Listen Please!
John 5:21-22 – 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, (NIV)
God’s Word tells us the Father chooses not to judge but has entrusted judgment to the Son. Jesus chose to use judgment over judging. If he had just looked at how we reacted to our circumstances he would have judged us, but he didn’t. Jesus chose to experience our circumstances and use judgment of the way we reacted the way we did.
His judgment of our situation led Him to pay for our debt. Too many so called “Christians” don’t use judgment, but are primed and ready to judge. They speak about others without even considering the pressure or circumstances motivating the course of someone’s action. They simply judge. Be very careful because Jesus made it clear that your choice to judge or use judgment would come back to bless or curse you.
Matthew 7:1-2 – “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (NIV)
Matthew 7:12 sums up the true response Christians should have whether it be reacting to being stretched or witnessing someone else being stretched: 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Stretching with you – Pastor Mike
Strange
You’re strange or at least you are supposed to be.
1 Peter 2:9 But you are God’s chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation. God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things that he has done. (CEV)
The Contemporary English Version of this verse calls you special but the King James Version translates from the Greek as a peculiar people. This means being a follower of Jesus should make you strange, different, special, and even peculiar. Most of you receiving this email attend church on Sunday, but is that the only thing that makes you different from other people?
This verse says that we must tell all the wonderful things God has done. That’s what makes us different. We have a real God who does real things in our lives but only if we let him STRETCH us.
How will this Sunday be different? How will you let God stretch you between now and then? Pick up the Bible and discover how Jesus was peculiar to those around him. Pray and ask God to give you an opportunity to be Jesus to someone.
This Sunday we will continue to discover how God stretches us, especially those circumstances he lets enter our lives that we just don’t see how He could ever use for our good. Oh, and that person you were peculiar to? Bring them with you Sunday.
Promises, Promises
God’s Word is full of promises to you. How many of these promises are you aware of and how would you rate them when it comes to your experiencing their fulfillment in your life?
If you feel like you see too few of His promises becoming a reality for you, here are some things you can do. First, do a self evaluation – how are you when it comes to keeping your word? The Bible says “as you sow, so shall you reap” Gal. 6:7. “With the measure you use it will be measured to you” (Mat. 7:2, Mark 4:24, and Luke 6:38.
If you believe in Jesus, you’ve made a promise to follow Him, to love as He loved you, to serve as He has served you.
Sunday begins a new teaching series called “Stretch Marks.” God wants to stretch you so He can bless you. Lets actively seek God’s blessing by keeping our promises even when they cost us or stretch us.
This Sunday is Mother’s Day so lets begin with the first promise:
Eph. 6:2 – “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—”
- Attend church with her.
- Take her out to eat.
- Write her a note of appreciation.
- Apologize for being so difficult to raise.
- Pray with her and for her.
- Call Her.
If you are unable to do it for your mom, do it for a mom you know. You’ve promised to follow God’s Word and God’s promised to bless you AS YOU DO.