Suggestion or commandment? Do we know the difference between suggestion and commandment. John 13:34 and 35, which is our Bible Boost for today, Jesus says, “A new command I give to you…LOVE ONE ANOTHER. As I have loved you so must you love one another. By this will all men know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”
So is that merely a suggestion or a commandment? If Jesus’ statement is a suggestion that merely means he is hinting, or bringing up an option for our spiritual life and spiritual ministry. You know, kind of like, if you want to you can but if it’s not convenient then you don’t have to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Now, remember friends, Jesus is talking to a group of guys that has disappointed him in the past and will probably disappoint Him in the future. In this setting it is the last supper. Gathered around the table is a liar, a cheater, a betrayer, a denier, and all of them, when Jesus needs them the most, will flee and reject Him when He is arrested.
So, is Jesus saying to these men, "if you have time, if no one disappoints, if you get around to it, love each other as I have loved you". Well, friends, that is a big resounding NO NO NO!
Here’s the definition of commandment…"it is not optional…it is a mandate". There is no hint, none, zilch, nana, zero, of opting out. Since Jesus said, this is a commandment, there is no opportunity to say, ‘well, let’s talk about it’, "let’s form a committee and discuss it", "if I feel like it", or "if they act like me, dress like me, talk like me", "or go to my church". NO. NO. NO. IT IS A MANDATE. It is not a suggestion but a commandment.
Jesus is telling, all of us Christians, that no matter who offends us, disappoints us, betrays us, cheats us, or even rejects us…the commandment from the King of Kings and Lord of lords is still there in red in the red letter edition of the Bible…Love One Another, the commandment.
Do you remember where He was and what He did before He said these words…even with all those guys around Him: denier, betrayer, rejectors…remember? Yep, HE WASHED THEIR FEET. The King of kings and Lord of lords placed Himself in position to SERVE to show them His love for them.
Let’s look at John 13:1, “…having loved his own who were in the world he showed them the full extent of his love”. Loving others is not just saying it or talking about loving others but it is demonstrating it.
So friends our Bible Boost for today, is for us to look around. There are golden opportunites all around for us to follow this command, not suggestion, of our Lord Jesus. The command is, ‘love one another as I have loved you.” John 13:34-35.
Praying that God will give you and me the courage to risk and reach out to love others.
I am praying for you and your family,
Leonard
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Eyes of Jesus
Eyes of Jesus
The story of Jesus washing the disciple’s feet has always spurred my thinking. It has especially since we have entered into the time of year of giving and receiving.
I was wondering, as I read the story, what were the disciples thinking. The towel and basin of water were undoubtedly at the door. It was the custom of every house and every guest room to place these items by the door. So, I believe, it is a logical assumption to say that the disciples saw these items as they entered the upper room. But, equally obvious is that the thought of any one of them using them personally did not enter their minds.
However, when Jesus saw these items, He apparently saw them from a totally different perspective than His companions.
Perhaps Peter spoke for all of them when he said, 'thou shall never wash my feet.' Such a task was too utterly debasing for him to even consider, and he wrongly assumed that Jesus would never use them. He saw the same things Jesus saw, but Peter saw them differently.
Virtually everything Jesus saw, He saw as a means of ministry. Remember, He said He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. He came not to be served but to serve. When He saw a boat He thought of how to use it to help others. When He saw a small lunch of fish and bread...yep! Your right. He thought of others. All that He saw, He used as a vehicle to meet needs or teach a spiritual truth.
How differently most of us think. When we see these items (think shopping) we have an inclination to think first of ourselves (we say, boy, I wish I could have that) rather than how it could meet the needs of others. I'm guilty.
So, maybe this should be our morning prayer, every morning, "Father, give me the eyes of Jesus". Look around. What do you see? How can those things help others?
Jesus even saw people in the same purposeful and constructive way. Think of the woman at the well. When He met her He didn't see her as a vehicle to satisfy some manly selfish urge, rather as someone who could bring an entire town to salvation.
