'Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.' (Matthew 4:18-22, NASB)
I think this is a powerful passage for anyone who is seeking God's will in their life. God calls us to a deep level of commitment as fishers of men. We are called to be representatives of Christ much more so than teachers or accountants or IT guys or whatever else. Jesus called these men WHILE they were in the midst of their careers and hey didn't hesitate to respond. They dropped their nets then and there and followed Him. We all have to be willing to do that if we truly want God to use our lives. He wants you to be all in, fully committed. God might call me to leave my job and be a missionary in another country one day and I need to not only be prepared to accept it, but be joyful in it as well because God is using me for His purposes.
It's interesting that Jesus calls James and John away from their father even. It's difficult enough to leave your career path at God's call, but even more so to leave your family. It would be for me, at least. I pray to God that He will continue to grow in me such a devoted faith. He wants all of me because I wouldn't have any of me without Him.
I like the way this situation was portrayed because they had to abandon their nets. I would like to think of it metaphorically too, that they threw away everything that held them back from following Christ.
Please pardon any grammar issues, I did this on my iPod Touch.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Just a Baby
"After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." (Matthew 2:11, NASB)
I've glossed over this story so many times and never really appreciated the reality of it. These magi (commonly assumed to be some sort of astrologers) traveled for a long time to follow the amazing star they saw. If you think about where and when they were, it must have been a very exhausting trip for them to just get up and go.
On top of that, they were definitely asking around trying to find out exactly where Jesus was. "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him'" (Matthew 2:1-2, NASB).
They went to all these lengths to find the Baby and when they saw Him, they fell down and worshipped Him. Think about it, He was just a baby. He hadn't even done anything yet. They exhausted themselves coming to see this baby, dropped down and worshipped Him, and even gave Him extravegant gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh) just because of what they knew He was GOING to do.
I think it gives us an appreciation for what WE should be doing, since He has now done everything He has promised to do. If the magi went to such great lengths to worship a baby who had yet to do anything. We should be doing so much more to worship the King who has done EVERYTHING. Just something to think about next time I'm sitting on my couch watching TV or playing a game. What lengths am I going to in order to worship this amazing King? The length between my remote and my TV? It's time for me to get up and worship!
I've glossed over this story so many times and never really appreciated the reality of it. These magi (commonly assumed to be some sort of astrologers) traveled for a long time to follow the amazing star they saw. If you think about where and when they were, it must have been a very exhausting trip for them to just get up and go.
On top of that, they were definitely asking around trying to find out exactly where Jesus was. "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him'" (Matthew 2:1-2, NASB).
They went to all these lengths to find the Baby and when they saw Him, they fell down and worshipped Him. Think about it, He was just a baby. He hadn't even done anything yet. They exhausted themselves coming to see this baby, dropped down and worshipped Him, and even gave Him extravegant gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh) just because of what they knew He was GOING to do.
I think it gives us an appreciation for what WE should be doing, since He has now done everything He has promised to do. If the magi went to such great lengths to worship a baby who had yet to do anything. We should be doing so much more to worship the King who has done EVERYTHING. Just something to think about next time I'm sitting on my couch watching TV or playing a game. What lengths am I going to in order to worship this amazing King? The length between my remote and my TV? It's time for me to get up and worship!
Friday, January 28, 2011
That Your Prayers May Not Be Hindered...
"Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered." (1 Peter 3:7, ESV)
This passage was pointed out to me just recently. What does it mean to live with your wife in an understanding way? (Granted, I'm not married but I think many of the same marital instructions apply to those of us in relationships)
I don't think it comes down to simply reading her face and seeing that she's not ok when she says "I'm fine." It's not as simple as that. We, as men, are charged with the responsibility of understanding our wives' needs. That means knowing what is causing her to stumble in her walk with Christ just as much as knowing what's troubling her emotionally. We have to be that deeply involved in their lives because it's our job to protect and guide them.
I like how the NASB translation states that your wife is your "fellow heir" in the grace of life. Peter clearly clarifies that just because men are created stronger (whether physically, emotionally, or otherwise), that does not make us superior in any way. We are equal heirs in the grace of life. I'm glad he included that so we can't get puffed up with pride or devalue the other sex.
I think the last part of this verse confused me the most, though. He says to do all this so that your prayers may not be hindered. Is he referring to all our prayers or what is he talking about? How are they even related? Well, the only thing I have to go on right now is the notes in my McArthur Study Bible which say that this was referring to a husband's prayers concerning the salvation and scanctification of his wife. I can only conclude that he was telling us that we need to keep our mindset in check and come to God with a heart full of love and understanding for our wife in order to pray for her without distractions or false-motives.
This passage was pointed out to me just recently. What does it mean to live with your wife in an understanding way? (Granted, I'm not married but I think many of the same marital instructions apply to those of us in relationships)
I don't think it comes down to simply reading her face and seeing that she's not ok when she says "I'm fine." It's not as simple as that. We, as men, are charged with the responsibility of understanding our wives' needs. That means knowing what is causing her to stumble in her walk with Christ just as much as knowing what's troubling her emotionally. We have to be that deeply involved in their lives because it's our job to protect and guide them.
