What More Did He Have To Do?

How Often we forget the cost that God paid when Jesus went to that Cross. It is at the foot of the cross that we are set free. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

Jesus came into this world as a helpless infant, for you. He grew into a man of wisdom and stature, for you. He was mocked and persecuted, for you. He was arrested. He was whipped. He was struck in the head with fist and rod. He was spit upon. He was betrayed. He was condemned. He was rejected. He was hated. He had 3 inch thorns shoved on His brow. He had nails driven into His hands and feet. He hung upon that cross - FOR YOU!!!!!

What more did He have to Do, For You?

But that isn't all. He died for you and now HE LIVES FOR YOU! This is Jesus! The King of kings, the Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End, First and the Last who the grave couldn't hold and the devil can't stop. He who sits on the right hand of the Father, for you.

What more did He have to do?

Leftovers

When thinking about time, money and resources I often wonder. Do we truly give God the first and best of our lives or do we give him the leftovers? This is usually a question that is presented before a discussion on tithing but tithing isn't the main point in this subject.

In Matthew 22:35-40 it says, "One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

In essence Jesus wants us to hear 2 things: 1. Make God first in your life! 2. Stop focusing on yourself and put others before you.

These two things sum up the entire scope of scripture. God desires to be first in every area of your life. In your marriage - God first. With your Children - God first. Your friends - God first. Your Job - God first. You free time - God first.

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."
~Luke 14:26-27

This dramatic statement by Christ illustrates the importance of loving God so much that by comparison all other relationships don't come close. Will you give God your best and first in all things?

Control

One of the things that seems to come to my attention again and again is the control we allow things to have in our lives to have over us. 1 Thessalonians 5:6 says, "So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled." As I seek to grow and be more like Christ I must ask what is controlling me? Am I controlled by selfish desire or the Spirit of God. Does some substance control me? Is there something in my life I feel I must have? How about you? Is your life controlled by alcohol or nicotine? How about caffeine? Does your day depend on that cup of coffee first thing in the morning? How about other people? Is your self worth dependent on how others view you?

These are some tough questions. Over the past few months God has been dealing with me about issues that are controlling my life. The first one I had to deal with was caffeine. I found myself at a place where I would have a headache until I had some caffeine. It was shock to realize I was being controlled in such a simple way. Yet, it was much the same influence that drugs had over me years ago. Sure I could function without but the day seemed better with my fix. Now the great thing is that through the power of the Holy Spirit I am now caffeine free for about 4 months.

Now God has shown me the control that I have given food in my life. So I am determined with God's help to take back control of the things I eat.

1 Corinthians 6:12 says, "Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything." What must we surrender to the cross today?

Peace and Equality

It is only fitting today to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As Civil Rights leader Dr. King was and is an example of a godly man with a godly mission. He lived a life of purpose. Infused with the Holy Spirit Dr. King understood that one person can make a difference. "A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus." He was not content to be ruled by the status qua, but was determined to create a new one.

Jesus Christ was his example in word, deed and character. He understood the need that this world has for men of moral fiber to stand up and be heard. "A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the installment plan."

Hebrews 10:39 says, "But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved."

Our lives need to be so infused with the power and purpose of the Holy Spirit of God that Jesus' words in Luke 6:27 resonate through our being, "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you" This was Dr. King's vision of Peace and equality, "At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love."

iLove-Marriage

In the beginning God created.....and it was good.

This phrase "it was good" appears after every area of creation but one. In Genesis 2:18 God declares, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." God saw the beauty and need to create families as the building block for all human civilization. God knew that Adam would need a helper, a friend, a mate and a lover. It is here that God brings every animal before Adam to be named and the Bible stats, "But for Adam no suitable helper was found" then God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. When he wakes up he finds himself looking at Eve...

At this point God institutes the first marriage, " For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame." Gen 2:24-25

Marriage was never intended to be shameful yet many marriages are full of shame. This brings me to the point of this blog. How do we infuse our marriage with the power and purpose of the Holy Spirit?

C.S. Lewis once said, "When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now."

If we lean on the Holy Spirit as our guiding force and rely upon God's design for marriage we may find that our witness to others may have a greater impact on others. In Ephesians 5:22-32 God lays out His amazing design for marriage that in many disregard today.

In the first part God addresses wives followed by His message to husbands.

To wives God says, "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord." This passage is one of the most controversial passages we hear about today. (many women are thinking, "I don't think so" and many men are thinking, "that's right"

The word submit means "to defer to or consent to abide by the opinion or authority of another" Does this mean that a wife should listen and obey her husband? If she is serious about living by God's design, then yes. It means that a wife can now longer live for self but she needs to live for her husband. Her desire should be to see his wants, needs, goals and dreams fulfilled rather than her own. This is contrary to how the world operates.

Now let's look at God's message to men! " Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" Husbands your responsibility and headship in the marriage does not ever give you the right or authority to "lord" over your wife. God did not make woman from man's head so that he can lord over her or from man's foot so she can be trampled on but woman came from his side so that she can walk by his side.

Men you are charged to LOVE. This word love is the greek word AGAPE, the word for divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. This means that if you want to be a godly husband, you have to stop living for your self. You have to give your life for her. That doesn't just mean being willing to die. Jesus loved us so much. "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." (Philippians 2:5-7) Jesus made Himself nothing for your behalf. Husbands will you make your self nothing for your wife? Your desire should be to see her wants, needs, goals and dreams fulfilled rather than your own. This is contrary to how the world operates.

Infusing your Marriage
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

God must be the 3rd and binding thread in your marriage.

iLife

If we are going to be serious about living this year as if it is the last one Christ is going to give us with out looking back with regrets then it is important that we allow our lives to be infused with the purpose and power of the Holy Spirit.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV)

If we allow our lives to be guided by His plans through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit then we will have the kind of abundant living that Christ intended us to have. Therefore, it is important to note that God not only has an over all plan for my life but He has a plan for every area of my life. He has plans to prosper my marriage. Plans to bring both hope and a future to me as a parent. His plans involve my job and my home. Work time and play time. He has plans for my time, my money and my resources. In fact none of it is actually mine.

It is His time, His money and His resources.

As I take this journey I need to allow the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords to infuse every area of this life.

The Challenge

Started 2010 with a challenge! To live this year as if it is the last year that Jesus is going to give the church. This challenge requires examining every area of our lives and asking is this what I want to be doing when Christ returns?

I am praying and asking God to show me the areas in my life that I need to turn over to Him (which will include every area) knowing that their are far too many times that I live for self rather than for Him.

It is my hope that as I take this journey that others will join me. I have set this challenge before my congregation and now I am putting it out there for all to see. I am tired of going through the motions and wondering what would be different if the church were to rise up and be the people that God intended us to be.