FOCUS ON TODAY

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."

Matthew 6:34

 

After having seen Louie Giglio's Idescribable several times, I am now reading the book by the same title that he co-authored with Matt Redman.  I was awed by the DVD, and I'm even more awed by the book!  It amazed me that GOD has created so much, yet still wants a personal relationship with me.  

With the recent space jump, by Felix Baumgartner, I was struck by the amount of time, energy, resources and money that must have been invested into getting one man to the ends of our atmosphere.  Hundreds of people, millions of dollars, expensive machinery and technology, so that one man could be elevated to 39km above the earth's surface - only to jump back down again.

It seems huge to us - because it is huge to us.  But to GOD, it's nothing major at all.

Light armour

Copyright Protected. Kelvin Joseph.

"The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.  So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light."

Rom 13:12

Jesus calls us to be a light to the world by doing good so that people will give GOD the glory for what they are seeing. Then, in John 18:12 Jesus says that He is the Light of the world and that those who choose to follow Him will never walk in darkness.  Why would Jesus say that we are to be the light of the world and then later say that He is the light of the world?

It's because He is giving us a portrait of worship - doing as He did in order to bring Glory to GOD!  One of the most attractive characteristics of Jesus is that He never asks us to do or endure anything that He Himself has not already experienced.

Jesus wanted to show the Jews that worship wasn't about meeting at the temple, it's not about paying the right tax - it's about walking in worship.  It's about embracing our redeemed identity in Christ in order to wear the armour of light.

Why then, do we find ourselves walking in darkness?

The Two Farmers

"These are the words of Him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name."
Rev 3:7-8

Faith; measured by sacrifice

Phil 1:27-29"Meanwhile, live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ. Let nothing in your conduct hang on whether I come or not. Your conduct must be the same whether I show up to see things for myself or hear of it from a distance. Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people's trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your courage and unity will show them what they're up against: defeat for them, victory for you—and both because of God. There's far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There's also suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting."

It is not enough for us to simply trust in Christ or to believe. There is more to life than this. True faith is not measured in our trust of GOD, it’s measured in how much we are willing to suffer for Him; in how much we are willing to sacrifice – and then still trust Him! That may sound scary, but actually, it's really encouraging! It means that when hard times face us that we have an opportunity for true worship!!