What will we think about today???

14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2)
Elsewhere, Paul exhorts us to set our minds not on those things that are earthly, but spiritual.  It's a battle.  Our minds and spirits are not tuned that way. We have a bent to focus on the physical, the earthly, and most often, the sinful. But in Christ, we have something special to help us think as we should: the mind of Christ. The way He thinks, the way He sees things is available to us through the work of the Holy Spirit.  We need to choose to focus on and listen to Him, allow Him to renew our way of thinking, tear down the lies, take our thoughts captive, and live out the mind of Christ.  What will we think about today? 

There you go... stirring things up again"

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
(Hebrews 10)
Nothing beats the old translation of verse 24 above: "provoking one another to good works..." It's what I like to call "positive provoking." Why did God give us to one another to do "church" together? To stir things up, to give us opportunities to practice this new life in Christ in community, demonstrating His love, and for us to work together, prodding each other forward, in doing those things that will advance the Gospel.  If we really believe what we say we believe, it will be shown in how we treat each other, and how we live to advance those convictions.  This faith is not to be held within our hearts or our church, but moved forward.  So go ahead, stir things up, give me a hard time. Let's move forward.

Glad to Go?

1122 I was glad when they said to me,
    “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
2 Our feet have been standing
    within your gates, O Jerusalem!

3 Jerusalem—built as a city
    that is bound firmly together,
4 to which the tribes go up,
    the tribes of the Lord,
as was decreed for Israel,
    to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
5 There thrones for judgment were set,
    the thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
    “May they be secure who love you!
7 Peace be within your walls and security within your 
    towers!”
8 For my brothers and companions' sake
    I will say, “Peace be within you!”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek your good.

David was glad to go worship at the temple. For some time, when he had been on the run, he was not able to be involved in corporate worship with God's people.  He longed for it. But he was not a selfish worshipper. His prayer was that the House of the LORD would always be there for his brothers and companions.  David got it. Worship is not just about me. It is about what God does among His peoeple when we gather together.  It is about the Peace that rules and reigns in God's presence together - a peace that draws us back into His presence over and over again. If you do not feel that way about going to be with God's people today, maybe you are going with the wrong attitude - Go expecting God to do something not just for you, but for us.  Then you will see what he is doing for you, too. 

Like Him... Unselfish

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3

Paul here is talking about the new self, the Christlike-self, the selfless self. When people look at me, is this what they see?  Do they see someone who loves as He loves, who is at peace with himself and others, who is used to be a blessing to those around him by what he says and does?  Do they see me living for His name, His sake, His purpose?  Imagine if they saw us all living this way...

The Good Hand of my GOD...

7 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah,8 and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.
(Nehemiah 2)
Here is Nehemiah, getting everything he asked for from the king. How did he do that? He tells us: "the good hand of my God." How does that happen? WHat do we see to this point about Nehemiah? This is not a step-by-step way to get what you want, but it is a way to know when God is at work. First, he had compassion for those who were suffering. When he heard what was happening to his fellow Israelites he mourned for them: he cared about others, and was moved to do something to help; he was unselfish.  Secondly, He called out to God. There is no way we can know if we are on the same page with God if we are not in open communication with Him - calling out, and listening.  Thirdly, a good dose of confession, admitting the human condition - that we are sinful, needy, helpless, without God's intervention.  Fourthly, after all this, contemplation. Nehemiah was not some impulsive reactionary.  He weighed things carefully, counting the cost - not only for himself, but for everyone involved.  All these things led to his confidence not only to ask, but to know he was in God's will.  May the hand of God be mighty in your life today.

Doing and Being...

4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Being a member of the Body of Christ, both universally and locally, is a matter of both doing and being.  Quite simply, we all have a function, responsibilities, that God has put us here to do.  Many of us are irresponsible or AWOL in doing so.  That is in large part to the "being" side. We are not loving, hopeful, patient and giving. We are selfish.  Even if we "do our part", we can be lacking on the "being" side of things, doing so with grumbling, impatience, and thinking it makes no difference at all.  Of course the common element in both is the Holy Spirit. He is the one who gives us the gifts to use, and who transforms our minds and hearts to want to serve one another.  Let's welcome HIM into our day and ask for His direction in what we should do, and for the heart to want to do it. 

He brings us together...

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8

Christ brings us together as heirs, as children of God. We often forget that and go our separate ways. But God has also given us our "Rememberer." In the upper room, when He promised the Holy Spirit, Christ said that He would "call us to remembrance" of things.  The Spirit bears witness with our spirits that we are His children, plural.  He brings us together as family. We need Him and we need one another. Let's stop trying to be so independent.