So we make no distinction between age, gender, race, financial status, etc. yes everyone gets to play. We do our best to remove barriers and limitations. We allow everyone to be involved and do the works of the kingdom.
Now what about a sinful lifestyle? God forgives sins and we must forgive. But what about persistent unrepentant sin? We must persistently forgive and accept the sinner just as Jesus did.
But we see that Jesus made a clear distinction as to who are truly his disciples. He said that the only ones who make it into his kingdom are the ones who do the will of the father (Matt 7: 21). Then he also demanded that they take up their own cross (Matt 16:24). They must be willing to die for the cause of Christ. So we have obedience to the Father with a life and death commitment.
How about saying that every disciple gets to play?
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A teachable moment opens the mind and heart. Their need, pain, or their wants cause an openness that otherwise would not be there. Once they are open, they are receptive, and willing to change.
People also experience teachable seasons. These are broader periods of time that may last from months to years. These larger periods are also caused by needs, but of greater magnitude than the needs which cause a teachable moment.
Don’t be in a hurry. Wait for a teachable moment. It’s even better if it’s a teachable season. Till then, stay connected and be generous.
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These words of an old song have been repeated and re-sung through the decades. In political speeches and in conversations, these words have been useful for many.
The idea was simple: You are to dance and return only with the person who brought you to the party. Don’t run off with others.
But this was God’s idea in the first place. God’s people walked away from him and began worshipping other gods. But they were strictly warned that they should only worship their creator who also brought them out of slavery (Leviticus 17:1-9).
Disappointments create confusion in our minds. Then our attention is diverted to those we think will have a solution for our troubles. But the only life long solution is to follow your creator, your saviour.
“Dance with who brung you” says the Lord.
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I suppose it began years ago when some close friends fell into sin and broke trust with lots of people. It was some sort of a “righteous anger” as some call it. They were wrong. No doubt about it. And I was angry!
It was interesting that I reminded myself that I wasn’t as bad as those sinners. As a matter of fact it felt good to be angry at those people. After all, they were wrong. No doubt about it.
Then I heard God’s voice. It was an inner voice telling me to look within myself. I was reminded that any sin is an offense against God. My sins were not part of the “really bad” list. But I was just as guilty before God. I was wrong. No doubt about it.
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They had to make atonement for the Holy Place? Atonement also had to be made for the altar as well as the Tent of Meeting!” (Leviticus 16:15-20) The idea was that even the place was defiled due to the sins of the people (Leviticus 16:16).
What a surprise! We’ve known that atonement (forgiveness of sins) was necessary for people of the Old Testament. In the New Testament, Jesus has become the perfect sacrifice for our sins and we don’t need to repeat the animal sacrifices. But atonement for the place itself?
I’m not advocating a return to the sacrificial system. For that would violate the value of Jesus’ sinless sacrifice (Hebrews 10). Nor do I want to put people in bondage with a guilt ridden message.
I believe we must come to grips with our sinfulness and constant “leaning” in that direction. Never take the cross of Jesus for granted. Always have a soft broken attitude regarding our sinfulness. But at the same time, be firm in your faith and confidence in the finished work of Jesus and confidence in the finished work of Jesus for our redemption – our atonement.
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Sometimes they’re just not ready. Then the timing is too early. They’re not going to find any significance in your words – not yet.
The late timing is also a problem. They were ready at one time, but you didn’t make the move or take the initiative. Maybe you didn’t realize they were ready or you were too busy with your daily tasks.
But when the timing is right, their hearts are ready and responsive. You’ll have their whole hearted involvement. They’ll catch the vision and make it their own. That’s the best way.
Watch that timing!
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Of course not. It’s about Jesus. He’s the perfect example of love lived out. Many of us talk it. He lived it and continues to live it.
The rest of the verses in that chapter highlight the primacy of love amidst many things we value. The purity and excellency of love is elegantly inserted right in the middleLove is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast ; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
It makes us long for it. Yet it seems so far out of reach. But we’re moving in that direction of Jesus as the ultimate expression of love.
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When you speak with a focus on your long-term vision, your words will have more depth. They’ll be less reactionary and more tactful.
Rather than producing a fear of doom, it ignites hope. Take it seriously that your words can either create fear or hope in people.
When you work with faith, you’ll attempt the impossible. You will step out into the water – whether it’s the Jordan or the Sea of Galilee. Maybe its the waters of your confusion. But let your words inspired by faith be your driving force, not fear.
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Actually, there really isn’t such a thing as big or small sins. In the garden of Eden, God told Adam and Eve not to eat fruit from a particular tree in the middle of the garden. They had the rest of the trees in the garden to eat from.
Sin was a matter of disobedience. Disobedience to God’s command and deviance from the pattern he has set. For God, there isn’t any big or small sins. They are all sins.
When I begin to think of myself better than others because I don’t engage in the “big” sins like others, I’m on dangerous ground. this is because I am as guilty as those “big” sinners.
But we have this hope: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
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When you trust people, it creates in them a sense of responsibility. We don’t want bondage where obligation binds the person to the leader. That’s not healthy in the long run.
Trust inspires confidence in people to live out God’s purposes for their lives. It is better to have someone working faithfully just because God created them to fulfill a purpose in life – rather than working out of obligation.
Have faith in people. Don’t create dependency and obligation. Trust them to live out the purpose for which God created them.
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