When I woke up this morning my heart just wasn't in the right place. I think sometimes I focus too much on my heart condition (or how I feel) instead of just living in obedience.
What should I do when I'm tired? Glorify God!
What should I do when I don't understand? Glorify God!
What should I do when I'm angry? Glorify God!
What should I do when I'm stressed out? Glorify God!
What should I do when finances aren't perfect? Glorify God!
I'll be the first to admit this is easier said than done. I'm just trying to relay the idea that obedience without heart is better than no obedience and no heart. I also think it's interesting how acting in obedience has a way of changing your heart condition. As cheesy as this sounds, obedience is the wind to the hearts sail (yes, I made that up). Start acting in obedience and discipline and you're heart will fall into place. We're of the flesh, and as a result there will always be a struggle with our spirit (Galatians 5 and 6). In other words, our heart isn't going to be in the right place all the time. This requires that there be times of walking in obedience even when our hearts don't feel like it. Ultimately, it is keeping your election pure in Christ through obedience that will realign your heart with God's.
Grace and Peace,
JoMo
Monday, April 30, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Who is for you?
How often do we compare our walk with Christ to others walks? Furthermore, how often do we look at our own walk as more correct? I think the Bible offers a good verse in relation to this dilemma.
Luke 9: 49-50
49 John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us." 50 But Jesus said to him, "Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you."
Jesus really simplified that! The important part here is that the man casting out demons was doing it in Jesus' name. Today there seems to be so much that divides us as Christians. We get so hung up on what denomination we prefer, style of worship music, practicing of spiritual gifts, ect but Jesus doesn't want those differences to divide the church. Jesus is saying if you truly recognize him as the son of God, then your on the same team. Now I won't deny that Christ followers still need to be cautious of false teachers and prophets. The only conclusion I'm trying to get to today is: Instead of looking at all the little differences that divide us as Christ followers, let's look at the one major thing that unites us... Jesus Christ!
Grace and Peace
JoMo
Luke 9: 49-50
49 John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us." 50 But Jesus said to him, "Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you."
Jesus really simplified that! The important part here is that the man casting out demons was doing it in Jesus' name. Today there seems to be so much that divides us as Christians. We get so hung up on what denomination we prefer, style of worship music, practicing of spiritual gifts, ect but Jesus doesn't want those differences to divide the church. Jesus is saying if you truly recognize him as the son of God, then your on the same team. Now I won't deny that Christ followers still need to be cautious of false teachers and prophets. The only conclusion I'm trying to get to today is: Instead of looking at all the little differences that divide us as Christ followers, let's look at the one major thing that unites us... Jesus Christ!
Grace and Peace
JoMo
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Doubt
Doubt is probably one of the biggest struggles people face in a walk with Christ. Correspondingly, doubt is probably one of the least addressed issues. I think this is because when we are among other Christians (church, bible studies, ect) we look at the situation and say something like this: "Okay I'm in a place where everyone else believes in God... I believe in God too but right now I'm struggling with (insert your doubt here)... If I bring up this doubt, how is this going to come off to others who believe... I'm a little scared to even put my doubt into dialogue... Verbalizing my doubt might make God think I don't believe (this statement is a little contradictory but I'll be the first to admit that it has crossed my mind)." The fact is EVERYONE has doubts. God designed doubt into the human experience. Pay attention here, this is important. Just like any other hindrance in our faith, the devil wants you to keep your doubt to yourself. I'll let you in on a doubt I struggle with. In Sociology there is this concept called The Self Fulling Prophesy. It states, that situations we define as real, become real in there consequences. In simpler terms, things we believe to be true, ultimately become true due to our belief in them. Here's a real world example of how this theory works. There's a weak and self conscious male who enters the military. The military takes this individual through physical training and mentally breaks the individual down. The individual is then built up through physical gains and the implementation of a belief system (brain washing). Before you know it, you have an elite military resource who believes he can do anything. Now take that same concept and apply it to ones faith. This is where my doubt comes in. I have this doubt that maybe everything I believe in, is simply a product of the beliefs I have been exposed to throughout my life. That my belief in God is a result of slowly convincing myself of God. I think there's probably more doubt in the Christian faith today than ever before. With modern science and technology we have become a society that depends on our senses and our understanding to determine what is real and what is not. I just had a post concerning Proverbs 3:5 which urges us not to lean on our own understanding. God tells us this because it's our own understanding that produces doubt.
