Confession time:
Over the course of my days as a follower of Christ, I have spent more days not in the Bible than in the Bible. Pretty sure I've said this to most of you on one occasion or another.
This past weekend I made this same confession to our teams in Cedar Falls. I followed it up with this question:
"How many of you are currently in a season where you're reading your Bible regularly?
Of the 15 or so people there, how many do you think raised their hands?
Three.
That's 20% of us. Three out of 15. 20% of us who are leading the church in worship are actually in our Bibles regularly.
That stings a little, doesn't it?
I know, I know. I hammered away at this same topic last week.
But I have to hammer away at it again.
In fact, I tweeted (as in used Twitter for those still entering into the social media world) about it a couple of times last week. One was a verse from John 4. The other was a statement about cheering for what God is up to in your own life before you can help others cheer for God in their own. Check it out on the right hand side of the screen.
Tell you what...
Why don't you take this challenge:
Make this week the week that you dive into the Bible regularly.
Make this blog the place where you share what God is revealing to you by writing in the comments section below.
Listen: it doesn't have to be profound, earth shattering, or even properly spelled for that matter. Just real, authentic reactions to what God has been speaking to you through his Word.
Take on the challenge. Don't just read this and wait for next week's post. Really: do it.
And then share what God has said.
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ReplyDeleteTitle: Believe and Align
ReplyDeleteScripture:Matt 21:21-22
21Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. 22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
Observe: Jesus says that we will be able to do anything if we believe. This also means that we believe and are aligned so tightly with His Will and Purpose that we ask and accomplish things that He desires.
Apply: I want to be so aligned with God that my belief accomplishes amazing things for Him beyond what I can comprehend! Spending time in worship, prayer, and His Word will be the driving force for my alignment!
Pray: Lord, help me crave a relationship with you that is so intimate that I am aligned with your purposes and I believe to the point that I’m empowered to accomplish great things in Your Name!!
I thought that it was interesting that Jesse brought this up over the weekend. And that he had the humility to share his own convictions and shortcomings. That's what I love about this ministry, fact that we can be authentic with each other. I, too, have been convicted recently about my daily devotional time with God. I have to admit, sheepishly, and truthfully, that I have been inconsistant. It's easy to get caught up in the busy-ness of the day, but, that's a poor excuse. So, that said, I have made a prayerful and deliberate decision to be in God's Word. I'm excited! I'll keep you posted! ...more later...smile!
ReplyDeleteProverbs 6:16-19
ReplyDelete(16) There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: (17) haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, (18) a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, (19) a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
John 5:39-40
ReplyDelete39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you possess eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
Great challenge for how we approach Scripture. It's entirely possible to read it and yet not receive life from it... like the Pharisees in John 5. For them, it had nothing to do with their knowledge or lack thereof; but everything to do with what was in their heart.
Jesus requires more than just diligent reading. He requires a humble hunger.
It's never less - never less - than a personal relationship with Jesus.
Take a look at what Jesus said when he sent out his disciples in Matthew 10:
ReplyDelete5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
9 "Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— 10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for workers are worth their keep. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at that person's house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
16 "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
What do you think are the applications for us as artists who Jesus has commissioned into his ministry?
I needed this. When we're diligent in the Word, it's sends off some serious signals to Satan. I'm trying to shake some dust off my feet.
ReplyDeleteI could feel a strong attack the past couple days from very liberal women who cornered me and told me that serving God, my husband, and my children is not enough. I need to find more of "me" and put those other things aside. I felt very defeated yesterday after getting this message pumped into me time and time again. Nothing could hurt me more than telling me that who I am as a child of God, wife to Chris, and mommy to Noah and Asher is not enough.
Funny timing with this post...I felt just like a sheep among wolves yesterday. It's no walk in the park.
Praying that God would make us shrewd as snakes as as innocent as doves and that He would give us words to say and how to say it.
A great one that God put in my lap this morning was from 1 Cor 15: 58 "With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort." That last line is what gets me. ...Nothing you do for HIM is a waste of time... How amazing is that. I struggle everyday with being a people pleaser for no reason other than myself. I neglect certain things and people, to try and please the next. And the thing is, neither of those things really cared in the first place! So God, I confess to you that I have been doing work for others instead of you first. Thank you for the reminder that I only need to work for you and do all things for you first. May I not neglect my job or my tasks, but may you help remind me that I'm doing it all for you. And continue to give me the time and space to connect with you every day. AMEN.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite books to look to is Proverbs. Here is one I highlighted:
ReplyDeleteProv. 16:18 First pride, then the crash— the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.
When I read this is was at midnight and I had to play for Easter in Waterloo the next day. I just think it's a great reminder for me to be humble in everything I do. In fact, after reading over it I put the verse on my drumsticks. I realized if I let the opinions of others become a priority, which I will admit I did have a high value when I first started playing, God will not show up as frequently.
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ReplyDeleteA few months back I made the commitment to get into the word daily...I did it by trading off some time each morning when I'd usually read facebook, twitter, blogs etc. It's generally been very positive however sometimes I guess you don't get information in a timely manner(as I'm just reading this).
ReplyDeleteHere's something that stuck out for me in the last few days...Psalm 101. The Psalm is talking about personal integrity and looks at it two ways. 1st removing the 'wicked' from your life and 2nd surrounding yourself with the 'faithful'. Common sense but not necessarily common practice.
5/17 update...I decided to take a look at Titus since we covered a portion this weekend...Titus 1...crazy parallel to Psalm 101...picking people who are true and holding accountable those that are not...
As Proverbs 27:17 says "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Thanks for blogging and for the challenges we make to each other to keep up the fight, because we ARE in a war against the enemy, as we've seen just this past weekend. We CANNOT let the enemy win by allowing any of us to get OVERWHELMED, so we must continue to be transparent and honest with each other in how we are really doing. This morning I was reminded about winning the battles "little by little" with God's help (Deut. 7:21-22b). "Do not be terrified by them, for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God. The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little." I just need to TRUST HIM. :)
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