My pastor, when he speaks, he speaks in series. He arranges his sermons in such a way that note taking is a breeze and scripture cross-reference is a snap. He words his main points in such a way that one can really understand and remember them after church is over. (How many of us leave church in the morning and by afternoon, the pastor's message is lost on us? Yeah, me too.) Not when I take notes. Not when I listen. (Imagine actually listening in church. A novel idea, eh?)
So, we've been learning about God's Will for Our Lives. Today, we learned about discerning what God's will is and what it is not. (15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Eph 5:15-17)
There are two things that God's will is not:
- A Feeling
- A Formula
We know that God's will isn't a formula because there are mistakes to be made in formulas. If we lived our life (and our salvation) according to a formula and got it wrong, we wouldn't have salvation. We would have blown our shot. But we know that our salvation is not a formula because it's open to every man, woman and child, regardless of our pasts. Moses was a murderer. Zacheus was a tax collector. In fact, try as you might, you will not find one person in the Bible who worked in God's glory who was not a sinner - except Jesus Christ. But God used everyone in the Bible, regardless of their past. God can help us too.
How many times a day do I sin? Countless. I know I don't catch them all when I confess them. But our Father is a forgiving father. Thank Him, too, because Lord knows, I don't deserve His mercy.
You can be sure of one thing about God's Will:
God's Will is Fellowship
God created Adam and Eve as people, not puppets. We have free will to make decisions. Sometimes we get it right. Sometimes we get it wrong. But aren't we glad that God is constant? Aren't we glad that God is love?
TYVM.♥-I am sure I will be coming back to this post later on. I have to think. lol
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't exactly call myself a Bible geek..(you knew I had to just come back to this, didn't you?) I am the one who will sit there, jot down all the chapters/scriptures that he talks about. (we are really blessed to have a awesome preacher, as well, my dear friend.) Since, I am deaf in my right ear, I tend to just watch him speak (I can read lips, just call it a hobby, lol.)--and 1/2 the time, I think he is actually speaking to me directly, lol. (which I had to explain to him why I watch him speak, he was relieved, I think LOL.). He is readily available to speak anytime outside the church. You see, my dear friend, I was not raised by the Bible. I was raised in a diff. faith.-- OK, where was I..the preachers message is not lost on us. We actually go home and study the word/or the sermon. Even son has gotten into it. Here it is Monday, and we are still discussing it. No sooner than we go back to church on Sunday, then wham, he hits us again with another awesome sermon. BTW, one of the scriptures was one I quoted to son, when he got in trouble. AND he rembered it..he whispered,"OH OH..I KNOW THAT ONE."
ReplyDeleteTY my dear friend for posting this..I often do not know how to put my feelings/or what I am thinking, down like you do. Please keep up your awesome posting. You truely have a gift, my dear friend..Blessings♥
I wasn't raised in a Bible-reading family either. In fact, while I committed my life to Christ when I was in my teens, I feel like my relationship has been more of a horizontal yo-yo (close to Him, far from Him).
ReplyDeleteGood message, a lot there to chew on. Not sure what the Kool Aid in the title meant though.
ReplyDeleteI like a pastor who isn't afraid of questions, mine is like that as well and seems to like when members come and ask for more info about his message, means they're listening.
I too am a notetaker though of late I've not done a good job of it since I misplaced my notebook that I'd been taking notes in.
Elaine
The Kool Aid comment was a tongue-in-cheek stab at the David Koresh followers.
ReplyDeleteI certainly didn't mean to be vague.