Discipling the Undisciplined no. 16

“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:1-4). We like to celebrate the little bit of good we do in the world. That little bit of goodness inflates our ego and makes us feel superior for doing something so miniscule. God has done so much more. And we should instead be thankful for what He has done in our lives and all that He allows us to do. BUT we often don’t.

Social media is full of folks drawing attention to their deeds whether good or ill, which is often debated today. I get caught up in trying to walk the line of what is self righteousness and what is just me trying to show The Way. And the main test is humility. Am I doing this for folks to notice my righteousness or to notice the righteousness of Jesus? And that is the test that helps humble everything I post. 

I want God to get the glory for everything that I have in my life. He is the reason I got healthy. He is the reason I moved a bunch of dirt and started growing food. He is the reason I started reading The Bible. He is the reason I got back into prayer. He is the reason my life has totally changed. He is my reason. And a lot of times I really want everyone to know how great He has been. So I share those beautiful things with others to encourage and strengthen them because it wasn’t easy to change. Courage is choosing to change. BUT we all can change if we allow Him to work in our lives. And the change is wonderful. 

Grace and Shalom to your home. 

#DisciplingTheUndisciplined #ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #SeekFirstTheKingdom #ServeOneAnotherInLove #NotMyWayYHWH

Discipling the Undisciplined no. 15

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:43-48). Love and beauty. That is the life of Jesus. Loving those that we don’t want to love. Loving those that make it difficult for us to love. That’s living life like Jesus. Love and beauty.

BUT it is not that easy though it is that simple. Living a life where I forgive and love is difficult. I like to be righteous and want to repay the wrongs I feel were dealt unfairly to me. BUT beauty is found in loving even when I am wronged, especially when I am wronged.

I just have to think back to the Exodus story and how many times that the descendants of Israel wronged God. And then look at my own life and see how many times I have wronged God. And then look at how God, despite all the wrongs, still loves me. And loves me enough to make a way through His grace to reconcile and become at one. That is one humbling thought I always need to keep in mind when folks do things that make them out to be my enemy. I have to find the humility to forgive. I have to find the strength to love when it is so much easier to hate.   

Grace and Shalom to your home. 

#DisciplingTheUndisciplined #ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #SeekFirstTheKingdom #ServeOneAnotherInLove #NotMyWayYHWH