Religion or Gospel?

There are things I absolutely love about living in the 21st century. One of them is the wealth of information that is so easily accessible. I found this post today on the Acts 29 Network. Thank you, Mark Driscoll (pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle) for speaking words in a way that expresses my heart.

The Difference between Religion and the Gospel
By Pastor Mark Driscoll

Religion says, if I obey, God will love me. Gospel says, because God loves me, I can obey.
Religion has good people & bad people. Gospel has only repentant and unrepentant people.
Religion values a birth family. Gospel values a new birth.
Religion depends on what I do. Gospel depends on what Jesus has done.
Religion claims that sanctification justifies me. Gospel claims that justification enables sanctification.
Religion has the goal to get from God. Gospel has the goal to get God.
Religion sees hardships as punishment for sin. Gospel sees hardship as sanctified affliction.
Religion is about me. Gospel is about Jesus.
Religion believes appearing as a good person is the key. Gospel believes that being honest is the key.
Religion has an uncertainty of standing before God. Gospel has certainty based upon Jesus' work.
Religion sees Jesus as the means. Gospel sees Jesus as the end.
Religion ends in pride or despair. Gospel ends in humble joy.

"Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. . ."

(1 Corinthians 15:1-4 ESV)

I want Jesus! He is the end; He is the complete joy and fulfillment of my life!

Is He yours?

I Wonder . . .

I found this interesting article on Emilie Barnes' website, "More Hours In My Day." I have a small Bible that stays in my purse, and I LOVE having the privilege of reading God's Word during my "waiting" times (Dr. office, while Tod runs in for a quick errand, etc.) It's amazing how productive and blessed those "snatches of time" can be. It's also a great remedy for the "impatience bug" that can so easily set in when you have to wait. . .



The Cell Phone vs. The Bible


Wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phones?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we spent an hour or more using it every day?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we used it as we traveled?
What if we used it in case of an emergency?

This is something to make you go....@Hmmm....where is my Bible?@ Oh, and a few more things -- Unlike our cell phones:
The Plan fits all.
Unlimited usage.
No roaming charges.
No weak signals
We don't ever have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because
Jesus already paid the bill!

Just something to think about!
"HELP ME, LORD, TO SEE YOUR BEAUTY ALL AROUND ME. MAY MY GRATITUDE SPILL OVER FROM A CUP FULL OF THANKS TO YOU."

Many thanks to Emilie Barnes and her website. Please visit it at : http://www.morehours.bizland.com/MHIMD/

Fragrant Offering

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children

and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us

as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

(Ephesians 5:1,2 NIV)

I love birds. Just ask my husband and/or my grown children, who have been "regaled" with my observations of the bird behavior in my backyard, or in the pond next to the pharmacy drive-thru, or anywhere I happen to notice them. When I was a girl in California, we had mockingbirds as regular visitors to our yard. They loved to torment my white cat, Daisy Mae, by flying low and pecking her sunburnt ears. However, one afternoon I went outside and found my cat with the usual bloody ears, but surrounded by mockingbird feathers. I'm sure she was smiling, and the birds didn't bother her anymore . . .but back to my point.

Besides the cat vs. mockingbird match, my brother and I found that we could "teach" the mockingbird to whistle. These birds are fantastic mimics, and have even made a "meow" sound that sounds almost real! We were so proud of ouselves the summer we "taught" the mockingbird to "wolf whistle." All we had to do was to make the same sound over and over often enough. Eventually, we would hear the same sound called back to us. Patience and time, and the birds natural ability to mimic what he heard would take over (and yes, this all happened in the 20th century -- I'm not that old)

How can we possibly be imitators (or mimics) of God? We can't, without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We can't, without immersing ourselves in God's Word, so that we know what He is like; what His desires are; what pleases Him. We can't, without the "sold out" commitment to live our lives by God's values, and not our own; to become God's servant, and not our own master.

Why should we choose to be an imitator of God? Why should living a life of love be our motive? Because we are dearly loved children; because Jesus offered his very life in our place. So few words; so much emotion; so great lengths that God reached to have relationship with man.

The phrase "fragrant offering" especially struck me. What kind of life is my offering to God? Is it the fragrant scent of sacrificial love, generosity, trust in my Heavenly Father who loves me so completely and has my good and my best in His plan?

Or, is my "offering" the smelly, disgusting pile of bitterness, self-righteousness, unforgiveness, selfishness and greed?

