What God Requires – March 9, 2009

What God Requires

Deuteronomy 10:12-13

Jim Stephens

03-09-09

 

Scripture:

 

12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires you to fear him, to live according to his will, to love and worship him with all your heart and soul, 13 and to obey the Lord’s commands and laws that I am giving you today for your own good.”  (Deuteronomy 10:12-13 NLT)

 

Observation and Application:

 

Keeping it simple:  Moses summed up all the laws, commandments, teachings, and guidelines for the people as they were getting ready to enter the land.

 

What God Requires Of You…

·        Love him and reverence him.

·        Worship and serve him with all your heart and soul.

·        Live according to his will.

·        Obey the commandments he gives you.

…Living like this will result in a good life!

 

Micah said it this way many years later:  “The Lord has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8 NLT)

 

Here’s how Jesus summed it up:  “Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

 

Prayer:

 

Father, I am once again reminded that it ain’t rocket science.  I will keep it simple and live what I believe.  I will honor you, respect others, and follow the path you set for me.  I want my life to please you and to count for eternity.  Amen.

This Experience – February 19, 2009

This Experience

Acts 26:15-16

Jim Stephens

02-19-09

 

Scripture:

 

15 “ ‘Who are you, sir?’ I asked. “And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16 Now stand up! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and my witness. You are to tell the world about this experience and about other times I will appear to you.’ ” (Acts 26:15-16 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Paul was highly educated in the Jewish religion and the scientific knowledge of his day.  But Paul’s message to governors and kings, to Jews and Gentiles alike, was a simple message of an encounter with the risen Christ, a transformed life, and a new purpose for living.

 

Application:

 

It doesn’t have to be complicated.  My Jesus story and your Jesus story can be this simple:  “This is who I was and what I was doing.  One day I met Jesus and he changed my life.  This is who I am and what I am doing now.  Thank God!”

 

Prayer:

 

Father, Sometimes it all gets so complicated.  Thanks for the reminder through Paul that it’s really not that complicated at all.  I met Jesus and he changed my life.  Now I live for your purpose and not my own.  Amen.

 

Twenty-Five To One – October 13, 2008

Twenty-Five To One

Acts 2:41-42

Jim Stephens

10-13-08

 

Scripture:

 

41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. 42 They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. (Acts 2:41-42 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

From Acts 1 it seems that a group of about 120 Christ-followers were faithfully meeting and praying and waiting – waiting and praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which Jesus had promised would come very soon.  On the day of Pentecost, seven days after they saw Jesus ascend to heaven from the Mount of Olives, that outpouring came.  It happened at about 9:00 AM and the believers spilled out into the street declaring the greatness of God in at least sixteen languages besides the Aramaic commonly spoken in the streets of Jerusalem.

 

Peter preached a powerful sermon in response to the questions this raised and by evening, 3000 new believers had been baptized and had joined with the other believers.  The ratio of new believers at day’s end to “old” believers at 8:45 AM that day was 25 to 1.  And they joined in the life-flow of faith which switched that day from praying and waiting to 1) The apostle’s teaching; 2) Fellowship; 3) Sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper); 4) Prayer.

 

Application:

 

It seems as if the way to incorporate large numbers of new believers into the family of faith is to keep it simple.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, Help us to keep it simple.  We need to understand how to be simple without becoming simplistic.  I am reminded of a phrase that was popular in street culture about five years ago, “Keepin’ it real.”  Help us keep it real.  Real simple.  Amen.