Reaping and Sowing?
Okay so I am teaching my kids the principle of reaping and sowing. I start out by talking to them about what kinds of seeds we plant. Like if we plant good seeds what kind of fruit will we get “Good” dad! And if we plant Bad seeds what kind of fruit will we get “BAD DAD”!
They are very smart kids for sure. The problem comes as I keep talking and saying, I have planted Bad seeds most of my life. I have been selfish, I have been disobedient, I have been mean and angry at times. I have not planted good seeds as much as I desire to. I have planted bad seeds.
My kids look at me funny, but they understand as I ask. Who is the only one who has “Good” seeds? God, they answer. They understand when I get that look and I say something like. It is a good principle, we need to plant good seeds, But Jesus is the only way this is ever going to happen. I want to quickly turn my kids from becoming moral people to becoming people who understand that God’s grace has to be the motivating factor for lasting change. I am unable in myself to find good seeds to plant for my life. I am unable to make anything grow, I am unable to cause others to change let alone change myself.
So I teach this principle of sowing and reaping and then I add, it is all useless unless Jesus Christ transforms our lives. And we worship Jesus who took every Sin, every bad seed. Jesus the one who planted His Word and His Spirit in our hearts that we might truly bear good fruit and bring God Glory.
“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, - Luke 6:43 ESV
Costly Grace - Props to Bonhoeffer
I read this recently and figured many of my friends never have So enjoy!
CHEAP GRACE is the deadly enemy of our Church. We are fighting to-day for costly grace.
Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like cheapjacks’ wares. The sacraments, the forgiveness of sin, and the consolations of religion are thrown away at cut prices. Grace is represented as the Church’s inexhaustible treasury, from which she showers blessings with generous hands, without asking questions or fixing limits. Grace without price; grace without cost! The essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance; and, because it has been paid, everything can be had for nothing. Since the cost was infinite, the possibilities of using and spending it are infinite. What would grace be if it were not cheap?
Cheap grace means grace as a doctrine, a principle, a system. It means forgiveness of sins proclaimed as a general truth, the love of God taught as the Christian “conception” of God. An intellectual assent to that idea is held to be of itself sufficient to secure remission of sins. The Church which holds the correct doc trine of grace has, it is supposed, ipso facto a part in that grace. In such a Church the world finds a cheap covering for its sins; no contrition is required, still less any real desire to be delivered from sin. Cheap grace therefore amounts to a denial of the living Word of God, in fact, a denial of the Incarnation of the Word of God.
Cheap grace means the justification of sin without the justification of the sinner. Grace alone does everything, they say, and so everything can remain as it was before. “All for sin could not atone.” The world goes on in the same old way, and we are still sinners “even in the best life” as Luther said. Well, then, let the Christian live like the rest of the world, let him model himself on the world’s standards in every sphere of life, and not presumptuously aspire to live a different life under grace from his old life under sin. That was the heresy of the enthusiasts, the Anabaptists and their kind. Let the Christian beware of rebelling against the free and boundless grace of God and desecrating it. Let him not attempt to erect a new religion of the letter by endeavoring to live a life of obedience to the commandments of Jesus Christ! The world has been justified by grace. The Christian knows that, and takes it seriously.
He knows he must not strive against this indispensable grace. Therefore—let him live like the rest of the world! Of course he would like to go and do something extraordinary, and it does demand a good deal of self-restraint to refrain from the attempt and content himself with living as the world lives. Yet it is imperative for the Christian to achieve renunciation, to practice self-effacement, to distinguish his life from the life of the world. He must let grace be grace indeed, otherwise he will destroy the world’s faith in the free gift of grace.
Let the Christian rest content in his worldliness and with this renunciation of any higher standard than the world. He is doing it for the sake of the world rather than for the sake of grace. Let him be comforted and rest assured in his possession of this grace—for grace alone does everything. Instead of following Christ, let the Christian enjoy the consolations of his grace! That is what we mean by cheap grace, the grace which amounts to the justification of sin without the justification of the repentant sinner who departs from sin and from whom sin departs. Cheap grace is not the kind of forgiveness of sin which frees us from the toils of sin. Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves.
Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.
Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble, it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.
Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: “ye were bought at a price,” and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.
Costly grace is the sanctuary of God; it has to be protected from the world, and not thrown to the dogs. It is therefore the living word, the Word of God, which he speaks as it pleases him. Costly grace confronts us as a gracious call to follow Jesus, it comes as a world of forgiveness to the broken spirit and the contrite heart. Grace is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says: “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
[Source “Devotional Classics” edited by Richard J. Foster & James B. Smith; “The Cost of Discipleship” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.]
Repentance
I went fishing this morning. I was inspired up early and Starbuck’s was not opening for another half hour. So I parked and walked down to the pond to try my luck. There was a lot of moss, which made me have to stop after every cast to clean off the lure. Then the mosquitos started to attack me! So after about 10 casts I am getting frustrated and bitten and as I go to pull the seaweed off my hook I did it, the hook penetrated deep into my thumb. A simple pull was not going to get it out. It was stuck. I have been stuck worse before. But still it was fairly deep and I knew what it would take to get it out, I yanked it hard and felt the flesh that was on the inside of my finger was now on the outside (I don’t like that). You see this is what I call repentance, the removal of the hook.
We try other things like rationalizing, “perhaps no one will notice?” “I don’t really need to shake hands anyway because fist bumps are in, high fives are out.” “If I keep real still it doesn’t even hurt that much.” Yeah whatever, repentance is a positive move, it is the removal of the problem. Sometimes it really hurts but it is the only real solution.
In Joshua 7 - Achan is a guy that takes something that he was told not too and Israel goes out to fight and loses. There is hidden sin and until it is removed Israel will not win any battles. Does that sound like your spiritual life? Is there something you need to remove so that you can have victory. Our God is very gracious if you will turn from your sins and embrace what Jesus did on the cross in your place. I know Him, He will treat you so well. So much better than you deserve.
You see before I went fishing this morning, I woke up and the Holy Spirit showed me that I have not been serving others well, I repented I asked God to forgive me and to help me serve others better. Me getting hooked was just another way God wanted me to think about repentance so that I could share with you. I tell you…He is Good!
Love you
No more Scheming!
SCHEMING: In my mind I picture a man in a dark room with a dark plan. I picture a person kinda like this gargoyle rubbing his hands together thinking about how make himself prosper. So many negative thoughts with that word. In my mind, this word always has to do with what I want and what I will do to get it.
Proverbs 24:8 Whoever plans to do evil will be called a schemer. (ESV)
My problem comes when I have to look at my life in light of scheming. See by nature, I am a schemer. No I don’t look to hurt others, I don’t want to break the law and if you looked at my schemes you might even think that if they happened it would be a good thing. See that is the problem! I have trouble discerning what it is I do that makes me look good and what is I do for God’s glory. Part of the problem is they can both happen at the same time! But regardless of how people see me, I know my heart and I have found it deceives me because it wants what it wants. So what do I do?
First let me just say this. A plan is not a bad thing. It’s good to have a plan. I am working through my life plans and ministry plans and it really helps me to see the future. So plans are not bad.
Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
Lately I have been reading in Genesis about Abraham and he was going along fine walking in faith when somewhere along the way He gets off of God’s plan and starts to devise his own plan or as I would call it a scheme. C’mon Not Abraham dude! Yep. Abraham! Look at Genesis 12
Genesis 12:11 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, 12 and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.”
So where does this becomes a scheme? Abraham that is your wife dude! You say I would never do that. Yeah whatever. Here is what I want you to look at. Read how many times in these verses he says “they will”. You know you are going down the wrong path when you are more worried about what “they will” do than what God has said. The fear of man is a snare! God would have had to be a liar if those guys killed Abraham. Because God had just told him Abraham I will make you a great nation (Gen. 12:2). But Abraham is a sinner and a Schemer just like us. But he believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. Jesus Christ is the only one who was perfect! He died for Schemers! Praise God. But here is the deal, God still wants us Schemers to repent of our Scheming. So….
