Through the Bible - 2 Chronicles 31-33, John 19:1-16
Good morning,
In this day and age there are many things striving for our attention, calling us to "try it, you'll like it" leading us down a new and different path. This take place in corporations, churches and in our individual lives
I've served on a couple of church boards and been involved in committees in business. Many times, perhaps most often, it is hard to come to a consensus on what direction to take. It is refreshing when you hear from someone who has a clear vision for the path forward, for the decision that needs to be made, and then for that decision to ring true.
Today's verse comes from 1 Thessalonians 1 and speaks of the testimony ringing out from those who have cast aside the things of the world that were vying for their devotion, to follow Christ.
1 Thess 1:8 And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Greece, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don't need to tell them about it,
9 for they themselves keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the true and living God. NLT
Ray Ortberg recently wrote this in his blog about the board room battle that goes on in our hearts. , "You and I are not integrated, unified, whole persons. Our hearts are multi-divided. There is a board room in every heart. Big table. Leather chairs. Coffee. Bottled water. Whiteboard. A committee sits around the table. There is the social self, the private self, the work self, the sexual self, the recreational self, the religious self, and others. The committee is arguing and debating and voting. Constantly agitated and upset. Rarely can they come to a unanimous, wholehearted decision. We tell ourselves we're this way because we're so busy with so many responsibilities. The truth is, we're just divided, unfocused, hesitant, unfree.
That kind of person can "accept Jesus" in either of two ways. One way is to invite him onto the committee. Give him a vote too. But then he becomes just one more complication. The other way to "accept Jesus" is to say to him, "My life isn't working. Please come in and fire my committee, every last one of them. I hand myself over to you. Please run my whole life for me." That is not complication; that is salvation.
"Accepting Jesus" is not just adding Jesus. It is also subtracting the idols."
Do you feel at times that "my life isn't working? May we be willing to subtract the idols in our lives and let Jesus lead.
Blessings,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.netmikesvotd.blogspot.com
1 Thess 1:1-2:1
The Faith of the Thessalonian Believers
2 We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly.
3 As we talk to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and your continual anticipation of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 We know that God loves you, dear brothers and sisters, and that he chose you to be his own people.
5 For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know that the way we lived among you was further proof of the truth of our message.
6 So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord.
7 As a result, you yourselves became an example to all the Christians in Greece.
8 And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Greece, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don't need to tell them about it,
9 for they themselves keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the true and living God.
10 And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God's Son from heaven — Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment. NLT
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