II Corinthians 5:17 says, "therefore, if any one be in Christ, they are a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new."
All things? Yes even our eyes.
Let us make this our prayer, "Father, help us to see through the eyes of Jesus".
I am praying for you and your family,
Leonard
The story of Jesus washing the disciple’s feet has always spurred my thinking. It has especially since we have entered into the time of year of giving and receiving.
I was wondering, as I read the story, what were the disciples thinking. The towel and basin of water were undoubtedly at the door. It was the custom of every house and every guest room to place these items by the door. So, I believe, it is a logical assumption to say that the disciples saw these items as they entered the upper room. But, equally obvious is that the thought of any one of them using them personally did not enter their minds.
However, when Jesus saw these items, He apparently saw them from a totally different perspective than His companions.
Perhaps Peter spoke for all of them when he said, 'thou shall never wash my feet.' Such a task was too utterly debasing for him to even consider, and he wrongly assumed that Jesus would never use them. He saw the same things Jesus saw, but Peter saw them differently.
Virtually everything Jesus saw, He saw as a means of ministry. Remember, He said He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. He came not to be served but to serve. When He saw a boat He thought of how to use it to help others. When He saw a small lunch of fish and bread...yep! Your right. He thought of others. All that He saw, He used as a vehicle to meet needs or teach a spiritual truth.
How differently most of us think. When we see these items (think shopping) we have an inclination to think first of ourselves (we say, boy, I wish I could have that) rather than how it could meet the needs of others. I'm guilty.
So, maybe this should be our morning prayer, every morning, "Father, give me the eyes of Jesus". Look around. What do you see? How can those things help others?
Jesus even saw people in the same purposeful and constructive way. Think of the woman at the well. When He met her He didn't see her as a vehicle to satisfy some manly selfish urge, rather as someone who could bring an entire town to salvation.
II Corinthians 5:17 says, "therefore, if any one be in Christ, they are a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new."
All things? Yes even our eyes.
Let us make this our prayer, "Father, help us to see through the eyes of Jesus".
I am praying for you and your family,
Leonard
Pray pray pray
Prayer…
Prayer is the essence of the Spiritual life without which all ministry loses its meaning. It is the fulfillment of the great commandment to love the Lord with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind…..To pray is to unite ourselves with Jesus and lift up the whole world through Him to God in a cry of forgiveness, reconciliation, healing, and mercy….Most of all, prayer is the way to become and remain part of Jesus mission to draw all people to the intimacy of God’s love.” by Henri Nouwen, The Only Necessary Thing: Living a Prayerful Life.
pray for our families, our congregations, our communities...Pray for America!
Praying fervently,
Leonard
Prayer is the essence of the Spiritual life without which all ministry loses its meaning. It is the fulfillment of the great commandment to love the Lord with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind…..To pray is to unite ourselves with Jesus and lift up the whole world through Him to God in a cry of forgiveness, reconciliation, healing, and mercy….Most of all, prayer is the way to become and remain part of Jesus mission to draw all people to the intimacy of God’s love.” by Henri Nouwen, The Only Necessary Thing: Living a Prayerful Life.
pray for our families, our congregations, our communities...Pray for America!
Praying fervently,
Leonard
Monday, July 19, 2010
Prayer and Spiritual Warfare!
Intercessory Prayer is indeed spiritual warfare. In the garden of Gethsemane our Lord sweat great drops of blood as He agonized in prayer. To the saints at Colosse the Apostle Paul wrote that Epaphras was "always laboring fervently in prayer for you" (Colossians 4:12). Our Saviour said, "men ought always to pray and not faint" (Luke 18:1). "To faint" means to give up before the answer comes.
