the.Sold.Out.Soul

We know that Jesus is all we need in this life.  We likely have confessed that time and again in our prayers and our worship.  But have we gotten to the place where Jesus also is all we want?  If we really think about who and what He is, how could we think of wanting more than him?

The zookeeper's singularly important job is to make sure that the animals stay where they're placed.  The world in which we live is much like a zoo, but the zookeeper is not our friend.  There is another who wants to rattle those cages and set us free.  Let us go to him not for a taste of that freedom but for every ounce of liberation available to us.

The world will expect us to respond to certain situations and certain people a certain way.  Many times God will expect us to respond a different way.  Particularly when we are walking in a leadership role, it is critical for us to meet God's expectations and defy the world's, which will be a great testimony to our faith and our Lord.

When we approach the Lord in prayer, it is not meant to be a one-sided monologue.  Prayer is a conversation, which means that communication should flow in both directions.  Let us honor our intimate prayer time with God by not only speaking to him but also waiting for him to speak to us.

God allows us to be stewards of many things, and the expectation is that we use those things correctly.  Whether they are spiritual gifts, finances or relationships, that expectation is the same.  This applies especially to God's word, which is entrusted to us for the advancement of his kingdom.  We only have power in his word when we wield it as He instructs.

When we seek God for those things which He has in unlimited supply, such as grace, mercy and love, we cannot forget one thing.  In this process of sanctification, we are to be transformed in his image.  This means that we should be working toward having these same attributes in unlimited supply for others.

As we evangelize we will be faced with tough questions from skeptics and people who are incredibly reluctant to tear down the walls which are designed to keep out God.  The bible tells us always to be ready with an answer for this great hope we have.  Let us explore a tough question I faced recently and ask God to prepare us for moments like this, that we would be able to lead people to the well successfully.

It can be hard to give the new people in our lives the benefit of the doubt.  When we encounter someone who is less than pleasant, whether lost or saved, we may think we first must understand the person before we can find a reason to extend grace for that behavior.  However, the truth is that compassion should come first, without qualification.  Let us work to practice grace before understanding.

Sin is sneaky.  In a world in which we are bombarded with sin from all directions, it is no surprise that so much of our entertainment today is unholy.  Whether it is the music we listen to or the movies we watch, we must be careful about the influences we allow in our lives.  Let us close the door on even the faintest hint of sin so that we can continue to renew and cleanse our minds as the scriptures command.

When we read the accounts of what our Savior endured at the hands of those He came to save, we see more than hatred and contempt.  A main component of his suffering was the shame which the world wanted to thrust upon him.  Just as the world tried to shame him, we can expect that the world will try to shame us as well.  Let us prepare for this suffering in which we are called to share.