Luke 6:47-49 (NIV) I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
Using the example of the verses above; Jesus said of the house built on the rock or sand (Matthew 7:24-25, Luke 6:47-49), we’re going to have earthquakes at some point, and they’re going to crack up if they don’t have a solid foundation and will surely collapse. So many people are building their lives on influences which are plainly dangerous. We aren’t learning to think, let alone to think Biblically. We’re being brainwashed by all of these competing, flashing picture images, ads in magazines and television, and we fail to learn how to think.
If there’s one thing I’m learning the Bible does as you take it from beginning to end, is it forces you to think about every aspect of life, and it makes you think logically. The most important thing we can do is ground ourselves in the Bible and say, Okay, I’ll read this. Now, how does this affect how I’m going to live? This isn’t just about my personal salvation, it is so much more, a guide in how to live my life. What am I going to do with what I’ve learned?
To the church, the job is to see what the world is saying and then take what the Bible is saying, and then say, “I’m going to live differently, and I’m going to influence what the world is thinking by living differently. We totally neglect the mind. The first paragraph of Harry Blamire’s book, The Christian Mind, says “There is no Christian mind.” His whole argument was that we think one way in church on Sunday and then turn that off and go back and go live like the world.
Matthew 22:36-37 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' “
We think part of our life is safe and sound because we’re in church on Sunday; we’ve got our relationship with God. We’ve worshipped Him which is great. But if the whole life isn’t together, there’s a terrible thing going on, where we think our bodies are something we use and our mind is not. We’ve separated the body, mind and the spirit. And we think the body is something we use for our own pleasure. So almost, you can do anything with your body because it doesn’t affect you as long as you keep the three separated.
A lot of people will try to pick and choose, and they say, “I will choose the most convenient worldview and use that one.” So when I’m on a date, I’ll have this kind of worldview, and then when I go to church, I’ll have this kind of worldview. And then when I’m closing that big deal at work, I’ll have this kind of worldview, and then when I need to cheat on a test at school, I’ll have this kind of worldview. And they’re trying to pick and choose. But the fact is, they’re always in conflict with each other mind, body and spirit.
Romans 12:1 – 2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Lord we know that it is Your Holy Spirit given that transforms us mind, body and soul and we thank You. We pray Lord that daily You give us guidance and strength as we seek not to be conformed to this world but transformed a little more each day to be more like our Lord and Savior Jesus in Who’s name we pray. Amen.
In His Love,
Sandy Perry
05/26/09
To be continued next week…….
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Can’t Help Myself!
So many people I talk with are so afraid to share their faith they beat around the bush in sharing the Gospel. When we shares the gospel, we need to focus on the life of Christ, the hope of eternal life by faith in the Lord, and then let the Lord do the work in bringing results. In awesome wisdom and love given to us through the Holy Spirit, we can present the most attractive and encouraging message of spending eternity in His presence.
What a blessing and relief it was the day God gave me the understanding that He doesn’t hold me responsible for how people respond to the gospel. But, He holds you and me responsible for giving it rightly and living the Gospel; what someone does with it is His business not mine nor yours. 2 Timothy 2:15 / 1 Timothy 3:15
As I studied about the thief on the cross who hung there next to Jesus, I understood that if ever there was a deathbed conversion that was it! The thief lived his entire life as a sinner. As he hung on that cross with blood coming out of his hands and feet, he said, “Lord, remember me.” You know Jesus’ response by heart: “Today you shall be with Me in Paradise” Luke 23:43.
Do we not see here in this part of Scripture and witness the exchange of death for life. The conversation teaches us three important truths about conversion.
1. Like I tell my guys in prison no one is ever too far gone to become a Christian. Can you think of someone you’ve written off? “Oh, they will never come to know Christ. I’ve tried everything I know to win him, and he’s never going to respond.” When you’re tempted to think anyone is beyond the reach of grace, remember the criminal on the cross.
2. Your godly life is the most effective tool of evangelism. Socrates called words stupid things. I’ve never seen that more evident than when people force a witness with words. The real message is in our life. When our life draws the attention of lost people, we will have sufficient proof to back up the words we use. Let God do the work in their lives and in yours. When He does, we’ll be amazed at how He brings us the appropriate words at just the right time. 1 Corinthians 2:10-16
3. All that God requires and accepts is simple faith. What qualified the thief for heaven? He didn’t perform any good works to earn heaven. In no way did he prove himself worthy of eternal life. So, what had he done to receive eternal life? What did Jesus accept? Faith, simple, unadulterated, and unproven faith in the living Christ, that’s all God requires, and that’s all we can offer when we share Christ.
Father thank You for the salvation You have given us through the blood of Jesus, Your only Son and our Lord &Savior. Please strengthen us in our witness, place before us every opportunity to bear witness to the lost the blessed name of Jesus all to Your honor & glory. It is in His most powerful name we do pray. Amen.
In His Love,
Sandy Perry,
05/20/09
What a blessing and relief it was the day God gave me the understanding that He doesn’t hold me responsible for how people respond to the gospel. But, He holds you and me responsible for giving it rightly and living the Gospel; what someone does with it is His business not mine nor yours. 2 Timothy 2:15 / 1 Timothy 3:15
As I studied about the thief on the cross who hung there next to Jesus, I understood that if ever there was a deathbed conversion that was it! The thief lived his entire life as a sinner. As he hung on that cross with blood coming out of his hands and feet, he said, “Lord, remember me.” You know Jesus’ response by heart: “Today you shall be with Me in Paradise” Luke 23:43.
