God “likes” you ? …
So many times, we talk about the love of God in almost an obligatory way. The Bible teaches us that God is love. So it is very natural for us to think that since He is love, he has to love us – in fact, He has to love everyone! But do you realize that God actually likes you? He may not like everything you do – but He is drawn to you.
There is a vast difference between the relationships I have with people I love, (because I am suppose to love them in the Love of the Lord) and those people I actually enjoy being around because I like them. I actually love them too, in the love of the Lord – but I truly enjoy spending time with them and enjoy the relationships we share.
In John 15:14-16, Jesus said:
“You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because
a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name."
The God we read about in Holy Scripture enjoys being close to us. He is our friend and if you are friends with someone; if you like a person, you will allow that person to invade your personal space because you enjoy that relationship.
Is every area of your life accessible to God? Do you like God? Do you give him free reign in your home, your office, your schedule, your plans?
In the Old Testament, the reference of “tabernacle” was used. God “tabernacled” among his people – that meant he dwelled in their midst. There was a constant presence of God among the people because he enjoyed being close to his chosen ones and thus he invaded their personal space, he tabernacled in their midst.
Does your life reflect that ‘closeness’ with the Savior; that ‘friendship’ ?
In the world we live in, it pays high dividends to have Jesus as a friend that sticks closer than a brother. I would invite you to open up every area of your life to Him, and enjoy this deeper relationship, because … He really likes you !!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Dying to Self
Amazingly my ponderings and private times this morning had a common theme: Dying out to self. Holy Scripture refers to this experience as something very healthy and useful for the greater good of the Kingdom of God. It refers to this experience as a crucifixion of ‘self-sovereignty’ and for those us a little confused by that, it basically means: it is a funeral for the tricky three: me, myself and I.
In Galatians 2:20, Paul writes: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The new life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Later on in this epistle he makes this observation: Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24).
I was raised in the church and know how it works. I have attempted to craft the skill of preaching and church administration. I have learned the “jargon” and know all the “tricks”. But in reality I have also been humbled and embarrassed by the motives &/or actions instigated by self-sovereignty. While I believe ‘self’ has been crucified, it sure seems to rear it’s ugly head periodically making one realize that while that moment of surrender was real there are yet many moments of continued surrender that follow.
One of the beauties of God’s working with us is that he deals with us in the context of “community”. He gives you what I need, and he gives me what you need. We must recognize that the giver of the gifts is the Holy Spirit (nothing I have done nor mustered up on my own). Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:7: Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. That means there is a communal nature to the gifts and graces we each possess. They are very dangerous if self has not been crucified and we view those gifts as ‘our own’. We must recognize that if self is truly off the seat of our heart’s throne then it is the Holy Spirit controlling those gifts and graces in us – which is the original design since He is the giver! If the spiritual gifts we possess are not under the control of the Holy Spirit our life will not be as fruitful and fulfilling as God designed it should be!
When I have totally yielded myself to God, then whatever gifts I possess can be mightily used by Him to help the ‘community of faith’ and in that disposition the gifts I possess become instruments used for God’s glory. I will also find that I am enjoying more joy and fulfillment in that posture and being used in a much more powerful and meaningful way. As E. Stanley Jones once mused: Yourself on your hands is a problem and a pain. Yourself in God’s hands is a possibility and a potential.
Today, pay attention to your motives. Enjoy the relationship you have with God, yet if you discern some self-seeking motivations or some self-glorifying motivations – recognize there is greater joy and greater strength in total surrender and yield yourself anew to our loving Lord. Allow the grave of the tricky three - to remain undisturbed and in the past for there is much greater joy in a life where God is completely enthroned on the heart!
See you in His house,
Pastor Lynn
In Galatians 2:20, Paul writes: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The new life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Later on in this epistle he makes this observation: Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24).
I was raised in the church and know how it works. I have attempted to craft the skill of preaching and church administration. I have learned the “jargon” and know all the “tricks”. But in reality I have also been humbled and embarrassed by the motives &/or actions instigated by self-sovereignty. While I believe ‘self’ has been crucified, it sure seems to rear it’s ugly head periodically making one realize that while that moment of surrender was real there are yet many moments of continued surrender that follow.
One of the beauties of God’s working with us is that he deals with us in the context of “community”. He gives you what I need, and he gives me what you need. We must recognize that the giver of the gifts is the Holy Spirit (nothing I have done nor mustered up on my own). Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:7: Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. That means there is a communal nature to the gifts and graces we each possess. They are very dangerous if self has not been crucified and we view those gifts as ‘our own’. We must recognize that if self is truly off the seat of our heart’s throne then it is the Holy Spirit controlling those gifts and graces in us – which is the original design since He is the giver! If the spiritual gifts we possess are not under the control of the Holy Spirit our life will not be as fruitful and fulfilling as God designed it should be!
When I have totally yielded myself to God, then whatever gifts I possess can be mightily used by Him to help the ‘community of faith’ and in that disposition the gifts I possess become instruments used for God’s glory. I will also find that I am enjoying more joy and fulfillment in that posture and being used in a much more powerful and meaningful way. As E. Stanley Jones once mused: Yourself on your hands is a problem and a pain. Yourself in God’s hands is a possibility and a potential.
Today, pay attention to your motives. Enjoy the relationship you have with God, yet if you discern some self-seeking motivations or some self-glorifying motivations – recognize there is greater joy and greater strength in total surrender and yield yourself anew to our loving Lord. Allow the grave of the tricky three - to remain undisturbed and in the past for there is much greater joy in a life where God is completely enthroned on the heart!
See you in His house,
Pastor Lynn
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