If you feel like you can't get no satisfaction consider the following. Those who have had adultery committed against them know how painful it is. Then there are those of us who have never felt that pain and can only imagine what it would feel like. James puts a little different spin in this in James 4:4 when he says:
4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.
I believe here he is saying you can't have it both ways. You can't have your cake and eat it too. When a person is intimate with the world it pains God because he wants an intimate relationship with you. Now when we are talking world we are talking about sin and the every thing that everyone else says is okay but is still against what God teaches.
Sometimes or should I say most times I don't understand people and the things that they do but I can't imagine the when someone cheats on a spouse that they can truly feel satisfied. But then again have I cheated on God and did that really satisfy me? The answer is of course no. John Owen in his book The Glory of Christ said the following. "Only the sight of Christ's glory and nothing else will truly satisfy God's people."
Stop and think about this statement today. If you think about it long enough you will agree that only in seeing Christ's Glory you will find truth and satisfaction. So if you can't get no satisfaction turn away from the world which will be unnatural and hard and turn to Christ.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Pinata Prayers
When it comes to prayer James 4:3 says
3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
What do you pray for? When it comes to prayer do you treat it like a pinata? Where when ever you want some candy you just grab a bat and take a whack at it hoping something will fall out? All pinata prayers will do is leave you blindfolded holding a bat, nothing else.
This verse should make us consider our motives when we pray. Prayer is not sitting on Santa's lap asking him for the years hottest toy. Prayer should be more like sitting down with your father and having an honest conversation about what is going on in your life. Prayer is not just all about talking it's about listening as well. Don't forget that.
The goal for your prayers should not be to increase your pleasure but to deepen your relationship with Christ. Because in Christ you will find not just pleasure but joy and joy goes much deeper than pleasure or happiness.
3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
What do you pray for? When it comes to prayer do you treat it like a pinata? Where when ever you want some candy you just grab a bat and take a whack at it hoping something will fall out? All pinata prayers will do is leave you blindfolded holding a bat, nothing else.
This verse should make us consider our motives when we pray. Prayer is not sitting on Santa's lap asking him for the years hottest toy. Prayer should be more like sitting down with your father and having an honest conversation about what is going on in your life. Prayer is not just all about talking it's about listening as well. Don't forget that.
The goal for your prayers should not be to increase your pleasure but to deepen your relationship with Christ. Because in Christ you will find not just pleasure but joy and joy goes much deeper than pleasure or happiness.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Stay Away It's a Trap
Some one asked me yesterday, "How was your weekend?" My first response was it was great I got a two pair of Rock port shoes for less than $40. But then I said you know really the best part of my weekend was the fact that I did three things that I really didn't want to do. I can tend to be selfish with my time and when it was all said and done I gave up some of my time this weekend and it was the highlight of the weekend. So James 3: 14-15 are very fitting.
14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
Here it says that selfishness is earthly, unspiritual and demonic. So the fact that I realize that I can be selfish with my time and was able to work it through explains why my weekend turned out so good.
Then there is the jealousy thing I have visited with people who are bitterly jealous and the fact that they are so bitter they do not even realize that they are jealous. Those who are consumed by the fact that others have more than they do, do not get a step closer to those things because they are trapped by their jealousy.
I often here people say that the rich should pay more in taxes just because of the fact they have more. They are really just jealous that the so called rich person has more than they do. I have know this for some time but was reminded of the fact on the show Secret Millionaire on Sunday night was this guy started his own company from scratch worked 80 to 100 hours a week then sold his company for 500 million dollars. The guy was 36 not married and no kids. He paid a price for that wealth that some would never dream of. Including the people who want to take a bigger share of his money so they can have a share of it.
To make a long story short like the verse says don't cover up the truth with boasting and lying. Look for any jealousy or selfishness in your heart and ask God to help you with these things for they are earthly, un-spiritual, and demonic. Because selfishness and jealousy are debilitating traps that in the end could kill you physically and spiritually
14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
Here it says that selfishness is earthly, unspiritual and demonic. So the fact that I realize that I can be selfish with my time and was able to work it through explains why my weekend turned out so good.
