A Better Choice

"Ask God to free you from selfishness so that your life is free to bless others."

Henry & Richard Blackaby

So concludes today's entry in our study. Let's just contemplate the meaning of some of the key words in this sentence:

• Ask - An action that springs from a desire and a recognition that I can't attain something on my own.
• God - The creator of the universe. The keeper of all knowledge and wisdom. A realization on my part that not only can He condescend to meet this request, but that He desperately wants to do so.
• free - A liberation from something that binds or constricts. But also a permission to do something that ultimately fulfills someone else AND me.
• selfishness - The ultimate restriction from enjoying something far better. Fulfilling my own desire, placed above the desire of someone else, will always result in emptiness and longing for something to fill that void.
• life - What Jesus said He came to give each of us. Not just in small portions, but abundance.
• bless - An ability that each one has access to, but must be shared. It cannot be hoarded. The very nature of blessing requires that I deny myself. Blessing someone enriches me and the subject of the blessing.
• others - What every Christian should be centered upon. Everything I do should be with the thought of blessing others, not my self.

You and I have a choice each day. Whether to satisfy self, or serve others. 1 Corinthians 10:24 says we should not seek our own, but the well-being of others. This even extends to making choices for those who I am responsible for, like my family, or Sunday School class, or youth group. How can we seek to serve others - other brothers and sisters in Christ AND others who are outside the kingdom of God in order to share the Gospel with them?

Your choice. Which one is better?

Charles Fortney

elder

He Knows Your Name

There were no paparazzi in attendance. The celebrity entertainment commentators were no where to be found. But don’t think for a moment there wasn’t electricity in the air. The controversial healer was passing. He had returned sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf and walking to the lame. More astounding than that though, was the apparent fact that just a few days prior he brought a dead man out of the tomb and returned him to life. The word sensational was an understatement and the buzz spread throughout every community and social class.

The wealthy tax collector was no different. He was infected with curiosity just like everyone else. He wanted to catch a glimpse of this miracle man along the road. His enthusiasm was so great it led him to climb a small tree where he would be able to find a better vantage point. Being out on the limb wasn’t dignified for a man of his status, but he was desperate. The holy man wouldn’t know his name anyway, so his reputation wasn’t on the line. Or so he thought.

The moments seemed like an eternity, but that tree limb finally provide a seat that was front and center. Then, in an instant, something unexpected happened. The healer turned and spoke to the tax collector by name. Jesus knew his name. How could this be? And, if he knew his name, how much more did he know about his life?

It was the only time in the three years of public ministry that Jesus invited himself over to a person’s home for dinner. And what a dinner it was. We don’t know the nature of the conversation, but we certainly see the fruit. The rich man’s questionable practices are reversed in an instance. His desire to attain wealth turns into a passion to give it away. The Son of God wouldn’t allow him to blend in anymore and changes had to be made.

Though we are known by our friends, family and the community, we often find ourselves wanting to be invisible to God. We aren’t. He knows which limb we’re on. He sees us sneaking around to catch a glimpse of Him. He sees us in the shadows trying to fill our own pockets. Yet, He desires to change us. He created us after all. He has better plans and better dreams for us. Will you come down, accept his invitation and join Him at the table to hear His challenge for your life?

Brandon Porter
Care Pastor
-- based on Luke 19:1-10

Relationship vs. Religion

Do you have a relationship with God or a religion?

Today's devotion by Blackaby reminded me of this all important question. In referencing Exodus 19:4, Blackaby shares:

"We are so activity oriented that we assume we were saved for a task we are to perform rather than for a relationship to enjoy. God uses our activities and circumstances to bring us to Himself."

It is all too easy to slip into the "to do" list of the Christian life and miss out on the relationship God offers us through faith in Jesus Christ.

So which one are you pursuing? A religion or a relationship?

Here are some thoughts to help you process through the difference between the two:

RELIGION:
-focus is on ability
-you change yourself
-confess b/c of guilt
-victory now
-the “what”
-external
-self-control is cause
-self-dependent
-fix it
-walk in darkness
-how are your Quiet Times?

RELATIONSHIP:
-focus is on inability
-God changes you
-confess b/c of sorrow
-reality now, victory later
-the “why”
-internal
-self-control is result
-dependent on God
-can't fix it
-walk in light
-how is your relationship with God?

May we all press on in pursuing a relationship with God.


Richard Carwile, Adult Discipleship Pastor

Try Today the 1st of May

Colossians 3:23 is not a request. It is a command. We are not asked to do all we do for the glory of God. We are commanded by our commander in chief through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to do everything for God's glory.

