.” But when the Syrophoenician woman, a Gentile, approached Him, He stepped out of the box. Why? Because of her great faith. Some would see this as a reason not to have boundaries at all, but that would be missing the point. Jesus said no to plenty of people. He had to, in order to stay within His Father’s will and sustain His health for future ministry. But He was not so rigid that He couldn’t take advantage of exceptional opportunities. Boundaries are good; just draw them with dotted lines.

What are your boundaries? What would compel you to step across them?

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AIM FOR THE HEART

2010-12-16T22:06:00.001-05:00

Read Matthew 15.15-20

“But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart…” (Matthew 15.18)

AIM FOR THE HEART

The young disciplemaker was on the verge of making a big mistake. He had pulled together a handful of guys for Bible study in the dorm of a local college. They weren’t followers of Jesus yet but things were headed in that direction. As he and I discussed the growth of the men, he was fixated on one thing: the guys were smoking cigarettes. I was surprised his aim was so low. I asked, “Why are you going after these minor issues when if you aim for the heart, you’ll see real spiritual transformation?” I told him, “Major on getting them in the Word, pray for them, love them, and let God deal with the cigarettes.” Two weeks later, several of the guys quit smoking. This is key to making disciples of Jesus: if you capture the heart, you capture the man. But if you just focus on the externals, it’s like dressing someone up in a tuxedo for an appointment in Hell.

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TRADITIONS: HANDLE WITH CARE

2010-12-15T17:31:00.001-05:00

Read Matthew 15.1-14

“And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?” (Matthew 15.3)

TRADITIONS: HANDLE WITH CARE

I was discipling a young man in our ministry who was saturating his life in the Word of God but wasn’t having his quiet time the same way we were. He was memorizing Scripture but it wasn’t the same set of verses that we usually have guys memorize. It seemed his approach to his relationship with Jesus was completely different than most of the folks in our ministry. This irritated a couple of our leaders and they voiced their complaints. My question to them was, “Is he growing in his relationship with Jesus and is he helping others do the same?” The answer was yes, but… This is where we need to be very careful that we don’t become like the Pharisees. We have our methods (traditions) and most of the time they are very helpful. But they're just methods. The objective is to help people follow Jesus. Let’s not get confused between the commands of God and the traditions of men.

Now what if you have chosen different methods and your methods aren’t helping you grow closer to Christ?

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LET ME TRY

2010-12-14T11:56:00.003-05:00

Read Matthew 14.22-36

And He said, “Come!” (Matthew 14.29)

LET ME TRY

My two sons inherited the “Let me try!” attitude from their father. Whether it was jumping from the bed into my arms, being first to stand in front of the baseball pitching machine, or driving like crazy men on four wheelers, they were always willing to try risky things. Now they’re doing things like Ranger school and learning Chinese. When Peter said, “Let me try!” Jesus encouraged his risk of getting out of the boat and walking on water. While the other disciples were thinking “How is Jesus doing that?” Peter was thinking, “How can I do that? ” I think that thrills our Master. He wants us to imitate Him (Luke 6.40). He encourages us to exercise our faith and take risks, just as He did. Living by faith means getting out of the boat.

What risks are you taking to become like Jesus?

This was my 800th post in my blog! Thanks for your support!

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“PEOPLED”

2010-12-05T23:10:00.001-05:00

Read Matthew 14.13-21

When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick. (Matthew 14.14)

“PEOPLED”

The lady at the customer service counter was snapping at the man in front of me. I was thinking to myself, “this isn't going to be pretty.” She was obviously, what I call, “peopled.” It’s when people in the people business spend so much time with people problems they can no longer treat people like people. How do I know this? Because I’m in the people business and I’ve been there. That brings me to Jesus. He was in the people business and probably no one in the history of mankind had the potential of being more “peopled” than He. And yet that wasn’t the case. Jesus was mourning the death of His cousin and trying to get away to grieve. And what meets Him on the other side, the place of solitude? 5000 people! And what’s His reaction? Irritation? No, it’s compassion. So what was the greater miracle: feeding 5000 or His attitude toward them?

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WHO REALLY LOST THEIR HEAD?

2010-12-04T10:07:00.001-05:00

Read Matthew 14.1-12

Although he was grieved, the king commanded it to be given because of his oaths, and because of his dinner guests. He sent and had John beheaded in the prison. (Matthew 14.9-10)

WHO REALLY LOST THEIR HEAD?

