WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
John 6:5-7
5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?" 6 This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. 7 Philip answered Him, " Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little." NASU
** The thought of being tested is scary at times. I mean, if Jesus tested His very own disciples and we are called his disciples too, do you think that we will be un-tested? Here Philip was put to the test to see if he would start a miracle in process. “Phillip, what do we do?” Pastor Dave, what do we do? Sam, what do we do? Beth, what do we do? Every disciple of Jesus will be asked this questions many many times in their lives because Jesus wants to help us perform unbelievable miracles. It may be in finances, during times of sickness or even an opportunity to perform random acts of kindness but the question He will ask you is “what are we going to do?”
posted by Dave McAlister @ 8:18 AM
1 Comments
.jpg)
1 Comments:
Pastor Dave
Was sitting outside this morning reading my devotional. I read Oswald Chambers 'My Utmost For His Highest and have been reading it everyday for the past 8 years. Amazingly I never seem to get tired of this book. Every year I get something out of this book. It's like God's word in some ways. Even though I have read it over and over I always read something that I could swear I never saw before. It can never replace His word though. Anyway, this morning's reading really caught my attention. It said: "Everyone has been created with the ability to reach out beyond his own grasp. But it is God who draws me, and my relationship to Him in the first place is an inner, personal one, not an intellectual one. I come into the relationship through the miracle of God and through my own will to believe. Then I begin to get an intelligent appreciation and understanding of the wonder of the transformation of my life."
Oh, my gosh, it was as if the Lord was speaking personally to me. This year has been so hard for me and especially this holiday season. And He knows this. I have had moments where I can say that I have consciously exerted my "will" to believe, no matter what has happened. My faith has been tested and I have actually said, "No. Even though this doesn't make any sense to me, I believe the word of God and I believe with everything in my being that He loves me, loves my friends, He died on the cross for me and was resurrected back to life and sits at the right hand of God the Father, is interceding for me and all those I love this very moment. I believe, I believe, I believe, His word is true and infallible and written for me and the Bible is true from cover to cover."
I know this sounds weird. I believe with all my heart that spending time in His word is absolutely crucial to my well being and I am so thankful (and amazed) that God placed me in a church family where this truth is continually taught. From the first day that I stepped foot in His church at Arlington Foursquare, then New Hope Fellowship and then Celebration Church I have been surrounded by strong Christian leaders who have taught me this truth and I took it to heart and learned to read His word for myself, discipline myself to be obedient in this area of my life. And it has literally been my lifeline. I know I would die without His word in my life, without staying close to His people who are true followers. Thank you God for Your word and thank you for placing me with wise and strong shepherds who continue to help me to draw closer to You.
I pray constantly for people, that they would exert their wills, discipline themselves and their will to search out God's word for themselves. They would be transformed as they do this and as they learn to be obedient. It doesn't do anything to read His word if you choose not to obey what He has written. It is all a process, and takes exerting one's will to read and to obey. I know it is not impossible. If God can teach me and transform me, I know He can do it in others. But we each must exert our will, give up our right to ourselves, give up feeling sorry for our circumstances. Die to self every moment. I don't understand sometimes why people choose to not "give up their rights".
I better stop or this could turn into a novel.
P.S. The Christmas production was awesome. I am amazed that each time I see it how moved I feel. It's like seeing it for the first time each time. I guess it is because I can so relate to the picture of battling addiction and depression. Well done, Pastor Dave. See you tonight. Thank you so much for caring so much about people.
Roxanne
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home