When you give, you are actually buying..

For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, ⁴ they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. -2 Corinthians 8:3-5

This whole passage is a must read! While some consider it boring (which usually I do) I find an awesome truth that is hidden in the midst of Paul talking about the collection that the believers took. I think some of the reason why I got something out of it is because the church I go to is in their last stage before moving into our new building. The building project costed more than anticipated and anyone who knows anything about construction knows thats normal. Paul is encouraging and giving thanks to the people who gave beyond their ability to the collection. Look at the verses above. They "urgently pleaded" to be apart of the ministry. I dont know the last time I heard that out of someones mouth! They understood something that has been lost in today's society. Not as a result of ourselves but as a harsh reality of the world we live in. We are skeptical. If we dont like something, we find something else. If a church sings a song we dont like, or doesnt have a light show, then we go somewhere else. We are hesitant to invest in something because we are afraid that 6 months from now we will have thought it was a waist of money.

The Corinthian church understood something.

They understood that providing for God's kingdom meant everything.

They understood that no gift to the kingdom of God is useless.

They understood that satisfaction and the eagerness of being a part of what God is doing in the world.

They understood that by giving they were buying into something. They were buying accountability.

Accountability?

Accountability. When they gave to the collection they were no longer just people sitting on the sidelines. They were giving people. They bought a level of ownership. In youth ministry, one of the key points I focus on is ownership. I tell students that youth group is what YOU make it. Students need to take ownership, instead of entitlement. Imagine all the good that could be done, if we took ownership of something, instead of feeling entitled to it. As I look to the New building at Community of Hope, I want to see hundreds of volunteers taking ownership, people who have invested their money, time, and lives to God's kingdom. I dont want to see hundreds of entitled people who gave barely anything. When you give, you are buying into something. You are buying into God's kingdom. You are buying into the great things God is going to do. My question is: then why dont we give more?!

Anyways, thats my thought for the day!

Perfecting Holiness

¹ Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. 2 Corinthians 7:1

I didnt get very far today....After what I wrote on yesterday I couldnt help but just stop and meditate on this verse. "Perfecting Holiness." What does that mean? It is the art of and continual growth of being Holy. Paul is referring here to something that we call Sanctification. The process of being sanctified or purified. My question is Do you feel like you are being sanctified? Do you feel Christ working in your life to change some areas where you can grow in Holiness?

God loves you too much to keep you where you are in your relationship with Him. An evidence that the Spirit of God is working in you and through you is the transformation of our thoughts, actions, and will in becoming like that of Christ's. Like is says in Philippians 2, "we should have the same attitude of that of Christ Jesus."

Today, Find ways that you can glorify God and pray that God will continue the sanctifying work that He started in you.

In Purity

³ We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. ⁴ Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; ⁵ in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; ⁶ in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; ⁷ in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; ⁸ through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; ⁹ known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. -2 Corinthians 6: 3-10

Paul is describing the way He lives his live so that no one can lift one once against him that would discredit his ministry and the work he is doing for God. There are things that I have experienced that He has and things that I cant even begin to fathom what it must feel like. I had a few thoughts as I read and will do my best to write them out. I am feeling a little tongue tied this morning!

I've never had the privilege to be beaten, imprisoned, or deprived of something for the sake of Christ's name. So to begin to think about how much faith that would take is beyond me. I heard a story from Jesus Freaks:Martyrs about a pastor and two students. All three were standing in front of the Chinese police while they questioned them for their faith in Jesus. The two students proclaimed boldly that they followed Jesus while the pastor shrunk back in fear. The next moment the two students were lying dead on the ground for bullet wounds while the pastor just stood there and watched. I'm not upset with the pastor for not dying along side the students, because I can say all that I want about how I would die for Christ, but unless you are faced with that decision, you do not know how truly feel. But the question here is not whether you would die for Christ or not. It is about accreditation. Those two students were accredited with martyrdom and problem became a huge influence and encouragement for the believers. The way they lived did not discredit the ministry. However, the pastor's ministry was discredited. It is important that we live with the utmost urgency when it comes to the Kingdom of God.

I feel that many times Christ followers believe only preachers have to live "above reproach" however, I see this as call to all believers and not just leaders within the church. I feel the most dangerous thing that Paul says in this passage is that "in purity" we follow him. I wonder how many things I have done that many not have been "taboo" sins but have been at the edge that discredited my ministry. Ill use an example from my life. There is a television show called the Jersey Shore. It is basically a reality show of 6 or 7 people who party, do stupid stuff, and live as a dysfunctional "family" during the summers. To be honest, some parts of the show are really funny. It is the type of show you watch and say, " What an Idiot!" Well, I watched the show and thought that it was funny and didnt think anything of it. A buddy of mine really challenged me one day about the show. He didnt pin-point it out to me or call it out. He just casually in conversation said, "I know what that would do to me, if I watched it," and "I dont want to give anyone the wrong idea."

I felt a strong urge to want to say, "it is just a show, it doesnt matter." But the truth is: it does. What I watch, what music I listen too, it all matters! Many times the thing that discredits pastor's ministries are not the big taboo sins. It is the little ones. I have been fortunate enough to have friends who watch out for me and I for them. That even though the thing that we may like isnt "wrong," we still know that in purity we must live our lives as the best we can.

