Who owns what? Who owns who? Interesting how we Christians are so into ownership. We want to know who owns something. We want to know who is in charge. And then we set up our own ownership by applying rules to those who are in charge. If what they do doesn't match up with what we expect, we begin to question their actions. Why? Because we are into ownership. And who better to know what should or should not be done than us? And so our thinking goes.
But real ownership belongs to God. He is the owner of the world because He created the world. Now Satan would like to usurp that position. So when we begin to question what God is doing with His world and His people, either individually or corporately, guess what? We have just given ownership to Satan. We are not called to question God or His people. We are called to trust God and His people. Just a minute, you say. What if a Christian doesn't do what is right? Well be sure first of all that you know, not think, that something is wrong. Be sure you don't assume something is wrong because you do not understand what is going on. Secondly, a gentle talk with the one whom you suspect is wrong would be good IF you are a part of the solution. Suspect is probably the operative word here. When we suspect someone we take ownership of knowing better, having the answers. being right in our own eyes.
So how to we get out of the morass of "ownership"? By realizing that we own nothing. We have been entrusted by God with ministries, family, friends, home, children, but they are NOT ours, they are His.
But the really bottom line? You and I are OWNED by God. Interesting how we love to sing, "I surrender all", or "I give myself to you" as though we had something to do with it. God's Spirit brings us to the place where we can rejoice that He owns us. I've yet to hear someone say, "Praise God, He owns me." We would much rather say, "Praise God. I gave myself to Jesus," or "I accepted Jesus for my own." It's wonderful that His grace surrounds us so that He accepts what we say. But as for me - today I will rejoice that He OWNS me. I was bought by His holy and precious blood upon that cross where He willingly and gladly went to take my sin. I was bought by a priceless gift - the love of Jesus.
John 3:16, "God so loved the world that He gave His only son, Jesus."
Monday, February 23, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Musings of the Day #2
I received a great comment on yesteday's blog. "When people feel slighted, they eat rat poison and wait for the rat to die." It put's yesterday's comments in succinct form. Thanks, Pastor Ryan Brons.
Why do we need to control everything we are involved in? Many believers suffer from that delusion, elusion, or whatever. There seem to be several motives for this need. One is that we don't think anyone else can do it as well as we personally can. That means I think I'm better than others - rather arrogant wouldn't you say? The second reason is that I am insecure. To hide my insecurity, I need to be in control. Poor reason, I'd say. Another reason is that we believe our true value is best expressed when we are in control. Many of us want to lead where God has not called us to lead. When this happens, we find ourselvs in a world of trouble. The Lord does not bless leadership He has not established. And if He calls you to leadership even though you feel inadquate, He will lead, guide, and bless if you seek His face and do not lay your hand on the control knob.
We work with an orphanage in Malawi called Hope Childrens' Centre. One of the main issues has centered on this desire to be in control. I have watched the enemy come in to pit people against each other all in the name of control. Who owns the project? Who should run it? Who has the final say so. In such situations, there are multiple parties involved with varied interests and reasons for being involved. There is the government of the country with its rules and regulaltions which must be met. There is the national leadership of the Malawian Church who started the orphanage and registered it with the government. Then there are the missionaries on the ground, the Board in America, and so the list goes on.
What I have seen is that almost everyone has missed the main point. The orphanage belongs to God who called the vision into being through the leaders of the church there. We responded to the call to come alongside and help. So who owns the orphanage? God. Who owns the vision?
God. Who runs the orphanage? I would hope that all could answer that God by His Spirit leads us all in our individual roles so that the glory of the completed vision and work belongs to God.
So what in your life to you want to control that God has not placed in your hands, but rather has allowed you to place your hand in His that He might lead you in His work? You could study that sentence awhile. The truth is there. God gives the vision, the work, the need. He has a plan on how to solve the situation, deal with the person, lead the church, or whatever the need is. If He calls you to be involved in this need, you put your hand in His. You submit your will to His. Then you let Him lead you to your part in the work or solution. But remember He has the bigger hand and so He is in control. Who better to be in control than God who sees all, knows all and loves all? Any other way leads to a big crash.
