Work Stoppage?

In Sunday’s sermon Pastor Althea made the point that we cannot produce our own faith, but we can hinder it from growing.

Let’s re-visit one of the verses from yesterday’s post: “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” (Romans 12:3, emphasis mine)

In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25) we see an example of the graciousness of our God. He has given us the faith necessary to work for Him, using whatever gifts He has given to us. He knows our capability to operate in faith, to the glory of His name, and we can choose to joyfully obey His call... or summarily dismiss it. Let’s read this parable today, absorbing its encouragement, and heeding its warning.

Are you growing in faith, or are you hindering faith from growing?

Matthew 25:14-30

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

All Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Steady As She Grows...

In Sunday's sermon, Pastor Althea said something I'd like us to reflect on today: "Faith is taking a measured risk."

Our pastor reminded us of our tendencies to demonstrate measured risk in our everyday lives. We expect that when we travel, we will reach our destination. We expect that the chairs we sit in will be strong enough to bear our weight. These are measured risks, and these are expressions of the faith we carry in our hearts. We take these risks every day because of what we believe, and we respond with surprise when our expectations are not realized.

We who are Christians have subscribed to a life of faith. Our faith is grounded in what God has said. We dare to risk because we believe His word. We dare to expect. We go through our days anticipating that God will act on behalf of His people, that He will keep His word, and that He will cause us to see and experience every promise He has poured into our hearts.

As we consider our life of faith, let us also remember that our faith is not solely for our personal benefit. Our faith can serve to build up every member of the body of Christ. If we have faith that God will act on behalf of His people, then we can also have faith that God will allow us to participate in His process.

Today, will you take the measured risk of acting in faith, in whatever ways God has gifted you to do so?

Romans 12:3-8

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

All Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Receiving Line.

During this past Sunday's sermon Pastor Sam quoted some verses from John chapter one:

"He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:10-12, NIV)

As we continue our meditations on the love of God, we are reminded that our best response to God's love is to receive His love. And, our receipt of this love is marked by our belief in Jesus, the One who God sent.

Pastor Sam shared a story about a tightrope walker who received accolades from the people watching the show, but who got no volunteers when he asked for one of the spectators to join him on the high-wire for part of the tightrope-walking act. Perhaps that is where some of us stand. We say we understand that God loves us, and we say that we believe He can do amazing things, yet we have not taken hold of His hand. We have not become active participants in His work. We have not placed our full trust in Him. In other words, our lack of response is an indicator of our lack of love.

Our pastor shared Dr. Gary Chapman's research in this area: in love relationships, we reciprocate love in terms of what the lover understands. God's love is shown through His giving of Himself to us through Jesus, completely, at incredible cost. How do we reciprocate? By giving our lives to God through our faith in Jesus, completely, no matter what the cost. Pastor Sam referenced Romans 12:1-2-- verses that are not typically read in a discussion of love, but verses that make perfect sense in a discussion of the God-kind of love.

"Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice-- alive, holy, and pleasing to God-- which is your reasonable service. Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God-- what is good and well-pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2, NET)

To give our lives over to the One who gave His life for us: this is love.

Sold, To The Highest Bidder.

Our pastor mentioned something on Sunday that I'd like us to reflect on for today. Pastor Althea said (and I paraphrase), It's not that it's hard to follow God; it's easy to follow God. It's just that it's easier not to follow Him.

It is a profound thought. I don't know if the people listening on Sunday agreed or disagreed. But let's ask a few questions of ourselves.

• If we were to record every thought and action of our day, would we find our hearts turned towards God or towards the world?
• In our Christ-walk, are we found to be people of prayer and people of the Word?
• Do we love being engaged in works of service to God, or are we showing up out of grudging obligation?
• Are our decision-making processes based on cultural tradition and current trends, or are they based on what God has said?

My prayer for us is that we all hold in our hearts a deep desire to be found in the company of our Lord, hearing and obeying His word, and doing His work.

Do not lack in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer. (Romans 12:11-12)

"When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die." -Dietrich Bonhoeffer