Psalm 11 is a very interesting Psalm. It is a chapter where the Psalmist asked the question in verse 3, “when the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” That definitely is a question that we should be asking in today’s society. When the fundamentals of the home are falling apart? When there are wedges between husbands and wives, parents and children? When the government is accelerating away from our Judeo-Christian principles? When schools are are pushing God’s Word farther and farther away? Even when it seems the church is eroding her principles and compromising the truth. What are we supposed to do as Christians? Should we barricade abortion clinics? Sign petitions? Boycott advertisers? The Psalmist asked the question “what can the righteous do?” Here are several suggestions:
• Live righteously. Someone once said a hypocrite is a person who complains about sex and violence on his VCR. God would have spared Sodom and Gomorrah for just 10 righteous people. The best way to reinforce the foundations of America is for Christians to act and live like Christians.
• Build Godly homes. Do we spend quality time with our mate and children? Do we pray together as a family? Do we study God’s Word together as a family? Are we involved in regular church attendance? Are we touching lives through quality projects that help and assist the less fortunate?
• Trust that God is in charge. Psalm 11:4 says, “The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord is on His heavenly throne.” No matter how helpless the situation seems, it is not hopeless, God is still on the throne. We put our trust in Him not in the crumbling systems of the world.
I John 2:17 says, “the world and its desires pass away, but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” There is a different between the soldier who just reads and manual and one who joins the army. There is a difference between a travel agent and a tour guide.
Ephesians 4:1 Paul says, “Therefore, I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to live a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.”
Let us live and act like the Christians we claim to be. How you think is how you will live. Think and live Jesus Christ.
I am praying for you and your family,
Leonard
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Spiritual War
The Spiritual Attack
Adapted from David Jeremiah’s
Spiritual Warfare
Satan uses militaristic structure to carry out his war plans against the work of God. Paul calls them “wiles of the devil”. Ephesians 6:11
“Wiles” means “organized conduct”, “plans of war”, “strategy” or “methodology”. I have said for years that we are not in a game of “tiddle winks”, “Play Station” or “Wii”. This is serious stuff. Satan is coming against all who belong to God in a power on slaught of powerful devices with goal of destroying anything and everything that belongs to God.
Paul gave a stout warning to the Corinthian believers about being “ignorant of his devices”.( II Cor. 2:11) Remember in the Old Testament where Satan led Lot into Sodom, drove Abram into Egypt and in the New Testament Satan tricked Peter into denying Christ Jesus. It was Satan who made Ananias and Sapphira lie to the Holy Spirit. It was Satan who even attacked and tempted the Lord Jesus Christ. If Satan is so bold as to attack Jesus, he certainly will not hesitate to attack you and me. Peter says, “be self controlled, be alert, for the enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whomever he can devour.” I Peter 5:8
Remember friends that spiritual warfare is being carried out on Satan’s territory, not ours. This world lies in the power of the evil one, for John wrote, “…and the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” I John 5:19
So, what is Satan trying to do to the Christian world? He has 3 primary goals.
1) He wants to destroy your life, my life and every Christian.
2) He strives to destroy unity, purity and oneness in every family and Christian homes especially.
3) It is his top priority to destroy and work of the body of Christ, the church, by embarrassing it publicly, eroding her ministry, discrediting her leaders and wiping out her finance base.
When Peter describes the work of Satan as a “roaring lion seeking whom he may devour” we are talking serious business. The word for “devour” is the same word translated “drown” in Hebrews 11:29. Satan wants to completely engulf and overwhelm every Christian, every home, and the entire body of Jesus Christ, the church. He wants to drown, to extinguish the fire of my faith, your faith and the church so that there is no influence left. And, he will use every device and deception to his advantage to destroy the bride of Jesus Christ.
So, my friends be alert, be on guard. We must control our minds and our actions and bring them under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and be warriors fighting for our families, for our friends and for the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. Fight, stand. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. NO compromise. Pray for one another.
Adapted from David Jeremiah’s
Spiritual Warfare
Satan uses militaristic structure to carry out his war plans against the work of God. Paul calls them “wiles of the devil”. Ephesians 6:11
“Wiles” means “organized conduct”, “plans of war”, “strategy” or “methodology”. I have said for years that we are not in a game of “tiddle winks”, “Play Station” or “Wii”. This is serious stuff. Satan is coming against all who belong to God in a power on slaught of powerful devices with goal of destroying anything and everything that belongs to God.
