The needs of our world are many with poverty, homelessness, hunger, etc. We read of folks suffering financial strain with unemployment and foreclosure on their homes. The list appears to be overwhelming. Yet, we as Christians are called to help those in need.
The apostle John wrote: "How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? (1 John 3:17) John here is drawing the logical conclusion that if we have faith in God, we ought to be willing to help others. Our actions need to be congruent with our faith.
John's argument flows directly from the work of Jesus Christ, who sacrificed his life for us. We, in turn, are to lay down our lives for others.
The challenge here is in sacrificial living. We live in economic times when many people are being forced to make sacrifices in a financial way. The other perspective is when you voluntarily make the decision to help someone who is in dire straits. Our faith ought to move us to assist those who are without, which is what John is encouraging.
Think of the impact of that sacrifice. It might even bring someone closer to God? I like the quote I came across in reading Becoming a Contagious Christian, where Bill Hybels in writing on the topic of evangelism states: " Although our actions have nothing to do with gaining our own salvation, they might be used by God to save someone else."
Are there times when you have struggled when someone has come to you for help and you wondered if it was a legitimate need? Have you ever helped someone else out when it involved a genuine sacrifice on your part?
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
How Much You Matter to God
I continue now in the sermon series on 1 John. We are brought this Sunday to 1 John 3:1-7 that addresses the wonderful relationship we have with our Creator.
The letter affirms "See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God." 1 John 3:1 What a powerful affirmation this statement brings to us! Being a human being does not necessarily equate with being a child of God. It is through our baptism that we have been brought into God's family.
Let's think for a moment about the full impact of this. This affirmation means that we have not been left to be like orphans. Of course, God created us; but through our rebellious state we became alienated from God. God reached out to us despite our sin to win us back. We each participate now in the household of God.
Think, too, of what is characteristic of children. They are dependent on someone else for their upbringing; someone who will clothe and feed them; someone who will teach them the culture; and especially, someone who will love them.
That's exactly how it is in the family of God. God cares for us by providing us with the essentials of life and how we are to live, and also we have come to know of the amazing love from our Creator.
The segment of our lesson doesn't stop there. Now that we are treated so wonderfully as God's children, we are to do what is right. We have a responsibility as God's children.
Have you cherished being in the family of God? Has this made a significant difference in your life? How much do you live by what others say about you rather than by what God says about you?
The letter affirms "See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God." 1 John 3:1 What a powerful affirmation this statement brings to us! Being a human being does not necessarily equate with being a child of God. It is through our baptism that we have been brought into God's family.
Let's think for a moment about the full impact of this. This affirmation means that we have not been left to be like orphans. Of course, God created us; but through our rebellious state we became alienated from God. God reached out to us despite our sin to win us back. We each participate now in the household of God.
Think, too, of what is characteristic of children. They are dependent on someone else for their upbringing; someone who will clothe and feed them; someone who will teach them the culture; and especially, someone who will love them.
That's exactly how it is in the family of God. God cares for us by providing us with the essentials of life and how we are to live, and also we have come to know of the amazing love from our Creator.
The segment of our lesson doesn't stop there. Now that we are treated so wonderfully as God's children, we are to do what is right. We have a responsibility as God's children.
Have you cherished being in the family of God? Has this made a significant difference in your life? How much do you live by what others say about you rather than by what God says about you?
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Walk in the Light
This Sunday I begin a sermon series on 1 John that will last for the next six Sundays. On April 19, my focus will be on 1 John 1:1 - 2:2.
This letter is one that tells us believers that our actions should square with our faith. The apostle John puts it like this concerning our faith in God: "If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true." 1 John 1:6
Do we always recognize the dissonance in our lives? Are there times when we might be walking in darkness but not really believe it? Certainly, we can deceive ourselve by not naming our waywardness as sin. Apparently, some Christians in John's audience were not quick to identify sin in their own lives. They were deceiving themselves.
