Showing posts with label hebrews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hebrews. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Worship lifestyle part two
1 Cor 10:31-33
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God - even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
Last post I discussed the first part of this scripture and something that was on my heart. This topic is still on my mind. Living for the glory of God is such a big issue, that I feel we could talk about it always. As do I feel that there are always things in my life that I need to correct before I can honestly say that I honor God with my whole life. If I would even get to that point. Big if.
As with all things, I think the state of our heart is important. Our God knows your heart and mine, and He knows our desires. Main point here is this: is He our main desire?
That questions poses a health check. We can't get to 1 Corinthians 10:32-33 if this is not the case. A desire to know Him more is where we need to start and keep coming back to. Hebrews 11 states that 'without faith it is impossible to please God', in Psalm 104 the author writes that his meditions pleases God, in 1 Timothy 2 we can read that it pleases God when we pray, give thanks and intercede for other people.
All these - and other scriptures that discuss pleasing God and giving God glory - have one theme in the middle. We actually NEED to spend time with Him. Quality time. Have you grown more hungry lately? I think in order for us to play a larger role in reaching our cities, 'so that they may be saved', it is imperative that we grow more hungry and spend more time with our Creator. We are stronger with Him.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Meeting each other
Hebrews 10:24-25
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another...
Now 2012 is coming to a close, and what a year it has been. So much has happened and I am very excited for the next year. In the last post I mentioned I have been away on a big trip and since I came back I mainly had something on my heart that might be best described as 'community'. In the broader sense of the word.
Hebrews 10:24-25 is probably one of the most used scriptures when considering community. So there's nothing new here. I do think this is a great scripture to have on your heart when entering the new year, as in my opinion, you can't do life on your own. This has two simple reasons: you need others, and others need you. Do not undervalue that last reason.
Furthermore I think sometimes we take community, or simple social activities with other people/Christians as add-ons in our life. Whilst this translation (NLT) makes this a 'mild suggestion' or an encouragement, the author uses more aggressive language. I don't always check out the Greek, but sometimes I like to know exactly what something means. The word 'motivate' in v24 is paroksysmos in Greek, which translates to provoke or stir up. So it has a much more compulsory or pushing edge to it. The author here is motivating us to push each other to do acts of love and good works.
The next part is my focal point. Again the author uses strong language. The Greek for neglect here is egkataleipo, which is stronger than neglect, it translates into forsaking, or leaving behind. It is not talking about missing a meeting, or not having a coffee with friends in a week. But the author is emphasizing the importance of meeting up with - in this case - Christian friends. You need other people to push you to keep loving and doing good and vice versa.
And to be really honest, we could have worse obligations. To have lunch with some friends and to speak into each others lives is probably one of the best and most fun things to do. I would like to end this final 2012 blogpost with an encouragement for next year:
Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. (Col. 3:13-15)
Have a great New Year's and be blessed in 2013. His love never fails.
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another...
Now 2012 is coming to a close, and what a year it has been. So much has happened and I am very excited for the next year. In the last post I mentioned I have been away on a big trip and since I came back I mainly had something on my heart that might be best described as 'community'. In the broader sense of the word.
Hebrews 10:24-25 is probably one of the most used scriptures when considering community. So there's nothing new here. I do think this is a great scripture to have on your heart when entering the new year, as in my opinion, you can't do life on your own. This has two simple reasons: you need others, and others need you. Do not undervalue that last reason.
Furthermore I think sometimes we take community, or simple social activities with other people/Christians as add-ons in our life. Whilst this translation (NLT) makes this a 'mild suggestion' or an encouragement, the author uses more aggressive language. I don't always check out the Greek, but sometimes I like to know exactly what something means. The word 'motivate' in v24 is paroksysmos in Greek, which translates to provoke or stir up. So it has a much more compulsory or pushing edge to it. The author here is motivating us to push each other to do acts of love and good works.
The next part is my focal point. Again the author uses strong language. The Greek for neglect here is egkataleipo, which is stronger than neglect, it translates into forsaking, or leaving behind. It is not talking about missing a meeting, or not having a coffee with friends in a week. But the author is emphasizing the importance of meeting up with - in this case - Christian friends. You need other people to push you to keep loving and doing good and vice versa.
And to be really honest, we could have worse obligations. To have lunch with some friends and to speak into each others lives is probably one of the best and most fun things to do. I would like to end this final 2012 blogpost with an encouragement for next year:
Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. (Col. 3:13-15)
Have a great New Year's and be blessed in 2013. His love never fails.
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