Here's the take away. Realize that doubt is part of following Christ. Realize that EVERYONE else has doubts too. When your in moments or seasons of doubt, don't keep it pinned up inside (that's what the devil wants). Most importantly, look at the big picture and re-think your interpretation of doubt. So you have this ONE doubt... somehow we as humans take the one shred of something bad and it overrides everything else. Do not forget the undeniable facts in life! It is undeniable that you exist. Which means you either came from nothing or you were created. It is undeniable that Jesus the person lived. It is undeniable that he was put to death for saying he was the son of God. It is undeniable that the 12 disciples who followed Jesus must have seen the risen Christ... otherwise they would not have faced persecution and death so fearlessly (11 of 12 disciples were executed after refusing to deny their savior). It is undeniable that the apostle Pual was formally Saul who persecuted and executed Christians and through an encounter with the risen Christ was immediately transformed and became one of the most important catalysts of the Christian faith. It is undeniable that today nearly 1/3 of the worlds population believes that a man named Jesus was the son of God and died a sinners death to save the world! Do not forget the multitudes of undeniable facts in life!
Grace and Peace
JoMo
Here's the take away. Realize that doubt is part of following Christ. Realize that EVERYONE else has doubts too. When your in moments or seasons of doubt, don't keep it pinned up inside (that's what the devil wants). Most importantly, look at the big picture and re-think your interpretation of doubt. So you have this ONE doubt... somehow we as humans take the one shred of something bad and it overrides everything else. Do not forget the undeniable facts in life! It is undeniable that you exist. Which means you either came from nothing or you were created. It is undeniable that Jesus the person lived. It is undeniable that he was put to death for saying he was the son of God. It is undeniable that the 12 disciples who followed Jesus must have seen the risen Christ... otherwise they would not have faced persecution and death so fearlessly (11 of 12 disciples were executed after refusing to deny their savior). It is undeniable that the apostle Pual was formally Saul who persecuted and executed Christians and through an encounter with the risen Christ was immediately transformed and became one of the most important catalysts of the Christian faith. It is undeniable that today nearly 1/3 of the worlds population believes that a man named Jesus was the son of God and died a sinners death to save the world! Do not forget the multitudes of undeniable facts in life!
Grace and Peace
JoMo
Monday, April 23, 2012
How faithful is God?
God is so faithful that he tells us how to pray (The Lord's Prayer) because he already knows everything we need. (Matthew 6:8)
God is so faithful that he has only cursed the ground once (with the flood) because of man's evil heart. Furthermore, in his promise to never curse the earth again he has had to supplement destroying earth upon his return with restoring/renewing earth. (Genesis 8:21 and Revelation 21).
God is so faithful (don't forget loving) that while we were STILL sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
God is so faithful that even when we wander he never leaves us nor forsakes us. (Deuteronomy 31:6)
The things God CANNOT do can be counted on about one hand. He is so faithful that one of the few things God CANNOT do is remember your sin once you have confessed it.
I would be interested to see how many different "God is so faithful" responses I could get. Let's see if we can even begin to scratch the surface on how faithful God is!
Grace and Peace,
JoMo
God is so faithful that he has only cursed the ground once (with the flood) because of man's evil heart. Furthermore, in his promise to never curse the earth again he has had to supplement destroying earth upon his return with restoring/renewing earth. (Genesis 8:21 and Revelation 21).
God is so faithful (don't forget loving) that while we were STILL sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
God is so faithful that even when we wander he never leaves us nor forsakes us. (Deuteronomy 31:6)
The things God CANNOT do can be counted on about one hand. He is so faithful that one of the few things God CANNOT do is remember your sin once you have confessed it.
I would be interested to see how many different "God is so faithful" responses I could get. Let's see if we can even begin to scratch the surface on how faithful God is!
Grace and Peace,
JoMo
Friday, April 20, 2012
I don't understand!
I was reading through Proverbs chapter 3 today and read a verse concerning understanding. Specifically, not supplementing our lack of understanding for our own knowledge.