Paul gave a stout warning to the Corinthian believers about being “ignorant of his devices”.( II Cor. 2:11) Remember in the Old Testament where Satan led Lot into Sodom, drove Abram into Egypt and in the New Testament Satan tricked Peter into denying Christ Jesus. It was Satan who made Ananias and Sapphira lie to the Holy Spirit. It was Satan who even attacked and tempted the Lord Jesus Christ. If Satan is so bold as to attack Jesus, he certainly will not hesitate to attack you and me. Peter says, “be self controlled, be alert, for the enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whomever he can devour.” I Peter 5:8
Remember friends that spiritual warfare is being carried out on Satan’s territory, not ours. This world lies in the power of the evil one, for John wrote, “…and the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” I John 5:19
So, what is Satan trying to do to the Christian world? He has 3 primary goals.
1) He wants to destroy your life, my life and every Christian.
2) He strives to destroy unity, purity and oneness in every family and Christian homes especially.
3) It is his top priority to destroy and work of the body of Christ, the church, by embarrassing it publicly, eroding her ministry, discrediting her leaders and wiping out her finance base.
When Peter describes the work of Satan as a “roaring lion seeking whom he may devour” we are talking serious business. The word for “devour” is the same word translated “drown” in Hebrews 11:29. Satan wants to completely engulf and overwhelm every Christian, every home, and the entire body of Jesus Christ, the church. He wants to drown, to extinguish the fire of my faith, your faith and the church so that there is no influence left. And, he will use every device and deception to his advantage to destroy the bride of Jesus Christ.
So, my friends be alert, be on guard. We must control our minds and our actions and bring them under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and be warriors fighting for our families, for our friends and for the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. Fight, stand. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. NO compromise. Pray for one another.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Go into all the world!
I have been reflecting upon an article that Boyce Mouton wrote many years ago on Matthew 9:38. After meditating a bit on this scripture, I have some comments for YOUR reflection on this verse.
“pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send
forth laborers into his harvest…”
W. E. Vine in his “Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words” list 12 different Greek words all of which translate the word “send”.
In the text, Jesus asked His disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest to “send” forth laborers. He chose to use a form of the Greek word, “ekballo” which means “throw” and “ek” before it signifies “out”. Therefore, we gather the meaning as “to throw out”. Thayer says it signifies “an included notion more or less of violence”.
This is the word the Holy Spirit uses to describe Jesus’ actions in “casting out” the moneychangers in Matthew 21:12; the word used in describing the way that Paul and Barnabas were driven out of Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:50); the way that Sarah wanted Abraham to cast out Hagar (Gal. 4:30); to describe the way that Jesus was “driven” into the wilderness (Mark 1:12); the way that Rahab sent out the spies (James 2:25).
So, you might be asking, ‘what’s all the fuss about in this one word?’ Well, this then is the way that our Lord sometimes “sends” forth laborers into the harvest. He finds us so utterly complacent that it is difficult for Him to get our attention.
If we are honest with ourselves, we must say that body of Christ, the church, is very complacent now days about sharing the gospel and moving into the “fields that are white unto harvest”. The Lord Jesus, therefore, lovingly increases the pressure until He gets our attention. He makes us uncomfortable. He doesn’t share in our complacency. So, He nudges, pushes, shoves until we are so uncomfortable we must act. Ultimately we are apt to find ourselves literally “thrown out” into the harvest.
Do you remember in the book of Acts how the Lord God used this strategy in moving the body of Jesus Christ, the church, out from Jerusalem into the world? In Acts 1, Jesus commanded them to “be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth”. Acts 1:8
So, after about 10 years of the Christians just hanging around Jerusalem, God turned up the pressure. In Acts 7, Stephen is stoned. In Acts 8:1 it says, “a great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem, and all the believers except the apostles fled into Judea and Samaria.” (NLT)
So, if we find ourselves very complacent, satisfied and stagnant, then be ready for some action some, on purpose pressure, from the Lord of the Harvest. He is ready, able and willing to “send” forth laborers into His harvest…WITH PRESSURE AND ON PURPOSE!
I am praying for you.
“pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send
forth laborers into his harvest…”
W. E. Vine in his “Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words” list 12 different Greek words all of which translate the word “send”.
In the text, Jesus asked His disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest to “send” forth laborers. He chose to use a form of the Greek word, “ekballo” which means “throw” and “ek” before it signifies “out”. Therefore, we gather the meaning as “to throw out”. Thayer says it signifies “an included notion more or less of violence”.