Matthew 7:24-27, "Therefore everyone who hear these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who build his house on the rock................ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat agains that house, and it fell with WITH A GREAT CRASH."
The choice is yours - a crash or a solid work of the Lord.
Why do we need to control everything we are involved in? Many believers suffer from that delusion, elusion, or whatever. There seem to be several motives for this need. One is that we don't think anyone else can do it as well as we personally can. That means I think I'm better than others - rather arrogant wouldn't you say? The second reason is that I am insecure. To hide my insecurity, I need to be in control. Poor reason, I'd say. Another reason is that we believe our true value is best expressed when we are in control. Many of us want to lead where God has not called us to lead. When this happens, we find ourselvs in a world of trouble. The Lord does not bless leadership He has not established. And if He calls you to leadership even though you feel inadquate, He will lead, guide, and bless if you seek His face and do not lay your hand on the control knob.
We work with an orphanage in Malawi called Hope Childrens' Centre. One of the main issues has centered on this desire to be in control. I have watched the enemy come in to pit people against each other all in the name of control. Who owns the project? Who should run it? Who has the final say so. In such situations, there are multiple parties involved with varied interests and reasons for being involved. There is the government of the country with its rules and regulaltions which must be met. There is the national leadership of the Malawian Church who started the orphanage and registered it with the government. Then there are the missionaries on the ground, the Board in America, and so the list goes on.
What I have seen is that almost everyone has missed the main point. The orphanage belongs to God who called the vision into being through the leaders of the church there. We responded to the call to come alongside and help. So who owns the orphanage? God. Who owns the vision?
God. Who runs the orphanage? I would hope that all could answer that God by His Spirit leads us all in our individual roles so that the glory of the completed vision and work belongs to God.
So what in your life to you want to control that God has not placed in your hands, but rather has allowed you to place your hand in His that He might lead you in His work? You could study that sentence awhile. The truth is there. God gives the vision, the work, the need. He has a plan on how to solve the situation, deal with the person, lead the church, or whatever the need is. If He calls you to be involved in this need, you put your hand in His. You submit your will to His. Then you let Him lead you to your part in the work or solution. But remember He has the bigger hand and so He is in control. Who better to be in control than God who sees all, knows all and loves all? Any other way leads to a big crash.
Matthew 7:24-27, "Therefore everyone who hear these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who build his house on the rock................ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat agains that house, and it fell with WITH A GREAT CRASH."
The choice is yours - a crash or a solid work of the Lord.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Musings of the Day #1
How easy it is for us to take offense from others because of our perceptions. Our perceptions are based on who we are, where we have been, and how we view those with whom we take offense. This means that offense is the responsibility of the one who feels offended. Most often in our Christian lives, we perceive offense much more easily from other Christians than from the non-Christian. This stems from our belief that Christians and especially Christian leaders should act a certain way. That 'certain way' is clouded by who we are and how we feel on a given day. We don't often realize that the source of the offense is within ourselves.
It is true that there are those who offend. They deliberately make someone angry or hurt someone. But the offended still has the choice and the responsibility to take or leave the offense. If we take the offense, we have to deal with its consequences in our lives. If we leave it on the table and refuse to pick it up, we are the richer and more blessed by our decision. We make this decision many times in a day. Those closest to us who offend us are the most difficult for us to choose not to be offended. But the offense is often caused because our expectations of them are not realistic or beyond where they are.
How do we get out of this dilema? The Scripture says, "Love covers a multitude of sins."I Peter 4:8. Love is the key to overcoming offense. Read I Peter 4:7-11. Powerful words for these days in which we live.
It is true that there are those who offend. They deliberately make someone angry or hurt someone. But the offended still has the choice and the responsibility to take or leave the offense. If we take the offense, we have to deal with its consequences in our lives. If we leave it on the table and refuse to pick it up, we are the richer and more blessed by our decision. We make this decision many times in a day. Those closest to us who offend us are the most difficult for us to choose not to be offended. But the offense is often caused because our expectations of them are not realistic or beyond where they are.
How do we get out of this dilema? The Scripture says, "Love covers a multitude of sins."I Peter 4:8. Love is the key to overcoming offense. Read I Peter 4:7-11. Powerful words for these days in which we live.
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