The Crux: My Walk

The bottom line is this: I need to walk together with God. I need build my relationship with Him. I need to talk to Him in prayer. I need to understand Him through His Word. I need to be holy as He is Holy. I need to find other believers so we can encourage one another. I need to do my part of His Plan - fulfilling the Mission He has given all of us. I cannot expect somebody else to do my part.

Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, "Lord, who will betray You?" Peter asked Jesus, "What about him, Lord?" Jesus replied, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow Me." (John 21:20-22 NLT)

So, I follow Him. How about you?

The Crux: My Calling

Walking together with God gets really personal when we take responsibility for our own relationship with God and face our own shortcomings. It gets even more "real" when we realize the real reason for God's work in our lives: ministry. God does love us. He is willing to forgive us. He did lay down His life for us and He does send His Spirit to dwell in us. He doesn't, however, do these things just to help us feel better or enjoy a better quality of life. He has something for us to do.

We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV)

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20 NIV)

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27 NIV)

We are all called by God to be His ambassadors, making disciples of all nations. We have a job to do. Forgiveness, reconciliation, resources, gifts, and His Spirit are all given to help us collectively accomplish His mission. Your specific gifts are given by His Spirit to empower you to do your specific ministry. He empowers you to do your part in His Body...The Church. Nobody understood this better than Peter. Jesus didn't forgive Peter and reconcile with him just to help him feel better.

After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these? " "Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "You know I love You." "Then feed My lambs," Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: "Simon son of John, do you love Me?" "Yes, Lord," Peter said, "You know I love You." "Then take care of My sheep," Jesus said. A third time He asked him, "Simon son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, "Lord, You know everything. You know that I love You." Jesus said, "Then feed My sheep. (John 21:15-17 NLT)

What is your calling? What specific part (or parts) of His plan have been entrusted into your care? Are you living it out? Living your ministry...that's the crux of the matter.

The Crux: My Relationship

"I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.  (John 21:3 NIV)

Peter just spent the whole night fishing.  He had a whole night to do nothing but cast nets, wait, and think.  I wonder what went through Peter's mind.  Peter knew that he had denied Jesus three times when Jesus needed him most.  Peter had seen Jesus alive since his death, but they hadn't talked about the denial, well, his sin.  I wonder if he thought about his friend, Judas, who sinned, too.  I wonder if he thought about the way Judas dealt with the guilt.

"I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility." So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.  (Matthew 27:4-5 NIV)

Whatever he was thinking, he would have snapped out of it when the morning sun broke over the horizon and gave light to a figure standing on the shore.

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered. He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. (John 21:4-7 NIV)

You know the difference between Peter and Judas?  It wasn't the severity of their respective sins.  It wasn't the guilt they felt after they turned against their Lord.  It was the way they responded.  Judas ran away from God.  Peter ran toward God.  The result made all the difference in the world.

The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. (John 21:8-9 NIV)

When it comes to building a relationship with God, none of us can do it for someone else.  I can do the things to build my relationship with Him.  You need to do the things necessary to build your relationship with Him.  We can't do it for each other.  The great part, though, is that God is always ready to build a relationship with us.  He's waiting on the shore with breakfast cooking.  Will you join Him?

The Crux of the Matter

Crazy Love has been a challenging book that has taken us on a journey.  We've been challenged to stop living lukewarm Christianity and to become men and women after God's own heart.  We've been reminded that it's not about working harder at "getting things right" but about developing a deeper relationship with The One who is our God.  We pursue crazy love because He first had a crazy love for us.

Wrapping up a study like this, it is easy to start looking around at aspects of our lives: marriage, family, work, Church Services, small groups, ministry teams, and more.  When we look at these various areas, it's easy to see how they "fall short" of the ideals espoused in this study.  Then, we look for the reasons they fall short.  Inevitably, we find fault in others.  My spouse doesn't...My boss always...My kids just don't...My pastor isn't...our church doesn't...etc.  It is in this moment, though, that we are reminded of one really hard truth:  No one can do it for me.

The Apostle, Peter, understood this all too well when he was challenged the night Jesus was on trial...
Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, "You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean." But Peter denied it in front of everyone. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said. Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth. " Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. "I don't even know the man," he said. A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, "You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent." Peter swore, "A curse on me if I'm lying—I don't know the man!" And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, Jesus' words flashed through Peter's mind: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know Me." And he went away, weeping bitterly. (Matthew 26:69-75 NLT)

Peter had the best pastor ever. Jesus was his teacher.
Peter had the best small group ever. The Apostles were his small group.
Peter had the best worship experiences ever. He was at the transfiguration.
None of these things mattered when it came down to crunch time.
Peter walked away from Jesus.