When we start to pray, God dispatches an angel to meet the need or to answer that prayer. Remember, in Daniel 10, Daniel was told by the angel bringing the answer that the Archangel Michael had to come and fight with him and for him because of the prince of Persia. The angel praised Daniel for continuing to pray, persistently, for 3 weeks (21 days). The angel had the answer for Daniel but was hindered because he fought the prince of Persia before he could deliver the answer to the prayer of Daniel (Daniel 10:2, 10-14).
So many times we give up to soon and stop praying before the angel accomplishes his purpose or arrives with the answer. So, the answer may never come. Hebrews 1:14 states, that angels are "ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who are heirs of salvation". After our Lord Jesus had labored earnestly in prayer in Gethsemane, "there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him" (Luke 22:43).
So, let us bring our special prayer request straight to the throne of heaven. Remember, Ephesians 6:18, "praying always with all prayer in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with alll perseverance and supplication for all the saints."
So, may we join those like Epaphras who labored fervently in prayer; "pray without ceasing", I Thessalonians 5:17.
compiled and adapted from various sources.
I am praying for you and your families,
When we start to pray, God dispatches an angel to meet the need or to answer that prayer. Remember, in Daniel 10, Daniel was told by the angel bringing the answer that the Archangel Michael had to come and fight with him and for him because of the prince of Persia. The angel praised Daniel for continuing to pray, persistently, for 3 weeks (21 days). The angel had the answer for Daniel but was hindered because he fought the prince of Persia before he could deliver the answer to the prayer of Daniel (Daniel 10:2, 10-14).
So many times we give up to soon and stop praying before the angel accomplishes his purpose or arrives with the answer. So, the answer may never come. Hebrews 1:14 states, that angels are "ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who are heirs of salvation". After our Lord Jesus had labored earnestly in prayer in Gethsemane, "there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him" (Luke 22:43).
So, let us bring our special prayer request straight to the throne of heaven. Remember, Ephesians 6:18, "praying always with all prayer in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with alll perseverance and supplication for all the saints."
So, may we join those like Epaphras who labored fervently in prayer; "pray without ceasing", I Thessalonians 5:17.
compiled and adapted from various sources.
I am praying for you and your families,
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Bonhoeffer
Fellow servants,
Almost finished with "Bonhoeffer" by Eric Metaxas...wow, one tremendous book. Boy, did he ever write some good stuff, "Cost of Discipleship", "Ethics", etc. here's a little sample from the book of the year, "Bonhoeffer".
"the great masquerade of evil has played havoc with our ethical concepts. For evil to appear disguised as light, charity, historical necessity, or social justice is quite bewildering to anyone brought up on our traditional ethical concepts, while for the Christian who bases his life on the Bible it merely confirms the fundamental wickedness of evil. Who will stand fast? Only the man whose final standard is not his reason, his principles, his conscience, his freedom or his virtue, but who is ready to sacrifice all this when he is called to be obedient and responsible action in faith and in exclusive allegiance to God; the responsible man, who tries to make his whole life an answer to the question and call of God." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
This is how Bonhoeffer saw what he was doing. He had theologically redefined the Christian life as something active, not reactive. It had nothing to do with avoiding sin or with merely talking or teaching or believing theological notions or principles or tenets or rules. It had everything to do with living one's life in obedience to God's call through action. It did not merely require a mind, but a body too. - Eric Metaxas
Or as I put forth the question: were those of Bonhoeffer's era guilty of Biblical academia verses Biblical obedience. Did they know what the Bible said but were too immersed in their traditions and "church dogma" on Sunday and thus fail to manifest the truth through their lives the rest of the week? So, I put forth the question for us TODAY. Are we so immersed in knowing what the Bible says through devotions, meditations, study, sermons and seminars yet LACK obedience to the very Word of God we have studied? For Germany it wrought the heinous evil monster named Hitler. What will such neglect of Biblical obedience reap for each of us? I fear we have been duped into believing that belief is enough and thus the end result is apathy to our living out our lifestyles and behaving as Jesus Christ to the world. For studies have shown that Christians behave no differently than the secular world.
