Fishers of Men

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men. Mark 1:16-17

Fishers of Men

As Jesus called each one of His disciples there was only one thing they knew for sure...they were going to follow Jesus.  There was no course syllabus, there were no identifiable outcomes, and there was no “double-your-money-back guarantee.”  All they knew was they trusted Him and were willing to go where He was leading.  

Peter, Andrew, James and John were by vocation fishermen.  The day Jesus came calling they were busy with the ordinary things that kept them in business…casting or caring for their nets. It was what they were comfortable with. I doubt they ever dreamed of leaving the family business.  But when Jesus came calling to be the leader of their lives, all of a sudden, their business was not as important. They dropped their nets and followed. 

When we follow Jesus, where does He lead us?  One place he will lead us to is people...
Mark 1:23 there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; 
Mark 1:30 Simon's mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they spoke to Jesus about her. 
Mark 1:34a And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons;

When we follow Jesus He leads us not to another place but to a another person.  Jesus says I will make you...I will cause you...to become fishers of men.  

Christ will lead us out of our comfort zones into new areas of ministry in the body of Christ. Jesus "yearned" to touch people. He was passionately consumed with the needs of others and He leads whoever follows Him to also "yearn" to reach out to people in their plights.

Jesus leads those who follow Him to touch the lives of people. These first followers were led immediately to begin confronting and meeting needs of others. If we fail to make people the business of Jesus we fail to follow our Leader. Being in the way with Jesus always leads to people. Jesus also leads us to people who will pray and learn and serve alongside us.  What would have brought a tax-collector, some fishermen, and others of the twelve together had it not been for Jesus?  

The promise of God to be with us when we go and to speak through us when we speak is all that is required for boldness.  Many an individual who thought they could never speak in public teach the Word of God today with boldness.  Many who felt they could not face people who were sick are praying and counseling cancer patients.  Many who thought missions was for missionaries are today on mission for Christ.  Jesus as the Leader of our lives has a distinct purpose to it…"I will make you become fishers of men."  

Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.  Matthew 4:22

Go and Make Disciples

 Monday, February 3, 2025

The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped but some doubted. Jesus came near and said to them, All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember I am with you always to the end of the age. Matthew 28: 16-20 (CSB)

Go and Make Disciples

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus and what does that discipleship demand of us?

Yesterday Pastor Jim spoke about our next core value, holistic discipleship:

Our Fourth Core Value is… Holistic Discipleship - We value disciple-making as the primary purpose of Jesus’ call on the church. Therefore, being and making disciples in all areas of life is the central focus of who we are as a local church.
(Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 1:15-17; Lk. 9:23; Jn. 8:31-32; Col. 1:28-29)

A disciple is one who has trusted Jesus by faith, is following and being transformed by Jesus, and is on mission for Jesus by leading others to do the same. To be a disciple of Jesus is a whole life transformation that takes place beginning in our hearts. As we are transformed in our relationship with him, we can begin to help others be transformed by discipleship.  

Jesus modeled many things for us and one of those things is how to disciple people. The masses did follow Jesus at times, and He taught them, but He knew that true and lasting growth happens when we have a close relationship with one or two people we can really focus on and pour into. Teaching to the masses doesn’t build disciples. Disciples are made by a close, intimate investment in a few people. 

Jesus spent a lot of time with his disciples, teaching them and doing life with them. He was getting them ready to continue to make disciples after he was gone to heaven. His last words to them (and us) before he ascended into heaven were giving us a very specific and important job to do – go and make disciples. Jesus made disciples by choosing a small group of men who would lay the foundation for His future kingdom. As that small group went out and discipled small groups, and they discipled small groups, the Gospel would be spread. 

When Jesus ascended into heaven, He was not concerned with the number of people that had followed Him, His confidence was in the disciples who would carry out His command to make disciples. They were eleven disciples who would minister under His authority, multiplying the spreading of His story by eleven. That was just the start. How many disciples did the eleven make that made disciples, that made disciples, etc… Amazing when you think about it! 

This process of making disciples will happen naturally in our lives if we look for it. It happens naturally in that we find ourselves in relationships that could be an opportunity to disciple someone. Then we must be intentional about it. Make time. Plan for and pray about your time together. Life rubs up against life when you spend intentional time together, sharing, being vulnerable, holding each other accountable, and discussing life around the truth of God’s word. Then God begins to work – rebuilding lives from the inside out. This is discipleship. 

