Re-think being a servant

This month, we have been re-thinking some of the things we just take for granted as Christians.  We have even looked at re-thinking Christianity.  Today, we will continue along those lines as we re-think being a servant.

Often the Bible teaches us to be a servant.  We are told to serve others.  But, the concept of being a servant has taken a hit in our society.

When we think of being a servant, we may think of menial tasks that we hate.  We may have the concept of Cinderella before the ball with her wicked stepmother.

So, when we think about being a servant, we may have a negative connotation and want to go away from that.

Today, for a moment, let's try and put those images out of our mind.  Let's begin where we have for the last several weeks when we re-think things.  We are no ordinary servants.  We are unique servants.  For we are servants to the Most High King.

Think about it…we are servants of Jesus.  Jesus is our King, our Savior, our Lord.  He is the One that we look to for direction.  As our King and the One we look to, He loves us.  He doesn't give us things to do on this earth out of a system of punishment.  We aren't serving the evil stepmother.  We are serving the Most High King.

If we remember just how much Jesus loves us, being His servant will begin to take on a whole new meaning.  For today, we are going to look at a scripture that is not what you might expect when thinking about being a servant. 

Matthew 5:13-16

What do I want you to think about as we look at this scripture?

As servants of Christ, we are to shine bright.  We aren't suppose to look as those we are out doing chores which we loathe.  We shouldn't look like we are being punished by serving the Lord.  That isn't what serving is when it comes to Jesus.

What does it take to shine bright?  Consider these things when considering what it takes to shine bright as a servant of the Most High:

First, we shine bright because we have chosen to serve.  We weren't forced into being a servant.  This isn't a form of slavery.  The Lord didn't force us to follow Him.  He offered this amazing gift, but we didn't have to take it.

As a follower, we are called to serve.  That is the example He set forth.  If we know who Jesus is through the Word, we automatically know that serving is huge.  Many of the concepts taught by Jesus were around serving God and serving others.  Service is not a surprise when you become a follower of Jesus.  It is understood.

It is easier to shine bright if it is something you have chosen to do…not something you were forced to do

Second, we shine bright because we serve with love.  In thinking about the example of the One we follow, Jesus didn't serve begrudgingly.  He didn't do it with a hard heart or just because He knew it was the thing to do.

Jesus served because He had the love in His heart to do it.  He saw things in people that no one else did…think about the people He hung around.  He saw through to the heart.  He did what He did out of love.

If we serve with a heart of love, we will shine bright.

Finally, we shine bright because we serve with passion.  God has placed something within you and me that we will never understand.  He has placed this passion to do His will…to fulfill YOUR calling in a unique way.

God has given each of us a unique passion that is to be used for Him.  We choose how we live out that passion.  We are shining bright not for our own glory but for the glory of God.  If we are properly using the passion that He has put inside of us, it will be for His glory.

When you think of this passion, think of what drives you.  Think of the things that really get you going.  Then think of how you can use this passion for the glory of God.

Maybe you use your passion to feed the hungry or provide shelter or offer clothing or visit those in need…Whatever it is that God has put inside of you, use it for His glory.

If we remember that we chose to follow willingly, we serve with love, and we follow our passion in service…we will shine bright and others will see it in us and glorify the Father in heaven.

Now that is more than service with a smile…

Re-think Stewardship

We have been discussing re-thinking Christianity and it's principles for the last few weeks.  We looked at rethinking what it means to be a Christian (a follower of Christ), we looked at re-thinking worship (coming to worship and giving Him our all)…today, we want to look at re-thinking stewardship.

Many will check out because they consider a message about stewardship to be about money.  While money is a portion, it is not all of stewardship – not by any means.
Look at what Jesus said about stewardship in Luke 16:1-13.

This can be a confusing scripture, so let's begin by defining what a steward is.  This is not a term we use regularly in our culture.

A steward is one who is entrusted with the management of another person's property.  This person handles all the business of another – property, money, everyday dealings.

In this case, this steward was not doing what he was suppose to and was about to be let go.  In order to help himself out, he goes and takes care of the debts others have with his boss by cutting them a deal.  This is so they will think highly of him when he needs a job.  He is thinking beyond today into the future.

The boss (or master) commends him…not because of his dishonesty, but because he was willing to look beyond today.  He was working out a plan for the future.  It doesn't say he didn't still get let go.

Jesus shows us that people of this world plan for their future better than His followers plan for their future.  Of course, a Christian's future is beyond this world.  So, let's look at  couple of lessons for us as stewards.

First, who is your master?  If your master is yourself or this world or anyone/anything in this world, then you will take care as such.

If your master is Jesus, then you are serving Him.  You are a follower of Christ.  You are here because of Him and here to do His will and walk as He instructs.  That means that you are not here to satisfy your own desires, but do as you master commands.

Second, if your master is Jesus Christ, then you realize that the things of this world are temporary.  If they are temporary, then they are, in a sense, on loan.  If they are on loan, then we are to take good care of them as our master would.