"But prove yourselves doers of the word and not merely hearers who delude themselves." James 1:22 "for faith without works is dead" James 2:17
- Leonard Navarre
I am praying for you and your families.
Leonard Navarre
Almost finished with "Bonhoeffer" by Eric Metaxas...wow, one tremendous book. Boy, did he ever write some good stuff, "Cost of Discipleship", "Ethics", etc. here's a little sample from the book of the year, "Bonhoeffer".
"the great masquerade of evil has played havoc with our ethical concepts. For evil to appear disguised as light, charity, historical necessity, or social justice is quite bewildering to anyone brought up on our traditional ethical concepts, while for the Christian who bases his life on the Bible it merely confirms the fundamental wickedness of evil. Who will stand fast? Only the man whose final standard is not his reason, his principles, his conscience, his freedom or his virtue, but who is ready to sacrifice all this when he is called to be obedient and responsible action in faith and in exclusive allegiance to God; the responsible man, who tries to make his whole life an answer to the question and call of God." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
This is how Bonhoeffer saw what he was doing. He had theologically redefined the Christian life as something active, not reactive. It had nothing to do with avoiding sin or with merely talking or teaching or believing theological notions or principles or tenets or rules. It had everything to do with living one's life in obedience to God's call through action. It did not merely require a mind, but a body too. - Eric Metaxas
Or as I put forth the question: were those of Bonhoeffer's era guilty of Biblical academia verses Biblical obedience. Did they know what the Bible said but were too immersed in their traditions and "church dogma" on Sunday and thus fail to manifest the truth through their lives the rest of the week? So, I put forth the question for us TODAY. Are we so immersed in knowing what the Bible says through devotions, meditations, study, sermons and seminars yet LACK obedience to the very Word of God we have studied? For Germany it wrought the heinous evil monster named Hitler. What will such neglect of Biblical obedience reap for each of us? I fear we have been duped into believing that belief is enough and thus the end result is apathy to our living out our lifestyles and behaving as Jesus Christ to the world. For studies have shown that Christians behave no differently than the secular world.
"But prove yourselves doers of the word and not merely hearers who delude themselves." James 1:22 "for faith without works is dead" James 2:17
- Leonard Navarre
I am praying for you and your families.
Leonard Navarre
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Your Mission should you choose to accept it...
Have you ever pondered the question why am I alive? Why am I here on planet earth? What's my mission? What's my life's purpose? Remember several years ago, well known preacher and writer, Rick Warren wrote a book, "Purpose Driven Life"! He discussed and reviewed for us that each one of us has a mission and a purpose of why we are on this planet.
In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus stood up and read from Isaiah 61:1-2 these words, "the spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Then He added, "today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
Jesus also stated His mission, His purpose in Matthew 20:28, "the son of man did not come to be served but to serve and give His life a ransom for many."
Jesus stated His mission and knew His mission. Do you know yours? Why are we here? What's my purpose?
I believe there are 3 basic targets for our mission. These are the foundations upon which our vision, goals and purpose all rest. I believe this foundation is three fold for each of us.
1) In Mark 12:30, Jesus states, "and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength". That is we are to give Him 100 per cent of ourselves to learning as much as God as we can and to put His 1st in our lives. Matthew 6:33 states, "seek first the kingdom of God and all these other things will be added unto you." Mission number 1: give God our best and give Him our all.
2) Then Jesus went on in Mark 12:31 stating that the second greatest commandment is just as important as the first. "Love your neighbor as yourself". Jesus' mission: to serve not be served. He gave us the example to follow and our direction in walking with Him is to serve, not be served. We must look around us. There are people everywhere we look are need our attention, love and service. People who are hurting, lonely, depressed, filled with worry, anxiety and don't know why THEY are here on this planet. There must be a sense of urgency because the time is short. Let's roll up our sleeves and get to work. Let's us open our eyes to the needs of our families, neighbors and communities to "serve and not be served". Let us a leave "our holy huddles" on Sundays and be the hands and feet of Jesus everyday. Lives are waiting to be touched by each one of us which will affect all of eternity. They may be at Starbucks, the gas station, the bank, the park, next door, and maybe just maybe, even in your family.