This is the word the Holy Spirit uses to describe Jesus’ actions in “casting out” the moneychangers in Matthew 21:12; the word used in describing the way that Paul and Barnabas were driven out of Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:50); the way that Sarah wanted Abraham to cast out Hagar (Gal. 4:30); to describe the way that Jesus was “driven” into the wilderness (Mark 1:12); the way that Rahab sent out the spies (James 2:25).
So, you might be asking, ‘what’s all the fuss about in this one word?’ Well, this then is the way that our Lord sometimes “sends” forth laborers into the harvest. He finds us so utterly complacent that it is difficult for Him to get our attention.
If we are honest with ourselves, we must say that body of Christ, the church, is very complacent now days about sharing the gospel and moving into the “fields that are white unto harvest”. The Lord Jesus, therefore, lovingly increases the pressure until He gets our attention. He makes us uncomfortable. He doesn’t share in our complacency. So, He nudges, pushes, shoves until we are so uncomfortable we must act. Ultimately we are apt to find ourselves literally “thrown out” into the harvest.
Do you remember in the book of Acts how the Lord God used this strategy in moving the body of Jesus Christ, the church, out from Jerusalem into the world? In Acts 1, Jesus commanded them to “be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth”. Acts 1:8
So, after about 10 years of the Christians just hanging around Jerusalem, God turned up the pressure. In Acts 7, Stephen is stoned. In Acts 8:1 it says, “a great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem, and all the believers except the apostles fled into Judea and Samaria.” (NLT)
So, if we find ourselves very complacent, satisfied and stagnant, then be ready for some action some, on purpose pressure, from the Lord of the Harvest. He is ready, able and willing to “send” forth laborers into His harvest…WITH PRESSURE AND ON PURPOSE!
I am praying for you.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Just a lump of clay
This article by Jennifer Heck appeared in the Southeast Christian Church newsletter paper. She visited a pottery shop and writes an analogy of how God relates to each one of us. I was blessed by her observations and pray that her article will bless your life.
“The master potter starts with a slab of hard clay. He throws it down onto a hard surface repeatedly to remove air bubbles and eliminate defects. He then examines the compressed clay as he mixes in softer clay to reduce stiffness and reach a desired consistency. The potter cuts the hunk of clay into pieces, softening one clump with the warmth of his hands. He kneads it as a baker prepares dough, squeezing and rolling it into a ball and weighing the lump for his intended purpose.
The potter then places the clay on the center of the wheel and pours water on top of the round mass as he adjusts the speed of the spinning wheel. He applies pressure with his hands and fingers to the clay reaching down into its heart and expands it from the inside. He adds water frequently to reduce friction, cradles the clay inside both his hands, molding its shape with external and internal forces.
Fashioning his work, the potter observes an emerging shape rising from the wheel. It becomes a bowl, a plate, cup or pitcher as the potter designs it. The clay has no say in the matter. The potter continues until the created piece, whether practical or decorative just right. He then prepares the pottery for the kiln by cutting away excess clay that isn’t needed. He carves into its surface his own signature, smoothing the rough edges and sponging it with more water. He sets it aside to dry under his protective care.
This unique creation is placed, by the potter, inside the oven been heated to 2,300 degrees. He leaves it inside knowing it becomes stronger and more useful the longer it remains in the fire. He then removes his precious pottery from the kiln after shutting off the oven at the designated time. He lets the piece cool for another day, reusing specks of discarded clay. The potter celebrates his finished creation. He delights in the fact that no two pieces are exactly alike, and that the pottery will be used to serve people in ways he planned from the beginning. We can celebrate that God is the Master Potter and we are the work of His hands.”
Isaiah 64:8
“Yet, O LORD, you are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand”.
I am praying for you and your family,
Just a lump of clay,
Leonard
“The master potter starts with a slab of hard clay. He throws it down onto a hard surface repeatedly to remove air bubbles and eliminate defects. He then examines the compressed clay as he mixes in softer clay to reduce stiffness and reach a desired consistency. The potter cuts the hunk of clay into pieces, softening one clump with the warmth of his hands. He kneads it as a baker prepares dough, squeezing and rolling it into a ball and weighing the lump for his intended purpose.
The potter then places the clay on the center of the wheel and pours water on top of the round mass as he adjusts the speed of the spinning wheel. He applies pressure with his hands and fingers to the clay reaching down into its heart and expands it from the inside. He adds water frequently to reduce friction, cradles the clay inside both his hands, molding its shape with external and internal forces.
