Tag Archives: desire

Love Your Neighbour – James 2:8-13

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I think “Love your neighbour as yourself” is one of the best known lines of the Bible.  At least thats what non-Christians quote to me when telling me what they understand about the faith.  Have we ever thought about what this law actually means!?

Sure I have….  Havent I?  I am nice to people…

Thinking about it in detail, our neighbour is not simply those who live next door and behind our physical homes, but litterally everyone!  It says quite clearly in James we shouldnt have favourites, and I know for a fact I have been guilty of that in the past, avoiding someone else, and “bee-lining” for someone who is more popular, easier to talk to or have less problems to “moan” about!

You see the problem there is I displayed selfishness, and by that simple action, broke the “law of loving”.

OK, but I have never murdered anyone, nor have I stolen from a bank, robbed a car or anything terribly bad!

 Well, when standing in court for a driving offence be it speeding or parking, it will not help your case should you say, “But I havent murdered, anyone your honour!”.  The fact is, a law has been broken, thus the penalty must be served.

The Bible is clear also, that the wages of sin is death.  And if it were not for our Lord God, through the death and ressurection of His Son Jesus Christ, there would be no hope for us!  We would be no doubt be sent away was it not for His love.

Now as Christians, it is clear we have a calling to keep this law.

Speak and act as people who will be judged by the law that sets us free.
James 2:12  - GNB 

It is a desire of our hearts, as we are freed from slavery to sin (Rom 8:2).  As part of our relationship of love with the Lord, it is natural to want to live a life for Him, to follow Jesus’ example and live like Him.  Examine your heart, examine your motives, and if there is anything that you are struggling with, leave it at Jesus feet, seeking His help.  Invite His Holy Spirit to open the eyes of your heart, to guide you, and to strengthen you in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Servant Heart – 1 Corinthians 3:1-10

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6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.

(NLT)

Reading today’s Daily Devotional in Our Daily Bread reminds me of the very many occasions where I have looked to get the credit for a great idea of mine, or for something I have done that has pleased others.  I can even remember how angry I have felt if someone else has taken the credit for my own work!!  Of course I desire the attention for my own means, to build myself up artificially and give myself a confidence and ego boost.  In fact even a couple of years ago, my “ego” was 200 thousand miles above sea level!!!  I nursed it daily, was very loud mouthed about my achievements and would really enjoy received what I perceived as adulation!

Of course the great feeling I would get would only last a few minutes if that.  People soon forgot events, and it no longer mattered.  Over the last year the Lord really has humbled me, sure I still struggle with the desire to “big myself up” and to say “look what I have done”, however the Lord is giving strength to resist and to take a step back!

Our actions should not be to glorify ourselves, but to give glory to the Risen Lord.  It is He who gives us breath, He who gives us life, health, opportunities, so to Him should go the glory!  In this passage in Corinthians, Paul says “who is Paul?”  He is highlighting that he is not important in the grand scheme of things!  After all, Paul may have planted a seed, but it is the Lord that does the watering!  It is God who nurtures and tends to the gardens of our heart and brings forth wonderful and amazing fruit.

All our actions should not be to seek attention, glory, credit, adulation etc, but to advance the Kingdom of God, and to give Him glory.  We may plant, and sometimes dig up the crop, but the Lord does the hard work!  By humbling ourselves and adopting a servant heart to the Lord, wanting only to do His will, others may not notice in this life, but the Lord certainly will, and He has promised us reward in heaven!

10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

James 4:10 (NLT)

Worry – Matthew 6:25-34

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Today I will be doing the talk at Youth Group on Worry.  As always I get nervous before anything like this, so I am going to write a little on what I learnt during my research for on this subject.  Hopefully will give me a little confidence boost.

Jesus asks the following questions about worry:

28 is life not more important than food?  Outlining that some of the things we worry about are insignificant compared to other far more important things that we take for granted.

26 Are not the birds of the air don’t store food and yet are fed?  Highlighting our worry about the future and the things we store up for it.

28 Why worry about clothes when God has dressed the fields with such beauty?  If God clothes them in such beauty, then surely he will clothe His children!

The above questions are highlighting our need to Trust in Him and not to waste time worrying about things that in the grand scheme of life are not that important!

Reasons for not worrying:

v27 – You are not adding any hours to your life by worrying.  In fact you are wasting valuable time!

v28 – When seeking His Kingdom, you will be provided for.

The Activity:

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for

tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I will then be getting the group to make a list of worries they have.  The next step is they will mark any worry classed as a yesterday, then tommorows, then the todays.

For the yesterdays we will put a line through them as we can do nothing about them now

For the tomorrows we will put a line through them as the time to do something about these will come yet the time is not now.

For the today’s we will write one thing next to each that we can do to help us worry less.  For example prayer, talking to someone, making an apology etc.

We will then end in a prayer asking to help to put His Kingdom first, and help to trust Him.  And to also leave our worries with Him.

Conclusion:

The thing you should want most is God’s Kingdom and doing what God desires of us.  Then all the other things we need will be provided.