Luke 14:29 NLT
But don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?
So often we jump into something but fail to think it through. We are trapped by the clever marketing. Think about how many of those demonstrations on TV are for products you can buy for 3 payments of only $9.99. Or those satellite dish ads for all those stations for only $29 per month. Hidden somewhere is the massive increase starting in month 13 of a 24 month contract.
Counting the cost is not something most of us do. We bought that great house for $100,000 on credit for 30 years not even thinking about the fact that we would be paying back over double the selling price by the time we were done with the mortgage. All we could see was the "low" monthly payment.
How about the excitement over that new car; our dream car. Then when we signed on the dotted line and took ownership we found out our insurance payment went up, we had to pay a sales tax, and if our state has a personal property tax we had to pay a large tax every year. We failed to count the cost.
Well, Jesus warns us here in Luke that there is a cost to being His disciple. A disciple is not one who just attends a church on Sunday. A disciple is willing to give up everything to walk the walk God has prepared for him to walk.
In verse 26 Jesus tells us that "If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison-your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters-yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple."
Are we truly ready to be His disciple? Or do we just want to go to church on Sunday?
Monday, December 30, 2013
Monday, December 23, 2013
Prove It
James 3:13 NLT
If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.
Remember when we were children and went for a ride on a merry go round? The one I can recall had a place you could reach that contained brass rings. If you were able to grab one you either got a prize or even a free ride.
We grow up focused on making a life for ourselves and our family. We find work and earn a living. Most of us try to live an honest life doing good. Some bend the rules and seem to get further ahead than most. But their lifestyle eventually catches up with them.
Some die alone. Many have all the things money can buy, but still cannot find happiness. They burn out marriages and friends searching for what is right there available for all who truly seek.
You see, God is always ready for us to catch the brass ring He has for us. But sometimes we are too busy running to catch the lifestyle we crave that we miss Him.
Jesus came to earth to show us the way to everlasting life. He was born in a manger, lived as a man, died on a cross, and came back to give us salvation. He is the way, the light, and the truth.
God wants us to grab the brass ring. He wants us to prove we understand His ways by living that honorable life doing His works as He leads.
If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.
Remember when we were children and went for a ride on a merry go round? The one I can recall had a place you could reach that contained brass rings. If you were able to grab one you either got a prize or even a free ride.
We grow up focused on making a life for ourselves and our family. We find work and earn a living. Most of us try to live an honest life doing good. Some bend the rules and seem to get further ahead than most. But their lifestyle eventually catches up with them.
Some die alone. Many have all the things money can buy, but still cannot find happiness. They burn out marriages and friends searching for what is right there available for all who truly seek.
You see, God is always ready for us to catch the brass ring He has for us. But sometimes we are too busy running to catch the lifestyle we crave that we miss Him.
Jesus came to earth to show us the way to everlasting life. He was born in a manger, lived as a man, died on a cross, and came back to give us salvation. He is the way, the light, and the truth.
God wants us to grab the brass ring. He wants us to prove we understand His ways by living that honorable life doing His works as He leads.
Monday, December 16, 2013
Humble then Resist
James 4:7 NLT
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
There are many promises in the Bible. And we remember them; at least the second half. In this case we remember that if we resist the devil he has to leave. Right? How many of us remember the sentence before?
As a programmer from a long time ago, I think of this as an "If Then" statement. The first half has to be satisfied, then the second will come to pass. So we cannot expect the devil to flee unless we have first humbled ourselves before God.
Matthew 23:12 tells us that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Where Romans 12:3 says not to think we are better than we really are. And to be honest in our evaluation of ourselves, measuring ourselves by the faith God has given us.
In other words, we are to realize we cannot do it on our own. Only God can really fix any situation we find ourselves in. We are but a small pebble on an infinite beach compared to Him. We need to admit that to ourselves and then when we resist the devil he will flee, but not because of who we are. He has to go because of who lives in us.
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
There are many promises in the Bible. And we remember them; at least the second half. In this case we remember that if we resist the devil he has to leave. Right? How many of us remember the sentence before?
As a programmer from a long time ago, I think of this as an "If Then" statement. The first half has to be satisfied, then the second will come to pass. So we cannot expect the devil to flee unless we have first humbled ourselves before God.
Matthew 23:12 tells us that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Where Romans 12:3 says not to think we are better than we really are. And to be honest in our evaluation of ourselves, measuring ourselves by the faith God has given us.
In other words, we are to realize we cannot do it on our own. Only God can really fix any situation we find ourselves in. We are but a small pebble on an infinite beach compared to Him. We need to admit that to ourselves and then when we resist the devil he will flee, but not because of who we are. He has to go because of who lives in us.
Religion
James 1:27 NLT
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
Having religion involves having serious commitment to something. Being religious is being highly dedicated to something. Usually we attribute these terms to our faith practice. Many will ask what religion you are. What they are really asking is what church you are part of. Are we Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, Muslim, Buddhist, etc.
But this verse is not speaking from the world's definition. It is telling us what God's meaning is. In His eyes we have genuine religion not by belonging to a certain church or movement. No, it is about our personal actions.
First we have to be serving others and especially orphans and widows who are in need. Second we have to not let the world system corrupt us.
The first is easy and yet we often ignore it because of the world system. We figure someone else will take care of them for us. We don't have to bother. We do our part by working in the system and the system will take care of them. Or we give plenty at church and they have people to do that.