Who is God laying on your heart? Who can you pour into and come alongside, encouraging, equipping, investing in them, and challenging them to grow in Christ? The goal is to make disciples that will then go and make disciples. Jesus’ command for the body of Christ was to make disciples, who will make disciples, who will make disciples. This is how His story has been passed on and how it will continue to be passed on.

Core: Setting the Foundation for the Future “Holistic Discipleship

Core: Setting the Foundation for the Future

“Holistic Discipleship”
Matthew 28:16-20 (CSB)

 

- "All who are called to salvation are called to discipleship. No exceptions. No excuses”- Bill Hull

- Key Truth: “Our values will determine how we think, what we believe, and how we live."

NSBC Vision- “Leading every generation toward a fully-formed life with Jesus.”

Our Fourth Core Value is… Holistic Discipleship - We value disciple-making as the primary purpose of Jesus’ call on the church. Therefore, being and making disciples in all areas of life is the central focus of who we are as a local church.
(Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 1:15-17; Lk. 9:23; Jn. 8:31-32; Col. 1:28-29)

Main Question: What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus and what does that discipleship demand of us?

1.        The call to discipleship. 
(Matthew 28:18-19a)

NSBC Definition of a disciple-  “A disciple is one who has trusted Jesus by faith, is following and being transformed by Jesus, and is on mission for Jesus by leading others to do the same.”

 

2.        The scope of discipleship. 
(Matthew 28:19b)

3.        The goal of discipleship.

(Matthew 28:20)

We should teach for three key reasons:

         a. Information

         b. Transformation

         c. Replication

After the Message: Read Romans 10:14-15; 12:2. Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ? If so, are you growing as His disciple? Are you being transformed more and more daily by the power of the Holy Spirit into the image and character of Christ? If so, are you pouring your life into someone else to help them grow toward “a fully-formed life with Jesus”? 
If you would like to be discipled or would like to help disciple others, text GROW to 72318.

 

Passing The Baton

Friday, January 31, 2025

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:2-8

Passing The Baton

Paul had lived an incredible life. It started off not so good as he persecuted and killed Christians. But then God met him on a dirt road one night and he was instantly changed forevermore. He knew and understood exactly who God was and he instantly began to preach the gospel and tell people about how  God had changed his life and could change theirs. After all, if God would save – and use – a man like Paul, he would do it for anyone. 

But now Paul was coming to the end of his life, and he knew it. He wrote two letters to Timothy, who he discipled and mentored, and called his “true son in the faith.” He went with Paul on of his later missionary journeys and was believed to have been with Paul when he wrote some of the New Testament Letters. 

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul warned Timothy about false teachers and encourages him to carry on in the things he has learned.  The truths Timothy was taught from birth by his mother and grandmother — truths about sin and our need for a Savior—had given him wisdom for salvation… and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:15

As parents, we teach our children to discern truth from falsehood. We need to give them wisdom for salvationthe way Timothy’s mother and grandmother did. As followers of Christ we should stand firm in the truth we have learned, not being influenced by opposition and false teachers. Paul wanted Timothy to stand firm in his own faith and to lead the other believers well, especially since he knew he was dying. He was passing the baton, leaving it with Timothy to carry on what they had done together and what Paul had taught him. And it was an urgent message. Knowing the end is near and reflecting on his life, devoting his life after he was saved to sharing the gospel and establishing churches. 

Paul knew what was coming on the other side of life. He lived a surrendered life as a follower of Jesus so he could say those words above. He knew he could pass it on to someone he believed would continue to do the same thing.  

Back to our passage from Sunday - Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Do the things to make sure your children/grandchildren know who God is, what he has done, and make sure they know the Gospel and how to share it. Don’t leave it to the church. You disciple your children. Make it a part of life every day. It is much too important to assume someone else is taking care of it. 

In Every Season

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.  These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9

In Every Season

For children, there is no greater influence in their lives than home and family. For better or worse, where we come from shapes us. It is not the only thing that shapes us, but our home and family are a big part of who we are. As parents, we want to do the very best we can for our children. These words written in Deuteronomy for parents, grandparents, or anyone who loves and has influence over children, are as important today as the day they were written. Whether it is your children, grandchildren, or other children in your life, the most important thing we can do for them is to pass on the Gospel and the words of God. 

