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Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Matthew 6:29
"for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

What drives you?

Emotions? Pride? Lust? The list could go on, but it will be pointless if I try to hit the bullseye. Instead, reflect upon the things that you spend your time on, or the things that get you excited.

Gymming? Shopping? The need to be with friends all the time?

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that these things are bad. But, do you invest a large part of your time on these things? Do your thoughts revolve mainly around these things?

If you do, that, becomes a problem.

Matthew 6:33
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

What are 'these things'? In the context of the chapter, it refers not just about physical provisions, but it talks about the wholeness of your mind and your heavenly treasures as well.

We'll look into Matthew 6 in greater detail in the weeks to come.

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@ 3:37 PM

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Even as we continue to grow deep in the Word, and learn more about our position and identity in Christ, there is a verse that keeps everything in perspective.

1 Cor 8:1
"... Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies."

Ever looked at the way someone behaves and thought to yourself, "So much for being a Christian.."?
Did that thought ever lead on to, "At least I'm not like that, I'm way above that.."?
Then you start to feel really pleased with yourself?

Thats what we would not want to see of ourselves. =)

We see that this verse draws an interesting comparison in contrast to the situation above; love edifies.

Love has to be the foundation, not only of the knowledge we have aquired, but of our very lives.
Let us encourage one another by loving each other, so that we can reach out to the people around us with that same love.

1 Peter 1:22
"Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart."

The Word teaches us, that we purify our souls (mind) by obeying the truth. And that love is the course of action that qualifies the fact that we are purifying our minds.

This love that the word talks about is elaborated in 1 Cor 13:1-8.

In the course of the weeks ahead, let us take time to meditate on the different characteristics of the love that Paul speaks of in the Word.

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@ 9:41 PM

Monday, May 4, 2009

John 4:23
23 "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.

Aren't we glad that, "NOW IS" the hour when true worshipers exist. That means, WE, can be the kind of worshipers this verse talks about.

Let us study one of the ways the word teaches us about worshipping God in spirit and in truth.

Romans 12: 1-3
1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

Let me briefly put verse 2 and 3 into context.
verse 2 speaks of the renewal of our minds, this is done by reading the word of God.
verse 3 talks about a spirit of humility and servanthood.

humility and the renewal of one's mind goes hand in hand; you cannot have your mind renewed without first being humble, vice versa.

and by doing what is said in verse 2 and 3, we get what verse 1 talks about, "living and holy sacrifices to God.." which is one of the ways we worship in spirit and in truth..

no matter how...
... broken you may see yourself to be..
... many mistakes you have made..
... much hurt you have within you..

God seeks after your heart in worship.
You can be a true worshiper today.
Will you make that choice, and live a lifestyle of worship?