Who’s Watching?

Religion is what you do for God that everyone can see. Faith (trust) is how you live with God when no one is watching or keeping score.

Walk Properly

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside,…

This portion of scripture has so much to consider. It came to mind after reading this post by John Pavlovitz. He has some great thoughts concerning faith, trust and doubt which I wholeheartedly agree we all struggle with. The question that led me to this scripture “Is doubt inevitable and unavoidable?” gets answered, “Yes.” But another query is, “Does it always have to be like this or is it possible to decrease doubt and increase trust or faith?” I think there is much reason for hope here. Scripture supports growing trust, history is filled with examples and chances are you can look back on your life and name any number of areas where trust has replaced doubt.

We can and should encourage each other with this hope but never from a position of superiority. We can’t forget our times of question and doubt or think for a moment that we won’t be faced with more. We are all completely unique and in personal relationships with God whether we know it or not. Diminishing others because their faith doesn’t measure up is as wrong as wrong can be.

It seems to me the more our trust increases; the less important it is for us to be right, the more compassion and understanding we have for everyone, the less afraid we are of questions and the more equipped we are to share God’s love without strings or hoops.

Other thoughts on this passage: It begins and ends with love, always has, always will. Taught by God, we should never abdicate our personal relationship with God to anyone especially those that claim spiritual authority, apostleship, anointedness or asks you to be accountable to them. Increase more and more, there is always more of Him, we will never exhaust Him, there is and will always be more of Him to be understood and known. Lead a quiet life, mind your own business, and work with your own hands , For me these bring about many questions about what we see in so much of modern “Christianity”. Walk properly toward those who are outside, oh my.

Don’t Forget

God loves you like He’s never loved anyone before or will again. You are unique and His greatest desire is to have an extremely intimate one of a kind connection with you. This love, this relationship is the very one your heart desires more than anything. Don’t look for it anywhere else that will do nothing but fail, bring heartache and damage those around you. Trust Him, count on His love for you. With Him you lack nothing.

Is God Real?

Religion answers the question with “I think so”, then asks how can I manipulate Him to love me more than He does everyone else.

Faith answers the question with “yes!”, then asks how can I know Him more.

Someday

A faith focused on “someday” is the equivalent of “not today Lord”.

Love Never Fails

Love never fails. Love never fails. Love never fails!

Well Loved

I pray that Jesus’ love for you is so very evident today, that he surrounds you with folks that care for you deeply and appreciate how much you care back. I pray that you have the opportunity and the courage to be real with those that can handle it and that peace and fulfillment occupy your heart and mind.

Transgression

Sin, offense, failing, wrong doing, evil doing… Jesus’ teachings on these are intended to help us find our own faults, not aid us in becoming the authority over others’.

Assured

CSN sang of helplessly hoping from the empty place inside, but there’s an assured hope guaranteed by the One that can fill the empty place and it’s more than available to everyone. If you feel empty, unloved or rejected there is an answer and if you’ll put the tiniest bit of trust in Jesus he’ll rush to that emptiness and love you like no one else can. He’ll begin to heal your pain and walk through everything with you; you’ll never have to be alone again.

He Who Believes?

In the verse from yesterday’s post Jesus had some amazing promises for those that believe in Him. Did believe mean something different than it does today?