-

 Romans 12 - To be Christian

Let’s face it.  The modern church must do better.  Like our Christian organizations, the church is so worldly.  We need to turn back to God.  We need to turn back to the basics, back to the Bible.  As men and women we need to live according to God’s way, or we will have to eat the bitter fruit of living our own way, choking on our own schemes (Proverbs 1:31).  Romans 12 tells us how to live, and how to use our special abilities.

Lord Jesus, I pray you will transform me into a new person by changing how I think.  Please help me to learn Your Way.  Teach me and show me behaviors and customs that are acceptable to You.  Make our organizations function, not in worldly successful ways, but in ways that make our efforts successful in Your eyes (Psalms 90:17).  Please show me Your will for my life and increase my faith in You as I learn to value and really love others.

Thank you for your grace, for this new life guided by the Holy Spirit with special gifts and abilities for those who believe in you.  Please help us know what our strengths are, and to use them with humble confidence.  Let us also know the special functions of others and encourage each other to use their abilities to help the Body of Christ.

Some people have the gift of prophecy.  They can explain by faith, God’s way.  Dear God, please bring these people forward to speak out with all the faith You give them.  And please remove the false teachers and fat cats.  Please encourage God’s men to speak well.  Some have abilities to serve, nay, we all can serve others somehow.  Jesus, you gift people with the ability to teach.  Strengthen them today.

        Some people couldn’t teach if their lives depended on it.  Please get them out of the profession ASAP!  Others are encouragers, leaders, and mediators.   Help us Lord Jesus to seek helpful gifts this morning.  Let me be an encourager of men and women!  And a peacemaker.  Some people are extremely generous.  They have the gift of giving.  Lord Jesus, please bless us all with hearts of generosity.

        And Lord King, help us to explore well.  Let us explore your Word and your wisdom so that we may think right.  And for each leader may they take the responsibility seriously.  Jesus, we have Your example.  You show us how to live, how to lead, how to encourage and challenge each other, how to give everything, and how to be glad in showing kindness.

        Your gifts show your character, for You, Lord God, are the Giver of everything good.  You overflow with kindness and gifts for Your people.  Increase in us I pray.  Increase our character to match Yours.  Amen.  










Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

-
Image
 Leadership in Crisis           In times of tariffs and market volatility, we naturally worry.  Yet Jesus commands us not to worry (Matthew 6:25).  These are times to depend on God, increase our productivity, store up treasure where it ought to be stored, and grow.           Christ-commissioned leaders seek to advance God’s Kingdom in all spheres of our lives.  And in good times, and bad.  Green market days and red.  So in these troubled waters let’s lead with confidence in Christ.  It’s not too hard to see when a storm is coming, but when you are amid a gale the calm seems far off.  Depend on God.  Pray.  Lead.  Serve others.  And keep checking your priorities.  Are they world-focused or Kingdom-focused?            Jesus says, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need...
Read more
-
Image
 John 10 - Growth Mindset Through the Gate           Jesus says His purpose is to give us a rich and satisfying life.  I’m in!           Have you ever felt more than ready for a change and a reset?  I was by Christmas and I am now.  I’m gladly watching what I eat and exercising.  It’s shocking how much more energy you have when you cut out the junk for a few weeks.  By reaching your 50s, you ought to know well what your body, mind, and soul need.  That's true, but like a child, I still feel like I’m learning new things - and need to do so.           I’m praying we all learn in this breakthrough year.  As Christians it is necessary to recalibrate weekly, nay, daily, to ensure we do not drift off course.  Shipwrecks are real.  No one can snatch you from God, but you can indeed for lack of fear of God and intentional neglect and disobedience take your ...
Read more
-
Image
 John 2:13-25 - Beer with Vance or Brunch with Baker           The church is desperate for authenticity, and genuine Christ followers.  Americans are desperate for good leaders, those who lead selflessly with hard work, intelligence, and grit.  We are sick of being lied to and sick of the hypocrisy.  It’s the same in the church.  The good news is that God shows us the way to authenticity and how to be good leaders.           I heard a local pastor a few years ago tell the congregation that if they ever see him drinking alcohol in a restaurant they should call for his resignation.  I too am for moderation and I have no problem with those who don't drink.  Good, great actually.  Yet the same legalists who preach legalistic messages are sometimes gorging themselves at the buffet and care nothing of transparency and living above reproach.  We all need to walk the walk.    ...
Read more