Then there is the jealousy thing I have visited with people who are bitterly jealous and the fact that they are so bitter they do not even realize that they are jealous. Those who are consumed by the fact that others have more than they do, do not get a step closer to those things because they are trapped by their jealousy.
I often here people say that the rich should pay more in taxes just because of the fact they have more. They are really just jealous that the so called rich person has more than they do. I have know this for some time but was reminded of the fact on the show Secret Millionaire on Sunday night was this guy started his own company from scratch worked 80 to 100 hours a week then sold his company for 500 million dollars. The guy was 36 not married and no kids. He paid a price for that wealth that some would never dream of. Including the people who want to take a bigger share of his money so they can have a share of it.
To make a long story short like the verse says don't cover up the truth with boasting and lying. Look for any jealousy or selfishness in your heart and ask God to help you with these things for they are earthly, un-spiritual, and demonic. Because selfishness and jealousy are debilitating traps that in the end could kill you physically and spiritually
Monday, March 28, 2011
They didn't tell you this in Anatomy class
What they didn't tell you in Anatomy class was that your tongue is directly connected to your heart. I was reminded of this fact reading James 3 this morning, that the words you choose to use are an indication of what is in your heart, that words mean things and the tongue is a very powerful thing.
You should ask yourself do the words you choose build others up or tear them down? Do the words you use praise God or curse the very people he created in his image? We all do both rather we realize it or not after all we are sinful creatures.
The question becomes can we continually change the percentage? Can we use more of our words to be an encouragement, to praise God, or to spread the Gospel Message instead of the opposite. The next time you are tempted to say something against someone or when you are tempted to spread a little gossip think about the power your tongue has and how you are going to use it. Are you going to use it for good or for evil? Sometimes it's tough as James says in 3:7
7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.
Sometimes before you speak it may be wise to ask Jesus to proof it. In other words ask Him for guidance. If you don't it's too late to close the barn door after the horses are already out.
In other words once a word leaves your mouth it can never be put back in. The damage will already been done. So choose your words carefully.
You should ask yourself do the words you choose build others up or tear them down? Do the words you use praise God or curse the very people he created in his image? We all do both rather we realize it or not after all we are sinful creatures.
The question becomes can we continually change the percentage? Can we use more of our words to be an encouragement, to praise God, or to spread the Gospel Message instead of the opposite. The next time you are tempted to say something against someone or when you are tempted to spread a little gossip think about the power your tongue has and how you are going to use it. Are you going to use it for good or for evil? Sometimes it's tough as James says in 3:7
7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.
Sometimes before you speak it may be wise to ask Jesus to proof it. In other words ask Him for guidance. If you don't it's too late to close the barn door after the horses are already out.
In other words once a word leaves your mouth it can never be put back in. The damage will already been done. So choose your words carefully.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
I Believe in Pimps
I believe in pimps, I really do. I believe that they do exist. I believe that they do what they say they do. I believe that they can make a lot of money. But that does not mean that I think what they do is right. That I would put them in charge of my life, or that I would trust them in anyway. I wouldn't do that.
The same thing goes for God and James 2:19 makes this very clear it says:
19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.
Even the demons and Satan believe in God. They do know he exists but they do not follow him. The same thing goes for the people around us. Perhaps even some very close to us. They may think or say, I believe that God exists. I believe that he is great, he is love, that he created the world. They may even ask him for things when they are in a jam. But they do not know him, they do not trust him, they have no made him Lord, and most important they don't have a relationship with his son Jesus.
The key word in all of this is believe. The Greek word for believe has a far different meaning that what the word means to us today. It means a personal trust. I can say that I believe in pimps. Because I know that they exist. But to say that I believe in a parachute enough to jump out of a plane the meaning of the word believe here is far different. When the Bible talks about the word believe it is the parachute believe. So the next time you or someone else says, "Oh yea I believe in Christ" is it the pimp believe or the parachute believe? It makes a huge difference.