Proverbs 3:5
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding"
What a simple yet drastically overlooked truth. Certainly if we don't understand something it's likely because we don't possess enough knowledge. Therefore, when we don't understand situations of the world that are difficult like suffering and tragedy, we shouldn't jump to a conclusion about God based on feelings of emotion. Our emotions are worldly and lack eternal perspective. We have no knowledge of Gods eternal purpose (which I can guarantee you is GOOD and better than any plan man could develop). In other words, we as humans basically have no knowledge other than what is given to us in Gods word. Our emotions and instincts do not equate to knowledge. Emotions and instincts are things of our flesh. Sure we have knowledge in regards to physics, math, biology, ect but the knowledge contained in these categories offer no better understanding of moral situations. To make a long argument shorter, trust God in ALL things. In fact here is some good scripture to memorize.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
"Give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is Gods purpose for you in Christ Jesus"
Grace and Peace
JoMo
Proverbs 3:5
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding"
What a simple yet drastically overlooked truth. Certainly if we don't understand something it's likely because we don't possess enough knowledge. Therefore, when we don't understand situations of the world that are difficult like suffering and tragedy, we shouldn't jump to a conclusion about God based on feelings of emotion. Our emotions are worldly and lack eternal perspective. We have no knowledge of Gods eternal purpose (which I can guarantee you is GOOD and better than any plan man could develop). In other words, we as humans basically have no knowledge other than what is given to us in Gods word. Our emotions and instincts do not equate to knowledge. Emotions and instincts are things of our flesh. Sure we have knowledge in regards to physics, math, biology, ect but the knowledge contained in these categories offer no better understanding of moral situations. To make a long argument shorter, trust God in ALL things. In fact here is some good scripture to memorize.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
"Give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is Gods purpose for you in Christ Jesus"
Grace and Peace
JoMo
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Favorite Verse
So its been awhile since my last post. Sorry for the leave of absence! Since then, I traveled to Brazil and back. Serving at the Davis Lar orphanage in Brazil was definitely a great experience. It was amazing to see children given a second chance in life. Especially since almost all of them had been rescued from human trafficking and poverty. The truth that we are ALL children of God is undeniable. Jesus is the name above ALL names that transcends every difference in language or nation. A huge thank you goes out to all those who supported me with donations and prayers! Because of you I was able to fully fund my trip. Your sacrifices have helped glorify God and his great kingdom. For further information or pictures, you can add me as a friend on facebook or e-mail me (jomo486@gmail.com). As for the future of my blog, I would like to start moving towards unpacking some of Gods word. What better place to start than my favorite verse!
Luke 9:23-27 ESV
23 And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God."
Man I love God's word!
Verse 23: Jesus is saying this to ALL and to ANYONE. Not just those who grew up in church or those with miserable and broken pasts, not just men or just women, not just rich or just poor, not just the healthy or just the sick... ANYONE. Although the Bible does use "his", this is an acceptable term for both sexes in literature. Nonetheless, we all have the same requirements in running after Jesus. We must deny ourselves. We must take up our cross. We must decrease, God must increase.
Verse 24: This is potentially my favorite verse in the Bible. This statement pretty much sums up following Christ in one sentence.
Verse 25: A rhetorical question from Jesus, yet not so rhetorical to man. We somehow still seem to think there's something to be gained from THIS world.
Verse 26: If you claim to follow Christ, I hope it's not best kept a secret. I'm not going to judge... that's up to God, but I will say that if people don't recognize Christ-like characteristics or tendencies in you... you may be setting the Son of Man up for disappointment.
Verse 27: Jesus' final remark touches on the difficulty of applying truth. We are often able to recognize when something is true, but it's the application that is difficult. Yet it's the application that makes all the difference. For example, everyone would agree exercise is good for you, but merely accepting this as true does no good. It's actually getting off the couch, tightening up the shoe laces, and pounding the pavement that makes the difference. To me, Jesus seems to be saying something similar in verse 27. Jesus is saying... all of you hear me, most of you agree with me, but only a few of you believe it to the degree of applying it.
In summary, our walk with Christ should be a daily struggle of dying a little bit more and more to ourselves. I love this journey! The transformation isn't always easy or comfortable and the race is LONG, but that's why "the path is narrow, and few will find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). Don't let the things of this world distract you... keep your eyes on JESUS!
Grace and Peace
Jomo
Luke 9:23-27 ESV
23 And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God."
Man I love God's word!
Verse 23: Jesus is saying this to ALL and to ANYONE. Not just those who grew up in church or those with miserable and broken pasts, not just men or just women, not just rich or just poor, not just the healthy or just the sick... ANYONE. Although the Bible does use "his", this is an acceptable term for both sexes in literature. Nonetheless, we all have the same requirements in running after Jesus. We must deny ourselves. We must take up our cross. We must decrease, God must increase.
Verse 24: This is potentially my favorite verse in the Bible. This statement pretty much sums up following Christ in one sentence.
Verse 25: A rhetorical question from Jesus, yet not so rhetorical to man. We somehow still seem to think there's something to be gained from THIS world.
Verse 26: If you claim to follow Christ, I hope it's not best kept a secret. I'm not going to judge... that's up to God, but I will say that if people don't recognize Christ-like characteristics or tendencies in you... you may be setting the Son of Man up for disappointment.
Verse 27: Jesus' final remark touches on the difficulty of applying truth. We are often able to recognize when something is true, but it's the application that is difficult. Yet it's the application that makes all the difference. For example, everyone would agree exercise is good for you, but merely accepting this as true does no good. It's actually getting off the couch, tightening up the shoe laces, and pounding the pavement that makes the difference. To me, Jesus seems to be saying something similar in verse 27. Jesus is saying... all of you hear me, most of you agree with me, but only a few of you believe it to the degree of applying it.
In summary, our walk with Christ should be a daily struggle of dying a little bit more and more to ourselves. I love this journey! The transformation isn't always easy or comfortable and the race is LONG, but that's why "the path is narrow, and few will find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). Don't let the things of this world distract you... keep your eyes on JESUS!
Grace and Peace
Jomo
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