“I Will Instruct You”

Once again from Phil Jackson at Red Letter Christians. I’m really enjoying his insight this week.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
Psalm 32:8

A friend of my, Soong-Chan Rah, posted on Facebook once that the heart that is willing to hear a no and obey is the heart that can be trusted with a yes. This is one of the acid tests of our walk with Christ, trusting in the counsel of God in our daily lives and in whatever ministry Christ calls us to. Too many times my plans become God’s plans and then I can and will justify that this is right before God. All because I didn’t want to a tune my ears to hear God’s no. Proverbs 16:2-3 tells us people maybe pure in their own eyes but the Lord examines their motives. Now, Prov 16:3 is our challenge today as we serve and live for God, commit your actions to the Lord and your plans will succeed.

Follow Him

Jesus said, “Follow Me” many times. What do you suppose He meant? I ask because it seems like we’ve decided He meant for us to get others to follow us. This is far from His intent as He warns in Matthew 23:15, “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You go halfway around the world to make a convert, but once you get him you make him into a replica of yourselves, double-damned.”

Our desire should always be to draw others to Jesus using only the implement of love. His love, the very love that filled your heart should be shared or taught without religious baggage and devoid of go-betweens. “Make disciples” is better read, “Teach (share) My love”.

Follow

Jesus, not the rules.

Leader

One of the reasons Jesus was killed was because He didn’t come to be our leader en masse.

It’s Possible

Jesus says, with God all things are possible even those things considered impossible for us. The key here is the “with God” part. So if He says do it, what do we have to fear? We can be daring when we’re following God’s lead and walking with Him moment by moment.

Weird

When we really follow Jesus, we shouldn’t be surprised when most folks think we’re weird and we’re faced with opposition.

Reward

Christianity was never intended to be a morality based on reward. Following Jesus is a process of becoming more and more like Him. Scripture tells us we are to be conformed to the image of His Son which means going through similar trials and tribulations. Jesus didn’t suffer to save us from suffering; He died to save us from death.

Whatever You Say

That’s what I want to do Lord. No matter how hard, regardless of what will be said, please give me the strength, the wisdom and the confidence to trust that you know best.

Economics

“Jesus was always talking about a reverse economy. He talked about how if you want to receive, you give. If you want to lead, you follow. That the poor are rich and you only really live for certain things if you are willing to die to them.” – Bob Goff, Love Does

God’s way is backwards from so much of what we see. His way is rooted in trust. Our way is rooted in doubt.

Love Does VI

Still exploring Bob Goff’s “Love Does”:

“I used to think God guided us by opening and closing doors, but now I know sometimes God wants us to kick the doors down.”

When we know we’ve heard from God we can confidently follow His direction no matter what the opposition might be, even as Christ demonstrated unto death. Sometimes there aren’t even doors but walls to be chipped away at, scaled or gone around.