Act 7:60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Stephen's heart is for these people. Even though they are killing him, he is ready to already forgive them. These words of Christ, are familiar to Stephen because He has the mind of God. He knows even though he can convict their hearts and make true statements about them, that his heart is still for them. He has an understanding of where they are and knows that they need forgiveness. He is not concerned about the him being wronged. He is focuses on God's concern for them. His focus is for their hearts. His love is from God. He loves them unconditionally, he doesn't care if they like him or not he will have the mind and heart of Christ regardless.
Father give me this mindset. Would I not fear others thoughts or consequences, but would I be a light for you. And give freely the love you have bestowed upon me. For this is where life is and not even death can stop it. Thanks for life in your son. Amen.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
2008.01.Masterpiece
We are His masterpiece. For He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. - Ephesians 2:10.
This verse was the theme for our Winter Conference over this Christmas break. Eight hundred students gathered from around the region to come to grow in their faith and experience God on a different level. I was asked to pray for the entire conference: the logistics, technical aspects, the speakers, etc. It was a little daunting and a little vague. I wanted to be effective, but where do you start?
Then God did it. I showed up several hours before the meeting and began to pray in the convention center before anyone came. God gave me a vision to pray through each seat that would represent every student or staff and pray that they would realize that they where His masterpiece. As I continued to pray for each person I became overwhelmed by the fact that I needed to believe this promise of Ephesians 2:10 for myself. While I was feeling unworthy to be praying, I shouted out the truth that I am worthy not because of anything of myself but because of the worthiness of God alone and the work that He has done through Christ on my behalf. And as I shouted out these truths I was struck by God and believing that I have been created anew for this very purpose- for this moment to ask for God’s will to be true in the place that I had been praying.
Upon further reflection I noticed that in Ephesians 2:10 it states that “we” are His Masterpiece, for “we” have been created anew in Christ Jesus so that “we” can do the good things He planned for “us” long ago. So much in our culture I emphasize my importance, but it is together that we make up the body of Christ and together we make this beautiful masterpiece.
Now I have returned to the University of Oregon, and God has given me a vision to pray for each and every place and person. I keep getting the impression that this place is not so big that God’s glory cannot penetrate each and every area. There is no argument too great that any man or woman can conjure up that God cannot overcome. I have made it a part of my schedule to pray through every nook and cranny of the school: department buildings, commons areas, dormitories and apartment buildings for the Holy Spirit to reach every place-- that no one at the university would go untouched by the Glory of God. I am convinced that the battle for these students will be won in the heavenly realms.
This verse was the theme for our Winter Conference over this Christmas break. Eight hundred students gathered from around the region to come to grow in their faith and experience God on a different level. I was asked to pray for the entire conference: the logistics, technical aspects, the speakers, etc. It was a little daunting and a little vague. I wanted to be effective, but where do you start?
Then God did it. I showed up several hours before the meeting and began to pray in the convention center before anyone came. God gave me a vision to pray through each seat that would represent every student or staff and pray that they would realize that they where His masterpiece. As I continued to pray for each person I became overwhelmed by the fact that I needed to believe this promise of Ephesians 2:10 for myself. While I was feeling unworthy to be praying, I shouted out the truth that I am worthy not because of anything of myself but because of the worthiness of God alone and the work that He has done through Christ on my behalf. And as I shouted out these truths I was struck by God and believing that I have been created anew for this very purpose- for this moment to ask for God’s will to be true in the place that I had been praying.
Upon further reflection I noticed that in Ephesians 2:10 it states that “we” are His Masterpiece, for “we” have been created anew in Christ Jesus so that “we” can do the good things He planned for “us” long ago. So much in our culture I emphasize my importance, but it is together that we make up the body of Christ and together we make this beautiful masterpiece.
Now I have returned to the University of Oregon, and God has given me a vision to pray for each and every place and person. I keep getting the impression that this place is not so big that God’s glory cannot penetrate each and every area. There is no argument too great that any man or woman can conjure up that God cannot overcome. I have made it a part of my schedule to pray through every nook and cranny of the school: department buildings, commons areas, dormitories and apartment buildings for the Holy Spirit to reach every place-- that no one at the university would go untouched by the Glory of God. I am convinced that the battle for these students will be won in the heavenly realms.
2007.12.Why does it matter that Jesus is the only way to God?
A big part of ministry on our campus is just showing up. I make calls to students who show interests in seeking after God from entering raffles or receiving free gifts. Many students I have interacted with this fall have needed clarification about Christianity and the claims of Christ. A student named Zak stated that he was a Christian but he also felt that all ways lead to God. I probed a little deeper and shared with him that if that were true that there could be no God because of the many different outcomes that these different ways lead to. I said that the only God that is possible in that belief is the one that Zak would make up. There could be no way God could ever speak to Him because he could just pick and choose who his God was. When I explained this to him, Zak’s eyes showed a realization that this new concept was real truth. It rushed him into thoughts that if Jesus is the only way to God as He claims, then we need to let others know about Him. He was humbled, and maybe for the first time in His life confronted with the reality of what it means to follow Christ. It was not just another passing thought, but what it would mean to really believe in Jesus and the consequences that would have for the friends, family, acquaintances around him were becoming clear.