The crux of the matter is simply this: I need to choose to walk together with God.
You have to decide to walk together with God for yourself.
When we do, things really start to take off.
Life gets amazing.

Isn't time we stop pointing our fingers at someone else and start choosing to walk ourselves? Imagine what will happen when we do.

Who Lives That Way? (Persistence)

"Stop acting so proud and haughty! Don't speak with such arrogance! For the LORD is a God who knows what You have done; He will judge your actions. The bow of the mighty is now broken, and those who stumbled are now strong. Those who were well fed are now starving, and those who were starving are now full. The childless woman now has seven children, and the woman with many children wastes away. The LORD gives both death and life; He brings some down to the grave but raises others up. The LORD makes some poor and others rich; He brings some down and lifts others up. He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, placing them in seats of honor. For all the earth is the LORD's, and He has set the world in order. (1 Samuel 2:3-8 NLT)

It's so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day details of life.  We can start to think that we are the ones who create our destiny...our success.  But God reminds us over and over again that nothing we have really is ours.  Everything we have is from Him.  The best thing we can do for ourselves and our families in this life is to humble ourselves before the LORD and obey His commands.

"He will protect His faithful ones, but the wicked will disappear in darkness. No one will succeed by strength alone. Those who fight against the LORD will be shattered. He thunders against them from heaven; the LORD judges throughout the earth...  (1 Samuel 2:9-10 NLT)

It takes more than obedience, though.  Every moment, every day, every week, every month, every year provides a new opportunity to obey or to rebel.  Blessings do not come to those who obey once or even once in awhile.  God rewards persistence.  He calls persistence by a different name, though.  In His Word, persistence at doing God's will is called faithfulness.

Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. "Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water," Daniel said. "At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king's food. Then make your decision in light of what you see." (Daniel 1:11-13 NLT)

Daniel and his friends were persistent...faithful...in following the LORD even in captivity.  Because they would not eat the foods God prohibited at the time, Daniel and his friends were rewarded by God.   They received blessings from Him who holds everything.  Are you persistent in doing His Will?  Are you faithful?

Who Lives That Way? (Obedience)

Be careful to obey all my commands, so that all will go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and pleasing to the LORD your God. (Deuteronomy 12:28 NLT)

Obedience has been key to walking together with God from the very beginning. The Israelites were given victory over their enemies in the Promised Land because they did obey God. Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden because they didn't obey His command.

The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names: Daniel was called Belteshazzar. Hananiah was called Shadrach. Mishael was called Meshach. Azariah was called Abednego. But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. (Daniel 1:7-8 NLT)

Daniel understood the connection between blessings and obeying. He was in captivity now because God's chosen people did not obey. They turned away from God. They lost the promised land.


"If you love Me, obey My commandments. (John 14:15 NLT)

Now that we have the New Testament, our tendency is to focus on the Love of God.  We like to remember that His Greatest Command is to Love.  What we tend to forget, though, is that Loving God comes before Loving our Neighbor.  Not only that, Jesus said that we show our love for God by obeying his commands.

Anyone who doesn't love Me will not obey Me. And remember, My words are not My own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent Me. (John 14:24 NLT)

The opposite is also true. When we disobey, we show God that we don't love Him. It all comes down to obedience.

"I have loved you even as the Father has loved Me. Remain in My love. When you obey My commandments, you remain in My love, just as I obey My Father's commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with My joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! (John 15:9-11 NLT)

Who Lives That Way? (Personal)

"You won't die!" the serpent replied to the woman. "God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil." The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it...  (Genesis 3:4-6 NLT)

Sometimes our temptation to leave God is not global, national, or general.  Sometimes the reason is just personal.  The reasons are personal.  The struggles are personal.  The thoughts are personal.  So, we turn away from God and think that "no one understands."  But it's simply not true.  God understands.  Not only does He understand, He is ready to provide you all the help you need to fight off those personal "reasons" to leave.  He wants you to stay with Him.  He wants to help.