What would that look like for you? Let's find out. I encourage you to take the Colossians 3:23 challenge today. Let every thought and action be a praise to God. Don't do anything to please yourself or other people today. Do not give a thought to the opinions of humanity today. Instead do everything unto God.

Love your family and friends the way God has loved you.

Give forgiveness to everyone the way God has given it to you.

Work and play as an act of worship to God. Let it be done with passion and God-honoring effort.

As you do this, think nothing of what people think or how you feel. Focus your thoughts completely on what God must think and feel based not on your performance, but your heart's desire to please Him.

In all you do today, do it for God and give Him praise. If you get a compliment, don't be mean and say something like, "I'm not doing it for you sister. I'm doing this for Jesus." And don't be cheesy and say something like, "I am the Lord's vessel in His service" and act holier than thou. If you get a compliment say, "thanks" and then let them know about Jesus and the Colossians 3:23 challenge and encourage them to take it.

It might be helpful to memorize Colossians 3:23 today and remind yourself of it regularly. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men. (Colossians 3:23)

Serve Jesus and honor Him with everything you do. Seek to speak well of Him and represent Him well today through your actions and attitude.

Pastor Jason Pettus

Happiness can be good… or sinful

What if someone said, “Happiness is a sin”? Those are fighting words! What a shocking, scandalous statement! Actually, happiness is a sin when it conflicts with the will of God. But wait a minute! Doesn’t God want us to be happy? Nowhere is scripture does God say that it is His priority for us to be happy. As Pastor Jason has said on many occasions, “God is more concerned about our character than our comfort.” However, scripture does often refer to the joy of the Lord. For example, in John 15:10-11 we read:

“If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Our joy… our happiness should always depend primarily upon the love and approval that comes from God. When we depend on others to be our sole source of happiness, then we’re always going to be disappointed because imperfect people love imperfectly. However, the perfect, unconditional love that comes from our Heavenly Father always provides what we need in order to experience this “peace that transcends all understanding.” I strongly believe God wants us to experience the joy and happiness of loving relationships with our family and friends, but His glory and their salvation should be our utmost concern.

When we allow our personal pursuit of happiness to consume us, to be our daily motivator, our goal in life, the primary focus of our marriage, the reason for having children, then we have not honored God. As a result, the very thing we desperately seek will elude us.

In today’s devotion, Blackaby states, “If Christ is your model for ministry, you cannot avoid going to the cross for the sake of others.” He talks about paying a great price and suffering to help bring others to a saving knowledge of Christ. If you’re not experiencing pain, suffering, and persecution, you are probably not doing all God has called you to do to bring the gospel to those in your sphere of influence.

Make no mistake, our friends’ and family members’ eternal security is far more important than our temporary happiness. When, we start living for God’s glory, His Holy Spirit will empower us to boldly proclaim the gospel. Then and only then will our joy… and happiness… be complete.

Robert Duvall
Elder

Coaching for Christ

Discipling is a term we hear debated often in Christian circles today. What does it mean to be discipled? What entails being a discipler? Blackaby offers a concise description in today's devotional, taken from Paul's admonition to the Colossians: "...personally transferring the full dimensions of your relationship with Christ to the person you are walking with." (Emphasis added).

This dynamic does not occur in corporate worship or group Bible studies. It happens between two people. Christ-followers are commanded to invest themselves in helping another believer grow. The prerequesite, of course, is that the Discipler herself is growing. The cool thing is that discipling another aids and helps you grow. It forces you to commit and discipline yourself to actively seek Christ.

You may be desperate for someone to be a spiritual mentor to you. Perhaps you should ask God to place someone in your life whom you can disciple.

Charles Fortney
elder

Contentment

"Contentment…being satisfied; not wanting more or anything else." How often we are drawn to “the something more” and instead of being grateful we are dissatisfied and defeated by what someone else has or a new and improved model. Thanks be to God that there is nothing above the cross – when we drink of the living water, we will never thirst again.
So often this analogy is used in Scripture…are you hungry? Eat of the bread of life and never hunger again. Are you thirsty? Drink of the living water and never thirst again. Our satisfaction, our contentment is eternal in Christ. He alone is sufficient; He alone satisfies the deepest longings of our soul.
How do we model contentment? By resting is Christ… by evaluating all of our choices; all of our longings through the grid of God’s glory… by asking the penetrating and often unnerving question, “How will this choice draw me closer to God? How will this activity, this purchase, reveal more clearly the glory of God in my life?” It is not that we live under the law, devoid of joy; but rather we live under grace, overflowing with joy – that God in His mercy has given life through Christ.
It is grace that brings contentment because God has given us everything in Christ – He is the utmost blessing; He is the ultimate gift. We can cease striving, because in Christ we have enough. We want nothing more.
Cindy