It's ALL about knowing God

SCRIPTURE:  ACTS:17:26-27

“From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.”

OBSERVATION:

This reminds me of the variety of opinions regarding God’s dealing with mankind.    As read this I can’t help but think about how our perspective or thoughts about God effect our direction in life.  Opinions that range from God doesn’t exist and we evolved, to God created us to see if he could and then left us to survive or die on our own, to God created us and is still involved in our lives.

The truth?  I think the truth is what God says regarding Himself - what He breathed thru human hearts and lips & penned through human hands but claims as His Word.  He purposed us and placed us.  Strategically and mindfully caused us to be here and planned where we are to be.

The reason?  That we would seek Him, reach for Him, and find Him.  He purposely stays close enough to find because that was always His hope and desire - His purpose.  He created us for relationship and has never stopped pursuing that with us.

As I read this it sounds like God set an appointment with each and everyone of us.  He created us to meet with Him and get to know Him.

APPLICATION:

I feel like what I need to remember here is that my calling is primarily to be with God.  It is to meet with Him and get know Him.  I can make it about other things, but I’d miss the mark.  It might include behaviors, projects, learning, and responsibilities, but it’s purpose is to know Him better and to deepen my relationship with Him.

My calling was not to go to the altar to get saved but to enter relationship with God.  God did not call me to Bible College to know more about the Bible, but to know God better thru the studying of scripture and the experience of Bible college.  It was not to become a pastor, but to know God better thru the teaching of scripture and serving people.  If I make it about other things I can find myself doing the right things and still not knowing God.

PRAYER:

Father, thank you for the privilege of knowing you.  Help me to set my heart’s purpose to  be seeking you, reaching out for you, and finding you.  Help me to never be disappointed in my search for you, but instead to find my reward in you.  Let me know you more - help me to live, move, and have my being in you.  I pray this in Jesus name, AMEN!

Find Commonality In Christ When You can't Find Common Ground

SCRIPTURE:

“Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.”

OBSERVATION:

What jumps out as I read this is how easy it is to fall into a judgmental mindset.  Even the best of us can fall prey to an exclusive/elitist type of religion.  I say religion because I don’t think it is Christianity at that point.  It is definitely not the church at it best when we see people’s flaws with an eye of judgement rather than their spiritual condition with a heart of compassion.  It is not our finest moment when we limit people by their flaws rather than releasing people into their future.  

Moral issues, our pasts, our hurts, our lack can all be extremely hard to get past and work through.  The church has the potential to be agents of change and empowerment if we can embrace people with the vision, love, and compassion of people.  

It is even worse when the issue is a man made barrier built on ignorance and malice - issues like racism, sexism, elitism, etc..  To exclude someone from a community of faith or to limit somebody’s spiritual potential, ministry potential, etc. because of ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status is a horrible atrocity.  The church should be a place where all people of of backgrounds have a level playing field, where all people are unified, not because of skin color or an anatomical kinship, but because of our commonality in Christ - our common acknowledgement that we are all in desperate need of a savior, we are all saved by grace, we are all loved by God in spite of ourselves, and are all interdependent by God’s design.

APPLICATION:

I need to keep a close watch on my heart to not build walls up that segregate people in my mind.  Wisdom and godliness require me to know people, to understand limitations, and to establish healthy boundaries in order for God’s people to live together in peace, safety, and healthy relationships.  Boundaries allow people healthy interaction while walls segregate and say these are the “haves” while these are the “have-nots” - “These are “valuable” while these are “expendable”.  I need the Holy Spirit to help me establish healthy boundaries and avoid building walls.

PRAYER:

Father, thank you for accepting me.  Your love has never failed me.  You have a vision for my life - you have to because there is know reason for me to have the great life and privileges that I have had otherwise.  I have reached potential farther than my own vision for my life.  Help me to be like you as I work with others.  To have godly vision for their lives and build with them.  In Jesus name, AMEN!