Fragile! Handle with CARE! Valuables. Breakables. Do NOT bend!
Gentleness is a demonstration of love and patience. Psalm 103:10 says “God does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities." Matthew 1 sets the stage for how God is going to put gentleness into motion by giving two important names to the baby born to Mary: Jesus: “He saves” and Immanuel: “God with us.”
The baby Jesus grew up and became a man. The values that he learned as a child would be put to the test. One of the most important attributes of Jesus’ ministry that would be tested to the very core was his gentleness. However, gentleness is one of the least talked about or even noticed abilities of his ministry.
There are three stories in the Gospels that give us a glimpse of how effective Jesus was in dealing with sinners and those who proclaimed self-righteousness.
The Well Water Woman - John 4: Through Jesus' unbiased and non-prejudiced attitude, He demonstrated the power of gentleness by treating her like a real person and not being judgmental even though he knew about her five marriages and living arrangements with the live-in boyfriend.
The goal was salvation, not condemnation!
Jesus, Lawyers, Pharisees, adultery - John 8: Gentleness? Yes! To a woman who had an affair? Yes! Sinner? Yes! Stoning rights? Yes! Were the law keepers and Pharisees sinners? Yes!
This scene of sinners is a teachable moment for those of us who are hard-nosed, judgementalist who think they have a market on rightness, holiness, and their own parking spot reserved for them when they get to heaven. Sounds harsh and with no evidence of gentleness, right? This is why it is so important to watch how we talk and treat others the way we want to be treated
Matthew 7 and 25 makes it clear that all judgment is reserved for Jesus, not us. Next time someone falls into sin, use it as a teaching moment, not a condemning episode.
The taxman and Jesus - Luke 19: No one likes a thief! The mentioning of the IRS will send chills down our spines. For Zacchaeus, he was the kind of man that took more than his share. He was disliked and avoided by everyone; well not everyone. Almost everyone. It is the Jesus factor. Jesus invites himself over to Zach's house.
That's right, the Messiah himself is now going to audit the taxman
This was no ordinary audit with calculators and spreadsheets, it was a soul-to-soul, heart to heart conversation about right living, not taking more than your share, and being fair and honest.
It had to be gentleness that broke through the barriers of Zacchaeus' obsession for money. He made a promise to Jesus that he would give money to the poor and repay those whom he cheated out four times the amount.
No recording of bad-mouthing the taxman. No condemning the thief. A simple conversation that resulted in Jesus saying to Zacchaeus, "Today salvation has come to this house."
gentleness was the means that opened up the opportunity for conversations, which led to restoration.
Remember, Be God Controlled!
Brian
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
Stepping Stones for Spiritual Growth
Our spiritual lives grow deeper when we our focused and taking steps to mature. If you are like me, it hard to be consistent in using the tools that equip us to battle sin, get along with others, and/or be faithful to the vows made to God. Most people do not wake up in the morning and say, “I wonder what sin I can do today.” When we were born again, we did not set out to live a mediocre spiritual life. But, in the busyness of our days, focus gets blurred and the steps to maturing gets steep and hard to climb.
There are four things that are key to spiritual growth that will enable each person to be a spiritual Christian each day.
Daily Worship – Worship is a 24/7 lifestyle: Revelation 4:8 "Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” When God becomes the center-piece of our lives and we see Him as the glorious and majestic God of heaven, it is then we worship with a heartfelt attitude toward Him. Worship is focusing on God: Psalm 95:6 "Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker." Being God focused means that we see clearly the richness of God, the power of God, and the gentleness of God. Our view of God will inspire us to worship Him with humility and reverence.
Daily Prayer – Prayer is an opportunity to Adore God: Psalm 8:1-2, "O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength,...." God has given us everything to sustain us in life. Prayer is an opportunity to Admit our sins: 1 John 1:9,"But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." Prayer is an opportunity to Appeal to God: 1 Samuel 1 is a powerful prayer chapter of a woman who makes an appeal to God for a child. Hannah is a story that demonstrates persistence, faith, and integrity.
Daily Bible Study – God's Word is not just words, but food: Matthew 4:1-11, "...not live by bread alone, but on every Word...." Regular bible intake feeds us spiritually. God's Word helps us grow-up: 1 Peter 2:1-5, "...may grow up in your salvation...." God's Word will help us mature as Christians. God's Word equips us: 2 Timothy 3:10-17, "...be thoroughly equipped for every good work" The Scriptures teaches us how to live.
Be Spirit-Led – Galatians 5:16 says that if we live by the Spirit, we will not want to be involved in things that take us to places that isn’t God honoring. Spirit-led people keep right focus, right living, and right relationships.
When our days are filled with worship, prayer, God’s Word, and the Spirit leading the way, a change will come about in our lives that no power of evil can over come us. And, No amount of distraction can detour us from our purposed life.
Remember, Be God Controlled!
Brian
There are four things that are key to spiritual growth that will enable each person to be a spiritual Christian each day.
Daily Worship – Worship is a 24/7 lifestyle: Revelation 4:8 "Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” When God becomes the center-piece of our lives and we see Him as the glorious and majestic God of heaven, it is then we worship with a heartfelt attitude toward Him. Worship is focusing on God: Psalm 95:6 "Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker." Being God focused means that we see clearly the richness of God, the power of God, and the gentleness of God. Our view of God will inspire us to worship Him with humility and reverence.
Daily Prayer – Prayer is an opportunity to Adore God: Psalm 8:1-2, "O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength,...." God has given us everything to sustain us in life. Prayer is an opportunity to Admit our sins: 1 John 1:9,"But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." Prayer is an opportunity to Appeal to God: 1 Samuel 1 is a powerful prayer chapter of a woman who makes an appeal to God for a child. Hannah is a story that demonstrates persistence, faith, and integrity.
Daily Bible Study – God's Word is not just words, but food: Matthew 4:1-11, "...not live by bread alone, but on every Word...." Regular bible intake feeds us spiritually. God's Word helps us grow-up: 1 Peter 2:1-5, "...may grow up in your salvation...." God's Word will help us mature as Christians. God's Word equips us: 2 Timothy 3:10-17, "...be thoroughly equipped for every good work" The Scriptures teaches us how to live.
Be Spirit-Led – Galatians 5:16 says that if we live by the Spirit, we will not want to be involved in things that take us to places that isn’t God honoring. Spirit-led people keep right focus, right living, and right relationships.
When our days are filled with worship, prayer, God’s Word, and the Spirit leading the way, a change will come about in our lives that no power of evil can over come us. And, No amount of distraction can detour us from our purposed life.
Remember, Be God Controlled!
Brian
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