Abrams Longing

"Now the LORD said to Abram, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.' " - Genesis 12:1-3 ESV "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God." - Hebrews 11:8-10 ESV Hebrews shows us an unrecorded inner motivation of Abrams heart. He wanted to belong. He wanted to be apart of something great. He want to find a place where people embraced him. He never found that place on Earth because it isn't on Earth. Abram had great success here. He had heirs who loved and respected him but he had a God shaped hole in his heart and no person or accomplishment could fill that hole. This life is really a journey towards or away from God's house. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." - John 10:10 ESV Jesus is our bridge to the place where we belong. Our design fits in that place it is for us and we were created for Heaven. Not everyone will find their way there. "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." - Matthew 7:13-14 ESV Jesus is that narrow gate. He is the only elevator that gives access to the top floor. The door to that elevator is open. Get in. The stairs won't get you there. --

Catalysts

Thinking of our role to be a 'catalyst' in people's lives. "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." - John 5:30 KJV "For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth." - 2 Corinthians 13:8 ESV "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:4-5 ESV The catalyst does not cause the chemical reaction. It creates an environment that allows something to happen or accelerates the process. The catalyst remains unchanged. It is not 'eaten up'. It does not lose substance. "You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world." - Matthew 5:13a-14a ESV Salt and light are catalysts. Salt creates a certain environment in soil and water. Some marine life only thrive in salt water and others in fresh water. We function one way when we can see what is around us and in another when we can not see. You and I are catalysts. Are we catalysts for evil or for spiritual life? --

Motivation And Warfare

Thinking about deficit motivation, what I'm calling 'contributive' motivation, joy, unhappiness and spiritual warfare. Lots of things in the mix. I think people either discount or often over emphasize spiritual warfare for lots of reasons... world view oriented ones mostly. Still the Bible teaches us that angels and demons are real and actively viaing for influence. What am I as a rational responsible person to do and think? Also, where does my motivation come from. Is it to 'get' or 'give'? Sex is a great example. Business dealings. Education. Am I learning to get or be a part of something great? If so, how will that turn out and how does that make me vulnerable to the invisible battle going on somewhere close to me? Proverbs 4:23-27 ESV - "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil." --

The Heavy Weight In Your Hand

Anyone who has worked out with weights in a serious way knows what it is like to 'train until failure'. That is when you select a weight that is heavy enough that when you get to the last few repetitions (ideally 10 or so) you are challenged to the point where it seems like you can not complete the last 1 or 2 repetitions. You need to push. You need to dig deep and not quit. That struggle in those last few seconds holds the most benefit. That is where strength is born. That is where endurance is achieved. That is where results happen.

I think of Jesus on the cross. The last few hours of His life on Earth were the hardest but His human endurance and refusal to quit accomplished more than any man ever has or ever will.

"And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, 'Truly this was the Son of God!' " - Matthew 27:50-54 ESV

He fought until He reached that specific place and time. He paid for the sins of the world and collapsed when the job was done.

I think we can strive in the wrong way but we can also strive in the right way. There are things worth fighting for in life. Perhaps the weight you hold in your hand feels heavy. This week ahead may look challenging... very challenging.

I plan to ask God for His help and complete my 'workout' this week. I plan to do all 10 repetitions and not quit. I am training to reign and my efforts are not in vain.

"... much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ." - Romans 5:17b ESV

"When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!" - 1 Corinthians 6:1-3 ESV

Oh God, Help us to move in mercy this week. We need it. Others need it. Quicken us to continue and expect opportunities. Help us to forget what is behind and move forward in hope. You are our victory. You are our strong tower. We run to you.

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