Our Kingdom or God's Kingdom?

In our kingdom we are very much like the rich man in Matthew 19.

The rich man didn't want to go all out for Jesus because he had too many possessions. With his wealth came honor and notoriety inside the community. The Bible doesn't tell us how the young man obtained his money. Unless he inherited it, he probably had a great career so he couldn't give God 100% of his time, energy or life.

The people in his community most likely thought he was a good follower of God. He didn't murder, steal or lie, he honored his mother and father and loved his neighbor. I am sure he was looked up to in the local synagogue and if the rich man went to church in America today he might be compared to many other average Christians who represent God:

He shows up every Sunday, goes to Bible study, tithes, is easy going, has high morals, lives with integrity and is like us in many ways.

Which is fine if you want your Christian walk to be ordinary.

When I was a youth pastor I had a favorite saying: "I'd rather die than follow mediocrity."

God has not called His followers to be common, but to make an impact - to leave a mark.

Eleven of the 12 disciples ended up giving 100% to God and we are all here today as His followers because of their dedication and choice to live above the norm. What if the rich man's commitment to God was considered the mark of a true disciple? How would his meager efforts have impacted our lives today?

So you may be asking, do I need to sell everything I have, give up my career, my job, go on the mission field or into ministry to be effective? Yes, if God asks you to then you need to follow His call, and many have. But consider the example of the Apostle Paul who wrote 2/3 of the New Testament. He had a passion to disciple others and spread the Gospel, but he also had a second job as a tent maker. He was able to serve God and have a career...that can be true for us today as well.

I have said a million times, God has placed you where you are in life. Where you work, the neighborhood you live in, the friendships and relationships you have are all opportunities for you to live out His mission - to make disciples.

We read in Matthew 9:36-37, "When [Jesus] saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to His disciples, 'The harvest is great, but the workers are few.'"

God sees inside every heart, collects every tear, feels every scar, sees every empty void in people's lives. So He sends you to a certain job, neighborhood or individual to share His love for them. He needs you to go and reap the harvest. But the workers are few because we either do nothing or live average American Christian lives. As long as we are more concerned about our image, bank account, toys, hobbies or career we are showing that our kingdom is more important than God's Kingdom and we are not following His call.

The harvest is ripe and people are ready to hear about God's love for them and we need to get over ourselves. Every situation we are in can be an opportunity for a harvest, but if we only wait for the church to put on an outreach we are missing many chances to make disciples.

If you have the attitude that you don't have a degree or a title or feel unqualified then you are more worried about your kingdom.

If you think you are too young and are waiting for the future, or feel too old then you are more worried about your kingdom.

If you live in fear or doubt you are more worried about your kingdom.

If you say you are too busy you are more worried about your kingdom - because you will always make time for what you want to do.

Even if you are in ministry - if you are concerned about numbers, ego, status, title or noteriety then you are more worried about your kingdom.

EVERYONE has a part in God's Kingdom.

1 Peter chapter 4 tells us that God gives you the gifts, strength and energy to do what He has called you to do. When you follow through with that task, using His gifting, then you bring glory to God.

In Romans chapter 12 we are encouraged to take whatever gift God has given us seriously, and use it effectively - to the best of our ability.

Everything we do should be about building up God's Kingdom - we ALL have a part.

When it is all said and done, Jesus will not ask you about how well you provided for your kids, your 401k or lack thereof, your high school diploma or college degree, how many clothes were in your closet, how many vehicles you owned, your status in society, how many times you attended church or how often you read the Bible. But He may ask you if you harvested where you were planted.

He has called you to harvest the ripe crop. He has already done all the work, all you need to do is pluck the fruit.

"May He equip you with all you need for doing His will. May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him. All glory to Him forever and ever! Amen." Hebrews 13:21

Be blessed,
Steve

The Light

"The Word [Jesus] gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." John 1:4-5

I used to live in a dark, dark world. Then a light came into my world and I will never be the same. I could not get enough of Jesus. I could not contain my excitement and boldly told everyone all the new things I was learning about God. I wanted to share what Jesus had done for me with everyone. Then what happened?

You remember what happened to the Israelites? God rescued them from slavery in Egypt and led them through the desert to the promised land, providing manna when there was no food, water from a rock when they were thirsty and parting the Red Sea to save them from their enemies...you know...minor things like that. And the Israelites complained. Doubt and fear crept in and they started hungering to go back to the slavery they had once known.

I am like Peter. I kinda deny God. When there is a non-Christian around I act differently - I don't even talk about God, but when there are Christians around then I will. It is such a shame that this is what I have become. I feel like I have hit so many road blocks. I get tired of forgetting His love for me. God can still do miracles and I am coming up with excuses in case He doesn't show up.

God has been dealing with me this week. He has been saying, "Steve, I need you to take Me as your refuge. When will you just trust Me? I'm going to take care of everything."

Jesus came as a human full of love and faithfulness. This is the only thing I have. This is the only thing that brought a permanent bright light to my world. I am never going to give this up!

Many of us are sleeping. For those of us who are Christians doubt has gripped us and put a stronghold on us. We have let too much of the world in and God has become 2nd best. We want to believe...we want God to bring us back to that childlike faith that we had at the beginning...that newness...that joy!

Jesus came to bring us abundant life. He sacrificed Himself and He didn't do it because He had nothing better to do. He loves you!! Sometimes you feel like He doesn't love you and it is a lie! His love is not a rule thing. When you love someone you will do whatever it takes to be with them. That is what Jesus did for you. He died for you, then He chose you to live for Him, to be His spokesman.

Jesus has not changed. We have changed our attitude. We are taking what we have for granted. People are hurting and living in that darkness and we have the light of the world! I like how Heidi Baker puts it, "there are a lot of fish flopping around with no oxygen and we are just letting them die."

This Jesus loves the heck out of you!! In Psalm 119 we are told that He knows our wounds and our pain. Just like He heard the Israelites when they cried out to Him in their distress in Exodus 3, He hears our cries. We are all the same...Romans 3 tells us that there is no one who is good. But when you start living for God it changes everything!

You will live what you believe, your life will reflect that. We need to get back to God and to the cross where our sins were forgiven. Strongholds of doubt and fear in your life are not of God. You need to let it go. You don't have to live that way anymore because Jesus set you free! You need to TRUST! Why do we keep trying to live life our own way like we think our way is better?

It is really pretty simple, if you want God come back. If you have never known Him then come for the first time. His light will extinguish the darkness in your life and you will never be the same!

Be blessed,
Steve