Chinese proverb: “To be elated at success and disappointed at failure is to be the child of circumstances; how can such a one be called master of himself?”

Oh for a love and commitment to Christ so great that the heart would be unswerved by the highlights that this world has to offer! Matthew Henry was a great Bible commentator who was quoted by some of the most prolific pastors of all time including Spurgeon. When commenting on 2 Corinthians 5:16 he states:

“We do not own nor affect any person or thing in this world for carnal ends and outward advantage: we are enabled, by divine grace, not to mind nor regard this world, nor the things of this world, but to live above it. The love of Christ is in our hearts, and the world is under our feet.”

Note, Good Christians must enjoy the comforts of this life, and their relations in this world, with a holy indifference. The moral? – Let’s care about eternal things.  Let’s allow those things to stir us. But please let’s not be stirred by the smokescreens the enemy throws up in our lives.

Oh Lord, please help us recognize the enemy’s work in our lives and not be moved by it but rather stay focused on Your mission. You are worthy of total devotion.

Last Sunday we discussed how the tabernacle in the Old Testament is a picture of both the individual Christian and the individual church body. Exodus 40 is Moses bringing all of the furniture and implements of the tabernacle together. That chapter ends with the glory of God filling the tabernacle. For me this begs the question, What is out of place both in my personal tabernacle (my heart) and in our collective tabernacle? What is God waiting on to fill us with His glory?

I challenge you to make this a matter of prayer for both yourself as well as for us collectively as a group. You may be surprised what God brings up. - I certainly was!

I love you guys!

What does a bride look forward to? Is it the day she orders the cake or the day she edits that final copy of the invitations before it goes to the printer? Is it when the arrangements with the florist have been taken care of or when the decision has finally been made as to who the maid of honor should be? NOPE. It’s the wedding day itself she dreams of. It’s the day when she no longer has to be told goodnight and she’s able to have a home with her man.

We are the bride of Christ and our hearts should burn for our wedding day. Not for that day when we are finally debt free or get that car replaced or complete that last final or land that job or start that new family. Our hearts need to burn with anticipation for the day we finally come into His Presence and are united with Him. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying there is anything wrong with those things. There is everything right with those things. They are blessings from the Lord. But they can’t be our driving force in life. Christ must be our driving force. Our love for Him should provoke us.

But what does a love centered anticipation for Christ do for you??? It enables your abiding and therefore your fruit bearing and blessing. It prevents you from whoring after fleshly pursuits. It protects you from the trappings of success and the pride that comes along with it.

Do you yearn for Him?

Father, Saviour, Friend, Redeemer, Jesus, Master, Maker, Lover . . . I want You!

Philippians 1:6 - Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

This hit me today - the fact that God is going about His work in ME! HE is working in ME. HE is transforming ME. It is encouraging to know that it isn’t on ME to change. It is on HIM to change me.

Transformation (or sanctification) takes place as I yield to His purposes and His will for my life. And by the way, this is the key to seeing the lives around you change. It isn’t about YOU witnessing for HIM. It is about you waiting and loving and living BY HIM. It is through Him as you get out of the way and yield IN THE WAY.

Be a conduit of God. Know that Christ is in you and then trust Him to lead you.

I keep telling my six year-old son Nate that our goal is for the Word of God to move from head to his heart so that he comes to the place where he loves it and it just flows out of his life.

Our memory verse this morning was from Proverbs 3:3 - Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about they neck; write them upon the table of thine heart.  It brought tears to my eyes as I prayed for him at the conclusion of reciting this verse. My prayer for you is this, “Lord, write your words, engrave your words on the hearts of our kids. Let their lives flow from your word. Let rivers of living water flow from their bellies.”

I love you guys!

I was thinking this morning how I sometimes forget what Sunday morning SERVICE is about. I find myself concerned about how our college students are being served and often neglect who Sunday morning SERVICE is for. It isn’t for you and it certainly isn’t for me. It is to SERVE HIM.

Are you serving Him when you come in on a Sunday morning, or are you just looking to get your own spiritual buzz? Let’s give Him the buzz. He is worthy of our service, our lives, our reputations, our all.

Lord Jesus, we are inviting You to come. We seek to serve You. We seek to provide an environment in which You are eager to be a part.

“And if I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me.”