The word of Christ.  One of the reason I love to go to church is that our Pastor teaches directly from scripture. He’s not seeking to tickle our ears with a nice uplifting message. Instead, he spends hours during the week working to understand the original author’s message and then listening to God for how to share with all of us.  He preaches the full word of God.  He doesn’t skip over the tough parts or hop from topic to topic.  We must desire and allow the word of Christ to dwell richly in us; for it is the source of our wisdom. 

Teaching and Admonishing. None of us have attained a place of complete knowledge of God. Every step we take toward knowing Him opens our eyes to a new depth of how much of Him we have yet to understand. We forget, lose focus, and even willfully disregard our Father in heaven.  We need to be taught and reminded who God really is, what He has done, and what He is capable of. We need our brothers and sisters in Christ to do so.   To receive this we must open ourselves to relationship with them.  Finding a local body of mature believers and seeking Christ together is critical to your walk with God. 

Singing with Thankfulness. There’s something about a song that can burn in your brain and teach you for many years going forward.  Our hearts were designed for praise and song.  Our lips long to sing of His great mercies and shout of His excellence.  Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs have the power to refocus our eyes where they belong.  Singing with thankfulness together is a powerful medicine that is meant to be taken daily. 

So what is a Sunday morning like?   It is a body of believers that seeks hard after Jesus, that He (the living Word) would dwell richly in them.  Through the wisdom of His word, they teach and admonish one another through Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.  It is a place of love and powerful worship and I am blessed!

Reflection

What is your church like?

Is God’s word the rudder that steers your church?

Is it a place of teaching and admonishing?

Do you thankfully sing His praises?

Prayer

Father, we thank You that You have given us a body of believers to worship with even if we haven’t found them yet.  Lord I ask that Your people would see their need for one another and that You would provide a place for all those that are worshipping You from afar; apart from the body. Draw them together that they may grow and carry out Your great mission.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!

Exposing darkness can be as simple as not choosing to participate in something.  I remember while I was in college, a group my friends would go to a grill your own steak place whenever one of us had a birthday. Most of us had been friends since kindergarten and we enjoyed sharing tons of memories together.  After supper; however some of them decided they were going to go an adult club.  Myself and another friend abstained from participating.  This created some tension and peer pressure but also gave opportunity to speak to the value of women in God’s eyes even without saying a word.  Exposing darkness can happen with a small flashlight; it doesn’t always need a flood lamp or lighthouse.

Personal Reflection

What opportunities has God given you to walk as a child of light?  Are there things you can shine light on or abstain from to expose darkness?  Pray that God would give you eyes to see.

Prayer Focus

Holy Father, we thank you that you have made us your children of the light.  May we shine your glory for all to see.   My darkness dwindle and may your righteousness, goodness and truth reign now and forevermore, Amen!

#shinegodslight #childrenofthelight #truthtalk4life

@brianfriedl

 My heart breaks for God’s church this morning. As I read through this list, I was reminded of story after story I’ve heard on the news confirming all these truths of misdirected affections of our times.  My mind attempted to remind me that those who don’t know God  would not be desiring holiness. 

Deep within me, my mind and heart desires to see God and His goodness triumph; for His church to rise up and stand for truth.  When we get to verse 5; however, Paul pointedly connects empty religion to these affections and so I weep.  For The body of Christ should be carrying with it the love and power of God not a form of godliness without power. 

This passage is powerful because it challenges me personally to Know,Live, and Speak this truth.  I must ensure that my own affections are properly placed in the One true living God.  

Painful memories also resurface as I recall seeing my former home church move toward  an empty religion environment.  I watched as the leadership subtly moved from a place of love and grace dependent on God, to a place of performance dependent on “attracting and assigning the right people”.  It became about doing our best instead of seeing God’s best.  I attempted at first to jump through hoops but though I would satisfy every point, it wasn’t enough.   Not long after it was “recommended” that I resign.  My heart still grieves over this.  I miss my brothers and sisters in Christ there that genuinely desired to Know, Live, and Speak the truth.  At the same time I am truly thankful that we are worshipping somewhere where Jesus is center stage; not just in Word but also in action. I am free to fully minister with affections properly placed. 

Personal Reflection

Where are your affections placed?  Are you abandoning everything that sets itself against God?  Are you subtly trusting in your power and strength rather than Jesus’ finished work at the cross?  If your affections are misplaced, confess and repent today!  For there is work to be done by His power!

Prayer Focus

Father, may we as Your church never show a form of godliness but deny Your power. Let us live only by the truth of Your Word. Help us to keep Jesus at the center of everything on the throne that He has righty earned!  May our affections be for You above all else, in Jesus Name, Anen!