Obviously, the biggest influence we have on our children/grandchildren is our behavior. The way we act and react, the language we use and the way we say it, and the way we treat them, and others is on display every day of their lives. It is also being recorded in their hearts and minds. 

As we have been learning for some time now, when we have a relationship with Jesus, and we grow in that relationship, stepping where the spirit steps, his spirit flows out of our lives. It is important for us to stay spiritually healthy and maintain that relationship with him so that we continually impact those around us for the kingdom. The one thing Jesus told us to do when he left was to go and make disciples, but we sometimes forget that it starts at home. If we are in a season where we have small children in our lives, they are the disciples for that season. We have the privilege and opportunity to impact their lives and build a foundation of faith for them that they can stand on for their whole lives. 

How can we show our children what we believe? Repeat, Talk Bind, and Write.

Whatever season you are in, make sure you are influencing others in your life for the best. Post God’s words in your house where you can see them and be reminded and where your children can see them. Let them see you reading the bible and praying. Let them see you being discipled and discipling others. Repeat to them what you are learning. Tell them about the faithfulness of God in your life. Tell them about any miracles. 

Let them see you going to church. Let them see you serving. Let them see you living your whole life for him. Let them see his love spilling out of your life to others. With everything – with your thoughts – actions – words – may they teach your children what you believe. Make sure you teach them what to believe because if you don’t the world will. Disciple them so that when this broken world becomes a reality in their world they know where to go, what to do, and how to pray. 

Now is the time to set these principles into motion and decide what kind of testimony you want to live out in front of your family every day.   

True Unity in the Body of Christ

Wednesday, January 29, 2025 

There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6

True Unity in the Body of Christ

It is the desire of God that we be one in the body of Christ. Unity is not something that happens automatically just because we are all Christians. Unity in Sprit happens when we bond with other believers over our calling in Christ. As we are transformed by Him, we grow together in unity and service to Him. 

In Ephesians 4:4-6, Paul gives us the Seven-Fold Basis for Unity as believers. We have unity because of what we share in common. In Jesus we share one body, one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one Father. Alone we are not as strong as we are united into one body on these elements of our doctrine.

Paul’s Seven-Fold Basis for Unity: 

Body – The one Church of the Lord Jesus Christ – one body of which He is the head. Just as a physical body does not function properly without all its parts, the body of Christ is the same. The body can function without some parts, but not to its fullest capacity. However, none of the parts can function by themselves apart from the body. If a hand is severed, it no longer functions as a hand without the body. The body can function without the hand, but not as a complete body. We are unified in Christ as one body. 

Spirit –There is one Spirit from God – the Holy Spirit - to guide and direct the body. 

Hope – No other thing on earth can provide this hope. This hope is never uncertain as it is when we hope for things on earth. We hope this or we hope that… When we say that there is no certainty. But the hope we have as we believe in the promise of His coming is the hope of our calling. This hope is true certainty for all believers.  

Lord – This is Christ crucified, buried, raised, and exalted. There is room for NONE OTHER. All our unity is centered around Him who He is, who we are in Him, and the sacrifice He made for us. 

Faith – Through faith we receive the Father and follow the Son. The faith we receive is that we believe that God sent His Son, Jesus, who came to earth and took on human flesh. He lived a perfect life and offered Himself on the cross in our place, paying the debt that we owe. He rose from the dead, and is in heaven, but He is coming back. On that day everyone will be judged.  He gifted us salvation by grace alone, which we receive through faith alone, apart from any merit or works on our part.

Baptism – One burial of one whose heart has been purified by faith, who has been crucified with Jesus to that sin, to rise in the newness of life.

God – One who is in all, over all, and through all – this is Gods, personal, transcendent, sovereign, relationship with His creation.

It is our unity in Christ, through the Holy Spirit, that strengthens us and makes us whole – one body. We bond together in work – His holy calling for us – to go and make disciples, to go and minister to the homeless, to go and feed the hungry, etc… Together we are more effective for His Kingdom and His glory. This is His calling for us, together as one unified body, His church. 

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:6-7 

The Standard to Follow

Tuesday, January 28, 2025                                                                                                                                                                    

If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others. Philippians 2:1-4

 

The Standard to Follow

After the Message - 

Read Philippians 2:1-11. How does Paul say that we are to treat each other in the church? Who is the standard we are to follow? How will you do that this week?

Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians from his Roman house arrest as he waited for his court appearance before Caesar. He and Timothy had ministered at Philippi during his second missionary journey and this letter was sent expressing his appreciation and love for the believers in the Philippian church. He also packed this letter with a lot of good information and advice for the Philippians. 

Chapter two begins with Paul giving them some solid tips on unification in the body of Christ. He begins by encouraging them to be united in their affection for Christ and each other, as well as united in spirit and purpose. How can we do that? Only one way -  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others. vs 3-4

When we do not put aside our own selfish ambition, we cannot be unified as one body with one vision and one purpose – which is Jesus’ plan for the church. We are unified through him and in him with his vision and his purpose to do his work – spread the Gospel. Paul tells us we should not look to our own interests, but to the interests of others – even if we don’t have the same interests or agree with what their interests are. It can be very hard for us to do this. Churches have split and families have been broken because of selfish ambitions. Our selfishness will create disunity. When we look to only have our own needs and desires met, we will create disunity. We are to turn our focus outward towards others. Only when we are humble, gentle, patient, and loving towards each other can we be  unified in our work for God. 

Further on down in chapter 2 Paul tells us that following Jesus’ example is the way we do this:

Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death — even to death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow — in heaven and on earth and under the earth — and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11

Jesus was God, but he came to earth as man and was a servant to all. The King of Kings did not consider himself better than a woman caught in adultery, the woman at the well, a blind beggar, a lame man, a leper, a tax collector, and so many others. He showed us how to serve humbly with his whole life. 

Jesus set the example for us of how we should love and treat others when he was on earth and in the very way he loves and treats us. He gave himself for us on the cross, a horrible and painful death, to save us. In the great exchange he took our sin and imperfection and made us white as snow. He gave us righteousness in exchange for guilt and shame. How can we not love others because of the way he has loved us – and loves us still? He pours his love into us, and we are to pour it out to all those around us. He died for all – our brothers and sisters in Christ – the same as he did for us. It is his standard of love, kindness, unselfishness, and graciousness that we are to extend to others as his followers. 

How will you do that this week?  

Intergenerational Relationships and Biblical Community

Monday, January 27, 2025

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11

Intergenerational Relationships and Biblical Community

Yesterday, Pastor Jim preached on our third core value at NSBC – Intergenerational Relationships. 

Our First Core Value is Authentic Worship
Our Second Core Value is Biblical Authority
Our third Core Value is… Intergenerational Relationships - We value spiritually maturing, redemptive relationships purposely working together to build biblical community across multiple generations. (1 Cor. 12:12-27; 2 Cor. 13:11; Eph. 4:3,13,32; Phil. 2:1-11; Col. 3:14)

Most churches have multiple generations in their congregations. The fact that there are already multiple generations in the church makes it more probable that their paths will cross. They will end up in Bible studies together, choir, or serving together, or sharing a meal at the same table on Wednesday evening. These connections can lead to even deeper relationships such as mentoring or discipleship. 

When different generations spend time together in Bible study they begin to see beyond their own circumstances. So often we have a difficult time seeing beyond ourselves. As we fellowship together, study the word together, and share prayer requests, we begin to take our eyes off ourselves and look to others with compassion. 

Seeing each other through the eyes of Christ leads to serving each other in the compassion of Christ. An older lady in a Bible study may feel led to give a younger mom a break. A younger person may help the older generations in many ways. Becoming aware of needs and following through in obedience is a sign of growth and spiritual maturity. 

How do we cultivate healthy intergenerational relationships to build biblical community?

It is a great thing for different generations to be together. We have so much to learn from each other. Of course, the younger generations can learn from the wisdom of the older generations. But the older generations can also learn from the younger ones. We can build biblical community by embracing these opportunities to build relationships with others of different generations. Learning together and from each other, praying for one another and serving each other cultivates these relationships and builds biblical community. 

Step out of your comfort zone and find a Bible study or place to serve where there will be other generations. You will be blessed by who God puts in your life when you are open and surrendered. 

The greatest key to building any relationship is getting ourselves and our own desires out of the way. When we spend time with others in worship who are different than us, we must set ourselves aside. If we cannot see past our own desires, we will not be able to fully and completely worship God. As we all set ourselves aside and focus on God and giving him the worship he is worthy of, we will be unified – of one mind. And the God of love and peace will be with you.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Core: Setting the Foundation for the Future “Intergenerational Relationships”

Core: Setting the Foundation for the Future

“Intergenerational Relationships”
Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (CSB)

 

- Key Truth: “Our values will determine how we think, what we believe, and how we live."

