Daily Scripture Reading: Leviticus 15:1-16:28, Mark 7:1-23, Psalm 40:11-17, Proverbs 10:13-14
On the Wii sports game there is training that you can go through to practice your skill level with each of the sports. One of the training exercises for the golf game, is to try to hit a target painted on a green. The bullseye is worth 100 points and the circles outside of the bullseye is worth 50 points. I often hit the 50 points mark and rarely hit the 100 point mark. The 100 point circle is the hardest to hit because it is the smallest and you are rewarded the most points for obvious reasons: it takes the most skill to hit it.
All through Leviticus there is this idea of God teaching his people to be clean. There is much sacrifice and cost involved in living a life that is holy and pleasing to the Lord. The people of God had not only attempted very hard to meet these rules, but they had come up with their own rules defining holiness and righteousness. The problem with this was as we come to the New Testament, Jesus points out that they had completely missed the bullseye. In Mark 7:7-9 and following Jesus informs the religious leaders that they had chosen to follow their own definition of what is "righteous or holy" and they had completely missed God's mark. These leaders' hearts were far from God, and their worship of Him was a joke.
What is the point? When you combine Leviticus and Mark's passage, it is evident that there is a small margin of error when it comes to hitting the mark of living a holy life. The point is we must be careful of believing certain things make a person righteous or holy. Jesus taught our hearts are to be searched and our minds are to be transformed into His likeness. What a person loves, the mind thinks upon, and what the mind thinks upon, the will acts out. Sinful behavior can be traced back to wrong thinking, and wrong thinking reveals a misplaced heart. All unholy living can be traced back to a wrong heart. It is the difference between hitting the 50 point circle and the 100 point circle.
Be Alert: In your own life, be aware that the greatest temptation we face as believers is in our thinking. Our belief in human philosophy, or cultural norms, or logical reasoning can lead our hearts far from God. Isaiah tells us that our thoughts and ways are not God's thoughts and ways. Take every thought captive and test it against Scripture. What are some prevalant thoughts among Christians today that may actually lead Christians away from Scriptural, holy living?
Search your own heart, mind, and actions: what would God have you confess that doesn't line up with Scriptural, holy living? Live your life to hit the 100 point circle and don't settle for the 50 point circle. Let me know what you think, hit comment below, and leave your thoughts.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Distracted from Trust
Daily Scripture Reading: Leviticus 6:1-7:27, Mark 3:7-30, Psalm 37:1-11, Proverbs 10:3-4
Focal Passage: Psalm 37:3-5
It is so easy to become distracted. As I begin to write this blog, I have things that are fighting for my attention. There are tasks on my "to do" list that are screaming for me to get started on them. There is breakfast being made that is reminding me of how hungry I am right now. There are children in my household that are getting ready for the day (do I need to say any more?). All of these distractions are going on even though I haven't turned on the television yet and my grandson is not awake yet (then the distractions really get heightened).
Psalm 37:3-5 says that we are to trust in the Lord and that we are to commit everything we do to the Lord. I find that extremely difficult in our world of distractions. I am distracted by my job because it tells me that performance and accomplishment is what really matters. I am distracted by the latest gadget at the electronic store or the nice car that drives down my street because those things attract my attention and I naturally think material things will make me most complete and happy. I am distracted by the own fleshly desires I have. I want what I want when I want it, and it is difficult for me to learn a lifestyle of sacrifice when I get most of what I want when I want it.
The challenge for Christians is to live in a distracted world without being distracted. We are to commit everything to the Lord and we are to trust Him and trust Him alone. This is not easy to focus on. Let's help one another to call attention to our Lord. Encourage someone else by pointing them to trust in the Lord, get them away from the distractions of this world by sharing Scripture with them. Keep your eyes on the Lord by memorizing Scripture and having your daily time with the Lord. Make sure you are blind to distractions by having a continual attitude of prayer by praying without ceasing.
Speaking of distractions, I last posted a blog entry in the first part of August. I have been slightly distracted to say the least! Tell me what you think. What kind of distractions do you struggle with? What works for you to continually commit everything to the Lord and trust in Him?
Focal Passage: Psalm 37:3-5
It is so easy to become distracted. As I begin to write this blog, I have things that are fighting for my attention. There are tasks on my "to do" list that are screaming for me to get started on them. There is breakfast being made that is reminding me of how hungry I am right now. There are children in my household that are getting ready for the day (do I need to say any more?). All of these distractions are going on even though I haven't turned on the television yet and my grandson is not awake yet (then the distractions really get heightened).
Psalm 37:3-5 says that we are to trust in the Lord and that we are to commit everything we do to the Lord. I find that extremely difficult in our world of distractions. I am distracted by my job because it tells me that performance and accomplishment is what really matters. I am distracted by the latest gadget at the electronic store or the nice car that drives down my street because those things attract my attention and I naturally think material things will make me most complete and happy. I am distracted by the own fleshly desires I have. I want what I want when I want it, and it is difficult for me to learn a lifestyle of sacrifice when I get most of what I want when I want it.
The challenge for Christians is to live in a distracted world without being distracted. We are to commit everything to the Lord and we are to trust Him and trust Him alone. This is not easy to focus on. Let's help one another to call attention to our Lord. Encourage someone else by pointing them to trust in the Lord, get them away from the distractions of this world by sharing Scripture with them. Keep your eyes on the Lord by memorizing Scripture and having your daily time with the Lord. Make sure you are blind to distractions by having a continual attitude of prayer by praying without ceasing.
Speaking of distractions, I last posted a blog entry in the first part of August. I have been slightly distracted to say the least! Tell me what you think. What kind of distractions do you struggle with? What works for you to continually commit everything to the Lord and trust in Him?
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