It would have been easy to just leave Zak’s answer that he is a Christian alone, but I have experienced that a lot of people don’t necessarily understand what it means to be a follower of Christ. As we continue to engage with other believers, those who identify with Christianity, those who don’t know Him, and those who are against Him, it amazes me to see how a simple question like, “Why do you believe that?” or “What do you mean by that statement?” reveals so much about what someone really believes as opposed to what they think is the right answer to give someone.
It would have been easy to just leave Zak’s answer that he is a Christian alone, but I have experienced that a lot of people don’t necessarily understand what it means to be a follower of Christ. As we continue to engage with other believers, those who identify with Christianity, those who don’t know Him, and those who are against Him, it amazes me to see how a simple question like, “Why do you believe that?” or “What do you mean by that statement?” reveals so much about what someone really believes as opposed to what they think is the right answer to give someone.
2008.01.30 This gets my best attention. Acts 6.4
Act 6:4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
I don't believe that the argument that these men were self righteous toward themselves and would not lower themselves to serve tables. I think they knew the calling that was upon themselves to pray and proclaim the message of Christ unto others. They didn't want to waiver in their calling toward God. If they thought the position of taking care of the dispute was unimportant they wouldn't have cared who would have been appointed over the matter. But they were very specific and called excellent men forward to take on this task.
These disciples understood that their time and resources where limited. They wanted to focus most if not all of their energy toward their calling.
I know I can get so distracted and even when a good cause comes along I want to be able to contribute or "do something". But is that the best thing that I can do? Or it seems from this passage that I should be adamant in holding on to the purpose for which I have been called.
Father help me to focus on your kingdom causes. I don't have to focus on all of them, only the ones you want me to address. Give me the wisdom to discern which ones those are. Amen.
I don't believe that the argument that these men were self righteous toward themselves and would not lower themselves to serve tables. I think they knew the calling that was upon themselves to pray and proclaim the message of Christ unto others. They didn't want to waiver in their calling toward God. If they thought the position of taking care of the dispute was unimportant they wouldn't have cared who would have been appointed over the matter. But they were very specific and called excellent men forward to take on this task.
These disciples understood that their time and resources where limited. They wanted to focus most if not all of their energy toward their calling.
I know I can get so distracted and even when a good cause comes along I want to be able to contribute or "do something". But is that the best thing that I can do? Or it seems from this passage that I should be adamant in holding on to the purpose for which I have been called.
Father help me to focus on your kingdom causes. I don't have to focus on all of them, only the ones you want me to address. Give me the wisdom to discern which ones those are. Amen.
Monday, January 28, 2008
2008.01.28 Think how you would want to be treated. Ex 22.21
Exo 22:21 "You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
So much of what is going on here in these verses can be summed up by:
Mat 7:12 "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Even in the passage of Exodus, the Israelites are reminded to do to the foreigner how they wished they would have been treated when they were in Egypt. We always have the ability to turn inward and forget the thoughts or needs of others. But God asks us to remember how you were, or if you do something just think how it would feel if someone did it to you. There isn't as much distance between you and that person anymore. It is similar between the love that God has for us through Christ Jesus. Not only did He just try and think of what we are going through, but through Christ became one of us, so that He might know and even experience everything that we go through. That He might have compassion for our troubles, needs, desires, etc.
So not only do we have this great example for how we can have empathy for others, but we have the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish this great task. For when we consider how we would treat someone when we act it is through the power of the Holy Spirit. For everything in us wants to seek our own gain and forget every consequence that might affect another person or image bearer of Christ.
Father help me to act according to the example of your son Jesus Christ. Help me to consider my actions, my thoughts, my words, my life that they would reflect how you would want me to treat myself and in return reflect that toward all those men and women you have created to experience you through me. You have given me a great gift to experience your compassionate love help me to live my life according to your example. Amen.
So much of what is going on here in these verses can be summed up by:
Mat 7:12 "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Even in the passage of Exodus, the Israelites are reminded to do to the foreigner how they wished they would have been treated when they were in Egypt. We always have the ability to turn inward and forget the thoughts or needs of others. But God asks us to remember how you were, or if you do something just think how it would feel if someone did it to you. There isn't as much distance between you and that person anymore. It is similar between the love that God has for us through Christ Jesus. Not only did He just try and think of what we are going through, but through Christ became one of us, so that He might know and even experience everything that we go through. That He might have compassion for our troubles, needs, desires, etc.
So not only do we have this great example for how we can have empathy for others, but we have the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish this great task. For when we consider how we would treat someone when we act it is through the power of the Holy Spirit. For everything in us wants to seek our own gain and forget every consequence that might affect another person or image bearer of Christ.
Father help me to act according to the example of your son Jesus Christ. Help me to consider my actions, my thoughts, my words, my life that they would reflect how you would want me to treat myself and in return reflect that toward all those men and women you have created to experience you through me. You have given me a great gift to experience your compassionate love help me to live my life according to your example. Amen.
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