Is there any situation in your life where you are trying to control? (give it over to God)
Are you making decisions based on the fear of God or the fear of man?
Do like I did and get on your face, ask God to reveal your scheming mind. Pour out your heart to Him and ask him to cause whatever needs to happen in your life that He might get more Glory. As followers of Christ, it has to be our life motivation.
God wont you please use our lives for your Glory! Amen.
God Spoke to me!
Isn’t it great when God speaks. In the past year I have been asking questions and trying to listen real hard. I tell God if He would just speak I would do whatever it is He wants me to do! It seems like sometimes that is the way I try to listen. And people ask “Did God tell you anything?” and I say, “Not Yet”, I am still listening.
Well I have been reading Between Two Worlds by John Stott for one of my classes and God spoke to me! Not in the way I wanted or expected but He spoke and I have come to the realization that the reason I seek Him for my specific answer is because I believe that He is a living God and He desires to disclose himself. God is light and in Him there is no Darkness. Meaning He does not hide himself from people who want to know Him. God’s heart is to reveal himself that is why He gave us His word.
Here are some of the verses that John Stott points out that really hit me -
Gal 4:30 “But what does the Scripture say?” - wait a minute it’s just a book, it doesn’t actually speak to us does it?
Hebrews 3:7-8 “So, as the Holy Spirit says:”Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert”
C’mon is it really possible that I am going to hear God’s voice today? The writer was quoting Psalm 95, seems the same message from the old testament was speaking in the new testament. Saying “LISTEN UP! GOD STILL SPEAKS!” The part we need to be careful of is the part where we harden our heart.
Ok That was in the Bible times Tone, but what about today?
When John writes to the churches in the book of Revelation - He says to each of the churches “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev. 2-3) - So God is speaking to the churches, this is the time we live in. If you are in a church that God does not speak, GET OUT! God’s Spirit should be leading the church. (Ok just a small rant there).
I know if you are reading this you are saying o.k. Tone but what about you, you said that God spoke to you. And I say, “well, yeah He did!” You want to know what He said?
He said - “Tone, Stop Trying to find out what I am saying, apart from my word.” The reality is I want something more, like a vision or a sign or a phone call! But what God was saying to me was, “Read my word and listen, because I will speak to you through it!”
That’s what He said.
Called to the priesthood
I didn’t grow up in the Catholic faith but I know some guys that felt that someday they would be a priest. It was a high calling. Martin Luther described his inward call to the priesthood as “God’s voice heard by faith”.I have been a pastor for about 10 years and the call to ministry came to me through other people. I started attending Moody Bible Institute where I received an M.A. in Biblical Studies. Throughout my time at Moody, I did internships with churches in youth ministry. I felt gifted at it and I observed that kids were growing. Other youth leaders would share with me struggles and I would start to tell them what God said in His Word. I would sometimes stop myself and say, “Oh I guess I’m preaching at you.” But many replied, “that is why I came to you.” It seemed that people wanted me to tell them what God thought. I also noticed the other leaders growing and starting to have victory in their spiritual lives. I was not afraid to question them or hold them accountable, something they had not experienced before. Some of them commented that they thought I would make a good pastor someday. I think I have known that I wanted to be in ministry every since I led my first person to Christ. I saw that this person was now going to heaven and I was bursting with joy. I told my mom, “Mom this is the greatest thing you could ever do! My friend was going to hell and now he is going to heaven.” I still think it is the greatest thing I could ever do.
As I was reading Exodus 19:3-6 While Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
God was not calling Moses only to be a priest, he was calling the whole nation of Israel! Like everyone of you is suppose to be a priest! It wasn’t like they needed to discern the call, Moses said, God says you are CALLED! Tell them they have been called.