Well, those are some of my thoughts. I suggest thinking about the passage above. There are a lot of things that are represented there!

Renewal

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in Vain. -1 Cor 15:58

So I have been reflecing over this verse a lot the past few days and as I read into 2 Corinthians I see a wonderful truth that keeps rising to the surface. I think often we think circumstances have the upper hand. we think that Life is a bunch of events of good and bad that happen to happen. We get frustrated, tired, and possibly lonely. We give, give, give, and barely receive. The truth of it is, when you devote yourself to the ministry of serving others full time, you tend to get discouraged. I wish that ministry was all fun and joyous. I wish people would devote themselves to Christ so much that my job would almost be obsolete. I wish every person I talked to had a passion for God. I wish the students that I minister too would just "get it" when God says be obedient to the Scriptures. The problem is, if we are given the chance on our own and if we use our power, we will always choose death in Sin over Life in Christ. So when we look at the fruit of our labor, we must remember that it is not our job to see the results but to be obedient. Because we know that when we work for the Lord, our labor is not in vain.

This brings me to the passage in 2 Corinthians that I want to talk about. 2 Cor 4:16,

"Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly, we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day."

It is easy to get discouraged when we don't see fruit of our labor in other people that we work so hard to help nurture a relationship with God. But it is even easier to get discouraged and frustrated when we don't see growth in our own lives. Some call it a dry spot, others call it the "night of the soul," I will call it what I think it is.....a trial. The Corinthian people were enduring all sorts of trials and it was evident that outwardly, physically that have had all that they could handle. They were beaten, bruised, their facial expression may have lost the glow they first had when they joined the fellowship of believers. But the author is trying to remind us of another undeniable and exhilarating truth, that through pain and difficulty, whether man made or God made, if we remain in Christ, our obedience will not be in vain, for outwardly we are wasting away, but inwardly God is working in us, through us, and beyond us. Renewal is the result of our obedience that will always be the end product of a believer, even when there are no other results to be found.

Lord, help us to live in a away of constant renewal. Help us to remember that our work is not in vain, but always produces fruits, even when we cant see them.

I am more evil than I have ever thought, and more loved than I have ever hoped!

I am more evil than I have ever feared, and more loved than I have ever hoped. -Mark Driscoll

Today, I decided to start a new book Death By Love by Mark Driscoll. I usually journal on Scripture but this phrase has been stuck in my head all day and felt the prompting for the Holy Spirit to write. When I was a child I remember my mom coming home and telling me to do my jobs for the day. I hated my jobs. They included taking out the garbage, emptying the dish washer, and wiping down the blinds so dust wouldn't build up. My least favorite of these three was the blinds. I remember looking at the blinds and thinking that there are too many blinds and how much work it would take to clean.

I remember one particular day, I came home from college to visit my parents and still 14 years later they wanted me to wash down the blinds. I grabbed a rag and started washing down the blinds that looked like they just had been washed down. I began to wipe down the blinds left to right, moving down making sure I cleaned each frame. It is interesting that they looked clean, but when I got done the rag was covered in dirt and dust. And then I noticed that the sun had gotten brighter revealing more dirt and dust. I remember thinking to myself that it is impossible to clean these blinds, and I was right.

See, we are the blinds. As followers of Christ, we may look clean but on closer examination we find that we are corrupt and often the worst of sinners. And as we get closer to the Light of the World our Savior Jesus, more areas of our life is exposed. I thought about this story and I thought about Christ. I think about how for 3 hours as Christ hung on the tree darkness swept over the earth. The sun disappeared as the Light of the World was being vanquished. I think about my sin and the corruptness of my heart that was taken upon Christ. And as He hung on the cross, taken my sin, taking my place, He was giving up the very dignity and honor that only a prince would receive. I think about my dirt and how much Jesus could love someone like me. I am more evil than I have ever feared, and More loved than I have ever hoped! Praise God for the gift of salvation and the ability to have a relationship with the Creator of the Universe. Praise God that when it looked like Satan had won and that the Light of the World was almost vanquished that Jesus rose three days later claiming his Honor and Dignity, Power and Promise that He is the Son of the One true Living God!

Let Me Boast

Nothing can separate
Even if I ran away
Your love never fails

I know I still make mistakes
But You have new mercies for me everyday
Your love never fails

Chorus:
You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/j/jesus_culture/your_love_never_fails.html ]
And when the oceans rage
I don't have to be afraid
Because I know that You love me
Your love never fails

Verse 2:
The wind is strong and the water's deep
But I'm not alone in these open seas
Cause Your love never fails

The chasm is far too wide
I never thought I'd reach the other side
But Your love never fails

Bridge:
You make all things work together for my good

If you have never heard this song....it is a must!!! I wrote the lyrics out because of the richness of the promises God has made us! His love will never fail! I dont know if you are like me but the past 6 months my life has been topsy-tervy and has been completely shaken. My life plans all changed, what I thought I wanted God had planned differently, and the things I thought were constant where proven to be temporary. If there is one thing that I have learned is that God is unchanging, constant, steadfast, His love never fails, His love never wavers, His love is never taken back, His love is never ceasing. He is satisfying, He is sufficient, He is Glorious beyond imagination. Can I boast on God a little?

