Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009

TWG - January 28, 2009 - Living Transparently

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Just call me builder Bob. That’s all I do anymore. Yesterday morning I ran out to the rental and helped a renter unclog his drain. It took no more than 15 minutes PRAISE THE LORD! Then it was off to work. I’m building a shed. I have the walls up and almost half the trusses up. Last night I went to men’s meeting. A lot of concern about our country and the need to step up and give to others who are hurting and do the work of the ministry. Great! Not much else happening in my life. Just sore muscles and more work to do!

Today is January 28, this is time with God, I’m Pastor Dennis - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. You are part of a devotional community where we put Christ first and our commitment is to spend time with each other and Time with God every day.

Today's Scripture reading is Joshua 10; Psalm 133; Colossians 3

Today’s thought comes from 1 Cor 10:31-33 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

I grew up in the era of personal privacy. One of our theme songs was from a James Bond Movie, “Live and let live.” One of our presidents instituted a policy called “don’t ask, don’t tell.” One of our favorite sayings was “mind your own business.” But we paid a price for privacy. If no one is allowed into your world, you lose the benefits of community. The previous generation understood community. They grew up in little hamlets where everyone knew everyone else and if you did something wrong, the word got to your parents before you even made it home… that is if they didn’t help themselves to a bit of community discipline first! But our generation… we just wanted to “do our own thing” and be left alone. That doesn’t square well with the scriptural idea of community. The fact is people are watching us. We have a responsibility to maintain a godly reputation. Genuine Christianity insists that we live transparent lives. Our faith necessitates that we think about how other people think about us. We can’t do as we please. Christianity is focused on the needs of others, not just on self. If I offend even one person by my words or actions and make him or her turn away from Christ, it is not acceptable. And it doesn’t matter how small a thing it is in my eyes. It may be minor to me, like what I eat or what I drink, but if it brings a bad name to the cause of Christ, it’s time for me to change! And those taboos are different from one culture to another! We live in a multicultural society and sometimes we offend people of other cultures without knowing it! If we want to reach them, we need to learn their cultural values. We live this way because we really believe there is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun. They are lost! Our lifestyle is a witness. Our mission is to live differently. We must be so radically different that we stand out in the crowd. The difference is this: our ambition is to gain their favor by serving them! Not a lot of that going on in our world! That is a behavior worth imitating.

Dear Father. Make me a servant. Help me to develop a reputation of service and love so that I will attract people to Christ by my behavior and reputation. It goes against my nature to put others first, but I want to overcome the sin of selfishness and learn to really care about the spiritual needs of my world.

As many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 10:01 AM |   

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