Israel was called to be a missionary people. Each one to teach people about who God is and about his ways. Well it seems Israel kind missed it. But here is the question…Have you?
1 Peter 2:9-10 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
It seems the Call is still out there for every Christians. Who are you a priest to?
Do you know what a Priest is? If you are a Christian, it is you! Intercede for people, bring them to Jesus! Welcome to the priesthood.
Tone b.
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Missional = Normal (or aleast it should be) Part 1
I have been reading about what it means to be a missional church. I have to admit, I guess what I am learning is what I have always thought it should be like anyway. However working in several churches, I saw glimpses of it, but somehow there seemed to be other factors at work.
Some things I have been learning.
- Missions is not a committee or a ministry of the church, it is the church. We cannot relegate some trip to Mexico as Missions, as a church we are to be on Mission all the time. Funny how I would spend weeks to prepare kids for a mission trip, 2 times a week we would meet together and talk about the culture we were going into and how it was different than ours, how we should not say certain words “stupid” is very offensive in Mexico : $ err I mean…anyway. We would learn the background of the people and what they ate and where they hung out. Yet in my local church I never did that with my church friends, I didn’t try to figure those things out for my own city. I take the blame, I didn’t know, even though I said, “I have always believed” that this was what we should do. As a younger unsaved person I went to a church that did not preach the bible, they were very seeker sensitive, yet they did not offer much truth. I think maybe part of not engaging the culture more was a fear that I would fall into that trap. So I made sure I taught the bible and evangelism to my students, but it seemed in my ministries we would only really engage the culture with our big events. I am glad God is allowing me to learn once again. I really have loved every church I have been in and I think they loved me too : ) But as I continue to learn what it means to be on mission all the time as a church, I am getting excited.
- Another false view I had of the church was it was a place I could choose as I pleased. I could pick up and move whenever I wanted and I did. When I felt that I had done all that I could do I moved onto another challenge. I don’t regret this, Paul did it and I may do it many more times in my life. As I have been reading some great books, I am realizing that I need to not go to a church just because my skills fit and they have a job opening, but because I want to love that city. Like if I live somewhere I am going to church there, like close by! I am not gonna drive to a church more than 10 miles from my house. I want to love the exact area God puts me in. I want to be engaged in the community, I want to make it a better place, because Jesus is redeeming people there, He is not just redeeming people but changing the culture of those people at the same time and transforming communities with the Gospel. I use to think if a church moved in next door, that our church would lose people and that was scary, but now the way I see it is more people to be missionaries in our community. So refreshing to know that we dont have to worry about building the kingdom (Mt. 16:18) because Jesus said He would do that. I need to seek it (Mt. 6:33), I need to recieve it (Mk. 10:15) and I need to enter it (Mt. 7:21) and Jesus does His work through me as I know my part.
- Last one for this post, I need the Gospel. It is as evident to me as the day I realized that Jesus was a Doctor and He came for sick people and that I was very sick. I realize it more and more each day I live, I need His grace. I gotta have it, I cannot go on without it. If I lose everything else, I dont want to lose this. And the great news is, it was never about how good I was, always about Jesus, the story is about Jesus, I am in it somewhere but I never forget this is not my story it is His-Story. Jesus is the center of everything, if a church can have a service and Jesus is not a the center of the worship and the message, that is not a Missional church. It has lost it’s head literally! Jesus is the senior pastor and leader of every true church. I never want to be the senior Pastor because that is Jesus Job. I want to be in a church where when you leave the gathering sunday, Jesus is everything. When I feel like I am something, I want to be with people who remind me of who Jesus is and what He did for me, I want people to tell me the Gospel when I am anxious, when I feel unworthy, when I think I am good, I have learned that I need the Gospel always and I need to have the name of Jesus on my lips and my life. I want to be a fragrance of life, a person who has that life inside of him that makes men says, “Oh, thats what it looks like.”
Thanks for reading some thought I been having. : ) Tone
For more: Here are some thoughts I borrowed from another blog.
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