In 1924, the Summer Olympics were held in Paris, France. Great Britain had two fantastic runners … Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell. Liddell was called the flying Scotsman, and he had actually earlier beat Abrahams in the 100 meter, but because the 100 meter was being run on a Sunday, Liddell chose to scratch from the event and instead run the 400 meter, which was not his normal event.
The amazing story of these two runners, their training for the Olympic Games and their eventual victories in the Olympics was retold in the 1981 Movie, Chariots of Fire. One of my favorite scenes in the movie was when Eric Liddell the “flying Scotsman” was being challenged by his sister, Jenny, why he was spending so much time training for the Olympics and not moving forward with his plans to go to China on a mission trip. Liddell says, “God has made me for his purpose, but he has made me fast … and when I run … I feel his pleasure.” Eric Liddell went on to run the 400 meter race and he did it to glorify God.
Eric Liddell went on to be a missionary to China. In fact he died there in a Japanese Prison Camp at the age of 43 in 1945. And I am certain that he brought honor to God as a worshipper suffering persecution for his faith, but I suggest that he was also worshipping God through using his ability to run fast! You see … our first purpose to focus on during a Purpose Filled Easter is the purpose that God has created us to Worship Him to Please Him not just with attending a service once a week, but to live a life that pleases Him. We are called to Worship God in Spirit (Authentically); Worship God in Truth (Attentively to the Truth in God’s Word); but we are also called to Worship God continually (Always) in everything we do …
Let’s close by reading Romans 12:1 in the Message Bible:
1 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Romans 12:1 MSG
Monday, February 18, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Worship as a Lifestyle
I love how the Message Bible reads in Romans 12:1 …
So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. (Romans 12:1 MSG)
Have you compartmentalized your life in such a way that you have limited your Worship of God to simply the time that you spend together with other believers on Sunday mornings, or have you embraced the Biblical definition of Worship as living your life in such a way to honor and glorify God with your “everyday, ordinary life!”
This is why the 1st Century Christians and the 21st Century Christians are taught to …
"Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people." Colossians 3:23 NLT
Do you view time with your family as worship?
Do you view your time at the work place as worship?
Do you view your time in the classroom as worship?
Do you view your recreation time as worship?
In fact, a good rule of thumb is if we are involved in an activity that doesn’t bring glory to God, then maybe that is an activity that we shouldn’t be involved!!
Now don’t get me wrong, I believe that we need times weekly that we are encouraged in song, in prayer, in giving, in reading of the Bible, in spending time with other Christians, but we need to begin to cultivate the Biblical definition that worship is honoring God in everything that we do!
So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. (Romans 12:1 MSG)
Have you compartmentalized your life in such a way that you have limited your Worship of God to simply the time that you spend together with other believers on Sunday mornings, or have you embraced the Biblical definition of Worship as living your life in such a way to honor and glorify God with your “everyday, ordinary life!”
This is why the 1st Century Christians and the 21st Century Christians are taught to …
"Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people." Colossians 3:23 NLT
Do you view time with your family as worship?
Do you view your time at the work place as worship?
Do you view your time in the classroom as worship?
Do you view your recreation time as worship?
In fact, a good rule of thumb is if we are involved in an activity that doesn’t bring glory to God, then maybe that is an activity that we shouldn’t be involved!!
Now don’t get me wrong, I believe that we need times weekly that we are encouraged in song, in prayer, in giving, in reading of the Bible, in spending time with other Christians, but we need to begin to cultivate the Biblical definition that worship is honoring God in everything that we do!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Finishing Week One
Today, Saturday, February 16, 2008, marks the end of the first week of a Purpose Filled Easter! During the 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday, March 23 our church is focusing on renewing our purpose as followers of Christ.
We are encouraging everyone to read The Purpose Driven Life written by Rick Warren. This book is an excellent devotional guide to all who are participating in this exciting spiritual adventure. This book is extremely well written and serves as a very helpful tool in an individual’s spiritual journey. (If you somehow came across this blog and you don’t attend Southwest Church, then I want to invite you to read this extremely practical book as well and contact me if you need a copy!)
You will find encouragement, inspiration and challenge in each of the daily readings. Although you will find it difficult to read only one day at a time, please take the time to pause, pray and contemplate the personal application of each day’s reading.
As with any other book, it is always best to evaluate each claim of the author in light of the Scriptures listed and others to be found on that particular subject. For the most part, Rick Warren does an excellent job of supporting principles within this book with scripture references. These references are listed in the notes section beginning on page 327.
Additional scripture references for a simple and yet thorough explanation of God’s plan of salvation is listed below. Please consider these verses in light of the author’s explanation on page 58 and 59 of day 7.
Believe. We must put our faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and our Savior. (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 3:23; 5:1-10)
Repent. Our faith must result in a change of heart and mind. (We must decide to turn from a self-directed life, to a Christ-directed life.) (Matthew 4:17; Acts 3:19; Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:10-11)
Confess. Our faith must lead us to verbally identify ourselves with Christ by confessing him as our Lord and Savior. (Matthew 10:32-33; Romans 10:9)
Be Baptized. Our faith must lead us to visibly identify ourselves with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus by being baptized (immersed in water). (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38-41; 8:36-39; Romans 6:1-10)
If you have additional questions or remarks concerning this book or the upcoming 40 Days of a Purpose Filled Easter, then please feel free to contact me at roger@southwestchurch.org or simply make a comment on this blog.
We are encouraging everyone to read The Purpose Driven Life written by Rick Warren. This book is an excellent devotional guide to all who are participating in this exciting spiritual adventure. This book is extremely well written and serves as a very helpful tool in an individual’s spiritual journey. (If you somehow came across this blog and you don’t attend Southwest Church, then I want to invite you to read this extremely practical book as well and contact me if you need a copy!)
