How come no one is...?

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 

2 Timothy 1:6-7 NIV

What is the gift of God which is in you that you need to fan into flame? What is your passion? What it is you wonder why nobody does that? 

I once attended a church and there was no one greeting at the doors, so, I picked up some bulletins and started handing them out and greeting people. I did that for quite a while. Sometimes fanning into flame simply means "just do it". Sometimes it means start studying or going on a short term mission trip. Just start. Just serve. 

JUST SERVE!

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." Hebrews 10:24

Every now and then one of my children will do something that my wife, their mother, really appreciates and she will say, "My child loves me" (you know, with the head tilted and a thankful dreamy voice, kind of sappy). Then the other one will say, "I love you too!"  An "I love mom more than you battle" may follow. They, in a way, spur each other on toward loving mom. 

I am not saying we should be having some sort of "I love God more than you" type of battles or even discussions, just that when we see someone else serving God we should be moved to serve God ourselves. 

The two sides to this are one, me being willing to jump in with others and do what needs to be done and two, me being in, encouraging others to serve also. The question for me is: How can I do this this week? maybe even today?

Father help us to serve and serve alongside others. Praise be to you in us today!

GET YOUR CONSCIENCE CLEAN

"How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences  from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God." Hebrews 9:14 

You know when you have been sick and you take a shower, you feel a little better, at least for a little while? You're still sick, though, because you need to heal from the inside out. 

Christ's death on the cross deals with sin from the inside out. The author of Hebrews is hammering home the message that offerings before Christ were not complete and only a hint of what was to come in Christ. Under the law the offering of a goat or bull would deal with sin outwardly, never able to reach the heart. The sacrifice of Christ deals with sin from the inner man out. 

The point is that Christ's sacrifice changes our hearts to desire to serve God, not sin.  Sin wants to keep us captive under guilt, Christ has freed us with grace. We sinned, yes, but he died in our place. His blood covers our sins eternally in the Most Holy place in heaven. Christ's continuing work cleanses our consciences that we may serve him! That is good news! That is the gospel!

Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ for cleansing our consciences that we may serve you! Praise be to you in us today! 

CALLED TO SHARE: II Thessalonians 2:14

"He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." II Thessalonians 2:14

Mitch Kupchak, current general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers, played one of his final seasons for the Lakers as a player. He didn't play very much during the regular season and he was a bit discouraged. Jerry West pulled him aside and told him he didn't get him to play a lot of minutes during the regular season. He got him because during the playoffs there would come a time when he would play a few very important minutes. Sure enough, during a game in the championships, Mitch was called upon to come in and play some very significant spurts. He did and made some great plays that helped the Lakers win another championship. 

We may not know all the exact details of what God is going to do in our lives. We do know he called us to sanctify us in Christ. We do know that we are called to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has some very significant moments planned for our lives.

What does God have in store for you today? Be open, be ready and be willing. Ask God to give you at least one opportunity to share his glory today. One act of love. One act of forgiveness. One act of mercy. One word of encouragement. One...

Father, use me today to share your glory with the people you put before me. Praise be to you in us today!