Limitless Magnitude

“Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” - John 21:25

We have all heard the phrase, “You can’t put God in a box.” We say this to reaffirm the power of God. The question is do we believe this? As humans, we often try to limit God which causes us to lose the fear of the LORD (Proverbs 1:7). How quickly we forget everything the LORD has done in our lives. In life things happen that breed lies into our minds that make us start to question God. This typically happens because we have unbiblical expectations of God. In our minds we start to create boundaries for God and begin to not believe that he is able to do far more abundantly than all we can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).

Are you a purposeful person? We are designed to crave fulfilling a purpose. Often times though, we search far and wide to find our purpose but end up empty. That is why when we find our purpose and meaning in Jesus Christ everything changes. As we see in John 21:25 Jesus was on a mission. Throughout the book of John he constantly states his purpose is to do the will of the Father. He didn’t waste time, everything he did had a purpose and everything he said was purposeful.

Have you ever thought about the limitless magnitude of Jesus Christ? The size or extent of the Jesus’s life is limitless and it continues to multiply today. You can’t contain Jesus, he reaches the unreachable, he touches the untouchable. That is our God, our King, our Savior. Jesus continues to do things. Each and every day you walk through this world our God is at work in the lives of people. Not everything may be written down in books but it is written on hearts.

Today I encourage you to taste and see that the LORD is good (Psalm 34:8). Remember your personal experiences with Christ and watch and see Jesus working in the lives of people. Write down what you see, try to record what you see Jesus doing and you will start to see the limitless magnitude of God.

Further Reading: John 21, Psalm 34, Ephesians 3:14-21, Proverbs 1:1-7

Character Counts

“But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.” - Daniel 1:8

Is developing Biblical, Christ honoring character important to you? Not only is it just important, is it the primary goal in your life? Are you willing to allow the Holy Spirit to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ? As I see Christians in all facets of life I notice many times that our character is not of great concern, we tend to think selfishly and walking with Godly character doesn’t become all that import to us. This is a problem and is why many “Christians” are walking around acting like children.

We recently completed a two week tour to 5 different states exhorting our brothers and sisters in Christ to seize the summer, to allow Jesus to seize your heart so you can help others meet him. Having 16 people traveling together you quickly find out who is focused on God and who is focused on themselves. We were all guilty at times of taking our eyes off of Jesus and onto ourselves. We did a poor job of purposing in our hearts to walk with Godly character, to bring God glory through our character. Through it all we learned a lot, grew a lot, and God used the tour in a mighty way to impact people.

We must understand there is a high cost of bad character. People pay for the sins and bad character of those before them. As the people of God, living with the character and mind of Christ must be of utmost importance. Manipulation, bitterness, gossip, slander, jealousy, anger, conceit, and much more we read about in the Scriptures are evidences of bad character. My prayer for myself and for you is that we would search our hearts, that we would ask God to remove it, to purpose in our hearts to have Christ centered character at all costs. Hard choices are part of what it takes to develop good character. Daniel and his friends felt the pressure to conform, their names were changed to the names of cult gods against their will. Through all the difficult trials they were able to stand in the character of Christ.

“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation” 1 Peter 2:1-2

Further Reading: Daniel 1, 1 Peter 2

The Great Concern

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” - Matthew 6:33

A concern for someone or something can occupy our minds but a great concern seems to consume the totally of our thinking and emotions. What occupies and consumes your mind? Are you filled with anxiety? worry? A great concern places utmost importance of someone or something, it consumes our heart and mind. Does the kingdom of God concern you?

The kingdom of God must be our primary concern. Our lives fall apart and fill with worry, anxiety, depression, and hopelessness when Jesus Christ, his glory, and his kingdom is not our Great Concern. Having a great concern for the kingdom of God and his righteousness doesn’t just happen. It is something we must seek, it must be a primary concern and of utmost importance. How much time, money, and energy do you put into the kingdom of God? Are you worrying about or seeking the details? If so realize the Bible gives us a perspective shift. No matter what situation or circumstance we must have the kingdom of God first, THEN all these things will be added to you.

When we place Jesus first, when he is our great concern it takes the focus off of ourselves. It allows us to walk in humility, to place others first, and it allows God to work out the details that often compete with Jesus to be our great concern.