“I just want to know that I can trust you,” said one thief to another. Some standards of morality just don’t make any sense, do they? When we look at Herod’s life, we enter the state of moral confusion. Herod is willing to commit adultery with his brother’s wife, live in debauchery, and murder John the Baptist. But when it comes to breaking an oath, oh no, he wouldn’t do that. His moral compass was spinning out of control. He had lost his head well before John lost his. His problem was not the absence of a personal moral code. His problem was that his moral code was personal. In order to maintain any real objectivity in our moral standards, they must come from Jesus. He is our consistency. Otherwise, we will be left to the whims of our opinions to guide our sense of rightness.

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SOMETIMES SEEING IS NOT BELIEVING

2010-12-03T10:49:00.002-05:00

Read Matthew 13.53-58

And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief. (Matthew 13.58)

SOMETIMES SEEING IS NOT BELIEVING

He was leaning precariously over the edge of the rock but not quite past the point of no return. He was frozen with fear on the 60-foot cliff and he could go no further. I reminded him that the rope held him securely and he had seen others rappel down the rock wall several times. In the end, his faith failed. Simply seeing did not lead to believing. Just like the people of Nazareth. Jesus’ hometown folk had seen and heard the wonders of their prized son. And yet they could not get beyond the arrogance of familiarity or the pride seniority. Jesus’ powers were limited by unbelief.

Are you limiting the power of Jesus by the trumping power of disbelief?

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AMPLE WARNING

2010-12-01T19:51:00.002-05:00

Read Matthew 13.47-52

“…and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13.50)

Ample Warning

I told them three times, “Be careful with that blasting cap, you could blow your hand off.” Now what’s my motivation? Am I trying to be a “Debbie Downer”? Am I overly critical or legalistic? No, I care about these people and I’m teaching them how to handle explosives. Repetition is a technique in instruction and Jesus uses it several times (especially when it comes to people feeling comfortable with their standing in the Kingdom). If Jesus emphasized this over and over again, we can come to two conclusions. First, this must be a very important message. And second, some will still choose not to listen. Remember, Jesus sets the standards. He is the standard.

I’ve heard it said, “There are three ways to learn: repetition, blunt force trauma, and repetitive blunt force trauma. I choose number one!

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WHAT SACRIFICE?

2010-11-30T17:31:00.000-05:00

Read Matthew 13.44-45

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” (Matthew 13.44)

WHAT SACRIFICE?

I know three men who recently left very successful careers to enter full-time ministry. When their peers found out that they were forfeiting their pay, status, and a very comfortable retirement in order to obey God’s call on their lives, well, let’s just say they were a little less than encouraging. But if you were to ask these men and their wives about the sacrifice, you might be a little surprised at their response. They would say, “What sacrifice? We have gained the Kingdom of God!” And by the way, I know of three other men who have answered a call to stay in their careers for the sake of the Kingdom. It’s not about position, possessions, or people. It’s all about the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 6.33)

What is the Kingdom of God worth to you? Do you joyfully give up the things of this world in order to gain the Kingdom?

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THE KINGDOM IS LIKE SPRAY INSULATING FOAM

2010-11-29T16:40:00.001-05:00

Read Matthew 13.31-35

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed.” (Matthew 13.31)

THE KINGDOM IS LIKE SPRAY INSULATING FOAM

I needed to fill in some small cracks in order to finish insulating the house. I used a can of spray foam insulation. Now if you’ve never used this stuff before you're in for a surprise. When I gave it what I thought was a little squirt, it not only filled the crack but started growing so fast it went half way down the wall and expanded to about a 100 times its size. Wow! So when it says, “Apply in small amounts,” it means small amounts. The Kingdom of God grows the same way. It only takes a few fired up “Jesus Followers” sharing the good news and living an authentic Christian life to change whole communities. Jesus guarantees that the Kingdom will grow. We just need to roll up our sleeves, apply a little faith and start sharing the gospel in word and deed.

How do you see the Kingdom growing in your own heart? How do you see it growing in your community?

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DON’T FAIL THIS TEST

2010-11-28T19:05:00.000-05:00

Read Matthew 13.24-30, 36-43

"But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also.” (Matthew 13.26)

DON’T FAIL THIS TEST

I knew the information for the exam like the back of my hand and I was filling in the little circles as fast as I could on the bubble test. Only one problem: I had skipped one question in the beginning. Now all my answers were just one question off. What a shock when I got my exam back with a big fat “F” and I realized what I had done. Failing an exam in school is one thing but being mistaken on your eternal security is another. There is only one question on the eternal test: “Will you follow Jesus?” How do you know you’ve answered the question right? The same way you can tell the difference between wheat and tares: you'll see the fruit (2 Corinthians 13.5, John 15.8).