Fashioning his work, the potter observes an emerging shape rising from the wheel. It becomes a bowl, a plate, cup or pitcher as the potter designs it. The clay has no say in the matter. The potter continues until the created piece, whether practical or decorative just right. He then prepares the pottery for the kiln by cutting away excess clay that isn’t needed. He carves into its surface his own signature, smoothing the rough edges and sponging it with more water. He sets it aside to dry under his protective care.
This unique creation is placed, by the potter, inside the oven been heated to 2,300 degrees. He leaves it inside knowing it becomes stronger and more useful the longer it remains in the fire. He then removes his precious pottery from the kiln after shutting off the oven at the designated time. He lets the piece cool for another day, reusing specks of discarded clay. The potter celebrates his finished creation. He delights in the fact that no two pieces are exactly alike, and that the pottery will be used to serve people in ways he planned from the beginning. We can celebrate that God is the Master Potter and we are the work of His hands.”
Isaiah 64:8
“Yet, O LORD, you are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand”.
I am praying for you and your family,
Just a lump of clay,
Leonard
Thursday, July 9, 2009
The Room
The Room
The following REALLY blessed my life and of course gave me great cause to really think about my life and what Jesus has done for me. I am praying that it blesses your life also. It was written by speaker and author Joshua Harris and is in his book, “I Kissed Dating Goodbye”. He says it was something he put on paper in Puerto Rico for the 1995 Billy Graham Crusade and it was published in Graham’s magazine the same year. As you read I pray as Joshua Harris does, that you will hear the message in the story.
“In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in the libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files stretched from floor to ceiling and seemed endless. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read, “Girls I have liked”. I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was.
This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were the actions of my every moment, big and small. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and others a sense of shame. I looked over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. One file was “Friends” and another was “Friends I have betrayed.” Then came “Books I have Read”, “Lies I have told”, “Comfort I have given”, “Jokes I laughed at”. Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: “Things I’ve Yelled at my brothers.” Others I couldn’t laugh at: “Things I have done in Anger”, “Things I have muttered under my breath at my parents”. Often there were many more cards than I had expected. Sometimes fewer than I had hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed by my signature.
When I pulled out the file marked “TV shows I have watched”, the cards were packed tightly. Yet, after two or three yards, I hadn’t found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed by the vast time I knew the file represented. No one much ever see these cards! I have to destroy them. In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. The size didn’t matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it. I was defeated and utterly helpless, and then I saw it. The title was “People I have Shared the Gospel With”.
The handle was almost unused. I pulled out a small box not more than 3 inches long. I could count the cards it contained on one hand. And then, the tears came. Sobs were so deep that they hurt. I fell on my knees and cried out of shame. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw HIM. No, please not Him. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn’t bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one? Finally, He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said many things. But, He didn’t say a word. Hey he got up and walked back to the files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. His name shouldn’t be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, and so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. Then I remembered the true meaning of salvation. He was wounded for my transgressions.”
Thanks to Boyce Mouton, Carl Junction, MO for printing this in his church newsletter.
The following REALLY blessed my life and of course gave me great cause to really think about my life and what Jesus has done for me. I am praying that it blesses your life also. It was written by speaker and author Joshua Harris and is in his book, “I Kissed Dating Goodbye”. He says it was something he put on paper in Puerto Rico for the 1995 Billy Graham Crusade and it was published in Graham’s magazine the same year. As you read I pray as Joshua Harris does, that you will hear the message in the story.
“In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in the libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files stretched from floor to ceiling and seemed endless. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read, “Girls I have liked”. I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was.
This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were the actions of my every moment, big and small. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and others a sense of shame. I looked over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. One file was “Friends” and another was “Friends I have betrayed.” Then came “Books I have Read”, “Lies I have told”, “Comfort I have given”, “Jokes I laughed at”. Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: “Things I’ve Yelled at my brothers.” Others I couldn’t laugh at: “Things I have done in Anger”, “Things I have muttered under my breath at my parents”. Often there were many more cards than I had expected. Sometimes fewer than I had hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed by my signature.
When I pulled out the file marked “TV shows I have watched”, the cards were packed tightly. Yet, after two or three yards, I hadn’t found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed by the vast time I knew the file represented. No one much ever see these cards! I have to destroy them. In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. The size didn’t matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it. I was defeated and utterly helpless, and then I saw it. The title was “People I have Shared the Gospel With”.
The handle was almost unused. I pulled out a small box not more than 3 inches long. I could count the cards it contained on one hand. And then, the tears came. Sobs were so deep that they hurt. I fell on my knees and cried out of shame. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw HIM. No, please not Him. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn’t bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one? Finally, He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said many things. But, He didn’t say a word. Hey he got up and walked back to the files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. His name shouldn’t be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, and so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. Then I remembered the true meaning of salvation. He was wounded for my transgressions.”