So, we are basically given things in this world to do as Jesus would have us to.  That means we really have no ownership of things here.  If you think you have ownership, check out what people are able to take with them when they leave this world…not the things of this world.  They are on loan.  That is why we are told to store up our treasures in heaven. 

That gives a new perspective…an eternal perspective.  If we have an eternal perspective, then we see that so many of the things we want are not worth our time and effort.  If we are truly stewards for the Lord, then our time, our talents, and our resources are all to be used for Him…they are all His on loan to us.

Third, when we are given things to manage, we are to do that in a way that is pleasing to the Lord.  Does that mean that we don't enjoy life?  That means that we have an eternal perspective of enjoying life.  We see that doing things for others in the name of the Lord is joyful.  We see that giving is better than receiving.  We see that we are blessed so we can help other people.  We see that we can support those in the mission field…those serving the Lord and giving of their life.

I wonder what kind of steward we are for the Lord.  Will we be trusted with heavenly treasures because we have been faithful with the things of this earth?  Do we need a change in our perspective?

Re-think Worship

Last week, we looked at what it means to be a Christian and how that definition has gotten very 'muddied' throughout the years.  A Christian is a person who follows Christ!  However, that really does change our way of thinking in so many cases

This week, I want us to consider re-thinking worship.

We begin at the same place we began last week.  We must first consider Who it is that we are worshiping.  If we don't know that, we can't move on.

Who is it that you came to worship today?

We can easily say we came to worship the Lord.  But, Who is He to you?  Is He really the creator, sustainer, beginning and the end…is He really healer, comforter and friend…is He really the peace-giver and joy-filler…is He really your all in all?

Because if He is not, then you might be here not to worship, but to feel better about yourself for coming.  You see, if we are serious about following Jesus Christ, then we will take the time to worship Him and we will take our worship seriously as well.

What is worship?  For me worship begins on Sunday morning and continues on throughout the week.  This is the beginning of my worship which should spill over to the rest of my week.  Today is a sacrifice to the Lord and today is when I offer myself to Him, as a serious follower.

Let's look a little closer at what the Word says about offering sacrifices of worship to the Lord:

There will be several passages for you to consider as part of your worship.  Think of each passage as a lesson.  There are many more…these are just a few that mean a lot to me.

Psalm 9:1-2 – Praise Him with your WHOLE heart.  This is easier to do if you love Him with your WHOLE heart!

Psalm 27:4-6 – He is there in our times of trouble.  He helps us make it through with our heads lifted.  We offer Him sacrifices of JOY.

Psalm 42:1-3, 11 – Even in our times of distress and when nothing seems to go right and everything seems to go wrong…even when those around question us for following the Lord…we can HOPE IN GOD!

Psalm 63:1-5 – Seek God early as you begin your day.  His lovingkindness is better than anything you can imagine.  While He has you here, praise Him with JOYFUL lips!

Psalm 95:6-7 – This reminds me of humility – bowing down to the KING…coming to Him with respect and reverence.  Showing Him the respect and honor He is due.

Psalm 96:1-6 – Sing to the LORD – not to your neighbor…not to sound good for the people.  Sing to the LORD for He is the One who is great and greatly to be praised!

Psalm 103:1-5 – Bless the LORD with all that is within you…Why?  He is forgiver, healer, redeemer, provides renewal and love like no other.

Colossians 3:16-17 – It is all FOR HIM…worship is not even slightly about us…not even a little bit.  Worship is about the LORD.

Let me sum up what all this means to me:

We are to come into His house with reverence and respect.  We are worshiping the HOLY ONE!  We should have a sense of AWE that we can even come into His house and offer praise.  However, we should come with such love in our hearts for the One who has offered us the ultimate love.  We have a reason to be joyful – despite our circumstances, we have hope in Him.
If we follow Jesus, worship should be quite different

A Follower

What does a Christian look like?  Can someone describe for me the physical features of a Christian?

At first, that seems a little absurd.  We know Christians don't look a certain way…right?  If that's true, then why do we expect people to conform to the 'church' standards when they become a Christian?

That may seem a little harsh, but I believe that many church folks are missing the boat when it comes to genuine Christianity. 

So, if it is possible that we might be missing the boat, then how?

Let me go back to my original question, but with a slight revision…what makes a person a Christian?

A Christian is…a follower of Jesus Christ.  A true follower knows that Jesus died on the cross, provided the ultimate redemption, and has provided a pathway for eternal life…He is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. 

So, what else?  Nothing.  There is nothing else.  Now, there is more to following Jesus Christ because following Him means obedience to Him but not more to being a Christian. 

There is a life change…a definite difference when following Christ.  However, many who are 'church goers' aren't really good at this part. 

Let's look at Philippians 2:1-21

As we look at this scripture, there are a few areas I think we can benefit from.