Notice, too, what the apostle says about God. "God is light and in him there is no darkness at all." 1 John 1:5 By basking in the light of God, we can know how to live. Jesus came to be the light of the world, and he told us also to be light in our world. There is to be a correlation between what we believe and how we live. We will see more and more of this emphasis as we go through this letter.
Can you identify what might be darkness in your own life; i.e. where you are not walking in God's ways? Do you believe the light from God can help expose that darkness for what it is and transform your life?
This letter is one that tells us believers that our actions should square with our faith. The apostle John puts it like this concerning our faith in God: "If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true." 1 John 1:6
Do we always recognize the dissonance in our lives? Are there times when we might be walking in darkness but not really believe it? Certainly, we can deceive ourselve by not naming our waywardness as sin. Apparently, some Christians in John's audience were not quick to identify sin in their own lives. They were deceiving themselves.
Notice, too, what the apostle says about God. "God is light and in him there is no darkness at all." 1 John 1:5 By basking in the light of God, we can know how to live. Jesus came to be the light of the world, and he told us also to be light in our world. There is to be a correlation between what we believe and how we live. We will see more and more of this emphasis as we go through this letter.
Can you identify what might be darkness in your own life; i.e. where you are not walking in God's ways? Do you believe the light from God can help expose that darkness for what it is and transform your life?
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Proclaiming the Risen Christ
We come now to the celebration of Easter Sunday on April 12. Down through the centuries, the resurrection has been challenged as to its authenticity. Doubt has been cast that Jesus even rose from the grave.
Some reasons:
1. Jesus didn't really die on the cross, but was taken down in a lethargic state and was revived while in the tomb.
2. The women who went to anoint the body of Jesus went to the wrong tomb.
3. The body of Jesus was stolen.
4. The four Gospels don't agree on the details of the resurrection, so it didn't happen.
What would be the consequence of our not believing in the resurrection? I believe our faith wouldn't mean much at all.
God did not just send us a Savior who died on Good Friday and that was the end of his life. God brought Jesus back from the dead. In fact, Jesus had even foretold both his death and resurrection during his public ministry. His disciples found it hard to believe that he would rise from the dead. The women went to the tomb on that Sunday morning to anoint a dead body.
God had the last and hopeful word by bringing Jesus back from the dead.
The angel who spoke to the women gave them the directive to "go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him." Mark 16:7
We also are to be those who are willing to proclaim the risen Christ. However, the women went out, not proclaiming because they were afraid. Today, our fear might be different - don't talk about religion or fear of being ridiculed that we even believe in such an event.
The resurrection was central along with the crucifixion as being the focal point of Christian proclamation. We, too, need to be brave and not withdraw from acknowledging we have a risen and living Lord.
Have you ever had doubt about the resurrection of Jesus in your life? What power do you think resides in proclaiming a risen and living Lord?
Some reasons:
1. Jesus didn't really die on the cross, but was taken down in a lethargic state and was revived while in the tomb.
2. The women who went to anoint the body of Jesus went to the wrong tomb.
3. The body of Jesus was stolen.
4. The four Gospels don't agree on the details of the resurrection, so it didn't happen.
What would be the consequence of our not believing in the resurrection? I believe our faith wouldn't mean much at all.
God did not just send us a Savior who died on Good Friday and that was the end of his life. God brought Jesus back from the dead. In fact, Jesus had even foretold both his death and resurrection during his public ministry. His disciples found it hard to believe that he would rise from the dead. The women went to the tomb on that Sunday morning to anoint a dead body.
God had the last and hopeful word by bringing Jesus back from the dead.
The angel who spoke to the women gave them the directive to "go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him." Mark 16:7
We also are to be those who are willing to proclaim the risen Christ. However, the women went out, not proclaiming because they were afraid. Today, our fear might be different - don't talk about religion or fear of being ridiculed that we even believe in such an event.
The resurrection was central along with the crucifixion as being the focal point of Christian proclamation. We, too, need to be brave and not withdraw from acknowledging we have a risen and living Lord.
Have you ever had doubt about the resurrection of Jesus in your life? What power do you think resides in proclaiming a risen and living Lord?
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