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king's service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility-- young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. (Daniel 1:3-4 NIV)

Daniel and his friends were not just a part of a global situation.  Their role in this was personal.  They had been defeated.  They had been captured.  They were being selected, groomed, and taught to go against everything they believed.  They were being trained to walk away from God.  But they wouldn't do it.  Perhaps they remembered their forefather, Joshua, as they were facing overwhelming personal pressure.

"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:14-15 NIV)

Whatever the reason, they did not succumb to personal pressure.  Pressure from the King of Babylon wouldn't do it.  Pressure from his workers wouldn't do it.  Pressure from peers or "that woman" or friends wouldn't do it.  Daniel made his choice.  He was going to walk together with God no matter what.  How about you?  Have you made your choice?

Who Lives That Way? (The World)

Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world's standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, "He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness." (1 Corinthians 3:18-19 NLT)

All too often, we look at the events of this world as somehow driving our walk together with God.  We allow wars and attacks to drive us to fear or anger.  We allow political elections and human leaders to inspire us to places God would never want.  We point to the economy as a reason to aspire to greediness or to wallow in self-pity.  The problem with letting the world drive our walk with God is that the world doesn't walk with God.

During the third year of King Jehoiakim's reign in Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God. So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babylonia and placed them in the treasure-house of his god. (Daniel 1:1-2 NLT)

Daniel and his friends were taken captive because their nation had stopped following God.  They were defeated, captured, deported, then brought into the capitol city of their enemies and trained to be good Babylonians.  If ever there was a person who could blame "world events" for abandoning God, it would have been Daniel and company.

But, they didn't.  Rather than walking away from God, they chose to walk with God even in their difficult, world created, circumstances.  They didn't eat the food that God told them was "unclean" and "unholy" for them to eat.  Later in the story, Daniel refused to pray to false gods as well.  The world's circumstances didn't matter to him.  He still walked together with God.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2 NIV)

Walking away from God because of world events is just an excuse.  A person who wants to walk together with God will find a way to walk together with God, regardless of the circumstances.  Don't compare the life He wants for you to the world and say, "Who lives that way?"  Instead, compare your life to God's picture and ask yourself, "How can I live that way?"  Then, start doing it.

The Obsessed...Talk (Part 2)

Jesus came and told His disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations... (Matthew 28:18-19 NLT)

People obsessed with God are obsessed with His Mission.  They know that they are called to go and "make disciples" of all nations, so they talk about God everywhere they go.  They are constantly bringing Him up in conversations and inviting people to see Him, join Him, or walk with Him.  They encourage one another to share Him with other people, empowering one more to walk together with Him.  You can't get them to stop talking about Him because they know that there is no other conversation that will continue for eternity.

So don't worry in advance about how to answer the charges against you, for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you!  (Luke 21:14-15 NLT)

The obsessed don't worry about whether they can quote every chapter and verse from the Bible.  They're not concerned about whether their friends will argue with them or their boss will reprimand them for talking about God.  They aren't concerned about governmental laws that "prohibit" sharing the Gospel because they know God is over all governments and that governments will someday pass away...except His.

"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. (Luke 12:4-5 NIV)

The obsessed don't stop talking about Him because they can't.  They are compelled by God to share God with every person they meet.  They know that the worst someone can do in this life equates to torture and/or death.  This is nothing compared to the everlasting glory they will enjoy with their Father in Heaven, starting with His statement to them: "Well done, good and faithful servant."  They live this life looking forward to the next, so they talk...a lot...about God.

The Obsessed...Talk (Part 1)

Pray continually... (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV)

People who are obsessed with God, talk with God.  They talk with Him all the time.  They don't make a show of it - praying so everyone else can see them in prayer.  They simply, consistently, talk with Him.

Their prayers are not selfish, either - asking for comfort, lack of pain, or personal gain.  They talk with Him about what is important to Him.  Their conversations revolve around aligning their minds, hearts, and actions with His picture, design, and plan.  They talk with God the way Jesus taught us to talk with Him.

"This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' (Matthew 6:9-13 NIV)

Their relationship with God is respectful, knowing the relationship isn't at all equal.  They know that when they differ in opinion on a subject, God's opinion counts.  They know that when they come up with different plans to approach some problem, God's plan is right.  They know they can approach Him and talk with Him without fear, but he is still "Father in Heaven...Holy...Holy...Holy."

