They have a lot to say. They’re also quite opinionated and will quickly point out things that should be done better or differently. They also talk passionately about their calling.
But you ask them to get involved or do something in the church? “Sorry, it’s not time yet.” They’re “waiting on God.”
After a few months, you approach them again. Since you want to give people an opportunity for involvement you make another attempt. You believe in the idea that “everyone gets to play.” But again the answer is the same. “Waiting on God.”
Finally they disappear without any notice. After some inquiry you find out they found an opportunity someplace else. So much of my time was wasted. I suppose they belonged some place else in the first place.
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Because the guilty are guilty, and God is a God of mercy. These two realities must be juxtaposed to provide a Godly balance to our lives. Without understanding both, we run the risk of two extremes.
Ignoring the guilt of sin sets us on a dangerous track. We’ll begin to re-define our sins and continue to suffer the consequences of our guilt. Things will begin to grip our lives in unexpected ways. We’ll try everything in our ability, but nothing will provide relief or an answer.
On the other hand, when God’s mercy is ignored, we’ll get into a judgmental and legalistic mode. This is equally destructive as ignoring guilt. Once we’re on a judgmental track, God is no longer part of the equation. Our works become the primary valuation for our lives. Thus we forget reality. The reality that says we are guilty and God is merciful.
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If you work hard enough, you’ll get people to fill the chairs (at least some of them). But finding people who will step forward with a vision is an entirely different issue. These are people who stand with you through difficult times. They’ll share your vision and take bold steps to see it develop into reality.
Jesus made this happen in three steps. First, he prayed to the father, the Lord of the harvest, to send laborers into his harvest field. Second, he selected people to share his vision. Third, he authorized them to do the works required to fulfill his vision (Matthew 9:37-10:1).
They were not people who fully grasped his vision. The vision sort of “grew” on them as they lived, traveled, and worked with him. So, if you’re struggling to get people with vision, relax. Do like Jesus.
Pray, select, authorize.
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Beginning with the top leaders, God gives an opportunity to receive forgiveness (Lev 4). There seems to be nothing – done by anyone – that would catch God by surprise. Any sin by anyone could be presented to God and forgiveness would be granted.
What a merciful God! He graciously put up with such a “stiff-necked” people (Exo 32:9). Although they were prone to fall away from the ways of God, he continued to be merciful. There was never a lack of opportunity for receiving forgiveness.
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You want to, but you can’t. You want to release the person, but you can’t. It seems to grip you in every part of your being.
We use the term “unforgiveness” to describe a daunting inability to forgive another person in your heart. Unforgiveness holds you hostage and keeps you from moving forward with your daily activities. It may even build strongholds in your life with a demonic element that won’t let go.
When you release the person in forgiveness, you yourself become free. You release yourself from bondage. Remember that forgiveness can be immediate, but trust must be rebuilt over time. It won’t be as simple as returning to business as usual. Give it time. Allow time for trust to be rebuilt.
Yes forgiveness is a must. Then, take time to rebuild trust in the relationship.
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You may not think so. In fact, you may have been thinking of hanging up that celebration hat permanently. For you, celebration may simply be a fleeting memory, never to return again.
The Israelites were a celebrating bunch. Much beyond their regular festivals throughout the year, there were such opportunities whenever they wanted to. But what’s there to celebrate?
They celebrated their relationship with God through the fellowship oferings. These were also called peace offerings (Lev 3). They celebrated their relationship with God and with each other. These were also offered along with sin offerings – indicating that they celebrated the restoration of their relationship with God.
No matter what you have done or where you are in life, God is waiting and longing for you to turn from your situation and return to him. He is waiting to celebrate a restored relationship with you! -
…if you trust me. There is no better way to affirm trust in those you lead. Leave them alone to do what they’ve been asked to do.
If there is constant interference, or constant checking-in with them, there is a problem. They will surely interpret that you don’t trust them to do their job faithfully.
Trust breeds faithfulness. When they feel trusted in doing a particular task, they’ll be more focused and motivated. People want to be faithful. Trust them and leave them alone to do the task. Just hang around close by. In case they need help, they’ll call on you.
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Why do you do what you do? If it weren’t for the relationships in your life, would you be doing those things? Actually, there may not be much meaning to the things you do if it were not for relationships.
When the people of God brought offerings to God, they were to add salt, which represented the covenant relationship they had with God. There was a clear statement that they were to offer salt with all their offerings (Leviticus 2:13). Every offering they made to God had to be done for the sake of the covenant relationship.
Why do you do what you do? Because of relationships. Think of every activity you do during the day. They are all connected to relationships with others in your life, and ultimately for relationship with God.
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Vision germinates in the heart. It seems hearts that suffer pain will often be ignited with vision to help others in pain. Such vision will surely make an impact.
For many, their pain simply sets them on a lifelong journey of seeking relief for themselves. They may also become bitter in the process as they find their efforts are futile. Their efforts to find comfort simply takes them nowhere.
But when pain inspires vision and you begin to help others, you also begin to find comfort for yourself. People find more comfort in comforting others than when they set out to seek comfort for themselves.
What’s your pain? Find others in similar situations and reach out to them. Allow your pain to inspire vision to touch others.
Pain inspired vision seems to fly!
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What a bold step it would have been to walk past your neighbors and friends with a bull in tow as you walk toward the temple to confess your sins.
People might ask: “Hey, where are you going with that bull?”
Answer: “Well, uh, I’m on my way to confess my sin.”
Question: “What did you do?”
Reply: “Never mind.”
Confession of sins was a public matter in front of people who know you. Even when they got to the temple, there might be people who know them. As they wait in line for their turn to offer the burnt offering for sin, people who know them would see them and might ask the same question as others: “What did you do?” Or, they might ask others: “What did he do?”
The reason we don’t do this public thing is because Jesus did this for us publicly. He walked down the streets of Jerusalem – but not with an animal for sacrifice, but his own body as a perfect sinless sacrifice for our sins. The one perfect sacrifice that was sufficient for all our sins. Thank you Jesus.
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