Tag Archive - Bible
19

‘Therefore’ Is Where the Action Happens

The word “therefore” has to be the most ignored word in the Bible.

You see, the word “therefore” is often used to transition from a teaching to an action.

After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. – 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18

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, – Matthew 28:18-19

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. – Matthew 6:33-34

What we often do is read the teaching, go on to the command, and forget that it’s something that WE have to do.

And so we read, teach, hear, and learn the same principles time and time again but never put them into practice. The teaching is important, but the “therefore” is the key. It’s where our behavior happens.

The world is changed in the “therefore.”

  • People’s eternities are changed in the “therefore.”
  • Hope is restored in the “therefore.”
  • Families are healed in the “therefore.”
  • Joy regardless of circumstance is found in the “therefore.”

So, let’s ask ourselves this question….

How’s my “therefore”?
That’s what I’m thinkin about today.

turn the world UPSIDE down.


Written by on March 31, 2011 and categorized under Blog, Devotional Thought, Life

11

Every Tribe.

Yesterday, I came across this article on CNN.com and this photo.

I can’t help but think of this….

Matthew 28:18-20 (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.”


Written by on February 3, 2011 and categorized under Blog, Church Ministry

17

Get In The Boat

Genesis 7:1 The LORD then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.

As I was reading through the story Noah a few days ago, I had this thought…

What if Noah, after all that he had done, all the steps of obedience he’d taken, refused to get in the boat?

What if Noah, after spending his time, energy, and effort building this big boat, would have failed to step inside?

What if Noah, would have failed to make the leap after the preparation?

What if God’s been preparing me for something?

What if God’s been working something in my life?
Guiding me through the process.
Teaching me step by step.

And I refuse to get in the boat and obey?

What if God’s doing the same in your life?

Don’t waste what God’s done in and through you because you’re unwilling to get in the boat and take the final step!

Get in the boat and…

turn the world UPSIDE down.


Written by on January 31, 2011 and categorized under Blog, Devotional Thought, Encouragement

15

UPSIDE Down: reversed in position

According to Webster Dictionary, upside down means

: in such a way that the upper and the lower parts are reversed in position

Basically it means the reverse of what’s normal.

If we’re going to be people that really turn the world upside down as Paul did in Acts, we’re gonna have to go against the norm.

When I look at the life of the New Testament’s greatest heroes, it’s impossible not to see this trend…

  • Jesus healed on the Sabbath.
  • Paul preached Jesus in the temple.
  • Peter said that Jesus was for more than just Jews.
  • Stephen refused to give up.

If we’re going to change the world, we must reverse our position. I’m not talking about being a social outcast or being so weird that no one will have anything to do with us, but rather we react differently from the norm to circumstances and situations…

  • We love when others hate.
  • We have faith when others panic.
  • We give when others are taking.
  • We forgive when others hold anger.
  • We stay faithful when others give up.
  • We seek God when others just want out.
  • We obey when others turn away.

It’s this kind of “reverse thinking” that is going to turn the world upside down. It’s not a Christian on a corner with a bullhorn or another placing tracts on the back of the toilet to get peed on, it’s acting out REAL faith…becoming more like Jesus…loving more like Jesus. That’s the only way we’ll ever be able to…

turn the world UPSIDE down.


Written by on January 5, 2011 and categorized under Blog, Life

15

Live Up

Philippians 3:16 “Only let us live up to what we have already attained.”

When I was growing up, my Mom used to have this saying she’d tell me after I did something that I knew I shouldn’t have done.

Mom would always say, “Jonathan, you know better.”

This verse kinda says the same thing…

I have no excuse.

I am accountable for the knowledge that I have.

If I know something, yet ignore the application of it, I’m being disobedient.

I think it’s a problem in today’s culture…
To know the right stuff, yet fail to apply the right actions.

I’ll be held accountable for what I know and what I do with it.

So will you.

Let’s live up to what we know.

Let’s live up to the calling we’ve attained.


Written by on December 2, 2010 and categorized under Blog, Devotional Thought

6

There’s 1 Problem with The Bible

I’ve always had a special interest in the Bible.
As a child, I always wanted to carry a Bible to Church.
I would always go to Sunday School carrying my little Precious Moments Bible (don’t judge me!).
I would struggle to find the right passage when the teacher began to talk.
But,
I always had my Bible with me.
As I got a little older, I always enjoyed hearing the stories of the Bible.
They were so exciting, so full of adventure.
The Bible seemed to have endless great stories.
While I never understood the real point to these stories,
I always enjoyed the Bible.
The problem with the Bible during parts of my life…..
My unwillingness to apply it.
The problem with the Bible for the Church in general….
Our unwillingness to apply it.
It’s great that we know the stories.
It’s great that we filled up our sticker chart in Sunday School.
It’s great that we can remember the characters from the stories.
It’s great that we buy custom Bible covers to carry our Bible in.
It’s great that we put it on our coffee table when company comes.
It’s not great that we often fail to apply the Bible to our lives.
It’s not great that we allow the divine book of God to have no place in our lives.
It’s not great that we hear the stories, but don’t believe them enough for them to effect us.
It’s not great that we don’t take the time to let the words of the Bible transform us.
So, there is one problem with the Bible…
It’s just a problem of our doing..
It’s in our application of it.

Don’t just read it,
APPLY IT.
2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…”
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Written by on April 1, 2010 and categorized under Blog, Featured