What are you offering? Is it fragrant, like a fine perfume or incense; or is it "fragrant" like the resident skunk who has decided to frequent my backyard. . .?

Jesus or Emily Post?

I'm most probably treading on thin ice here, but this topic is something that my mind has struggled with for quite a while.

Maybe it's intensified during this season (graduations, weddings, bridal and baby showers) but I recently spoke with (yet again) a person who is "struggling" with the "rudeness" of this young generation. This person had not received an appropriate "thank you note" in an appropriate time frame after being presented with a gift.

Ok, settle down and hear me out :) I am the last person to promote a spirit of entitlement; I'm the first to encourage (with passion) an attitude of gratitude. However, this latest incident caused me to think: this dear person's anger, disappointment, hurt, was due to an unmet expectation. Was the expectation a biblical one, or a cultural one, based on American tradition?

In Jesus' day, and in the days of the early church, what was the standard and principle of giving? Jesus told His disciples that "You received without paying; give without pay." (Matthew 10:8 ESV)
Jesus is referring to what they have received from God, and they should give in that spirit; it's not just about money, but time, talents, possessions. How many "thank you cards" have you written out and "sent" to God for all the blessings He has so graciously bestowed? Yes, that is an absurd statement! God doesn't expect us to give "thank you notes," and there is no amount of thanks we could ever give to God to repay what He has done. We show our gratitude by living our lives His way, by His Word, under His authority.

“When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:12-14 ESV)
This parable actually brings up another infraction of rules of etiquette. Have you ever invited someone to your home for a meal, and then waited for the reciprocal invitation? Have you felt "slighted" or "taken advantage of" when it didn't come, or didn't come within an appropriate amount of time? What is behind your motivation to be hospitable? My heart breaks when I hear, even in jest, "yes, I'm going to ______(shower/wedding/recital/etc.) because I want to make sure people come and bring gifts when it's my turn. . ." How self-seeking is that?!

"Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God." (Philippians 4:16 -18 ESV)

Paul is thanking the Philippian church for their generous gift to him (see, I'm not supporting ingratitude!!), but notice: he wasn't "expecting" a gift, he was appreciative of it; he rejoiced that they gave because they were showing their gratitude to God for Paul's ministry, not because Paul "deserved" the gift. Paul definitely gave God the credit for supplying his needs, and noted that, at times, God used people as His instruments.

"The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:7-11 ESV)

Above all . . .the overarching, predominant motive should be love. Love that does not expect return; love that does not keep a record of wrongs suffered; love that is patient, kind, not rude or self-seeking (see 1 Corinthians 13 for the more detailed description). I am aware that the "gift" in this passage refers to spiritual gifts, rather than gift-wrapped presents, but the principle still holds. My motive for serving or teaching Sunday School or Awana or nursery or baking cookies or ANY act of service that I may offer should never be what I will receive in return. The church is NOT a co-op, where we "deposit" so many hours in order to "receive" a certain amount of hours back! Notice Who supplies the strength to give -- it's God. Who supplies any finances to buy the gift to give -- it's God. Who supplies the air you breathe in order to make the cookies or clean the room or teach the children -- it's God! "We" don't actually give anything that is ours to give; God is the ultimate Giver, the true and ultimate Supplier. Do we remember that?

When I receive gifts (of time, money or things) I try to show my appreciation appropriately. That may mean I send a card; it may be a phone call, or email, or a sincere hug. If there is a chance that you will be offended by my means of showing my appreciation, please don't let me put you in a position to stumble or be offended. I would rather receive nothing from you than cause you hurt by not meeting your expectations.

For those who receive any gifts (time, money or things) from me, I do not "expect" repayment; I'm giving because of what God has done for me, not because of what you have done for me. If you have a need, my motivation for meeting that need is because my Lord told me that when I give to you, I'm really giving to Him. If you choose to send a card or give a hug or make a phone call, I will rejoice with you in what our Gracious God has supplied!
(by the way, I looked up "gift giving" etiquette on Miss Emily's website, and "thank you notes" are not necessary if you open the gift in front of the giver, and extend a warm appreciation. So, why are we still burdening mommies-to-be when they have smiled and torn paper and thanked us already a dozen times??)

As I've been reminded often in our current sermon series, "We are Better Together." Let's really take Jesus' words to heart, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35 ESV)

I want Jesus and His Word to be my standard for living.