Discipling the Undisciplined no. 17

“From that time Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near’” (Matthew 4:17). Repentance has become something we just mentally decide today. We look around at how our life is going and we realize we need a change and we say to ourselves that we need to repent of those things and we add something new to our experience but we never truly change. And change is what repentance is all about. Take it from me, I had to change to align with the Kingdom of God and so do you.

I haven’t been back in church for too awfully long BUT the one thing that always strikes me about folks and the church system itself is how much it likes to talk about repentance without really doing anything to foster real change. Church is supposed to be community yet all I see is a lot of individuals left to figure out their walk on their own. And let me tell you, I am not good at making my own choices on that walk. I was motivated to walk out my repentance and change before I ever got into church. BUT I thought the point of church was helping folks change. And if churches are going to take that role seriously, that idea of repentance has to be nurtured rather than preached. Telling me to change is not going to ever get me to change. It didn’t for decades. I needed to see for myself that there was a better way and that I could change. And that takes community. That takes relationships. That takes investing ourselves in others.

Courage is choosing to change. And a lot of us are not ready to repent. I was not ready to repent. I was a mess but I was making that mess work. I was physically, mentally, and spiritually unhealthy BUT so was the world around me. I fit just right. Repentance is about sticking out and being different. I was already built differently. I was already going to stick out in church, in school, in the community BUT a lot of folks want to just blend in. I wanted to blend in for the longest time BUT God’s plan is not for me to just be ordinary. His plan is for you to stand up and stand out too. And that takes the courage to change.

He is going to meet you where you are. He met me where I was. I was a mess looking to get healthy and I got a whole lot more. I cracked the door open to Him and He came in and set up residence. That is all it takes. A heart that is tired of fighting alone needs refuge. I was tired. And He gave me rest from the world. He gave me hope in His Kingdom because no matter how much I talk about what church is doing wrong, there are people out there, His Church, that are doing it right. And they are embedded all over churches. And He will lead you to find those people. He will make The Way. So, don’t get discouraged by all the folks out there that are not ready to repent when you are. You find the folks that are changing and walk with them. Build your own community with those people if your church is not fostering growth. Start your own group of folks that are looking to change. I don’t have to wait on permission from a church, I have a commandment from God to make disciples. If I want change, then I am going to have to be that change. 

Grace and Shalom to your home. 

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

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