Day 34
It's Day 34. It was great to be back at NCC--a week away seems like an eternity to a pastor.
I felt a pretty strong impression during worship today. One of the greatest mistakes we make is focusing on what we can do for God instead of focusing on what God has done for us. We have a "performance based" faith.
I think one of the most fascinating statements in Scripture is God the Father saying to Jesus at His baptism, "This is my son in whom I am fully pleased." His ministry hadn't even begun. In a sense, he hadn't done anything yet. But the Father was "fully pleased."
I think we need a daily dose of--it's not about what I can do for God, it's about what God can do for me.
Surgery
God is the Great Physician. He will be any kind of doctor we need him to be, but I think most of us settle for a general practioner who does a diagnosis and check-up when we need a surgeon. But surgery is an elective procedure. We've got to be willing to go under the knife (the Word) and allow God to remove things. I think there are still things in my life that God is trying to remove.
Shawn Galyen spoke today and he asked a profound question. What is the thing that makes you feel safe and secure? That thing is probably our greatest threat.
For the rich young ruler it was material things. He couldn't let go so he missed out on the opportunity of eternity--a chance to follow Christ. We miss out because we can't let go.
What we find security in reveals alot about us. The Israelite Kings often "got off" track whenever they made human alliances instead of simply trusting God.
Trust really boils down to this: do I really believe that I'll be better off if I obey God? The things we hang on to lead to misery. We find freedom when we let go.
I felt a pretty strong impression during worship today. One of the greatest mistakes we make is focusing on what we can do for God instead of focusing on what God has done for us. We have a "performance based" faith.
I think one of the most fascinating statements in Scripture is God the Father saying to Jesus at His baptism, "This is my son in whom I am fully pleased." His ministry hadn't even begun. In a sense, he hadn't done anything yet. But the Father was "fully pleased."
I think we need a daily dose of--it's not about what I can do for God, it's about what God can do for me.
Surgery
God is the Great Physician. He will be any kind of doctor we need him to be, but I think most of us settle for a general practioner who does a diagnosis and check-up when we need a surgeon. But surgery is an elective procedure. We've got to be willing to go under the knife (the Word) and allow God to remove things. I think there are still things in my life that God is trying to remove.
Shawn Galyen spoke today and he asked a profound question. What is the thing that makes you feel safe and secure? That thing is probably our greatest threat.
For the rich young ruler it was material things. He couldn't let go so he missed out on the opportunity of eternity--a chance to follow Christ. We miss out because we can't let go.
What we find security in reveals alot about us. The Israelite Kings often "got off" track whenever they made human alliances instead of simply trusting God.
Trust really boils down to this: do I really believe that I'll be better off if I obey God? The things we hang on to lead to misery. We find freedom when we let go.
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