Best Activity

Best Activity

2 Corinthians 3: ⁷ The Law was carved in letters on stone tablets, and God's glory appeared when it was given. Even though the brightness on Moses' face was fading, it was so strong that the people of Israel could not keep their eyes fixed on him. If the Law, which brings death when it is in force, came with such glory, ⁸ how much greater is the glory that belongs to the activity of the Spirit! ⁹ The system which brings condemnation was glorious; how much more glorious is the activity which brings salvation! ¹⁰ We may say that because of the far brighter glory now the glory that was so bright in the past is gone. ¹¹ For if there was glory in that which lasted for a while, how much more glory is there in that which lasts forever!

 

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Recess, music and art were my favorite activities in school at the time. I didn’t have to think, I could just “be.” Each was guarded carefully by a teacher to make sure it was a productive activity. For example, we played organized games during recess to keep from fighting one another. But then it came time for me to “learn.”  

 

• I downplayed the importance of certain activities.
• I looked at some activities as drudgery.
• I wanted to do the activities I felt most comfortable doing, but needed more.

 

Paul explains the glorious encounter Moses had with GOD. Moses received the Law carved in stone by GOD. Just by seeing a glimpse of GOD, his face was temporarily brightened to the point where people could not look at him. He brought the Law which created a lot of “concrete” activity people could follow and measure in others. But the real activity was to come later.

 

My Observations

• JESUS died for me and was raised from the dead so HE could send the HOLY SPIRIT to live in me.
• Belief in JESUS grants me salvation that lasts forever.
• The HOLY SPIRIT reminds me of the Law, which brings death, and interceded on my behalf when I break the Law.

 

JESUS is alive! This is the great news. HE did away with the Law and became salvation for all. But the Law was the highest honor at one point. Should I simply throw it away? No! GOD wants me to seek following HIM and provided a way to continue doing so. I do not have to “earn” my salvation through the Law, I can just be saved. It feels great!

 

But it doesn’t stop there. The HOLY SPIRIT leads me to live for HIM. HE leads me to peace when there is chaos. HE guides me to be still when I want to do activity to control the situation. The activity of the HOLY SPIRIT brings salvation. I am glad I can put my trust in JESUS who blessed me with the COMFORTER to guide me along every step.

 

Challenge

• What do you notice about the Law versus the SPIRIT?
• Do you think they conflict?
• What activity is your mind focused on?
• Will you be led by the SPIRIT and be focused on GOD’s kingdom versus the negativity of the world today?

Know the Audience

 

Know the Audience

Acts 23: ⁶ Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.” ⁷ When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. ⁸ (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)

 

⁹ There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” ¹⁰ The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.

 

¹¹ The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

 

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When I saw the agenda, I prepared for only 15 minutes of material. My portion was supposed to only be ten minutes with five minutes of question and answers. I shook off the nervousness as I spoke to the large crowd about some, not so good, news. The question and answer period turned into a rage filled rant session at what I presented. I got off the stage two and a half hours later.

 

• There were times when I should have studied who I was going to present to.
• There were times when I should have prepared myself for the audience I was talking to.
• There were times when I should have been ready for any audience.

 

Paul recognized who he was speaking to. He saw Sadducees and Pharisees. One group believed in the resurrection, angels and demonic spirits. The other believed in morality through the law without resurrection. Paul spoke to the core of where the two groups disputed. This caused an uproar. Later, the LORD encouraged Paul that he would be safe.

 

• GOD wants me to learn about HIM.
• GOD wants me to seek people to tell about HIS amazing love.
• GOD wants me to be ready to speak about JESUS in different ways because each person is special to HIM.

 

Talking “at” people about JESUS is a turn-off. I mean, the way I approach people needs to be tailored to the individual. The HOLY SPIRIT is gentle and guides me with gentle words. HE takes my harsh, direct words and softens them to those who need kindness.

 

HE toughens my soft words and enables me to deliver a stronger message to those who may have caused someone harm. JESUS is my guide and the HOLY SPIRIT is my lead.

 

• Who has GOD put on your mind?
• What words is HE giving you to tell that person about JESUS?
• Will you take a moment to learn about the person so the HOLY SPIRIT can deliver the right words at the right time through you today?

Hope Face

Hope Face

Acts 14: ⁸ In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. ⁹ He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed ¹⁰ and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.

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When the teacher wrote the problem on the board, I felt excited. For once, I knew the answer. I smiled. The teacher looked at my face and said, would you like to answer the problem. I jumped out of my seat and solved the problem. In another class, I forgot to do my homework. When the same scenario happened, I looked away in shame, hoping I wouldn’t be called on.

• When I am upset, it shows on my face.
• When I am excited, it shows on my face.
• When I am scared, happy, angry, inquisitive or calm, it shows on my face.

A lame man, who had never walked, heard Paul speak. How he got to where Paul was is not written, but somehow he was there. Paul saw the man’s face and determined he had faith to be healed. Paul commanded him to stand. The man was healed.

