11/04/09
You ever wonder why Jesus said what He did to Peter in Matthew 16:18? It's not because Peter was perfect or was the first Pope. It's because Peter was:
Doubting (Matthew 14:26-31)
Against Christ's purpose (Matthew 16:21-23)
Talked too much (Mark 9:5+6)
Self-righteous (Acts 10:9-14)
Snobby (Galatians 2:11-16)
Betraying (Mark 14:66-72)
Hey, that sounds just like us!
Yet we who have accepted Christ are part of Christ's Church. So when Jesus tells Peter upon THIS rock I will build my church, I believe He was referring to the fact that He came to redeem a people who would be just like Peter, with all of his flaws displayed for the world to see."
10/28/09
We all want Christianity to be comfortable. And certainly there is that aspect in Christianity. But sometimes we have to step out of our comfort zone of prestige and privilege to represent Jesus. We do this ultimately because that's Christ did for us.
Before our group went on the City Mission project we looked at Esther 4:13-17. I don't know many Americans that risk their comfortable positions to do something that might take away their LIVES, but sadly Christians might not do even a minor deed that might give them even little discomfort.
Christians don't evangelize because they're afraid of being challenged; having their faith questioned.
Christians don't give because they're afraid of being taken advantage of.
Christians don't help because they're afraid of being hurt.
If we pray to have more compassion for others, and a selfless attitude, we're on our way to truly being called CHRISTian in deed.
10/22/09
"As is often the case with the English language, we give many meanings to the same word. "Peace" is such a word.
The "peace" in the phrase "Nobel Peace Prize" is a different idea than that "peace" in a household, and there is yet another "peace" when it comes to spiritual matters.
Look at how the word "peace" changes it's meaning depending on context in:
Isaiah 9:6
Luke 7:50
Ephesians 1:2
Ephesians 2: 14-17
Philippians 4:7
Matthew 10:34
Meanwhile, Matthew 10:34 is rather sad and a lot of us have gone through it. But let's not forget 1 Peter 3:1+2, and 2 Timothy 1:5 where we see the God's Word effectively uniting family members."
10/1/09
Proverbs 24:16 says that a righteous man will fall over and over. Yet he gets back up again. The idea of "whatever doesn't kill you will make you stronger" is a lie without Jesus. In fact, people who overcome problems without Jesus actually end up getting weaker and weaker until there is nothing less than a shell of their original potential. If we deal with our failures and flaws with Christ, we will actually be at our strongest (2 Corinthians 12:5-7)
9/23/09
Are we truly improving if we don't improve spiritually? The world has its own ideas as to what improvements means: more money, more possessions, better looking. However here is the Bible's improvement route: 2 Peter 1:3-10. Are we growing like this? If not, we're not truly growing at all. What use is it to gain the entire world and yet lose the soul? (Matthew 16:26)
