Apr. 27, 2009 - 100%
Sometimes I blog more for me than for others. I don't do a journal with a pen, so I also blog about things that I don't want to forget in the future. Because it blessed me, I thought it might be a blessing to others too though.
God has been showing me something this week. When I read Matthew 24 in preparation for teaching the sweet savages that chapter for Student of the Word, when I read Oswald Chambers yesterday,
and when I heard the sermon at church yesterday, they are all about a recurring theme. Now, since I don't believe there are any coincidences in the life of a Christian, I really pay attention when I feel God is trying to show me something.
In Matthew 24, it is talking about the end times. In verse 12 it says "Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold." In order to grow cold, you have to have been hot or at least warm. I believe this verse is talking about Christians losing their zeal in their relationship with the Lord. My footnote says "with false teaching and loose morals comes a particularly destructive disease--the loss of true love for God and others. Sin cools your love for God and others by turning your focus on yourself. You cannot truly love if you think only of yourself." The sweet savages and I talked about how to be on guard for sin in our lives that will "cool" our relationship w/ the Lord. We talked about how to avoid our love from growing cold.
Later in the chapter it says "False Christs and prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." We talked about the phrase "IF POSSIBLE" and what makes it possible for Christians to be deceived. We talked about the importance of spending time in the Word to know the Truth, spending time in prayer and guarding ourselves from the decietfulness of Satan, who the BIble says "prowles around like a roaring lion seeking those to devour."
Even our culture has false prophets in it. I read yesterday that some are trying to make Obama out to be like a messiah. Here is what I read in World Net Daily yesterday:
100 days in office, coronated Messiah click to read
Next, when I read Oswald, it was talking about Abraham and God asking him to sacrifice his son Issac:
The great lesson to be learned from Abraham’s faith in God is that he was prepared to do anything for God. He was there to obey God, no matter what contrary belief of his might be violated by his obedience.
And finally, our pastor preached the passage about when Jesus asks Peter if he loves him (he was asking if he Agape loved him (meaning unconditional decision to love) and Peter answered that he did love (Phileo) love him--meaning brotherly love. And the sermon was about how we need to give 100% to our relationship with God.
The conversation today in school was about 100%. Do we give 100% in our Christian walk? (none of us answered "yes.") If we were to give 100% what would it look like and what would we need to do differently? How about giving 100% in our work? our marriage? our relationships with siblings? family? I challenged my children to work on just 1 thing first....striving to give 100% in their relationship with the Lord. Thinking about what they need to change, do more of, less of or differently. In reality, if we are giving 100% in our relationship w/ God, the rest will fall into place though, won't they?
I have tried this today, to give 100% in everything. Of course I fell short, but I noticed a better attitude, better use of my time and more patience overall. I evaluated what my time wasters were and got rid of some of them. Anyway, tomorrow when you wake up, ask God to help you give 100% to whatever you do! As Christians God calls us to giving our all in everything.....but start with your relationship with Him!!!!
Comments
May. 3, 2009 - AMEN and AMEN
Posted by seasonsmom
You are encouraging and challenging as usual. I love that about you and your blog! I am catching up and you inspire me every time to reach out further on and on and never quit.
Have you entered my giveaway yet? Giving away our 4 set of Scripture Sleuth. There is 2 more days to enter. Hope you win!