I like how the NASB translation states that your wife is your "fellow heir" in the grace of life. Peter clearly clarifies that just because men are created stronger (whether physically, emotionally, or otherwise), that does not make us superior in any way. We are equal heirs in the grace of life. I'm glad he included that so we can't get puffed up with pride or devalue the other sex.
I think the last part of this verse confused me the most, though. He says to do all this so that your prayers may not be hindered. Is he referring to all our prayers or what is he talking about? How are they even related? Well, the only thing I have to go on right now is the notes in my McArthur Study Bible which say that this was referring to a husband's prayers concerning the salvation and scanctification of his wife. I can only conclude that he was telling us that we need to keep our mindset in check and come to God with a heart full of love and understanding for our wife in order to pray for her without distractions or false-motives.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Your Will
Today has just been a day of recovery so I haven't done much at all. I just thought I would post the lyrics to a worship song I wrote recently. Feel free to comment.
Chorus:
Your will sets the planets into motion
Your promise takes the place of empty lies
Your love reaches far beyond emotions
And Your will has opened up my eyes
V1:
She had no drink to satisfy
The thirst that dried her up inside
And yet indignant, she claimed her water great
But You looked on her with grace
When all else would show distaste
And told her only life in You would satiate
V2:
He stood strongly in his faith
What a shame it was misplaced
Into his ignorance You cast a darkness blinding
As he crawled on burning sod
He saw the blessed face of God
And felt his soul of gold majesticly refining
V3:
What ran through Your mind
When You left Your life behind
And You lived so low just to die upon a tree
How were Your days spent
Knowing one day, heaven-sent
You would sacrifice it all to rescue me
Bridge:
I can't say enough
That I can't live without Your love
And without Your eyes, the sky I couldn't see
I had no will to call my own
But as You sat upon Your throne
You chose to bow so low and set me free
Chorus:
Your will sets the planets into motion
Your promise takes the place of empty lies
Your love reaches far beyond emotions
And Your will has opened up my eyes
V1:
She had no drink to satisfy
The thirst that dried her up inside
And yet indignant, she claimed her water great
But You looked on her with grace
When all else would show distaste
And told her only life in You would satiate
V2:
He stood strongly in his faith
What a shame it was misplaced
Into his ignorance You cast a darkness blinding
As he crawled on burning sod
He saw the blessed face of God
And felt his soul of gold majesticly refining
V3:
What ran through Your mind
When You left Your life behind
And You lived so low just to die upon a tree
How were Your days spent
Knowing one day, heaven-sent
You would sacrifice it all to rescue me
Bridge:
I can't say enough
That I can't live without Your love
And without Your eyes, the sky I couldn't see
I had no will to call my own
But as You sat upon Your throne
You chose to bow so low and set me free
Friday, January 21, 2011
One Day at a Time
I'm really tired right now... mainly because I just had my wisdom teeth pulled. I feel kinda disoriented so this won't be very long.
I was kinda worried about my teeth-pulling. For some reason I was just very anxious about the entire procedure. But of course God chimed in saying "don't worry, I've got you covered."
"Who of you can add a single day to his life by worrying?"
Needless to say, the operation went well and I'm fine.
I was kinda worried about my teeth-pulling. For some reason I was just very anxious about the entire procedure. But of course God chimed in saying "don't worry, I've got you covered."
"Who of you can add a single day to his life by worrying?"
Needless to say, the operation went well and I'm fine.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
As Morning Dawns and Evening Fades
This is my first blog post and is probably a bit more scatterbrained than future posts will be (assuming I stick to this blogging thing).
I only woke up about an hour ago so I haven't any experiences today to speak of but I just wanted to express how awesome it is that we (as Christians) can pray. I think it's one of the things that we take most for granted. The very God that created this entire universe that we're only beginning to discover, who brought life into the dust to create us, listens to you when you talk to Him. This is the same God who created Adam, the same God who parted the Red Sea, the same God who made Israel rise to great power and fall as a nation, the same God who sent His son to die the most gruesome and humiliating death known to civilization, the same God who blinded and saved Paul and inspired Him to write a large part of the New Testament, and the same God who listens to you the next time you pray over your bacon and eggs.
When you pray, God doesn't just hear your voice being drowned out by a billion other prayers. He hears you and He listens to you because He wants to talk with you. Once you realize that you are literally talking to THAT God, it becomes very easy to "pray without ceasing."
Take advantage of the opportunity you have. How many people do you think have that opportunity? God gave you an incredible blessing, don't take it for granted.
I only woke up about an hour ago so I haven't any experiences today to speak of but I just wanted to express how awesome it is that we (as Christians) can pray. I think it's one of the things that we take most for granted. The very God that created this entire universe that we're only beginning to discover, who brought life into the dust to create us, listens to you when you talk to Him. This is the same God who created Adam, the same God who parted the Red Sea, the same God who made Israel rise to great power and fall as a nation, the same God who sent His son to die the most gruesome and humiliating death known to civilization, the same God who blinded and saved Paul and inspired Him to write a large part of the New Testament, and the same God who listens to you the next time you pray over your bacon and eggs.
When you pray, God doesn't just hear your voice being drowned out by a billion other prayers. He hears you and He listens to you because He wants to talk with you. Once you realize that you are literally talking to THAT God, it becomes very easy to "pray without ceasing."
Take advantage of the opportunity you have. How many people do you think have that opportunity? God gave you an incredible blessing, don't take it for granted.
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