NSBC Vision- “Leading every generation toward a fully-formed life with Jesus.”

Our third Core Value is… Intergenerational Relationships - We value spiritually maturing, redemptive relationships purposely working together to build biblical community across multiple generations. 
(1 Cor. 12:12-27; 2 Cor. 13:11; Eph. 4:3,13,32; Phil. 2:1-11; Col. 3:14)

Main Question: How do we cultivate healthy intergenerational relationships to build biblical community?

1.        The foundation of intergenerational relationships. 
(Deuteronomy 6:1-3)

 

2.        The heart of intergenerational relationships. 
(Deuteronomy 6:4-6)

3.        The action of intergenerational relationships.

(Deuteronomy 6:7-9)

Four words that drive our actions:

         a. repeat

         b. talk

         c. bind

         d. write

 After the Message: Read Philippians 2:1-11. How does Paul say that we are to treat each other in the church? Who is the standard we are to follow? How will you do that this week?

Keep the Word

Friday, January 24, 2025

How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word. I have sought you with all my heart; don’t let me wander from your commands. I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you. Lord, may you be blessed; teach me your statutes. With my lips I proclaim all the judgments from your mouth. I rejoice in the way revealed by your decrees as much as in all riches. Psalm 119:9-14

Psalm 119 is believed to have been written by David. It is a very long chapter with 176 verses. It was written as 22 sections forming an acrostic of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. It is a Psalm glorifying God and his word, mentioning scripture in at least 171 of the 176 verses. 

Keep the Word

David poses the question How can a young man keep his way pure? He answers his own question in the next breath with the only thing could be the right answer - By keeping your word. David realized two things. In asking, he knew that he could not keep his way pure in his own power. He needed God's help. Secondly, he knew the purpose and the power of the word of God in his heart and life. 

The more we know his word and the more it is written on our heart, the more we will live it out in our daily lives. The more we study his word and the more we learn, the                                                                                  more equipped we will be to keep our ways pure, and the less we will wander from his commands. Reading God’s word every day will help us learn and keep us close to our Father’s heart. Memorizing scripture will help us know victory over sin in our lives and our sin nature. 

The Bible is not just another book. It’s not just history. The Bible is our source for all things in this life. But it is even more than that. The Bible is a treasure. It is our Heavenly Father’s words to us because he loves us and wants us to know. It is a record of all he has done and all his promises to us. It is revelation to us, revealing his decrees for us to rejoice in like David did. He speaks to us through his word, and we should always prepare ourselves to be ready and willing to hear what he has to say. 

One of the biggest mistakes we can make is trying to do it in our own power, maybe thinking we know the Bible more than we really do, or not treasuring his word in our hearts or guarding our hearts with his word. God’s word is the most effective weapon that we have to protect ourselves against temptation or sin. 

David was in pursuit of God and living a pure life. He knew that the place he would find guidance for that was in God’s word. He treasured God’s words in his heart, proclaimed his judgements from his lips, and rejoiced in the way revealed. He knew his weaknesses and knew the strength of the Lord. He knew that the Bible provides wisdom and knowledge and direction, and that God would give him the strength. Study his words and treasure them as David did, because they were written to you in love. Trust in God and lean into him as you walk your path in this life. Trust, treasure, proclaim, and rejoice as you read, learn, and grow in your faith.  

Be A Doer

Thursday, January 23, 2025 

 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror. For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does.  James 1:22-25

Be A Doer

Knowing what the Bible says is a great resource for Christians, but if you want your life to be changed by Jesus Christ, you have to apply God’s Word to your life.  You have to live out what you know, walk the Jesus way and step where the Spirit steps.  It takes work, sacrifice, and diligence, but to not apply what we know is to waste the valuable instruction that God has provided us with His Word. 

In the verses above, James speaks of two different men, one who looks quickly at himself in the mirror and goes away and forgets what he is like.  The other man looks intently, and he is changed.  One looked at himself and “goes away” without lasting results.  One looks “intently” and is transformed.  One man looks at “himself” and the other at the “perfect law of freedom.”

The Word of God is like a mirror as it reflects what is taking place in our hearts. It shows us areas in our inner lives that need to be cleansed.  A quick brush with truth will not produce lasting results. A fleeting vision of what God wants us to be will not produce character. Our tendency is to quickly forget what we do not like in ourselves when we come under the steady, pure light of God's truth. We want to turn our heads from reality and go back to our selfish ways.  

