DUBLEV - that's my license plate. I've had it for years. It is intended to mean "Do you believe?" It's been a neat way to share Christ with people over the years . Although, one time I had someone think it was for Cher's song "Do You Believe In Love?" No, I'm not a Cher worshipper--I'm a Jesus Christ worshipper. When asking someone, 'do you believe in Christ?' I have found that many say they believe in Christ. What I find disconcerting is that although many believe in Christ they choose not to have a relationship with Him or live as though they do.
Christ's sacrifice alone should compel us to live life holy and set apart. What an incredible sacrifice and gift we received and yet we do not live a life that reflects this wonderful gift. It perplexes me how a holy God can go through such great lengths to make a way for us to be restored to a relationship with Him by sacrificing His one and only Son and we still respond very filpantly. It saddens me because I'm just as guilty.
God knew our sinful hearts and bent toward selfish ambition and still chose to go through with His plan of salvation (thank you Lord).
In Deteronomy 6:5 it says, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. He wants us to love Him with everything in us. He created us to love Him and to worship Him. In Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; When we choose to trust Him and be certain that we are on the right path. Proverbs 3:6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Through Jesus Christ God has given us everything that we need to live out our life here on earth. 2 Peter 1:3 says, His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
Do you believe? Are you living like you believe?
Monday, August 22, 2011
Complacent Faith
Hebrews 11:1 describes faith: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11 is often described as the 'Hall of Fame' that tells of many of the patriarchs who took God at His Word. Hebrews 11:3 says, By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
I put my faith in Jesus Christ when I was eleven years old. Romans 10:17 says, Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
I believed that He was the Son of God (John 20:31), was born of a virgin (Matthew 1:22), died on the cross for my sins (John 19:33) and rose again on the third day (John 20:17) having victory over death. (1 Corinthians 15:55)
Having faith means putting your trust in God. Trusting God involves obeying Him even when it doesn't make sense. He knows what is best for us and has a plan for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 says, For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. As we grow up we sometimes get too big for our own britches and make decisions that are not best for us. As a follower of Jesus Christ I have the luxury (yes, luxury) of having the Holy Spirit living within me to guide me. All too often I become complacent in my relationship with God and my faith wanes. Complacent is defined as: marked by self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies.
My faith becomes complacent when I choose not to obey God. Isaiah 32:9 warns, You women who are so complacent, rise up and listen to me; you daughters who feel secure, hear what I have to say! We need to always be willing to listen when God speaks as well as those that He sends to us to speak truth (friends, family, etc.)
One way to avoid complacent faith is to obey immediately when God calls.
I put my faith in Jesus Christ when I was eleven years old. Romans 10:17 says, Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
I believed that He was the Son of God (John 20:31), was born of a virgin (Matthew 1:22), died on the cross for my sins (John 19:33) and rose again on the third day (John 20:17) having victory over death. (1 Corinthians 15:55)
Having faith means putting your trust in God. Trusting God involves obeying Him even when it doesn't make sense. He knows what is best for us and has a plan for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 says, For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. As we grow up we sometimes get too big for our own britches and make decisions that are not best for us. As a follower of Jesus Christ I have the luxury (yes, luxury) of having the Holy Spirit living within me to guide me. All too often I become complacent in my relationship with God and my faith wanes. Complacent is defined as: marked by self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies.
My faith becomes complacent when I choose not to obey God. Isaiah 32:9 warns, You women who are so complacent, rise up and listen to me; you daughters who feel secure, hear what I have to say! We need to always be willing to listen when God speaks as well as those that He sends to us to speak truth (friends, family, etc.)
One way to avoid complacent faith is to obey immediately when God calls.
Divided Heart
You hear the famous quote "Follow your heart" from Napolean Dynomite. We all follow after something. We choose what it will be filled with--cars, homes, stuff, people but it gets filled. The difference is what you choose to fill it with. There is only one thing than can fill it and keep you satisfied--God and only God--everything else will keep you unfulfilled. God created us with an inner desire for Him. Our heart becomes divided when we choose other things over God. Ezekiel 11:19 says, I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.
You will remain unfulfilled if you choose to give God half-hearted worship. Any area of your life that is closed off to people is closed off to God. I had closed off certain areas of my heart to 'protect' me over the years and continued to worship God but could not fully worship Him wholly. As God has restored me I have found that He has enlarged my heart and worship has taken on a whole new meaning for me. As a result, I now find myself overwhelmed with emotion as I've given Him my heart fully.
Ezekiel 36:26 says, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I can truly say that I have a new heart and a new spirit within me. I don't have to tell anyone--they can see it in my actions, my smile, my demeanor.
Allow God to do heart surgery on you--His transplants are always successful and well worth it!
You will remain unfulfilled if you choose to give God half-hearted worship. Any area of your life that is closed off to people is closed off to God. I had closed off certain areas of my heart to 'protect' me over the years and continued to worship God but could not fully worship Him wholly. As God has restored me I have found that He has enlarged my heart and worship has taken on a whole new meaning for me. As a result, I now find myself overwhelmed with emotion as I've given Him my heart fully.
Ezekiel 36:26 says, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I can truly say that I have a new heart and a new spirit within me. I don't have to tell anyone--they can see it in my actions, my smile, my demeanor.
Allow God to do heart surgery on you--His transplants are always successful and well worth it!
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