God is the author and perfecter of our faith He is the beginning and the end. He is the reason for the setting of the sun and rising of the stars, He is the reason that the heaven cry out, He is Glorious beyond compare, He is set apart, He sovereign and in control of the tiniest movement in my life, He is the greatest, He is the best, He is passion, He is faith, He is the thing that we all long for, He created the desire in you to be loved, to have a destiny, to be known. He is the light of the world, He is the every lasting peace in tribulation, He is the calm in the storm, He is Gracious, He is Merciful, He is Good, He is Constant, He is unshaken, He is steadfast, He is the reason and only answer to the question of our satisfaction, He is our Savior, He is our counselor, He is our guidance, He is the reason we breathe, He is the reason we die, He is the reason for the Earths rotation, He is magnificent! Can I boast about God a little?! He is bigger than our minds can imagine, He is all knowing, He is all powerful, He is completely Just and Completely merciful at the same time, He is both in control but allows freedom, He is the ONLY perfect, untainted, pure, and without error God. He is the one and only God. He is the creator of the universe! Everything was made by Him, through Him, and For Him! He is glory, He is the ransom for our sins. He is the Christ crucified on the cross! He is our redeemer! He is our Father! He is our protector, He is our reason for living! HE IS SO SO SO SO GOOD, EVEN WHEN LIFE DOESNT SEEM LIKE IT! HE IS SO GOOD! GOD, YOU ARE SO GOOD!

Spend time with God tonight! BOAST IN HIM!!!! When was the las time you boasted in how Great God is? Remember, His Great Love satisfies!

Spectacle or Epitome

⁴³ Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: ⁴⁴ “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” ⁴⁵Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere. Mark 1:43-45

Mark is like the reader digest version of the synoptic gospels. It is short and to the point. In chapter 1 of Mark it is interesting that he only spends a sentence or two on passages of scripture that specifically Luke, spends half a chapter on. If you are reading the University of the Holy Spirit Bible Plan then through the next month we will be reading Mark and I think we will be surprised with what we find out about Jesus and how He relates to us.

Now to today's thoughts about our reading. The thing that stuck out to me the most was at the very end of the chapter. To give you a little reminder, Jesus is just starting His ministry and is travelling from town to town. He is healing people, casting out demons, and doing all sorts of AWESOME stuff. But it is interesting that He specifically kepts the demons quiet so they wont shout of who He is, He specifically makes references that He wanted to keep himself a secret. After casting out many demons and performing many miracles, Jesus finds himself looking down at a man with leprosy. The man pleads with Jesus to heal him. It is then that in the Greek, the term used means "Having Compassion on Him," Jesus turns and heals the man. This is where we are in the story. Read Verses 43-45. Interesting?! Jesus tells him to not say a word about Jesus. But of course, He opens his mouth and tells everybody. Because of that, Jesus can't go into towns openly but has to stay outside in open areas.

So you ask, "What's the big deal?" "Who cares if people wanted to see him?" or "Isnt that what He wanted? For people to know who He is?" Here is the issue: Jesus Christ is not a specticle to be looked at...He is epitome of Salvation. Let me explain. What happens when a new apple product comes out...People go crazy!!! It is the freshest thing since sliced bread! People wait in 4 hour lines just to buy it and then they take the day off so they can figure out how to use it! Then a year later, when a different Apple product comes out, everyone forgets about the old one. They grow stagnant and stale to product and it doesn't excite them anymore.

If you like how the body works this may explain it better. Life expectancy has a lot to do with your sugar levels in your body. They found that people who have bursts of sugar levels, somewhat like a mountain range, lived a shorter life then those who maintained a steady level of sugar. Here is the point. Jesus doesn't want to be a spectacle that after awhile, people get bored with. Jesus doesn't want to be random bursts in these people's life, He wants to be the sustaining force in your life. He was not ready to be revealed at this time, so that is why he didn't want them to speak. He is trying to grow gradually so that when the time comes to be revealed he will have enough credibility and have done enough miracles to authenticate who He is for people to believe.

So what is the point for us? First, is Christ the sustaining thing in your life? Secondly, Do you have enough credibility as a follower of Christ? You wont have the power to do miracles like Jesus, but you do have the power to live like Christ and love like Christ, and be transformed by Christ. Do people look at you and see a long lasting record of you following Christ, or do they see random burst of growth and deep slums of where you walked away?

My prayer for this morning is this:

Dear Father,

Help me to have the same attitude as of Christ Jesus. Help me to have a sustaining relationship with you by reading your word daily and conversing with you throughout the day. Help me to meditate on your and your ways. Help me to be sustained instead of have random bursts of you here or there. Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you that when it came time for you to be revealed, you committed to die on the cross for us. Holy Spirit, continue to guide me today as I live and act with other people. Help them to see that I am working on a steady relationship with God. Help them see that you aren't just a spectacle but are the epitome of Salvation for us. Amen.