The same thing goes for God and James 2:19 makes this very clear it says:
19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.
Even the demons and Satan believe in God. They do know he exists but they do not follow him. The same thing goes for the people around us. Perhaps even some very close to us. They may think or say, I believe that God exists. I believe that he is great, he is love, that he created the world. They may even ask him for things when they are in a jam. But they do not know him, they do not trust him, they have no made him Lord, and most important they don't have a relationship with his son Jesus.
The key word in all of this is believe. The Greek word for believe has a far different meaning that what the word means to us today. It means a personal trust. I can say that I believe in pimps. Because I know that they exist. But to say that I believe in a parachute enough to jump out of a plane the meaning of the word believe here is far different. When the Bible talks about the word believe it is the parachute believe. So the next time you or someone else says, "Oh yea I believe in Christ" is it the pimp believe or the parachute believe? It makes a huge difference.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
The Punishment Fits The Crime
Have you ever heard the phrase the punishment fits the crime? For instance in our society today the punishment is much different for getting caught going 5 miles an hour over the speed limit than say getting busted for a third DUI. Or getting caught smoking under age and drug trafficking. One tends to get a slap on the wrist, the other can have grave consequences.
When it comes to God's law we too often have the same mind set and think as long as we don't murder somebody we'll just get a slap on the wrist at judgment day. I've got news for you that is not the case. Ranking sin has grave consequences because God is perfect holy and just therefore a simple lie is the same in his eyes as a premeditated murder. Both are a sin and both have the same punishment, death and not just go to sleep and never wake up death but spending forever in Hell death.
So you have two choices. You can either spend eternity in Hell or you can accept Jesus Christ as you Lord and Savior and allow his sacrifice on the cross be the punishment for every sin you have ever committed.
With God the punishment will always fit the crime because God only has one law, don't sin, and one punishment Hell. Trust me you have sinned and you need a Savior. I was reminded of all of this reading James 2: 10 & 11.
10 For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. 11 For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.” So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law.
When it comes to God's law we too often have the same mind set and think as long as we don't murder somebody we'll just get a slap on the wrist at judgment day. I've got news for you that is not the case. Ranking sin has grave consequences because God is perfect holy and just therefore a simple lie is the same in his eyes as a premeditated murder. Both are a sin and both have the same punishment, death and not just go to sleep and never wake up death but spending forever in Hell death.
So you have two choices. You can either spend eternity in Hell or you can accept Jesus Christ as you Lord and Savior and allow his sacrifice on the cross be the punishment for every sin you have ever committed.
With God the punishment will always fit the crime because God only has one law, don't sin, and one punishment Hell. Trust me you have sinned and you need a Savior. I was reminded of all of this reading James 2: 10 & 11.
10 For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. 11 For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.” So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law.
Friday, March 25, 2011
I Pity the Fool Who Doesn't Do
Verse 22 is the last verse I will cover in chapter one of James it says:
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
This for me is the most convicting verse in the whole chapter. Acting on what we hear and practicing what we have been taught. Do we do these things like we should? I know I don't like I should but it's something that I am working on.
Like I have said before the biggest fear I have about being a Christian is becoming religious. Just listening, reading, and studying God's word and not doing what it says. That's religion. This can be taken to the extreme the other way as well and just doing good things and not listening, reading, and studying God's word that is religion as well.
Religion is the road to wrath but a relationship with Christ is the road to righteousness.
So I pity the fool who doesn't do.
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
This for me is the most convicting verse in the whole chapter. Acting on what we hear and practicing what we have been taught. Do we do these things like we should? I know I don't like I should but it's something that I am working on.
Like I have said before the biggest fear I have about being a Christian is becoming religious. Just listening, reading, and studying God's word and not doing what it says. That's religion. This can be taken to the extreme the other way as well and just doing good things and not listening, reading, and studying God's word that is religion as well.
Religion is the road to wrath but a relationship with Christ is the road to righteousness.
So I pity the fool who doesn't do.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)