Servanthood

I went to church this morning, it was amazing... it made me think all day. I'm still thinking about it, trying to grasp it all....

Matthew 20:25-27
"Jesus called them together and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave.' "

When Jesus says "not so with you", it's because we're different. We're not supposed to be like everyone else, think like everyone else, act like everyone else. We are called to be different.
The pastor has been talking about what our heart attitudes should be like when we're serving, and what will keep us going and going instead of burning out. If we have the wrong motives, we will quickly fail. But if we have our priorities straight, we will succeed.

We were talking about Jesus' example after he feeds the five thousand...
Matthew 14:22-23
"Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone."

This is what we should be like... Jesus is able to serve continually and show compassion on everyone because his main priority is His relationship with His Father. We can't seek to serve for accolades or recognition, or to make ourselves feel better, or to assuage our guilty consciences, because our servanthood will not last a day.

Also take the example of Martha and Mary...
Luke 10:38-42
"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, 'Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!'
'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.' "

The problem here is that Martha's priorities are out of line. Granted, there are many things in life that need to be taken care of, and Jesus understood that Martha needed to prepare dinner... but the main focus must be your relationship with God. Nothing else can take the place of that. This is why Jesus said, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed". Also understand that when you focus completely on the Lord, there are things that will fall to the side and not be taken care of....

But ask yourself, which is more important: the world, or the Father? When your priorities are where they should be and your main focus is Yahweh, everything else will fall into place.

"Mary has chosen what is better"....

I want to be a Mary.

Adultery and Temptation

I was reading Proverb 7 today, and I never took a closer look at this chapter until now. I'm going to copy and paste the chapter here so you can be lazy and just read it now instead of grabbing your Bible....

"My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands within you. Keep my commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your nearest kin, that they may keep you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words. For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice, and saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, a young man devoid of understanding, passing along the street near her corner; and he took the path to her house in the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night. And there a woman met him, with the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart. She was loud and rebellious, her feet would not stay at home. At times she was outside, at times in the open square, lurking at every corner. So she caught him and kissed him; with an impudent face she said to him: 'I have peace offerings with me; today I have paid my vows. So I came out to meet you, diligently to seek your face, and I have found you. I have spread my bed with tapestry, colored coverings of Egyptian linen. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; let us delight ourselves with love. For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey; he has taken a bag of money with him, and will come home on the appointed day.' With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, with her flattering lips she seduced him. Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, till an arrow struck his liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, he did not know it would cost his life. Now therefore, listen to me, my children; pay attention to the words of my mouth: Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths; for she has cast down many wounded, and all who were slain by her were strong men. Her house is the way to hell, descending to the chambers of death."

I believe Solomon isn't merely talking about an adulteress, he's really talking about how we allow the temptations of the world to seduce us. We have been prostituting ourselves and also allowing the temptations of this world to overcome us.
Read verses 18-21 again.... Why do we turn ourselves into harlots, eager to seek the world and fall prey to its temptations? We should be conditioning and preparing ourselves for the return of our husband "on the appointed day". We won't know when that day is, so every moment that slips by is an eternity wasted - or spent diligently and wisely.

What are we doing with every second of our lives that makes an impact on eternity?

Also think on these verses again: "For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice, and saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, a young man devoid of understanding, passing along the street near her corner; and he took the path to her house in the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night."
Simple here is meaning lacking spiritual maturity, not meaning stupid. If you read this verse over and over again, you will notice something that may tug at your mind and make you think on this throughout the day.... The simpleton being observed is "devoid of understanding", aka lacking sense or wisdom. Because he hasn't spent enough time investing in his spiritual growth, he willingly takes the "path to her house in the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night". Why do you think Solomon uses all those adjectives to describe when the simpleton falls prey? Do you think he's referring to the time of day, or do you think he's referring to the spiritual state of the simpleton?
It is also very hard to believe that the man stumbled upon her house by accident. I prefer to think he knew beforehand her reputation and purposefully walked that direction seeking a thrill. Perhaps he had determined not to go in, just to walk by... but still, walking the line is playing with fire and sooner or later you will be consumed and burn up.

There are several ways of protecting yourself from this kind of folly (not adultery specifically, but foolishness, allowing yourself to be tempted, even seeking the thrills of this world).... First, spend your life seeking the Lord and nothing else. He must be your main priority, your first thought when you wake up and the last thing on your mind as you drift to sleep. Everything you do or say should be to glorify Him and make His name known.
Second, find accountability. No one can make it alone. Find someone who is stronger spiritually so that you are constantly being challenged. If you're struggling in an area, find someone who has successfully overcome those temptations and seek wisdom from them.
Third, put into practice what you preach (or read). It doesn't matter if you have the entire Bible memorized, cover to cover... if you're just sitting on that knowledge and not sharing it. You'll find that the more you talk about Yahweh and all His characteristics, the more you'll fall in love with Him and the greater influence you'll have on the people around you.

I challenge everyone... regardless of where you are at in your life or relationship with Christ right now... take it deeper. Risk it all. Jump off the cliff. Have the faith of a child.
Your lover awaits.

Freedom

I've moved to Colorado Springs, and there's so much beauty here to look at. But the rose always has its thorns, and in this case the biggest thorn is being and feeling completely alone. Yet why is it that among all this nature that gives proof of a loving Creator, why do I doubt that He is here? Why do I think I have to do it all on my own?
There are many definitions of stress. I choose to think of it as a lack of trust and faith in the Lord. It happens when we take the control of our lives away from the only One who is capable of running it.... and then when we realize we aren't capable, when we feel it all slipping away from us.... stress comes in. And instead of trusting Yahweh completely, we give in to the stress because we still think we have to control our lives.
Let go! Freedom - true freedom - can only come with complete and total surrender. Worry, doubt.... these are not a part of freedom's vocabulary.
Freedom is like the wind, coming and going as it pleases, without a care or worry. The wind does not plot its course - it just is. Freedom is like the mountains that stand tall and proud, reaching toward the throne of God. Storms may come along, threatening and dangerous - but the mountains still stand. Freedom is like the bird that soars on the wind, dipping and gliding, rising far above to gaze upon the world below with a vastly different perspective.

We say we have freedom in Christ.... but have we reached out and grasped it? Or are we too worried about our titles and images? Surrender it all, let freedom be your guide. Live dangerously, passionately, completely in love with your Creator. Let Him take you on the most incredible journey you will ever know.

Forget everyone and everything else.
Focus your gaze upon Him.
You will not regret it.

FREEDOM.