Monday, February 25, 2013

The Right Companion

Yesterday we saw that Jesus is the "bread of life" (John 6:35 and 48).  He is all we need, all sufficient, to receive God's blessings, and we receive them by faith.  I will remain continually struck by the simplicity of it.  Jesus says, "The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent." (John 6:29)

Believing God is really all that is needed, but it is believing God via the ONE He has sent.   It is all about Jesus!

You see on this journey of life it is all important that we choose the right companion.  Those who believe in the ONE (Jesus) that God has sent receive God's promises and all of them are "yes" in Him!
(see also 2 Corinthians 1:20)  It is simple, yet so very profound!  Believing in the ONE God has sent has implications for every aspect of life.

Believing God's promise fulfilled in Jesus affects every choice we make because believing is also "listening".  Remember Deuteronomy 18:15, "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you ... you must listen to Him!"  Believing is about listening, and listening is about obeying; doing what God says in His word - the words of Spirit and Life (John 6:63) - spoken by Jesus "the Prophet" (see also John 6:14).

What other aspects of believing God's promise in Jesus can you think of that make this statement, simple as it is, also so very profound?

Monday, February 18, 2013

Feeling inadequate?

My blog is getting a makeover.  Rather than looking at specific scriptures for "Going Deeper", I want to encourage more interaction and dialogue.  Therefore, I am going to use questions related to the sermon I preach each week to offer opportunities for dialogue.  Don't worry.  If you did not hear the sermon, I will provide a small summary to keep you in the loop.  So let's discuss, let's talk, let's share, pray, and offer support as we walk with Christ together ... Along the Way.

Yesterday I spoke about God's call to join Him in His mission (Exodus 2:23-3:15), and our feelings of inadequacy in answering that call.  The mission is God's (Exodus 3:7-8), yet He calls us to accomplish it (Exodus 3:10).  So how do we deal with our feelings of inadequacy (feeling "Who am I?") when God calls?

Moses dealt with it by being honest.  He was honest about his feelings of inadequacy.  He laid it out right before God, and God answered him by showing that only God is adequate because He is "I AM".

So what about you?  How do you deal with feelings of inadequacy?  Is there something God is calling you to do, yet you feel inadequate?  That's okay.  I believe that our inadequacy is our only qualification to answer God's call because in our weakness God displays His own strength.  So how do you feel inadequate, and how might we be able to pray that God will show you that He will give you what you need to do what He asks?

Let's discuss, let's talk, let's share, pray, and offer support as we walk with Christ together ... Along the Way.