Month: December 2015

When the pious criticized his disciples for their laxity in spiritual disciplines, Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?” Of all the images he could have chosen for himself, Jesus settled on that of the groom whose radiance cheers up the entire wedding party.
–Philip Yancey

I hope that in your life, Jesus has come into your life to bring radiance and joy to you.
And if He has, it is now your task to go out and do the same.
When you are with others, do you bring radiance and joy to their lives, due to the fact that you have spent time with Jesus and His light, life, and love is overflowing out of you?
If not, it is time to make a change in who you are. Let Jesus change you. Ask Him to fill you up, so that He can then flow out of you to brighten up all the dark places you enter into.

Whether he lives, or whether he dies—
whether he has health, or whether he has sickness—
whether he is rich, or whether he is poor—
whether he pleases man, or whether he gives offence—
whether he is thought wise, or whether he is thought foolish—
whether he gets blame, or whether he gets praise—
whether he gets honor, or whether he gets shame—

—for all this the zealous man cares nothing at all. He burns for one thing; and that one thing is to please God, and to advance God’s glory. If he is consumed in the very burning, he cares not for it — he is content. He feels that, like a lamp, he is made to burn; and if consumed in burning, he has but done the work for which God appointed him.
–J. C. Ryle

May we burn for Jesus today in such a way that we are consumed in the burning… fulfilling His very purpose for our lives.

    He who finds Jesus finds a rare treasure, indeed, a good above every good, whereas he who loses Him loses more than the whole world. The man who lives without Jesus is the poorest of the poor, whereas no one is so rich as the man who lives in His grace.
    …Choose the opposition of the whole world rather than offend Jesus. Of all those who are dear to you, let Him be your special love. Let all things be loved for the sake of Jesus, but Jesus for His own sake.
–Thomas à Kempis

Amen.
Let all things and all people be loved for the sake of Jesus, but love Jesus for His own sake!
Yes. May you and I be able to do this today.

    Defensive children’s ministry and defensive parenting play “not to lose” the heart of the child to the world. The focus is primarily on protecting children from influences in the world and pulling out great character traits that must already be within the child. The theology beneath the practice is the assumption that the hearts of children are pure and in need of protection.
    Theologically, this is deeply flawed. We are not pure from birth but are terribly sinful — sinful from the time our mothers conceived us. So the hearts of children ultimately do not need protections but transformation.
–Matt Chandler

No matter whether you feel that some of Chandler’s words may be too strong or not… I think the final sentence is right on track – the hearts of children (and all people) need transformation. Therefore the encouragement is not to be reactive in a defensive manner on how to protect your child from each new harmful influence that pops up. Instead, take the offense and begin to actively disciple your child so that he or she is being transformed into the likeness of Jesus.

And certainly that is easier said than done, but as I have shared with dads – we actively teach our children how to play ball, how to hunt and fish, how to interact with others, how to do their homework, etc…. but we often throw up our hands and say “I don’t know how to disciple my child, so I’ll just leave it to the church.” This is relinquishing your responsibility. If you don’t know how to disciple your child toward Christlikeness, then go get some help. You would go get help if you weren’t sure how to help your child complete their math homework, so go get help on how to be a disciple-making parent who takes the offense and shoulders the responsibility for transforming your child into the likeness of Jesus.

In spite of all of her lamentable weaknesses, appalling failures, and indefensible shortcomings, the church is the mightiest —the only— force that is contesting satan’s rule in human affairs! And that Church on her knees is the purifying and preserving influence which has kept the fabric of all we call civilization from total disintegration, decay, and despair.
–Neal Pirolo

Jesus loves His Bride.
You should too.

Are you connected to a local church family?
Are you committed to them?
Are you learning to love them more and more?
If you are a Christian, Jesus Christ calls you into relationship with others in His Body… His Bride… His Church.

Do not forsake the assembling together with other believers – this is a command of God.