Thanks to Boyce Mouton, Carl Junction, MO for printing this in his church newsletter.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
This ONE THING I DO!
In reading the book, “Simple Church” by Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger one of the thoughts that they expressed caught my attention. I want to preface my comments with this question to you. If you could summarize your goals, your dreams, your vision, your purpose for your life, how would you phrase it? Now, can you reduce that to just “one thing”. What is your ONE purpose, goal, vision for your life?
Paul says in Philippians 3:13-14, “but one thing I do; forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus”. This ONE THING was his focus.
David in Psalm 27:4, “I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.” ONE THING was his focus. An intimate relationship with God consumed him.
The writer of Hebrews gives out the call to “fix our eyes of Jesus, our author and finisher of life”. (Heb. 2:2) ONE THING. The challenge is to remove anything that gets in the way of spiritual transformation.
As a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ my primary ONE THING for me personally is to only “know Christ Jesus and Him crucified”. It is my personal desire to grow as close to Jesus Christ as I can. It is my desire to know Him and to make Him known; my ONE THING.
But as a leader at Valley View Christian Church, Edgewood, New Mexico, I am endeavoring to partner with God to find out where people are in their spiritual journey and help them in their NEXT steps to know Him, know His Word and be obedient to that Word. This is my ONE THING for this community and this body of believers. Many come to Valley View Christian and they are just fishing. They are looking for a place to belong, be accepted and be involved. Many are not even babes in Christ. They are still in the embryonic stage. That’s WHY I am interested in anything (as long as it is Biblical and ethical) that attracts individuals to investigate this Jesus that I know, love and serve. Jesus used fish, figs, and spectacular events to touch people with His life. That’s why I am open to drums, guitars, radio programs, choirs, Fall Festivals, Car Shows, Craft Bazaars, etc. I may not particularly care for such, but it opens up many opportunities to share my love for my Lord and help each one know Him, His Word and be obedient to His will. There’s only 2 ways to do so. Either we go to them (Jesus hung out with the prostitutes, beggars, sick folks, wedding feasts and outcasts) or we provide opportunities for them to come and be exposed to His people, His life and His teaching. If they are not here we cannot disciple or teach.
This ONE THING, to partner with God to make disciples, commit them to obedience and help them run the race focused on Jesus Christ without ankle weights. There you have it. It’s my focus, my goal, my vision for me and Valley View Christian Church.
What’s your ONE THING?
Paul says in Philippians 3:13-14, “but one thing I do; forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus”. This ONE THING was his focus.
David in Psalm 27:4, “I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.” ONE THING was his focus. An intimate relationship with God consumed him.
The writer of Hebrews gives out the call to “fix our eyes of Jesus, our author and finisher of life”. (Heb. 2:2) ONE THING. The challenge is to remove anything that gets in the way of spiritual transformation.
As a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ my primary ONE THING for me personally is to only “know Christ Jesus and Him crucified”. It is my personal desire to grow as close to Jesus Christ as I can. It is my desire to know Him and to make Him known; my ONE THING.
But as a leader at Valley View Christian Church, Edgewood, New Mexico, I am endeavoring to partner with God to find out where people are in their spiritual journey and help them in their NEXT steps to know Him, know His Word and be obedient to that Word. This is my ONE THING for this community and this body of believers. Many come to Valley View Christian and they are just fishing. They are looking for a place to belong, be accepted and be involved. Many are not even babes in Christ. They are still in the embryonic stage. That’s WHY I am interested in anything (as long as it is Biblical and ethical) that attracts individuals to investigate this Jesus that I know, love and serve. Jesus used fish, figs, and spectacular events to touch people with His life. That’s why I am open to drums, guitars, radio programs, choirs, Fall Festivals, Car Shows, Craft Bazaars, etc. I may not particularly care for such, but it opens up many opportunities to share my love for my Lord and help each one know Him, His Word and be obedient to His will. There’s only 2 ways to do so. Either we go to them (Jesus hung out with the prostitutes, beggars, sick folks, wedding feasts and outcasts) or we provide opportunities for them to come and be exposed to His people, His life and His teaching. If they are not here we cannot disciple or teach.
This ONE THING, to partner with God to make disciples, commit them to obedience and help them run the race focused on Jesus Christ without ankle weights. There you have it. It’s my focus, my goal, my vision for me and Valley View Christian Church.
What’s your ONE THING?
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