Church Blog (Page 34)
Name above all names #6. “I will not yield my glory to another.”
God will never allow his name to be trampled underfoot by idolators. Modern Christians would struggle to picture themselves as being idolators in any sense of the word. Such behaviour, they reason, is reserved for pagans in faraway lands. Few are those among believers who stop to contemplate the worthlessness of the wealth that man craves so deeply. Many are those who name God as their personal financial benefactor—‘They know not what they do.’ Woe is us if we reduce…
Name above all names #5. “You call Me Teacher and Lord…”
Every person must grapple with this question: “Who do I name as ‘Lord’ of my life?” Some would insist that they are in sole charge of their destiny. They somehow are convinced that the input of others is supplemental to their cause. However, when such self-reliance is promoted, it is wise to be reminded that all of us are but a head injury away from complete dependence upon others. We have a lot to learn when we believe that our…
Name above all names #4. “I will praise You and extol Your name.”
Unsurprisingly, that which fills our airwaves is that which fills the minds of many. Our Televisions, radios and computers offer seemingly endless options for news, sports, music, politics, finances, humour, drama, and reality TV shows. However, though not insignificant in volume, religion does not seem to command the same attention as other interests. We praise that which we hold dear. And the more important the object of our praise, the more time and energy we put into preserving its influence…
Name above all names #3. “Work in His name is not forgotten.”
The euphoria experienced in the days and weeks after baptism is to be cherished throughout your lifetime. Let no one take away that sense that the door to heaven was opened to you when you were baptised in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. However, those mountain top experiences are inevitably followed by the valleys. We live in a fallen world. One that must be faced “for what it is,” as well as “the…
Name above all names #2. “Every knee shall bow.”
We have all heard men curse God. One of the outbursts that is heard from both small and great alike is this one: “When I meet God, I will tell him exactly what I think of him!” Sometimes it comes as a well-rehearsed diatribe designed to kill conversation, but sometimes it comes as a display of unresolved frustrations between them and God. Frustrations that they would be well advised to resolve sooner than later. On Judgement Day we will all…
Name above all names #1. “No other Name.”
A preacher told of a missionary trip he had taken to India. While there he witnessed a firewalking display. The firewalkers boldly made their way along the strip of red-hot coals towards an image of their multi-armed god. And when reaching the end of the embers, they dipped their feet into a liquid solution made up of the waste from their sacred cows. This was not just a tourist attraction. It was a religious ceremony displaying the miraculous empowerment received…
#12. “Content to be the least.”Ambition
Rugged individualism in a leader has always attracted attention. The straight-talking man who comes out of nowhere to expose evil and promote justice has ever been welcome amongst the downtrodden. Such was John the Baptiser, the camel skin-clad wilderness preacher. In another world, this not only impressive, but uniquely talented man could easily have used his persona and his oratory skills to promote nationalism in Israel. The Jewish leaders would have generously employed his mass appeal to draw thousands into…
Ambition#11. “Moving on from disappointments.”
Life is too short to be wasted. There is no time for chasing rainbows or nursing regrets. When the hard times come, and they will, they are best faced in faith than in failure. The temptation to avoid the disappointments of life is strong. However, our efforts to protect ourselves against future woes are often misguided. We forget that Jesus’ life was full of disappointments, and all of them were handled in the context of his ministry. Though the crucifixion…
Ambition#10. “Two masters and one soul is a bad idea.”
The most important advice that you will give a person is that they be very careful of the master they choose. For he who rules the heart, is he who sets its course. Jesus put it best:“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” (Matthew 6:24). Your body, soul and spirit can only travel…
Ambition#9. “The ambition that he had made his own.”
Such was the apostle Paul’s love for the souls of his fellow countrymen that he wrote, “For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh” (Romans 9:3). He was convicted that if Jesus could save him, “the worst of sinners,” Jesus could save them too. This too is our starting point in our desire to save the lost. Every Christian wakes daily to the beautiful,…