Obsessed prayers talk with Him about His priorities, His task list, and His plan for the day - not theirs.  They want His Kingdom to come here on earth...so they ask Him to remove distractions from fulfilling their part of His plan: food, water, shelter, clothing, etc.  They want to stay focused on Him and only Him.  They know that we are sent to go and make disciples of all people, so they ask God to forgive them where they fall short and they forgive people so they can reach out to the very people who wronged them.  They never want the devil to win, so they draw near to God, fight the real enemy, and set the captives free.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. (Ephesians 6:18-20 NIV)

The Obsessed...See

"He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since He is Lord of heaven and earth, He doesn't live in man-made temples, and human hands can't serve His needs—for He has no needs. He Himself gives life and breath to everything, and He satisfies every need. From one man He created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and He determined their boundaries. (Acts 17:24-26 NLT)

Someone obsessed with God sees God everywhere.  They see a sunrise and think of God providing warmth for us.  They see a tree and think of His provision of food and fresh air through His Creation.  Everywhere they go and everything they see reminds them of Him, His Provision, His Love, and His Presence.  They see Him everywhere...and they are glad.

"His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find Him—though He is not far from any one of us. For in Him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, 'We are His offspring.' And since this is true, we shouldn't think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone. "God overlooked people's ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now He commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to Him. (Acts 17:27-30 NLT)

They not only see Him everywhere today, but they look forward to seeing Him in the next life.  The idea of a judgement day no longer frightens them, because they have already returned to Him through the saving work of His Son.  They already read His Word and talk with Him all the time, so they look forward to meeting their friend face to face.  They know that the life to come is far greater than the life we have experienced here, so they look forward to that life...with God...for eternity.

The obsessed see Him today and look forward to seeing Him more clearly in the future.  Are you obsessed?

The Obsessed...Remember

Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you. (Deuteronomy 32:7 NIV)

This week, we discussed the Profile of the Obsessed - Obsessed with God.  Someone obsessed with God always seems to remember what God has done.  Maybe the memory comes from reading Scripture.  It doesn't seem to matter to the obsessed whether it was the Old Testament or the New Testament.  When they remember what God has done, it encourages them in what God is doing today.  The Apostle, Paul, showed this kind of obsession all the time - remembering what Scriptures tell us about God working in the past...

Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, "LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too." And do you remember God's reply? He said, "No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!" It is the same today...  (Romans 11:2-5 NLT)

"Do you remember God's reply?" Paul asked.  In other words, do you remember this story from Scripture?  Have you read Scripture?  Do you know how the story ends?  This was important to Paul because the circumstances were "the same today..."  Paul was obsessed with what God had done.  It gave him confidence in what God was doing "now."

Sometimes the obsessed remember what God has already done in their own life.  They don't have to look back hundreds or thousands of years to remember God at work.  They only need a few years, months, or even days.  They remember what God had done in their life and it gives them confidence that God will be there today and any day in the future.

Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever. So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!  (Hebrews 10:32-35 NLT)

Do you remember the great things God has done in the past or even in your own life?  Do you find confidence today remembering what He has done yesterday?  Are you obsessed with God, remembering all He has done?

Looking Forward

But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth He has promised, a world filled with God's righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13 NLT)

Everything changes when we look at this life in light of eternity.  Suddenly, working for today isn't the highest priority.  We know that we need to work by the sweat of our brow, but it isn't our highest priority.

"Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God." Then, turning to His disciples, Jesus said, "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. (Luke 12:21-23 NLT)

Taking care of ourselves physically is important so we are ready and useful for God's call in our lives, but it's not the highest priority of our day.

"Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come." (1 Timothy 4:8 NLT)

Suddenly, our highest priorities in this life start to become those things that prepare us (and those around us) for the next.  A beautiful house starts to look like beautiful kindling.  A high-performance vehicle suddenly starts to become a high-performance hunk of metal that will also melt away.  Things in this life only take on value to the extent that they help us walk with God and help bring others into that walk.  Otherwise, they are not useful.

In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. (2 Timothy 2:20-21 NLT)

Go ahead.  Live your day today, but not for today.  Live today looking forward to the day we are together with Him forever.  It will make all the difference.

Before the Fire

Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. (2 Peter 3:11-12a NLT)

So, much of what I work at in this life cannot come with me.  Not only that, much of what I leave behind will not survive the "final fire" we talked about yesterday.  Now what?  What does that mean?  I live on this side of eternity.  I live on this side of the fire.  How does this affect how I live today?  We should live "holy and godly lives" because we look forward to that day approaching...any time now.