Do we not see here in this part of Scripture and witness the exchange of death for life. The conversation teaches us three important truths about conversion.
1. Like I tell my guys in prison no one is ever too far gone to become a Christian. Can you think of someone you’ve written off? “Oh, they will never come to know Christ. I’ve tried everything I know to win him, and he’s never going to respond.” When you’re tempted to think anyone is beyond the reach of grace, remember the criminal on the cross.
2. Your godly life is the most effective tool of evangelism. Socrates called words stupid things. I’ve never seen that more evident than when people force a witness with words. The real message is in our life. When our life draws the attention of lost people, we will have sufficient proof to back up the words we use. Let God do the work in their lives and in yours. When He does, we’ll be amazed at how He brings us the appropriate words at just the right time. 1 Corinthians 2:10-16
3. All that God requires and accepts is simple faith. What qualified the thief for heaven? He didn’t perform any good works to earn heaven. In no way did he prove himself worthy of eternal life. So, what had he done to receive eternal life? What did Jesus accept? Faith, simple, unadulterated, and unproven faith in the living Christ, that’s all God requires, and that’s all we can offer when we share Christ.
Father thank You for the salvation You have given us through the blood of Jesus, Your only Son and our Lord &Savior. Please strengthen us in our witness, place before us every opportunity to bear witness to the lost the blessed name of Jesus all to Your honor & glory. It is in His most powerful name we do pray. Amen.
In His Love,
Sandy Perry,
05/20/09
Friday, May 8, 2009
Baaa or Bleat!
James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Jesus’ final instructions to his disciples concerning the end of the world reach its final peak with this last parable in Matthew 25:31-46. There is no doubt about the scene here the “wait” is over as the Son of Man “comes in His glory” and “all the nations” are gathered before Him. Now we see a separation takes place, as the sheep are divided from the goats. The basis on which this momentous decision is made concerns our human behavior; whether the hungry were fed and cared for, the lonely given shelter and friendship or the sick and prisoners visited. At the last judgment, God is going to look for a faith that has been worked out and lived out. To the astonished reaction of the righteous, who were simply unaware of serving our Lord when doing what came naturally to them, He replies that in serving the least of these brothers of mine you did it for Me.
Several different views of “brothers of mine” have and will continue to be debated. Some say it was only the disciples this was speaking of, so that evidence of belonging to the Kingdom is found in the response made only to believers. But, what we see in the scene at the beginning of the story involving all the nations and the teaching of Jesus that becoming like the heavenly Father means we are to mirror His love for all including enemies, suggest a much wider and broader idea of God’s grace.
Although, there is a clear division as those who failed to show mercy and compassion are told to depart into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Look at what is said here: God desires the salvation of all people and provides for their deliverance; those who close their hearts to His love and persist in evil and selfishness chose a destiny that was not intended for them.
Please prayerfully consider what a lived out faith with every thought captive to Jesus would look like on your job, in the grocery store, out on the street in every area of your life might mean for you.
Lord Jesus as I think of Your love, Your mercy and grace for us, help us to love and have Your gracious mercy for others as You do. Then Lord help us to put Your love, mercy and grace into practical everyday actions wherever we might find the opportunity. Please stir our heart anew Lord with the desire to serve You as we serve others. Amen
In His Love,
Sandy Perry
05/07/09
Jesus’ final instructions to his disciples concerning the end of the world reach its final peak with this last parable in Matthew 25:31-46. There is no doubt about the scene here the “wait” is over as the Son of Man “comes in His glory” and “all the nations” are gathered before Him. Now we see a separation takes place, as the sheep are divided from the goats. The basis on which this momentous decision is made concerns our human behavior; whether the hungry were fed and cared for, the lonely given shelter and friendship or the sick and prisoners visited. At the last judgment, God is going to look for a faith that has been worked out and lived out. To the astonished reaction of the righteous, who were simply unaware of serving our Lord when doing what came naturally to them, He replies that in serving the least of these brothers of mine you did it for Me.
Several different views of “brothers of mine” have and will continue to be debated. Some say it was only the disciples this was speaking of, so that evidence of belonging to the Kingdom is found in the response made only to believers. But, what we see in the scene at the beginning of the story involving all the nations and the teaching of Jesus that becoming like the heavenly Father means we are to mirror His love for all including enemies, suggest a much wider and broader idea of God’s grace.
Although, there is a clear division as those who failed to show mercy and compassion are told to depart into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Look at what is said here: God desires the salvation of all people and provides for their deliverance; those who close their hearts to His love and persist in evil and selfishness chose a destiny that was not intended for them.
Please prayerfully consider what a lived out faith with every thought captive to Jesus would look like on your job, in the grocery store, out on the street in every area of your life might mean for you.
Lord Jesus as I think of Your love, Your mercy and grace for us, help us to love and have Your gracious mercy for others as You do. Then Lord help us to put Your love, mercy and grace into practical everyday actions wherever we might find the opportunity. Please stir our heart anew Lord with the desire to serve You as we serve others. Amen
In His Love,
Sandy Perry
05/07/09
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