3) Remember Jesus' words in Matthew 28:18-20. Jesus commanded us that as we journey in this life to make disciples of all those we meet. We call that Jesus' "Great Commission". It was given to His apostles but resonates down through the centuries to us today. Christians are only one generation away from extinction. If we don't go and tell how will they hear and know. The time is short, the days are evil and we do not know the day or hour when we will check out from this planet. "People need the Lord". My friend Arron Chambers has written a book entitled, "Eats with Sinners". Jesus hung out with those who need love and life. He rub elbows with the downcast and outcast. Arron writes about the urgency of the hour. "Jesus, with a sense of urgency, has sent us out into the harvest fields to make sure that everyone has the chance to make it safely home. We must walk our neighborhoods, our workplaces, our communities, and our homes as many times as it takes to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to safely make it off this planet. The world is sinking. The alarm is sounding. The harvest is plentiful. Let's get to work now, because it's later than it ever was." - "Eats with Sinner" by Arron Chambers - pg. 136.
Our mission, which we must accept, involves the "Great Commandment" and the "Great Commission".
As we journey through this day and everyday, may we make it a priority to serve and tell.
So, how are you, how are we, doing on the mission????
I am praying for you and your family.
Leonard
www.leonardnavarre.com
In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus stood up and read from Isaiah 61:1-2 these words, "the spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Then He added, "today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
Jesus also stated His mission, His purpose in Matthew 20:28, "the son of man did not come to be served but to serve and give His life a ransom for many."
Jesus stated His mission and knew His mission. Do you know yours? Why are we here? What's my purpose?
I believe there are 3 basic targets for our mission. These are the foundations upon which our vision, goals and purpose all rest. I believe this foundation is three fold for each of us.
1) In Mark 12:30, Jesus states, "and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength". That is we are to give Him 100 per cent of ourselves to learning as much as God as we can and to put His 1st in our lives. Matthew 6:33 states, "seek first the kingdom of God and all these other things will be added unto you." Mission number 1: give God our best and give Him our all.
2) Then Jesus went on in Mark 12:31 stating that the second greatest commandment is just as important as the first. "Love your neighbor as yourself". Jesus' mission: to serve not be served. He gave us the example to follow and our direction in walking with Him is to serve, not be served. We must look around us. There are people everywhere we look are need our attention, love and service. People who are hurting, lonely, depressed, filled with worry, anxiety and don't know why THEY are here on this planet. There must be a sense of urgency because the time is short. Let's roll up our sleeves and get to work. Let's us open our eyes to the needs of our families, neighbors and communities to "serve and not be served". Let us a leave "our holy huddles" on Sundays and be the hands and feet of Jesus everyday. Lives are waiting to be touched by each one of us which will affect all of eternity. They may be at Starbucks, the gas station, the bank, the park, next door, and maybe just maybe, even in your family.
3) Remember Jesus' words in Matthew 28:18-20. Jesus commanded us that as we journey in this life to make disciples of all those we meet. We call that Jesus' "Great Commission". It was given to His apostles but resonates down through the centuries to us today. Christians are only one generation away from extinction. If we don't go and tell how will they hear and know. The time is short, the days are evil and we do not know the day or hour when we will check out from this planet. "People need the Lord". My friend Arron Chambers has written a book entitled, "Eats with Sinners". Jesus hung out with those who need love and life. He rub elbows with the downcast and outcast. Arron writes about the urgency of the hour. "Jesus, with a sense of urgency, has sent us out into the harvest fields to make sure that everyone has the chance to make it safely home. We must walk our neighborhoods, our workplaces, our communities, and our homes as many times as it takes to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to safely make it off this planet. The world is sinking. The alarm is sounding. The harvest is plentiful. Let's get to work now, because it's later than it ever was." - "Eats with Sinner" by Arron Chambers - pg. 136.