And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in His sight. (2 Peter 3:14 NLT)

It's easy to live "good lives" when we're expecting the "final fire" any day now.  When you know "Dad" is watching and is ready to come home, you behave yourself.  We all do.  Living "pure and blameless" after a few days, weeks, months, or years can get more and more difficult.  When is he going to return?  When's the final fire going to get here?

And remember, our Lord's patience gives people time to be saved...  (2 Peter 3:15 NLT)

He may not even return during our lifetime.  That doesn't change the facts, though.  Some things we can take with us.  Some things we can not.  Some of our work will survive the flames.  Some of it will not.  Not only that, His delay in getting here is for a very real reason...

The Lord isn't really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. (2 Peter 3:9 NLT)

He's waiting for us.

You've been far away from God?  He's waiting for you to come back.  

You're already walking together with God?  He's waiting for you to empower one more.

I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:17-18 NLT)

Will It Survive the Fire?

But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, He will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. (2 Peter 3:10-12 NLT)

How many things do we work toward that will simply end up as kindling.  Do you have a beautiful house?  It will be kindling.  A boat?  Kindling.  How about your first, second, or third car?  It doesn't matter how nice a finish it has or how well you've washed and waxed it, the entire car will still "melt away in the flames."

I like to imagine standing before God on the final day of judgement.  I won't be able to bring anything with me to go with Him into heaven.  As we discussed yesterday, I will have to leave everything behind on earth when I go.  So, I should spend my time here preparing for there.

But there's more to the picture.  I envision being able to see everything I left behind - the results of all my hard work in this life.  When the final judgement arrives, I will be looking over my lifetime of actions and they will be judged.  The flames will come down from heaven, and everything that I left behind will be tested.

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person's work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15 NLT)

On that day, I will see first hand whether my work had any value or not.  On that day, all of my useless work will be burned up.  All of my valuable work will survive the flames and, as a result, be with me in heaven.

The same is true with you.  You will not be able to bring anything with you.  The results of your work will be left behind and tested by the flames.  Everything useless will be burned up.  Your eternal work will survive and bring you a reward.

Our priorities look different we are only working for this life.

But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth He has promised, a world filled with God's righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13 NLT)

Will It Go With Me?

"Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:19-20 NLT)

Sunday's Services were focused on the concept that our best life is not now.  Those who put their hope in Jesus as Lord look forward to the next life with eager anticipation.  We know that the New Heaven and New Earth God has in store for us is far greater than anything we will experience here and now, if for no other reason than the fact that we will be in the presence of God.

Knowing this tends to beg the question, then.  Why do I work so hard for things that I cannot take with me when I leave this life?  Jesus said it this way...

"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to Him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? "And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? "So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. (Matthew 6:24-33 NLT)

Why does he implore us to seek the Kingdom of God above all else?  Simple.  That's where we will be spending eternity.  Get ready for the place where you will be spending the most of your time.  A hundred year life here certainly sounds like a long time until you compare it with the infinity of eternity.  The next time you dive into a project to work hard at it, I encourage you to ask this simple question: "Will the results of this project go with me to eternity?"  Maybe you'll find yourself diving into projects you've never considered before.

Love God

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' (Mark 12:30 NIV)

I was grateful for the people who helped me move from encounters with God that were based on fear and obedience to a relationship with God where I approached Him more freely. Loving God, however, would still take time. The whole idea of loving a God who I couldn't see still escaped me. More than that, applying the word "love" to that relationship really created problems for me. Do I love God the same way I love my wife or the way I love a good cup of coffee?

Over time, I learned that the New Testament was originally written in Greek. This helped me because I found out that the Greek language of that time actually had four different words for love. Eros, the word for romantic love (like with my wife), was never used in the New Testament - not at all. So, I don't need to love God in a romantic way. (That's a relief.) Storge, the natural affection a parent would have for a child (for instance), is not used either.

The two Greek words that are used in the Bible are phileo, where we get the word Philadelphia (the city of brotherly love), and agape, a self-sacrificing love where we care about the interest of the other. When Jesus quoted the Old Testament command to Love God, he used the Greek word agapao - love God by caring what is in His best interest, knowing that He already loves us and cares about our best interest.


Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:8-10 NIV)

You're going through tough times? He loves you and wants to help. You've turned away from Him? He loves you and will even lay down His life to get you back. He loves us first. He loves us perfectly. Our response can be nothing less than to love Him back.

We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 NIV)

I'm so glad that I don't worship a god who demands obedience with threats that produce fear. I'm glad I don't worship a god who simply acts like a friend just to send me down a bad path. I worship a God who reaches out to me, befriends me, and directs my steps perfectly...because He loves me. I love Him, too.

Love Relationship

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5 NIV)

I had heard these words and even said them many times as I grew up. Every time I said them, though, I didn't really think about love of God as anything more than obeying His commands. It couldn't possibly be talking about love the way we use the word love today, could it?

In trying to love God, I found myself struggling with this concept in many ways. How can you love someone that you cannot see? How can I treat God as a "someone" when God is "Holy, Holy, Holy"? How can I think about God in the same way that I think about my wife, my children, my best friend, and my love for Cincinnati chili and Mountain Dew? Loving God just didn't make sense, except in the idea of obeying His commands.

A little later in my life, I started meeting people who seemed to have something more in their lives. Following God wasn't about following rules. There was more depth to them. I wondered why. They would explain the difference by saying, "It's not about Religion. It's about relationship." They claimed to have a relationship with God. I was impressed...and confused.

I still wasn't sure how they built a "relationship" with an awesome, overwhelming, king of kings God; but I was willing to learn. So I began going to Church services, Bible studies, and serving in ministry with them. I began building a relationship with God as I built relationships with them. I learned to love the idea of a relationship with our Almighty God. And our relationship started to grow.

Love Obedience

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9 NIV)

God told us the greatest of His commands is to love God with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength.  Jesus said if we love him, we will obey his commands.  The most basic love we can give is the act of obedience.  We show our parents that we love them by obeying them.  We show love to God in the same way.

Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. (Deuteronomy 6:13-15 NIV)

Now, to be sure, love may not be our primary motivator for obedience.  Fear may be at the top of the list.  In the early years, we avoid what our parents say "no" to because they smack our hand or give us a spanking when they say the word.  We don't want the punishment, so we listen to the "no."  The same is true with God.

Be sure to keep the commands of the LORD your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. Do what is right and good in the LORD's sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land the LORD promised on oath to your ancestors, thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the LORD said. (Deuteronomy 6:17-19 NIV)

With time, though, the fear of punishment doesn't become as strong a motivator.  We want to see some positive reason for following the rules.  We start to look for the WIIFM (what's in it for me).  God gives great promises to people who will follow Him.  Just like the promises He gave to the Israelites.

The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. And if we are careful to obey all this law before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness." (Deuteronomy 6:24-25 NIV)

The beautiful thing about obedience with God is the result: righteousness.  This may not seem like a great thing if you are working out of fear or even WIIFM all the time, but it is a great result.  Being right with God means you have an open channel of communication for a good relationship with God.  Loving obedience, to be sure, is a very basic level of love for God...but it's a start.  It sets us up to experience even greater kinds of love.

When You're In Love

Two weeks of discussion about lukewarm living can really start to get me down.  I don't know about you, but constant focus on my weaknesses, shortcomings and/or sin starts to make me wonder if I can really be a Christian.  Am I going to have to memorize the whole Bible now?  Worse yet, will I need to do everything I says in order to stay saved?  Forget the effort, will I ever be able to accomplish all this?

The response to the discussion of the past couple weeks isn't supposed to be "trying harder."  The response He wants us to have is to "love more."

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV)

When we love God, we make Him our highest priority.  We look for opportunities to spend time with Him.  We want to get to know Him.  We want to hear His voice because we know that His words are worth hearing, valuable, and true.  We enjoy being in His presence and we hurt when we sense He is away.  Our love for God is more important than anything else in our lives.

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:8 NIV)

When we love God above anyone or anything else, we find ourselves doing strange things like talking to Him all the time (1 Thessalonians 5:17), listening to Him and putting it into practice(1 John 5:3), and even loving every person we meet (1 John 4:21, Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 5:43-48).  You even find yourself at peace, not fearing anything because perfect love drives out all fear (1 John 4:18). Love really does conquer all.

Do you love God with everything or do you hold some things back?  
Are you in love with God or in love with the idea of a God who will be on your side?  
What does your life look like when you're in love?