What does the fruit look like and how is it produced? (John 15.1-8) Is Jesus the only way to produce such fruit? (John 14.6, 2 Corinthians 5.21)

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Read Matthew 13.18-23

"And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit..."(Matthew 13.23)

YOU ARE HERE

You know the maps in the mall that help you find your location? You look for the little arrow that says, “You are here.” Well, Jesus talks about a spiritual map in a similar way. It pinpoints the location of where we are in relationship to God. The first potential location is “clueless”. They don’t even know where to begin and probably don’t care (and they would probably have stopped reading by now). The second is one who has had an emotional experience with God but is “rootless” and simply fades away. The third location is one who is distracted by so many things it’s being choked out and bears no “fruit.” However, the desired destination is the one called “good ground”. That's where we find a fruitful relationship with God.

Re-read Matthew 13.18-23. What's your location?

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PROFOUND MYSTERIOUS SIMPLICITY

2010-11-26T10:44:00.000-05:00

Read Matthew 13.1-17

And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?” (Matthew 13.10)

PROFOUND MYSTERIOUS SIMPLICITY

Remember in the third grade when you put a seed on a moist paper towel in a jar? After sealing it, you and your classmates put the jar on the windowsill. A few days later you began to understand the miracle of how plants grow. Jesus reminds us of that early lesson from grade school. For the casual listener, it may be so simplistic it’s paid no attention. But for those who know the Teacher, it is the beginning of a deeper understanding of life, spirituality, and communing with the Creator of all things. The hungry are left with a nagging curiosity that will only be quenched with the Master’s explanation. And He bids you, “Come, ask your questions and I will reveal to you the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven.”

How are you mastering the art of asking questions of both God and man?

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ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY

2010-11-24T09:38:00.000-05:00

Read Matthew 12.46-50

"For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother." (Matthew 12.50)

ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY

For the last eight years, we’ve had young soldiers and officers living in our home. Some may ask, “How can you do that? How do you have guests living in your home for days on end?” Well, we don’t consider these guys guests - they’re family. So now that they're family, it sheds a different light on how we interact and how we prioritize our relationships. For Jesus, there was no tension between biological family and His spiritual family. He saw them all as family. He simply met the needs of each family member as He could, when it was appropriate. He also got help from the brothers and sisters to meet the needs where He couldn’t. Isn’t that how big families work?

How would a family of 12 function differently than a family of four? How does this relate to the spiritual family?

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SHOW ME YOUR BADGE

2010-11-23T10:09:00.002-05:00

Read Matthew 12.38-45

But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet…(Matthew 12.39)

SHOW ME YOUR BADGE

The off-duty policeman politely instructed the youth that there were signs posted and that they we loitering. One of the young men stepped forward and said, “What, are you a cop or something? Let me see your badge!” This is exactly the situation Jesus found Himself in when the Pharisees confronted Him. They demanded a sign of His authority and yet there were signs all around them. He had just healed two men. It wasn’t about miracles. Jesus had caught them using the Law to promote themselves and to manipulate the people. Their pride and envy had clouded the fact that they were wrong - whether Jesus had a “badge” or not. We ought to gladly obey the ways of the Kingdom, whether the King is present or not. By the way, the King is always present!

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WATCH YOUR MOUTH

2010-11-22T13:55:00.008-05:00

Read Matthew 12.33-37

" For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart ." (Matthew 12.34)

WATCH YOUR MOUTH

Has your mama ever told you to "watch your mouth"? Or even worse, "I'm going to wash your mouth out with soap." You know, I’ve had that done to me a couple of times and it never helped. My mouth was just as dirty after the washing as it was before the soap. Jesus says if you want to clean up the mouth, you have to clean up the heart. How can I do that? I'm glad you asked! The first step is to acknowledge that your heart needs cleaning by confessing your sin to Him. (1 Jo 1.9) Next, you need to enlist His help by praying that He will change your heart. (1 Jo 5.14-15) Then put it into practice by intercepting the bad thoughts and replacing them with the thoughts of Christ. (Rom 12.1-2, Phil 4.8) Ask friends who are committed to the same objective to help in the heart-cleansing process. (Pro 27.17) Lastly, never quit. (1 Tim 6.12) It's going to be a fight! But remember, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom 8.31)

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