Right Concept, Wrong Idea #1
Let’s take a look at some well-known thoughts that we tend to
misinterpret biblically.
“God loves me like I am.”
God accepts us as we are, and He saves us as we are.
But He loves us far too much to leave us where we are.
We’re born with sin. And while many Christians have a soft view on
sin, God definitely HATES it. Therefore, it’s spiritually dangerous
when we become tolerant of what God hates.
It seems we have forgotten 1 John 2:3-6:
“And how can we be sure that we belong to him? By
looking within ourselves: are we really trying to do what he
wants us to?
“Someone may say, ‘I am a Christian; I am on my way to
heaven; I belong to Christ.’ But if he doesn’t do what Christ tells
him to, he is a liar.
“But those who do what Christ tells them to will learn to
love God more and more. That is the way to know whether or not
you are a Christian.
“Anyone who says he is a Christian should live as Christ
did” (The Living Bible).
We often hear, “God loves me just like I am.”
God loves to SAVE us. But because we’re born with sin, He doesn’t
love us exactly as we are. And neither should we!
His desire is to change us, completely transform us and to bring us
into righteous alignment with Himself—a holy God.
Try memorizing this:
“. . . throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life,
which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit
renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature,
created to be like God—truly righteous and holy” (Ephesians
4:22-24 NLT).
Thoughts?
Please pray for God’s fresh anointing this weekend as I speak in
Sumter, SC.
I Can’t Wait!
It’s easy for me to get excited about spending eternity with Christ in
heaven. But I’m also excited about something that comes before that:
The Millennium. It’s the 1,000 years that we’ll get to live on earth with
Christ in charge.
Scripture tells us it will be a peaceful time.
Christ will set His foot (and establish His headquarters) on the Mount
of Olives in Jerusalem.
When we return with Christ to the earth at this time, we’ll have our
heavenly bodies. Remember after His resurrection when He
appeared to hundreds of people before He ascended? He had a
heavenly body. He wasn’t limited by physical obstacles such as
doors, walls or distances.
He simply appeared to the disciples.
He was suddenly in the room with them.
Then suddenly He wasn’t.
Then He appeared to groups of people.
Then the disciples again.
When we have our heavenly bodies and live with Christ on earth for
1,000 years, we won’t be bound by physical obstacles, either. And we
won’t get sick or tired.
Isaiah 11:6 tells us the animals will be peaceful toward each other.
“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the
goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child
will lead them” (NIV).
Scripture goes on to say that cows and bears will graze the same
pasture and the lion will eat straw like an ox.
Animals won’t be fighting each other, because they’ll be vegetarians
during that time. They’ll simply eat off the land. Planet Earth will have
gone through cataclysmic and catastrophic changes during the
Tribulation. God will be creating a NEW earth.
Can you imagine such a new and peaceful earth?
“Neither animal nor human will hurt or kill on my holy mountain”
(Isaiah 6:8 The Message).
Isaiah 65:20 tells us that people will still be considered young at 100
years of age. Can you imagine this scenario? Johnny is still living at
home. His parents say, “Don’t you think it’s time you get your own
place”
His response: “Gimme a break. I’m only 100.”
We’re also told in Scripture that infants will play in the snake’s hole
and not be harmed.
What a day!
“The whole earth will be brimming with knowing God-Alive,
a living knowledge of God ocean-deep, ocean-wide”
(Isaiah 6:9 The Message)
And check this out:
“The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be
one LORD, and his name the only name” (Zechariah 14:9 NIV).
It will be glorious.
But even as amazing as that will be, heaven will be even better!
Beyond our imagination.
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what
God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT).
I can’t wait!
While many Christians disagree on the details of the end times, here
are two things we can ALL agree on:
1. Christ IS coming back.
2. We need to be sure our hearts are ready.
Go ahead and ask Him if there’s anything in your life that’s standing
in the way of your eternity with Him.
Thoughts?
Please pray for me as I speak in El Reno, Okla., this weekend.
Some What Ifs
Imagine this scene:
It’s Sunday morning.
People are gathering and finding a seat in your church.
The music begins as some are still chatting in the aisles.
Everyone joins in the familiar song. Excitement fills the
sanctuary. God’s presence is among His children. Praise is lifted from
the instruments as well as from hearts throughout the church. There’s
a pause in the music as folks turn and greet each other.
Announcements are given.
You sit down and open your wallet to prepare for the morning
offering, but as you glance around the church, you notice the ushers
aren’t moving forward with the offering plates.
The pastor faces the congregation and says, “We’re not taking
an offering this morning.”
Hmmm.
We always take an offering.
What’s going on?
“We’re not taking an offering, because I’m asking you stop
giving,” your pastor says.
“Seriously. Please stop giving. We have more than enough.”
* * *
This actually happened!
We find the story in Exodus 36:6.
“Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout
the camp: ‘No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering
for the sanctuary.’ And so the people were restrained from bringing
more, because what they already had was more than enough to do
all the work.’ ” (NIV)
Hard to believe, isn’t it?
Maybe you’ve heard the phrase, “You can’t outgive God.”
These people knew firsthand the truth of that statement!
Do we know this truth?
What would it be like to give God so much, that we’re
“restrained” from giving more? Let’s imagine a few what ifs.
What if we made it our goal to try and outgive God? By that, I
mean what if we just gave and gave and gave—and did so joyfully?
What if we gave more than 10 percent in tithes and offerings?
What if we gave our time?
What if we gave our talents, our skills, our gifts?
What if we gave ourselves?
What if we gave to those around us?
What would happen if we actually made these what ifs reality?
Thoughts?