Two Keys to Thinking Like Jesus
Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. Philippians 2:56 (MSG) *** *** *** *** The first half of this mental shift is to stop thinking immature thoughts, which are selfcentered and selfseeking. Babies, by nature, are completely selfish. They think only of themselves. That is immature thinking: “Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life” (Romans 8:5 MSG). The apostle Paul wrote, “To be perfectly frank, I’m getting exasperated with your infantile thinking. How long before …
Serving from the Heart
From now on if you listen obediently to the commandments that I am commanding you today, love God, your God, and serve him with everything you have within you, he’ll take charge of sending the rain at the right time …. Deuteronomy 11:13-14 (MSG) *** *** *** *** Repeatedly, the Bible says to “serve the Lord with all your heart.” God wants you to serve him passionately, not dutifully. People rarely excel at tasks they don’t enjoy doing or feel passionate about. God wants you to use your natural interests to serve him and others. How do you know …
When Serving God, Listen to Your Heart
A man’s heart reflects the man. Proverbs 27:19 (NIV) *** *** *** *** The Bible uses the term “heart” to describe the bundle of desires, hopes, interests, ambitions, dreams, and affections that you have. Your heart represents the source of all your motivations – what you love to do and what you care about most. Even today, we still use the word in this way when we say, “I love you with all my heart.” The Bible says what is in your heart is what you really are, not what others think you are, or what circumstances force you to …
Spiritual Gifts for Serving God
Whoever does not have the Spirit cannot receive the gifts that come from God’s Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:14 (TEV) *** *** *** *** You can’t earn your spiritual gifts or deserve them – that’s why they are called gifts! They’re an expression of God’s grace to you: “Christ has generously divided out his gifts to us” (Ephesians 4:7 CEV). Nor do you get to choose which gifts you’d like to have. Paul explains that God determines that, “It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have” (1 Corinthians …
Two Keys to Thinking Like Jesus
Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. Philippians 2:56 (MSG) *** *** *** *** The first half of this mental shift is to stop thinking immature thoughts, which are selfcentered and selfseeking. Babies, by nature, are completely selfish. They think only of themselves. That is immature thinking: “Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life” (Romans 8:5 MSG). The apostle Paul wrote, “To be perfectly frank, I’m getting exasperated with your infantile thinking. How long before …
Commitments Shape Your Life
Since everything around us is going to melt away, what holy, godly lives you should be living! 2 Peter 3:11 (LB) *** *** *** *** You don’t have to understand all the implications of your decision when you choose to follow Jesus. You simply need to respond to his invitation, to make a commitment to follow Christ. Your commitments shape you life more than anything else. Your commitments can develop you or they can destroy you, but either way, they will define you. Tell me what you’re committed to and I’ll tell you what you’ll be in twenty years. We …
The Practice of Surrender
“If people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want. They must be willing even to give up their lives to follow me.” Matthew 16:24 (NCV) *** *** *** *** Paul’s moment of surrender occurred on the Damascus road after he was knocked down by blinding light. For others, less drastic methods are needed to get our attention.Regardless, surrendering is never just a one-time event.Paul said, “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31 NASB). There is a moment of surrender and there is the practice of surrender, which is moment-by-moment and lifelong. The practice of surrender …
Everybody Surrenders to Something
Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God, but laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men. Philippians 2:6-7 (LB) *** *** *** *** Everybody surrenders to something or someone in life.If not to God, you’ll surrender to popular opinion, to money, to resentment or fear, or to your own pride, lust, and ego. We were designed to worship something, and when we fail to worship God, we create gods (idols) to surrender ourselves to. E. Stanley Jones said, “If you don’t …
Surrender Strengthens You
We are not our own bosses to live or die as we ourselves might choose. Living or dying we follow the Lord. Either way we are his. Romans 14:7-8 (LB) *** *** *** *** The paradox of surrender is that it produces power and victory. Stubborn temptations and overwhelming problems can be defeated by Christ when handed over to him. As Joshua approached the biggest battle of his life, he encountered God, fell in worship before him, and surrendered his plans. That surrender led to a stunning victory at Jericho. Surrender doesn’t weaken you, it strengthens …
The Blessing of Surrender
Quit quarreling with God! Agree with him and you will have peace at last! His favor will surround you if you will only admit that you were wrong. Job 22:21 (LB) *** *** *** *** The Bible is very clear about how we benefit when we worship God through surrender: “Agree with him and you will have peace at last! His favor will surround you if you will only admit that you were wrong” (Job 22:21 LB). In surrender, you begin to really live the life God intended: “Only those who throw away their lives for my sake …