Our mission, which we must accept, involves the "Great Commandment" and the "Great Commission".
As we journey through this day and everyday, may we make it a priority to serve and tell.
So, how are you, how are we, doing on the mission????
I am praying for you and your family.
Leonard
www.leonardnavarre.com
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
What IS most IMPORTANT to YOU?
So, what IS most important to you? In Luke 10:38-42 we find Jesus and his disciples traveling. They come to a village where Mary and Martha reside. The two ladies open their home to Jesus and his companions. One of the ladies gets busy in making preparations for their guests. I can just see her now. She reminds me of my mother. Hurrying around the kitchen trying to get things in order for their unexpected guests. She's asking herself, "what shall I prepare?", "do we have enought room at the table?", "where will everyone sit?". You get the idea.
Most of us would be going through the same process. As Martha is busy in the kitchen making all these preparations she notices that her sister, Mary, is not with her. Mary is not in the kitchen helping Martha prepare for the guests.
So, Martha goes to Jesus to complain. She tells the Lord that Mary should be in the kitchen with her, helping. In fact, she pleads with Jesus to intercede. Listen to the text, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself. Tell her to help me!" Martha is upset. She has all this work to do and her sister is not helping. So, she ask the Lord to chastise her sister. But, Jesus has something else to say to her. Let's listen in. In Luke 10:41 Jesus says, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her".
We can learn from this little situation in the life of Jesus and his two friends Mary and Martha. The devil is the master at bothering us and distracting us. We have Blackberry's, Internet, Daytimers, Facebook, Twitter, etc., etc. The evil one is pro at diverting our attention AWAY from what Jesus calls, "what is better". We too have become worried, bothered and upset by many things. BUT, Jesus commends Mary's decision to sit at His feet and listen to HIM.
So, I am back to my question. What is most IMPORTANT TO YOU? Martha was SO distracted. Are we SO distracted that we miss the teachings of Jesus? Do we allow the evil one to take our minutes and hours away from sitting at the feet of Jesus and to gaze at things that are unimportant to eternity.
Jesus said that Mary had chosen that which is BETTER and it will not be taken from her.
So, let us encourage each other to chose "that which is better"...choose to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to Him and OBEY.
I am praying for you and your family.
Leonard
Most of us would be going through the same process. As Martha is busy in the kitchen making all these preparations she notices that her sister, Mary, is not with her. Mary is not in the kitchen helping Martha prepare for the guests.
So, Martha goes to Jesus to complain. She tells the Lord that Mary should be in the kitchen with her, helping. In fact, she pleads with Jesus to intercede. Listen to the text, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself. Tell her to help me!" Martha is upset. She has all this work to do and her sister is not helping. So, she ask the Lord to chastise her sister. But, Jesus has something else to say to her. Let's listen in. In Luke 10:41 Jesus says, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her".
We can learn from this little situation in the life of Jesus and his two friends Mary and Martha. The devil is the master at bothering us and distracting us. We have Blackberry's, Internet, Daytimers, Facebook, Twitter, etc., etc. The evil one is pro at diverting our attention AWAY from what Jesus calls, "what is better". We too have become worried, bothered and upset by many things. BUT, Jesus commends Mary's decision to sit at His feet and listen to HIM.
So, I am back to my question. What is most IMPORTANT TO YOU? Martha was SO distracted. Are we SO distracted that we miss the teachings of Jesus? Do we allow the evil one to take our minutes and hours away from sitting at the feet of Jesus and to gaze at things that are unimportant to eternity.
Jesus said that Mary had chosen that which is BETTER and it will not be taken from her.
So, let us encourage each other to chose "that which is better"...choose to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to Him and OBEY.
I am praying for you and your family.
Leonard
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