Sunday, October 26, 2008

Yield



A Pharisee, a lawyer in hopes of tripping Jesus up, asked Jesus "which is the most important command in the laws of Moses?". Jesus' answer was not one of the 'thou shalt not' laws, but rather he cited two commands to LOVE. He said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:36-40 NIV) The Living Bible paraphrases this way: "Keep only these and you will find that you are obeying all the others."

These are the very words of Jesus, proving once again that following God's will, or God's Law, is accomplished when we THINK right, from Love, rather than when we try to DO right by consciously trying to follow every single rule. Jesus says if we LOVE, then we will automatically follow the rules. All the rules.

And how can we train ourselves to act according to Love? By accepting the help that Jesus himself offers. Accept Jesus, and he will give you the Holy Spirit who will live right inside you, and BE the very nature of Christ. YOU CAN'T DO IT ON YOUR OWN. But draw on the Holy Spirit within you and instantly, it's done. This is the surrender God requires. Not a "giving up", as some people think, but rather a "yielding" to a Spirit far superior to your own human tendencies. And that Spirit saves, heals, and creates the conditions for Peace. And I don't know about you, but what I want more than riches, and more than my individual rights is Peace.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Calling Out To God

I have been reading a book called "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire" by Jim Cymbala, pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle. Great book by the way. Anyway, it has led me to this thought:

Our highest calling is to seek God.
Our highest purpose is to call out to Him.
Our greatest challenge, and yet our greatest reward is to Obey.