Good morning! How are we faithing this fine day? I worry sometimes that I'm too religious and sometimes I'm not religious enough. "What" you say? Being too religious can lead to performance based belief rather than grace base belief and the belief God needs you to be here or his work wont get done. Not being religious enough can lead to a compromised position where accolades and people praise gets more important than seeking and sharing our savior. Whenever we feel or view ourselves as necessary for those people out there to see God we are in danger of self praise which only leads to pride which will cause a fall. Whenever we do the right thing because of what others will think of us rather than doing right because God said it's right, man, we walk away from grace into a place where looking in the mirror to see how good we are is more important than Jesus. I don't care what people think of my "religious" behavior as long as they see Jesus. I will stumble and screw up a bunch but as long as I am willing to recognise sin and repent, my religion stays on track. My "doing" what the world views as religion does nothing in reality for my relationship with Jesus. Granted there are things we are commanded to do but those things are for our own good and not for good of our own. If we don't do this or that correctly or even if we do we must put Jesus first. We must ask the hard questions of ourselves and be willing to follow Jesus and put his Word into practice, not just look like we do. Light a fire under your own butt. Get off the pew whenever you can and share this grace message. Wear the suit and tie if you want but don't criticize the ones who don't.
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside."
Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are, that no man should boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, that, just as it is written, "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord."
NAS
Remember Tom Kern...remember Marvin McKinney...remember Brayden Richards...
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for your love that saves us. Lord we ask for wisdom to see truth and to recognise your strength and power and not look to ourselves. Lord we ask for your touch on those mentioned. Guide Doctors hands, grant wisdom to those Doctors to do perfect work. Lord we ask for a touch on those children who are ill. Lord we ask for protection for our troops as they travel and as they confront their day. Thank you Lord for grace because without it we realize none of us would ever see you. In Jesus name, amen
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