Twice as Good

Dialogue is twice as good as a monologue.

The A Words

Accountability, Apostle, authority and anointed. If you find yourself in a religious environment that uses these words frequently I encourage you to make a change. These words are very often used to wield power and control, something Jesus never wanted for Himself and certainly not for others to have over us. That’s not who He is or what He wants in fact what He wants is nothing more than to love us as the individuals He made us to be, to be loved in return and to literally walk through each and every day with us, good times and bad. Jesus is calling us into fellowship not forcing us to followship.

Anointed

Anointed literally means rubbed with oil. Scripture figuratively uses the term to strictly reference the Holy Spirit’s interaction in, around, through and upon a person. Anointing is not intended to bring glory to an individual or to indicate superiority.

Authority

Authority is not something we are to have over others, in fact think about the word over for a minute. Spiritual authority is something we give to others when they’ve proven they can be trusted and kept when trust is maintained. It’s also a great thing to share.

Apostle

Paul’s list of qualifications for the office of apostle is extremely narrow while the definition of the word itself is broad enough to include all who love Jesus. This doesn’t add up to a privileged position in the church between God and His people.

Accountability Partner

Romans 14:12: So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

Why…

is it so much easier to share Jesus with the masses than with the individual?

Trust is earned through intimacy.

How…

did guilt and shame so easily replace love and care?

Grace is ours to accept, grasp and to share.

Foolishness and Weakness

I had some things to share about our weaknesses today but this verse from 1 Corinthians says it all:

1Corinthians 1:25-31

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—that, as it is written, “HE WHO GLORIES, LET HIM GLORY IN THE LORD.”

You Can Change

We all have crap in our lives that we wish was gone. Insecurities that inhibit our relationships, past wounds that keep us from moving forward or even habits that are difficult to kick can have a devastating effect on our life. Don’t be discouraged, change is absolutely possible and if we’ll trust the Lord, inevitable.

Too often we’re taught that once we believe in Jesus change should be instantaneous. Scriptures like “2Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” can cause us to lose hope. Change is an everyday process not a onetime thing so maybe a better way to read this scripture would be; Therefore, those in Christ are a new creation; the old will pass away and all things are to become new.

Knowing Jesus, seeing the things in you that are not like Him and then trusting Him with them is the key to change. It really is that simple to understand but in no way does that make it easy to do. Change can be scary but God’s love for us can overcome our fear.