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” - Matthew 6:34

Further Reading: Matthew 6

Primary Concern

“Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him. And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.” - 1 Samuel 18:12-16

What is your primary concern? What constantly occupies your mind? As you read through the book of 1 Samuel you see Saul become self focused. His primary concern becomes himself, his power, his authority, his welfare. This causes Saul to do some outrageous stuff. He destroys part of his own kingdom just to try to kill David. Saul’s primary concern was not the Lord’s honor or the people’s welfare but it was himself.

Saul clearly saw that the LORD was with David yet he still chose to fight a losing battle. He was destroying himself and his people and didn’t seem to care. He was blinded and miserable because it was all about him. He didn’t want to give up his kingship to David, he was holding onto it with all he had. I wonder if at this point in time he remembered how the LORD used Samuel to call Saul as king. How it was the LORD who made him king. Now the LORD was calling David to be king and Saul didn’t want to give it up so he took matters into his own hands.

We have a lot to learn from Saul. Let us not make the same mistake. What are you holding on so tightly that you need to “let go and let God?” Is your primary concern on God and his purposes and people? If not, ask him to help you. When we are so concerned about trivial worldly things our lives tend to be a mess. Today ask God to shift your focus to Jesus, to be reminded of the cross and to follow him wherever he leads.

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 18-24

The Ultimate Thing

“It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you - for the LORD your God in your midst is a jealous God - lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from the face of the earth.” - Deuteronomy 6:13-15

What is your ultimate thing? Your ultimate thing can take many forms and can be know by many names. It is your source of joy, it is what you live your life striving to please or achieve. It in essence controls you and the scary part is sometimes you don’t even realize it does.

Sorrow and despair are similar but there is a big difference between them and that is hope. Hopelessness is deeply saddening. Have you ever seen hopeless people? There is no joy, there is no life in them. There whole world is crushed and they have no were to turn or to look. This is what life is like without Jesus Christ. Apart from Christ you will ultimately enter a state of hopelessness after trying to find the ultimate thing outside of Jesus. You will eventually reach a point of despair.

You see, when you lose what you have placed as the ultimate thing in your life which is the source of your meaning or hope there is no where to turn. What you have put your faith in (if it is outside of Jesus) will always eventually let you down and leave you hopeless. Are you building your entire life on an incomplete joy of this world? You have a choice, stop! Put your hope in Jesus Christ, make Him your ultimate source of meaning and hope. You will still have sorrow but you have the Holy Spirit of God to console you and there will always be hope in Christ Jesus.

“And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” - Exodus 20:1-4

Further Reading: Deuteronomy 6 & Exodus 20

Northern Ireland Update

Greetings from Northern Ireland. This past week has been refreshing, encouraging, and a blessing for Don and I. We arrived on Sunday afternoon April 17th and then spoke to around 50-60 young adults that evening from 3 different churches. God allowed us to encourage and challenge them to make disciples and to make in difference in their churches and communities. The next morning we shared for a couple hours with local youth leaders, pastors, and young adults about Off The Wall Ministry. There were many questions and it was encouraging to see how God is giving many people a desire for authentic discipleship and community. We learned a lot from them and hope that we could share some wisdom with them.

Over the course of this past week we have been able to follow up with people, observe and be part of a street reach event with local churches, and share coffee and meals with local young adults. There are some great people here with a heart and desire to passionately follow Jesus Christ, to reproduce people who reproduce passionate followers of Jesus Christ, and challenge one another to be the church God has called us to be.

In the midst of all this we have been blessed with incredible sunshine and the ability to do some fun tourist things as well. Along with taking many walks and enjoying the beautiful scenery we got to tour a castle and take a coastal drive. The history is rich over here and I am reminded how our Christian history should be important and dear to us as believers. We are where we are today because someone before us has paved the way. We have salvation in the name of Jesus because he came and died and rose again as an all-sufficient sacrifice for us. My prayer is that this weekend you will remember, celebrate Easter in its fullness, express to your God and Savior how thankful you are for all he has done.

A Crazy Little Thing Called Love

“Our fears and inner barrenness make love a narcotic, a way to medicate ourselves, and addicts always make foolish, destructive choices.” - Timothy Keller

We all do crazy things in the name of love. Jacob is a prime example. Not only did he want to make Rachel his wife but viewed her as his “savior.” When we reach this state we hear what we want to hear and see what we want to see. Our reality becomes jaded and we veer far from truth. In a sense we create our own reality and become governed by the idol of “love.”

