Today I thought a lot about my purpose in life. What am I here for? Rick Warren tackled this question in the “Purpose Driven Life” about 10 years ago. I recently looked back at that book and had an amazing quote jump out at me, “You were made for God and by God- and until you understand that your life will never make sense.” Rick hit the nail on the head with that one. We were made by God, so serving him should be the most natural thing in the world. I don’t mean walking around in long white flowing robes and praying all day. I mean waking up and doing what he put you on this earth to do.
The first line in the book says, “It’s not about you”. It’s not, it’s all about God, and until we realize that we can never live to our full potential. Jesus realized this and lived his life in total service and devotion to God. As “Christians”, we are to emulate the way Jesus lived as much as possible. We aren’t to just believe in Jesus, we are to “follow Jesus”. Remember when Jesus called the disciples? He didn’t say “come believe in me”; he said “come follow me”.
Being a “Christian “isn’t something we say, it is something we do. That’s what it’s all about! Do you think Jesus just acted like he was serving God when he was around others, or just when he was in the synagogues, or the Temple? No, he served God all day long everyday of his life. Until we try to achieve that, until we sincerely try to be like Christ as much as possible. We are only kidding ourselves when we say we are Christians.
So I urge you to serve God with everything you have, and with everything that you are. Give it a shot, what’s the worst thing that can happen? You wake up one day and find out there isn’t a God after all. Or, you could serve him with your whole heart and spend eternity with him in paradise.
“ I would rather live my life living like there was a God and find out there wasn’t, than live my life like there wasn’t a God and find out that there was.” Doug Pennington
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Why did Jesus have to be baptized? (Luke 3)
Earlier this week I asked a group of friends a very straightforward question. Why did Jesus have to be baptized (Luke 3)? I received some very good and well thought out answers. Most of which dealt with righteousness, and God releasing his power on earth, and many other good points. As read these responses this week it came to me that sometimes we (Me included) might be too smart for our own good. I mean does Christianity really have to be such a complicated thing? Do we just have this inner desire to try and figure everything out for ourselves (Without God)? Or, could we all just not get it?
Jesus died on the cross as a once and for all sacrifice for ALL our sins. That’s right ALL of us, the teacher’s, the preacher’s, drug dealers, and any other any other person you can think of. He didn’t have to do this, he chose to. Just like he didn’t have to be baptized, he chose to. He came into the world in a manger, outside, with animals, as humble a beginning as you can have. He died a brutal death while being mocked, and asked his father to forgive his accusers, as humble a death as you can have. So why shouldn’t his entry into public ministry be just as humble?
The crowd of Jews and Greeks that were being baptized had been convicted of their sins and were there to repent. Jesus, The sinless spotless, Lamb of God never sinned and had no need to repent. But the people he came to save did, and by being publically baptized by John he not only pleased his father, but he identified in the most intimate way he could have with sinners (You and me).
Get it? He humbled himself because he loves us, he was crucified because he loves us, and he was baptized because he loves us. If no one has ever told you before, let me be the first to tell you JESUS LOVES YOU! Yes, Even You!
“Oh God of second chances here I am again.”
Jesus died on the cross as a once and for all sacrifice for ALL our sins. That’s right ALL of us, the teacher’s, the preacher’s, drug dealers, and any other any other person you can think of. He didn’t have to do this, he chose to. Just like he didn’t have to be baptized, he chose to. He came into the world in a manger, outside, with animals, as humble a beginning as you can have. He died a brutal death while being mocked, and asked his father to forgive his accusers, as humble a death as you can have. So why shouldn’t his entry into public ministry be just as humble?
The crowd of Jews and Greeks that were being baptized had been convicted of their sins and were there to repent. Jesus, The sinless spotless, Lamb of God never sinned and had no need to repent. But the people he came to save did, and by being publically baptized by John he not only pleased his father, but he identified in the most intimate way he could have with sinners (You and me).
Get it? He humbled himself because he loves us, he was crucified because he loves us, and he was baptized because he loves us. If no one has ever told you before, let me be the first to tell you JESUS LOVES YOU! Yes, Even You!
“Oh God of second chances here I am again.”
Monday, January 4, 2010
What Drives You?
I wonder sometimes what life is all about. I mean most of us try to do the right thing and want what's best for our friends and family, but what is it all about? Is it to achieve greatness? Is it to be rich? Is it just to be happy? What really drives us?
I meet all kinds of people in a days time. All sizes, shapes, personalities,and all are very unique in someways. But the older I get the more I can see we are all very similar,we all want the same thing, we all want to matter. That's what drives us. Somewhere down deep inside we all just want to be more than just your "Average Joe". What provides us with that meaning and purpose is what differentiates us from each other.
Have yo ever thought about what drives you?
I want to be great @ something. I have spent my whole life trying to figure out what that thing is. Then one day I read a quote by Johnny Cash :"I believe what I say, but that don't necessarily make me right". "There's nothing hypocritical about it. There is a spiritual side to me that goes real deep, but I confess right upfront that I'm the biggest sinner of them all." If a world famous singer and one of the inventors of Rock-n- Roll Struggles with greatness, it must not be that great.And then it hit me, God has put me right where I am for a reason. That alone gives my life a purpose. That alone makes my lief great. Even though I may be the biggest sinner of them all, the pursuit of greatness is what drives me.
Trying to serve God is great!
What drives you?
I meet all kinds of people in a days time. All sizes, shapes, personalities,and all are very unique in someways. But the older I get the more I can see we are all very similar,we all want the same thing, we all want to matter. That's what drives us. Somewhere down deep inside we all just want to be more than just your "Average Joe". What provides us with that meaning and purpose is what differentiates us from each other.
Have yo ever thought about what drives you?
I want to be great @ something. I have spent my whole life trying to figure out what that thing is. Then one day I read a quote by Johnny Cash :"I believe what I say, but that don't necessarily make me right". "There's nothing hypocritical about it. There is a spiritual side to me that goes real deep, but I confess right upfront that I'm the biggest sinner of them all." If a world famous singer and one of the inventors of Rock-n- Roll Struggles with greatness, it must not be that great.And then it hit me, God has put me right where I am for a reason. That alone gives my life a purpose. That alone makes my lief great. Even though I may be the biggest sinner of them all, the pursuit of greatness is what drives me.
Trying to serve God is great!
What drives you?
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