And that is one way we allow the world to corrupt us. We figure we are giving all we can. But what do we expect to see when we are on the receiving end of that need? Will we be happy with the system taking over or will we expect our brothers and sister's in Christ to be with us?
But l have digressed from the point. I believe God expects us to serve one another and not let the world system do what He has called us to do.
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
Having religion involves having serious commitment to something. Being religious is being highly dedicated to something. Usually we attribute these terms to our faith practice. Many will ask what religion you are. What they are really asking is what church you are part of. Are we Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, Muslim, Buddhist, etc.
But this verse is not speaking from the world's definition. It is telling us what God's meaning is. In His eyes we have genuine religion not by belonging to a certain church or movement. No, it is about our personal actions.
First we have to be serving others and especially orphans and widows who are in need. Second we have to not let the world system corrupt us.
The first is easy and yet we often ignore it because of the world system. We figure someone else will take care of them for us. We don't have to bother. We do our part by working in the system and the system will take care of them. Or we give plenty at church and they have people to do that.
And that is one way we allow the world to corrupt us. We figure we are giving all we can. But what do we expect to see when we are on the receiving end of that need? Will we be happy with the system taking over or will we expect our brothers and sister's in Christ to be with us?
But l have digressed from the point. I believe God expects us to serve one another and not let the world system do what He has called us to do.
Monday, December 09, 2013
Judgment
John 3:36 NLT
And anyone who believes in God's Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn't obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God's angry judgment.
The Old Testament is filled with examples of God's angry judgment. Entire groups of people were wiped out in wars and even a great flood that destroyed all but those on Noah's boat. And yet those books were written about His chosen people, the Israelites.
God told them to live by His Ten Commandments and had them create a number of additional laws for them to follow; even traditions to follow to stay in His favor. These laws should have kept His chosen on a straight and narrow path. But this is not what happened.
Those who were not of His chosen people, the gentiles did not come under these books of laws and rules for living a righteous life. And yet I believe good people everywhere have these moral standards built into them along with their basic belief in God.
As Christians it is easy to think everyone on earth is under God's grace and that the days of judgement are over. But as John 3 tells us those who are not walking with Jesus remain under God's angry judgment.
Be Jew or gentile, if we have not given our life to Jesus and follow Him, we are as if living in the Old Testament times. The New Testament does not apply to us. His grace is not for us. His judgement reigns down on all who do not follow Jesus.
Thank God for His saving grace!
And anyone who believes in God's Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn't obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God's angry judgment.
The Old Testament is filled with examples of God's angry judgment. Entire groups of people were wiped out in wars and even a great flood that destroyed all but those on Noah's boat. And yet those books were written about His chosen people, the Israelites.
God told them to live by His Ten Commandments and had them create a number of additional laws for them to follow; even traditions to follow to stay in His favor. These laws should have kept His chosen on a straight and narrow path. But this is not what happened.
Those who were not of His chosen people, the gentiles did not come under these books of laws and rules for living a righteous life. And yet I believe good people everywhere have these moral standards built into them along with their basic belief in God.
As Christians it is easy to think everyone on earth is under God's grace and that the days of judgement are over. But as John 3 tells us those who are not walking with Jesus remain under God's angry judgment.
Be Jew or gentile, if we have not given our life to Jesus and follow Him, we are as if living in the Old Testament times. The New Testament does not apply to us. His grace is not for us. His judgement reigns down on all who do not follow Jesus.
Thank God for His saving grace!
Monday, December 02, 2013
How to Live
2 Peter 3:10-11 NLT
But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live.
Some think they can predict when Jesus is coming back. Others are certain all that is going on in the world means we are in the end times and His return is imminent. I do not believe we are to be doing either. It does not matter when He is returning or what is happening in the world.
No. What matters is what we are doing with what God has given us. Each day we are given is gift to be used to glorify Him. And yet how easy it is to wrap ourselves up in the day to day stuff and our desire to accumulate things.
The Christmas season begins early on what is reffered to as Black Friday. Hard to imagine Christmas being welcomed by a black Friday, isn't it? And it is all about the stuff we can get to add to our collection as well as what we can get to give to others for their collections.
Is this the Holy and godly lives you should live mentioned here? I don't think so. I believe He still wants us to do what Jesus told us. He wants us to be His light shining for all to see. He wants us to go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone and to make disciples (Mark 16:15-18). Through all that is going on around us, shouldn't that still be our focus?
But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live.
Some think they can predict when Jesus is coming back. Others are certain all that is going on in the world means we are in the end times and His return is imminent. I do not believe we are to be doing either. It does not matter when He is returning or what is happening in the world.
No. What matters is what we are doing with what God has given us. Each day we are given is gift to be used to glorify Him. And yet how easy it is to wrap ourselves up in the day to day stuff and our desire to accumulate things.
The Christmas season begins early on what is reffered to as Black Friday. Hard to imagine Christmas being welcomed by a black Friday, isn't it? And it is all about the stuff we can get to add to our collection as well as what we can get to give to others for their collections.
Is this the Holy and godly lives you should live mentioned here? I don't think so. I believe He still wants us to do what Jesus told us. He wants us to be His light shining for all to see. He wants us to go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone and to make disciples (Mark 16:15-18). Through all that is going on around us, shouldn't that still be our focus?
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