Have you ever been here? Maybe its a romantic relationship, or parents and their children. The questions we must ask ourselves is where are we setting our hope? Are we putting are hope in Jesus Christ? In His plan, His purpose, His eternity or our wants, our desires, our fleshly needs? There is no person, not even the best one or thing outside of Jesus Christ that can give your soul all that it needs.

We must take our heart’s deepest hopes and place them in Christ. Living through your children, through a spouse, or just through a need to be validated will leave you empty, constantly searching but never finding. This path can be destructive, not only for you but those closest to you. The amazing and beautiful thing about the God of the Bible is that he came into this world to accomplish salvation for us and give us grace we could never attain ourselves. Today may you turn to Him, be amazed by His grace and allow him to be our heart’s deepest desire and hope.

“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world (something supernatural and eternal).”
- C.S. Lewis

Further Reading: Genesis 28-31

In Him

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,” - Ephesians 1:7

If you read Ephesians 1:1-14 you will find the following words used:
you (r) 4 times
our 4 times
we 5 times
us 6 times
in 16 times
God, Christ, etc. 37 times

Our union with Christ is the key theme and doctrine of Scripture in this passage. “In him” or “In Christ” is used repeatedly to remind us that we are united with Jesus Christ. Life is all because of God and everything is for him. This is a vertical unity with Jesus, however this provides us a horizontal unity with other believers. If we are “in him” we are family, we are on the same team.

In Christ we find our true identity. Anything outside of “in him” will eventually leave us wanting, hopeless, and wandering. Paul is encouraging the Ephesians, he is wanting them to know the blessing of unity with Jesus and with one another. This is why he repeats these words, they all have to do with union. I want to encourage you to read this passage today and as you do look for the words above. Take note and ask God to help you understand what all your union with Christ means.

...every aspect of God's relationship to believers is in some way connected to our relationship with Christ. From God's counsels in eternity past before the world was created, to our fellowship with God in heaven in eternity future, and including every aspect of our relationship with God in this life—all has occurred in union with Christ. - Wayne Grudem

Further Reading: Ephesians 1:1-14

Fill In The Blanks

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” - Philippains 1:21

These epic words of Paul jump off the page reading through Philippians. His short proclamation should echo in our hearts and mind. It should cause us to rethink our perspective, our outlook on life, and challenge our priorities. What does life mean to you? Is it really all about Christ?

I have often noticed that Jesus is very hard to bring up for most people in everyday conversation. I honestly believe most Christians like talking about Christ, they may want to discuss Biblical truths and stories but somehow have bought into the lie that it would be weird or awkward to talk about God outside of “church.”

Nothing can steal our joy if we have the right mind, a single mind focused on Christ and His Kingdom. Paul was excited about Jesus, he lived to tell others about him. Jesus Christ was in Paul’s everyday conversations in all places at all times. Does Christ or the things of God excite you? Do you seek to see the Kingdom of God and his power work in and through the lives of people? It is an exciting and encouraging to watch God work and hear what God is doing. Today I challenge you to fill in the blanks.

For to me to live is __________, and to die is ___________.

What would you honestly fill in? Money, leave it all behind; power, lose it all; or fame, to be forgotten. Matthew 6:21 talks about where our treasure is there our heart will be also. Is your treasure in money, power, fame? When your treasure is Christ, when He is the purpose for living you will experience joy despite circumstances, people, things, and worry.

Further Reading: Philippians 1:21, Matthew 6:21, Luke 12:22-59

Good Measure

“give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” - Luke 6:38

If your checkbook register would be projected in front of the congregation on Sunday morning what would you do? Squirm? Run? Hide? Would you be embarrassed about where your finances are going or not going? What about your mercy and grace? If we played a video in front of the congregation of your life this past week would we see mercy, grace, and forgiveness extended to others? The idea of “good measure” in this verse implies an acceptable and inspiring act. Luke is giving us a picture of how God views the importance of having a heart full of the goodness of Christ. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

We see a similar passage in 2 Corinthians 9:8,

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

Paul in this passage is talking specifically about finances and giving to the work of God. In these Scriptures it always goes back to the heart. Are you a cheerful giver? Do you get excited about giving to the work of the Lord and watching the kingdom of God grow? I really want to encourage you to read the passages below today. Allow God to speak to you through them. Ask the Lord to fill your heart with good and take away the greed, selfishness, and dirt that is in there.

“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” - Luke 6:45

Further Reading: Luke 6:17-39, 2 Corinthians 9