Someone once wrote:
“I love Thee, I love Thee and that Thou doest know; But how much I love Thee, my actions will show”
My friends, the Lord Jesus knew that the great Apostle Paul loved Him. You see, Paul served the LORD with a Pure Heart. He did not simply confess that He was a Christian, a follower of Christ, HE LIVED IT. The Bible book, 2 Timothy, was written by Paul to a young preacher named Timothy. Paul is in the Mamertine Prison in Rome. His days are numbered. His death sentence has already been signed and he is waiting for the executioner to come and take him to his death. Paul is suffering, Timothy is suffering, the Church is under great persecution and they are suffering. In verse three Paul says to this young preacher and his young church… “I have served God out of a Pure Conscience.”
Webster’s dictionary defines Conscience as: “..the sense of moral goodness or blameworthiness of one’s own conduct, intentions, or character…” You don’t hear people talking about their conscience much, but you do hear people talk of their heart.
Dr. Billy Graham wrote: “When the Bible speaks about the heart, it refers to more than a source of strength and physical life. Metaphorically, the heart refers to a Person’s inner spiritual life. It encompasses your understanding, feelings, and will. It signifies the core of your personality.”
With that understanding, Paul could have written, “I serve God with a Pure Heart.” You see, the terms are interchangeable.
Why was Paul encouraging young Timothy? He knew that sometimes thru difficult days, we will hold to our beliefs, our convictions, but loose our passion and love for the Lord Jesus. Young Timothy was the pastor of the Church in Ephesus. This was a great Church. A church that was on fire for Christ, they were changing their city with the Good news of Jesus. Yet, 50 years later, we find the Lord Jesus sending a message to that church thru the Apostle John. The message is found in the Bible book, Revelation chapter 2. The Lord Jesus begins by bragging on them. He lets them know that He sees their good works, their labor , their patience. He lets them know that He sees that they cannot stand those who claim faith in God and yet don’t live it. He brags on them for their stand on the Word of God against those who teach false doctrine. However, in verse 4, the Lord Jesus says an alarming statement. Jesus says; “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”
It is possible to go to church, read your Bible, do good deeds to others and yet do them out of religion and not out of a passion and love for Jesus. My friends, don’t let that happen to you. But what do you do if you realize you are just going through the motions? In verse 5, the Lord Jesus says; “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works…” In other words, ask for forgiveness and fall back in love with your Savior! In 2 Timothy 1:6; Paul says to; “…stir up the gift of God which is in you…” Get off by yourself and stir up your faith and love for Jesus.
C.S. Lewis once wrote: “On the whole, God’s love for us is a much safer subject to think about than our love for him.”
My friends, let’s love Jesus with all our heart and our actions will show it.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Just Like Jesus...
OK. I'm guilty. I'm guilty of being the guy who walks into a room, flips the switch and "bam!" I expect the lights to come on. I sit down at my computer, click "Internet Explorer," and "Whah-lah," I expect the world to open its portal to my laptop. I expect the air conditioner to keep me cool in the summer and the furnace to keep me warm in the winter. I'm spoiled, I know, but if you were honest, I bet you are too!
However, 10 days ago I learned the lesson of not taking these pleasures for granted. Most of Kentucky, where I live, along with several other states, were devastated by a huge ice storm. At one time in my fair state, over 500,000 people were reported "out of power." With temperatures in the teens and twenties most nights, the power outage has been life-threatening for many. My family and I were blessed, we were only without power for a couple of days, phone and Internet service was out for about a week. In the midst of the outage I began to notice some very important attributes about my fellow man.
I have noticed Utility company linemen, Phone company linemen, Road Department workers and Rescue employees working around the clock since that Monday night to restore power, heat, safe driving conditions and for some, survival. These brave men and women are facing harsh weather conditions and great fatigue. But that's not the worse thing they are facing. Unfortunately, hard times bring out the worst in some people. There have been many reports of rudeness and impatience from the folks who are struggling. They are taking out their frustrations on the very people trying to help them.
And yet, it is during these moments that we also see the very best in some people.
Many people are stepping up to the plate and reaching out to their friends and neighbors. I for one have been on the receiving end of the good in people during this disaster. My family never had to go cold during those couple of days we were without power. Why? Because one man brought us two loads of firewood for our fireplace and another brought a propane heater. Over the past few days I have personally witnessed people opening their doors to those in need and going out of their way to extend a helping hand. They have reminded me of the words of Our Lord Jesus who said; "Greater love has no one than this than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:13). The true measure of one's love for another is when they are willing to sacrifice themselves for them. I believe that we never show the love and character of Our Savior any clearer than when we sacrifice ourselves, go out of our way to "bless" someone else.
I have learned that if you want to bless someone, all you have to do is open your eyes. There are needs all around you. And when you extend a helping hand, give a smile, a handshake, write a card just to let someone know you were thinking of them, take fifteen minutes and go visit someone who is lonely or hurting and most importantly, share the good news of Salvation in Christ with someone far from God. When you sacrifice a little of yourself for others, you become; "Just Like Jesus."
However, 10 days ago I learned the lesson of not taking these pleasures for granted. Most of Kentucky, where I live, along with several other states, were devastated by a huge ice storm. At one time in my fair state, over 500,000 people were reported "out of power." With temperatures in the teens and twenties most nights, the power outage has been life-threatening for many. My family and I were blessed, we were only without power for a couple of days, phone and Internet service was out for about a week. In the midst of the outage I began to notice some very important attributes about my fellow man.
I have noticed Utility company linemen, Phone company linemen, Road Department workers and Rescue employees working around the clock since that Monday night to restore power, heat, safe driving conditions and for some, survival. These brave men and women are facing harsh weather conditions and great fatigue. But that's not the worse thing they are facing. Unfortunately, hard times bring out the worst in some people. There have been many reports of rudeness and impatience from the folks who are struggling. They are taking out their frustrations on the very people trying to help them.
And yet, it is during these moments that we also see the very best in some people.
Many people are stepping up to the plate and reaching out to their friends and neighbors. I for one have been on the receiving end of the good in people during this disaster. My family never had to go cold during those couple of days we were without power. Why? Because one man brought us two loads of firewood for our fireplace and another brought a propane heater. Over the past few days I have personally witnessed people opening their doors to those in need and going out of their way to extend a helping hand. They have reminded me of the words of Our Lord Jesus who said; "Greater love has no one than this than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:13). The true measure of one's love for another is when they are willing to sacrifice themselves for them. I believe that we never show the love and character of Our Savior any clearer than when we sacrifice ourselves, go out of our way to "bless" someone else.
I have learned that if you want to bless someone, all you have to do is open your eyes. There are needs all around you. And when you extend a helping hand, give a smile, a handshake, write a card just to let someone know you were thinking of them, take fifteen minutes and go visit someone who is lonely or hurting and most importantly, share the good news of Salvation in Christ with someone far from God. When you sacrifice a little of yourself for others, you become; "Just Like Jesus."
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