Some of us has heard it all our lives.  We have grown up in church, going to a worship service every Sunday, Bible Study and VBS.   But the practical side is, are we "doing" the tasks? The truth of our lives is revealed in our acts of doing. Jesus speaks of hearing and doing as a "wise" man in Matthew 7:24 - One who acts upon the word of God and thus builds upon the rock-solid foundation.  Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.     

As long as we obey our own passions and emotions and desires, we are nothing less than a slave. It is when we accept the will of God that we become really free- free to be good, and free to be what we ought to be. His service is perfect freedom, and in doing His will is our peace.

The Word of God is not meant to be a forced code of external rules and regulations. It is our living power that enables us to find true freedom.  But crucial to everything is our attitude toward God, His Word, and our spiritual appetite. If I have the right attitude toward God's Word, it becomes a living power in my life. Do I love His Word? Am I eager to obey it? Am I anxious to forget what I don't like as soon as possible? Do I make His Word my daily delight? 

The Word of God roots itself like the seed in our hearts. If we water it, it grows to be a part of our nature. It becomes a part of our thinking, emotions, and decisions.  When we are living out God’s Word in our lives, not just telling everyone what it says, we can reflect Christ to the rest of the world.  We can show others Christ in our lives, His power in our lives, and the transformation that we have experienced because of Jesus and His Word.  

Write This On Your Heart...

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commands; for they will bring you many days, a full life, and well-being. Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you. Tie them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will find favor and high regard with God and people.  Proverbs 3:1-4

Write This On Your Heart...

As we have been learning this week, the Bible is an important gift and tool given to us by God. It has everything we need to know to navigate this life, and everything it throws at us. It is full of truths and wisdom for our lives.

Proverbs 3 was written by King Solomon advising his son to pursue God’s wisdom with passion, and to never forget it. He starts with the importance of our hearts and minds, suggesting doing anything to help remember them. Tie them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 

Solomon said to keep God’s teachings of loyalty and faithfulness so close that they could be bound in a necklace around your neck. The NIV version says Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck… Love and faithfulness are used together many times in the Old Testament to represent a commitment. Solomon wanted his son to be forever reminded of the love and faithfulness that God gives – that he has committed to give to us. We have committed to learn, grow, walk with the Spirit, and remember his faithfulness. It is through his love and faithfulness that we are forgiven and our sin atoned for. It is good for us to be reminded of God’s love for us, to show mercy and forgive us – when we don’t really deserve it. For his faithfulness. He is trustworthy and dependable, worthy of our complete trust. It is good to have every reminder we can because life throws some tuff stuff at us sometimes. We need to memorize his words, wear it, post it, pin it up on our walls, or do whatever we need to so that we can be reminded always. 

Jewish men wore a small leather box containing Hebrew texts on vellum at morning prayer as a reminder to keep the law. Solomon was encouraging his son to write the words on the tablet of his heart so that they were permanently internally etched within him forever. When we memorize God’s word, no one can ever take it away. It is tucked away in our hearts and minds. When we have memorized his word, we can dwell on it and meditate on it day and night. Memorizing God's word helps us abide in it and in him. 

This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. Joshua 1:8

When we meditate on his words day and night and apply them to our lives, we will live a better life, an abundant life. There will be prosperity and success if we take everything we do before the Lord and seek his guidance and direction. Will there still be trials and hardships? Sadness and loss? Failures? Yes, all those things are a part of a broken world and sometimes even the result of our bad choices. But we have the words of our loving and faithful heavenly Father to dwell on and to remind us of His goodness and faithfulness in every circumstance. We will have to preach it to ourselves at times because we might feel differently. That is why knowing the truth and having it etched on our hearts is so important. We don’t have to feel God’s truth to know it is the truth (because sometimes we won't). We don’t have to have a Bible in our hands to remember what it says. 

The Bible is our authority in our lives, so we need it every day, not just once a week at church. It provides us with words of peace and comfort, wisdom, knowledge, and hope. What do you need to do today so that God’s words are bound around your neck and written on your heart? Maybe post some verses in a place you see it regularly? Write out your favorite Bible verse and commit to memorize this week. But most importantly, get in the word of God every day. Saturate your life with it and abide in it. Let it be the filter for your life and the answer and unfailing truth for every heartache, decision, or uncertainty that you face.