First, Jesus is Lord.  This is first and foremost because if you are a Christian, then you are not following some random person claiming to know it all.  You are following the One with the name above every name.  You are following the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  You are following Jesus.

This is important because you have to realize that this isn't some joke.  This isn't something we just do because it seemed like the thing to do.  This is following Jesus.  This is serious.  He called you – you may have answered.  If you did, then your life is NOT the same. 

We are following Jesus and that is not to be taken lightly.  If we take that seriously, it changes our way of thinking.  It changes our priorities.  It changes our lifestyle.  It changes our entire view of the world.  WE are following Jesus!  If you are serious about following Jesus, then let's go on to the second area…

Second, Jesus is the ultimate example of humility.  Since we are to follow Him, then we are to be humble.  We do this by not thinking more of ourselves than we do of others.

If we are going to do that, we have to realize that people have VALUE.  Jesus valued people when He walked on this earth.  Jesus values you and me…sinners who shouldn't live without Him.

We are nothing special except that we follow the special ONE.  That should encourage us to look at others and seek their value.  Everyone has value.  Everyone is important.  No one is outside the love of Jesus.  No one is worthy and yet He loves us all.

If we see value in others, then we do things quite different.  We think different, we act different, we spend our money different, we give different, we spend our time different, in fact…we just live different.

Look at verse 21…For all seek their own…NOT the things which are of Christ Jesus.  What a shame and yet, that could absolutely be said of so many of us. 

Value others…that means looking beyond their exterior – that is just a shell.  It means looking for what is on the inside and seeing a person that was created by God.  It means loving even when love doesn't seem possible or wanted. 

Lastly, we are to be of the same love, with one accord and one mind.  Basically, that means we are to be on the same page.  That doesn't happen when we are self seeking.  That doesn't happen when we only look out for ourselves.  That doesn't happen when we decide that Christians look a certain way. 

That happens when we all follow Jesus.  When we are all following Jesus, we are people of character.  We are people of integrity.  We are people of courage.  We are people of love.  We are people of joy and peace.  We are children of God all following ONE. 

Rarely do we see that.  People don't want to share their gifts and talents with the Lord.  They don't want to step out of their comfort zone because it might scare them.  They don't want to take on a ministry because it might take away from their time. 

Who are you following?  If we all are following Jesus…things should be quite different.  I'm just sayin'…

Prepare for the battle

As I think about July 4^th and our freedoms, I am sure that many of us take for granted what a blessing it is to live in America.  For those who have fought to keep us free and for those who continue to fight, I am most thankful.

As a nation, freedom isn't free.  We constantly have to be on the alert for what could happen and be as prepared as possible for what is ahead.  We have to realize how the enemy works so that we can be most prepared for any attack which may come our way.

We fail if we think that we are always safe from the enemy and put down our guard and rest because we think we have it all figured out.

As Christians, we face very similar circumstances.  We have Jesus in our heart, we come to church, we may even read our Bibles and pray occasionally…nothing could happen to us…right?

Well, the Bible paints quite a different picture of a Christian…Paul doesn't write about Christians just doing a few things and resting.  Paul actually writes about a battle that is going on and if we ignore the battle, we can get lured into enemy camp…and fall into traps, wondering how we ever even got there.

Ephesians 6:10-20 – a scripture which I think needs to be revisited on a regular basis because of its reminders

If we turn our backs or think that sin doesn't exist or that we are somehow exempt from being tempted, we are fooling ourselves. 

We have to always be ready and prepared as we move forward in this world.  There are so many temptations out there and so many things that can fool us into thinking it is all okay.  We can even get tricked into putting down our armor for thoughts that we aren't even fighting a battle any longer.

The truth is that we are fighting a daily battle to serve the Lord and not fall into the temptations that can consume our time and attention.  If we are not constantly ready for the battle, we will get caught in the rush of sin.

We do this by constantly putting on the whole armor of God – that is important because without every piece of armor, something is exposed which allows us to be vulnerable to what is out there

So, we have to be people of TRUTH…Truth that Jesus is Savior…Truth that we aren't perfect but loved…Truth that we know THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE

We have to be people of RIGHTEOUSNESS – not giving in to the filth of the world.  That isn't easy because it is so accessible.  We have an example to follow.

We have to bring PEACE with us wherever we go.  That doesn't mean giving in or becoming a doormat – but means that we are filled with the peace that passes all understanding and we share that.

We have to hold firm to our FAITH…not wavering in what we know

We have to remember we have been offered SALVATION and that it is available to all the world if only they believe…it wasn't earned and isn't deserved and because of this – the Holy Spirit living in us can lead, guide and direct us.

We have to carry our WORD with us wherever we go…whether carrying the Bible in our hands or in our hearts.  Know it so that you can follow it.

Finally, we are to be people of prayer – encouraging each other in prayer and lifting each other up.  We are people who love the Lord and love His people…praying for those who are struggling just like us.

May we be people of boldness to stand firm and face the battle that is before us!