You will find encouragement, inspiration and challenge in each of the daily readings. Although you will find it difficult to read only one day at a time, please take the time to pause, pray and contemplate the personal application of each day’s reading.
As with any other book, it is always best to evaluate each claim of the author in light of the Scriptures listed and others to be found on that particular subject. For the most part, Rick Warren does an excellent job of supporting principles within this book with scripture references. These references are listed in the notes section beginning on page 327.
Additional scripture references for a simple and yet thorough explanation of God’s plan of salvation is listed below. Please consider these verses in light of the author’s explanation on page 58 and 59 of day 7.
Believe. We must put our faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and our Savior. (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 3:23; 5:1-10)
Repent. Our faith must result in a change of heart and mind. (We must decide to turn from a self-directed life, to a Christ-directed life.) (Matthew 4:17; Acts 3:19; Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:10-11)
Confess. Our faith must lead us to verbally identify ourselves with Christ by confessing him as our Lord and Savior. (Matthew 10:32-33; Romans 10:9)
Be Baptized. Our faith must lead us to visibly identify ourselves with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus by being baptized (immersed in water). (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38-41; 8:36-39; Romans 6:1-10)
If you have additional questions or remarks concerning this book or the upcoming 40 Days of a Purpose Filled Easter, then please feel free to contact me at roger@southwestchurch.org or simply make a comment on this blog.
Friday, February 15, 2008
The Effects of a Funeral
Today, some friends and I went to a funeral to support a friend who was mourning the death of a loved one. Funerals have a strange effect on me. They remind me that life on Earth is temporary and very short. The minister and family members did a good job reminding the family and friends gathered that life is extremely short and that for the Christian death is not the end, but simply the beginning of spending an eternity with God in heaven.
In an amazing timing, I read this morning the following quote from C.S. Lewis recorded in The Purpose Driven Life: “All that is not eternal is eternally useless.” Also, in my Bible reading this morning I read the following words from Jesus Christ. He said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” (John 6:41).
These words and the experience of attending a funeral reminded me to keep my focus on Jesus the real sustenance of life and on the eternal things of God!
In an amazing timing, I read this morning the following quote from C.S. Lewis recorded in The Purpose Driven Life: “All that is not eternal is eternally useless.” Also, in my Bible reading this morning I read the following words from Jesus Christ. He said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” (John 6:41).
These words and the experience of attending a funeral reminded me to keep my focus on Jesus the real sustenance of life and on the eternal things of God!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Life Metaphors
In Day 5 of the Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren describes God’s view of life. He writes, “Your unspoken life metaphor influences your life more than you realize. It determines your expectations, your values, your relationships, your goals, and your priorities.” He continues by challenging the reader to examine their image of life and what metaphor would best describe that image.
What is the metaphor that you would use to describe life?
The metaphor that came to my mind is that “Life is a journey.” It has a beginning at birth and then it unfolds through winding roads, mountain top experiences, plateaus, and sometimes valley times. It also has a destination with death, but that isn’t the end, but simply the transition from this life (which is so short) to an eternity that we will either spend with God or forever be separated from him. (As I don’t think God will force anyone to have a relationship with Him.)
Jesus reminded us to keep our eyes focused on what really matters on this journey. He said, “But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.” (John 6:27 NLT)
What is the metaphor that you would use to describe life?
The metaphor that came to my mind is that “Life is a journey.” It has a beginning at birth and then it unfolds through winding roads, mountain top experiences, plateaus, and sometimes valley times. It also has a destination with death, but that isn’t the end, but simply the transition from this life (which is so short) to an eternity that we will either spend with God or forever be separated from him. (As I don’t think God will force anyone to have a relationship with Him.)
Jesus reminded us to keep our eyes focused on what really matters on this journey. He said, “But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.” (John 6:27 NLT)
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Don't Be Afraid
Our church is focusing on living a Purpose Filled Easter as we prepare over the next 40 days to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus in a special way on Easter Sunday. We have encouraged all of our members to read the book, The Purpose Driven Life.
I love the eternal focus that is emphasized on day 4, which is entitled, Made to Last Forever. Rick Warren, the author writes, “Just as the nine months you spent in your mother’s womb were not an end in themselves but preparation for life, so this life is preparation for the next. If you have a relationship with God through Jesus, you don’t need to fear death. It is the door to eternity. … Rather than being the end of your life, it will be your birthday into eternal life.” (Page 39-40; The Purpose Driven Life).
I love that thought of physical death being our birthday into heaven! This is a reminder for the follower of Christ to not be afraid of death. It also reminds me of Jesus’ words to the first followers when he came walking to them on the water. He told them, “Don’t be afraid, I am here!” (John 6:20; NLT). It seems to me that if the believer can simply keep his/her trust in Jesus that they don’t have to be afraid no matter what life might bring!
I love the eternal focus that is emphasized on day 4, which is entitled, Made to Last Forever. Rick Warren, the author writes, “Just as the nine months you spent in your mother’s womb were not an end in themselves but preparation for life, so this life is preparation for the next. If you have a relationship with God through Jesus, you don’t need to fear death. It is the door to eternity. … Rather than being the end of your life, it will be your birthday into eternal life.” (Page 39-40; The Purpose Driven Life).
I love that thought of physical death being our birthday into heaven! This is a reminder for the follower of Christ to not be afraid of death. It also reminds me of Jesus’ words to the first followers when he came walking to them on the water. He told them, “Don’t be afraid, I am here!” (John 6:20; NLT). It seems to me that if the believer can simply keep his/her trust in Jesus that they don’t have to be afraid no matter what life might bring!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
