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This morning I was challenged by something I read in Francis Chan’s book, Forgotten God. It was the last sentence of the opening paragraph of the chapter I was reading, and the sentence was as follows:

It’s safer to commit to following Him someday instead of this day.

The title of the chapter was, ”Forget His Will for Your Life!” And to be honest, I was a little hesitant as to where Chan was going to go with that. Isn’t the entire point of our life to do His will? Well, yes, it is. But, the thing we are doing instead, is holding off on doing it. I’ll add a “read more” section now, so that I don’t take over your dashboard.

“Often in Christian circles we talk about truth in lieu of applying it to our lives. We hear an incisive sermon, discuss at lunch afterwards how ‘great’ or ‘powerful’ it was, and then never think about it again, much less allow the Spirit to change us through it. The truth is that great knowledge does not necessarily equal greater spirituality. Knowledge can lead to greater intimacy and a deeper relationship with God, but this is not an automatic effect.”

— Francis Chan, Forgotten God

“‎The problem of reconciling human suffering with the existence of a God who loves, is only insoluble so long as we attach a trivial meaning to the word ‘love’, and look on things as if man were the centre of them. Man is not the centre. God does not exist for the sake of man. Man does not exist for his own sake.”

— C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

“I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the perception of your mind may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.”

— Ephesians 1:17-19 (HCSB)

James 4:8

Lately, when I look up a bible verse I’ve been looking at how it is worded in the New King James Version. I tend to take that version the most seriously, as I feel it has the most accurate translation. Sometimes, however, I decide to look at verses in other versions, usually it’s just NIV and NKJV, but every now and then I look at the NLT, because every so often, they word something in such a way that I just like better. And that would be the case today with James 4:8.

Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. - James 4:8 (NLT)

The wording that is different is that last little bit. The NIV and NKJV both say, “purify your hearts, you double-minded.” But I want to focus on that last part today. “For your loyalty is divided between God and the world.”

This verse is particularly fitting for today as the message at the Vineyard this morning was about how we need to let go of our need for security and survival. Do we really trust Jesus when he says that he’s got full life for us? Or do we feel that he’s holding out on us? What are we putting our stock in? What do we treasure?

Matthew 6:21 says,

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.”

Now, Jesus never says that earthly treasures are bad, but our material possessions should never be our treasures. Why? If our treasures are in things of this earth, then they have the threat of becoming lost, stolen, broken, tarnished… but our treasure is Jesus and the love of God can never be taken away from us, broken, tarnished, and even if we feel we’ve lost it, we have not.

I lost my train of thought when I was typing this just now, so I suppose I’ll just post what I have.

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”

—

1 Peter 4:12-13

G.O.S.P.E.L. - Propaganda

“He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. … You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’”

—

1 Peter 4:12-13

G.O.S.P.E.L. - Propaganda

2 Chronicles 20:15,17