• GOD wants me to have faith that shows up on my face.
• GOD wants me to have peace that shows up on my face.
• GOD wants me to have hope that shows up on my face.

In spite of what is going on, GOD wants what is in my heart to show up on my face. Yes, I may be scared for a moment, BUT GOD fills my heart with peace which in turn, shows up on my face.

HE then helps me remember the many times HE has brought me through circumstances, filling me with hope. I am grateful GOD looks at what HE has already done for me so I can show hope on my face.

• Are you disillusioned?
• Do you think GOD has forgotten you?
• Will you remember the many times HE has brought you out of circumstances so that you can continue to share your hope with many?

Entertained

Luke 23: ⁸ When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. ⁹ He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰ The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. ¹¹ Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. ¹² That day Herod and Pilate became friends – before this they had been enemies.

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After the event I discussed the person on stage. “They were not very good” I commented. I was seeking amusement and had criteria that needed to be met.  Later, I went to a church. “The pastor speaking was not very good”, I said to myself.

• Sometimes I want to be entertained by people.
• Sometimes I view people as something that satisfies me.
• Sometimes I desire people to say the right words at my command.

Herod saw JESUS as entertainment. He heard how JESUS healed people and raised someone from the dead. Herod could not wait for JESUS to do a parlor trick. He even became friends with his enemy, Pilate, for sending him this wonderful stage act.

• JESUS says to me “These are MY lambs, feed them.”
• JESUS says to me “Look at MY people with compassion.”
• JESUS says to me “I can see your heart, fill it with MY love and you will be successful.”

When I look at people as a problem, inconvenience or entertainment, I miss out on what GOD wants me to see. HE desires only one thing that all of HIS sheep come back to HIM. All of us have gone astray BUT GOD desires that all return to HIM. I am grateful for HIS love.

• Do you seek people to entertain you?
• Do you blame people for their behavior?
• Will you show “that” person grace today?

Searching for Treasure

Luke 15: ⁸ “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ ¹⁰ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

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“What is that?” I said to myself as I peered at the cluttered lawn on my way to school. It looked like money so I broke the rule of not stepping on anyone’s grass. To my excitement, I found a dollar! I quickly stuffed it in my pocket and smiled all the way to class. The next day I stared intently in the lawn and the day after and the weeks after that.

• Three were times when money caught my attention.
• There were times when I got a little bit of money and it made me search for more.
• There were times when money made me look for it, seek it and desire to have more of it.

JESUS deepens HIS explanation of lost people by giving another parable. HE illustrates how a woman spent a great amount of time looking for lost money in her house. This analogy was probably used to make the people hear because most could relate to losing money. But money was not the true treasure.

• GOD wants me to focus on HIM as the true treasure.
• GOD wants me to seek HIS kingdom as the true treasure.
• GOD wants me to bring HIS lost sheep and lost coins back to HIM as the true treasure.

People are clearly the true treasure GOD wants everyone to focus on. Those I hate, HE loves so somehow I need to quickly change my mind about what is important. HE values all lives and the more I can do the same the more treasure HE gives me. Prayers and preaching for more cash is sometimes okay, BUT GOD is elated when I ask for healing of my and other’s souls.

• Are you down because you don’t have money?
• Do you seek more things to make you happy?
• Will you take the time to seek GOD’s true treasure which are HIS lost children today?

Partnership

Luke 5: ⁹ For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; ¹⁰ and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” ¹¹ So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

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“Ask them questions to get to know them” someone suggested to me. I did not like this group of people, but I tolerated their arrogance because they were in charge. The more questions I asked, the more I did not like them. “Why am I here?’ I thought to myself.

• There were many times when I made up my mind to not like groups of people.
• There were many times when I sought to point out problems in people.
• There were many times when I brought negative words into a conversation even before meeting the person.

After JESUS performed the miracle of filling their nets with fish, HE said “Do not be afraid.” I believe HE was speaking on many levels. Do not be afraid of ME or what you will eat or what you will wear or who you talk to, just follow ME and you will catch those I give you. They decided to follow HIM.

• GOD wants me to partner with HIM so I can seek HIS merciful ways.
• GOD wants me to partner with HIM so I can point my ambitions toward HIM.
• GOD wants me to partner with HIM so I can drop the negative opinions of people and give them labels that only come from HIM.

Partnering with GOD means loving people I would not ordinarily love. It means getting rid of my prejudices and filling my mind with grace and fortitude to pursue humans who run away from GOD at every turn.

James, John and Peter also had a human partnership as friends and coworkers. One thing they had in common was they all sought JESUS as their savior and they gave up their lifestyle to follow HIM. They partnered with JESUS on a level that enabled them to do great things.

• Are you serving GOD on the surface?
• Are you afraid to give HIM your sins and are trying hard to be good and make everyone around you good?
• Will you stop trying to manipulate people and allow GOD to use your dirty parts to bring people to HIM?
• Can you drop your prejudices and allow GOD to send you to people who do not look or act like you today?