Intentional Living

Do you remember Jared from the Subway commercials? At one point in his life he weighed 425 pounds and it was at that time that he decided he wanted to lose weight. Between the years of 1998 – 1999 he lost a staggering 245 pounds. Such an amazing weight loss begs the question: “How did he do it?” The answer, simply put, was that he stuck to a plan. Jared made it a point to only eat certain things each day and to workout a certain amount every day. Jared was intentional in his life. 

The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church concerning this same idea. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Paul pens these words:

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” (emphasis added).

Paul wanted to remind the people of Corinth to be intentional in their actions. Paul says that he does “not run aimlessly” nor does he “box as one beating the air.” If you have ever watched a runner you know that they run for a purpose. They run to win the race. A boxer is similar. A boxer does not flail his arms around hoping to land a punch, he instead thinks about every punch, uppercut and jab in order to achieve his goal of winning the match. Our lives need to be the same way. 

Paul is not writing to Corinth to remind them to be better athletes. He is writing to them to inspire them to be better Christians. You see, Christians aren’t supposed to be running around in circles or flailing their arms in the air! Christians are supposed to be intentional! Paul is writing this illustration as a reminder to the Corinthians to be intentional. The question then arises as to why we are supposed to be intentional. 

Why are we supposed to be intentional? The answer is simple. We are to be intentional because we are running to receive an imperishable wreath. We are running to win the prize. We are not like the non-Christians of the world. Their goal is to achieve what they can in this lifetime, but we run to win a prize that is so much better. How can we win that prize? What does it mean to be intentional?

In order to be intentional, just like Jared, we have to plan. For us it’s not dieting and physical exercise it’s Bible study and prayer time. Here’s what I want you to try with me. After you’re done reading this plan to study your Bible for just 10 minutes at some point tomorrow. That’s being intentional. Decide right now, to set aside time tomorrow in study of your Bible. This is a simple little thing but you will find that doing this will help you better run towards the imperishable wreath. Why, because personal study brings us closer to the One that will crown us with that wreath.- Jack D.

Update!

Sorry guys no blog post this week. I've been awfully busy these past couple weeks and this week is no different. I plan to start writing again next week though! Until then, please read an earlier blog post. Or check out some of my other friends blogs on the right side of the screen.

I'm sorry for my lack of blog posting these past few weeks, but rest assured that I have some pretty good ideas going on in my head for new posts in the future! -Jack D. 

Selective Evangelism

“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15; emp. added).

Do you ever think about who you evangelize to? If you are anything like me, then I imagine you do. I have a tendency (which I think is alright) to think about who I want to evangelize to. I have essentially created a “list” of who I want to give the gospel to. Is this “list” a bad thing? I don’t think it is, but I think it has the potential to be. There is one reason I think our “list” mentality can become a bad thing. 

The reason I think our “list” mentality can be bad is because we, in essence, ‘select’ who we give the gospel to…and everyone else is excluded. Here is what I mean. Let’s say you have two friends from school who you want to evangelize to. You’re focused on giving the gospel to them and intend to use every situation as a chance to do so. That’s a very good thing. However, let’s say now that someone, not on your list, is going through a particular struggle. You of course help them but because they are not on your “list” you skip over them and don’t say anything to them about the gospel. Do you see the problem? An opportunity was presented to you that you could have used to spread the gospel, but instead you neglected it. 

Our “list” mentality can be a bad thing in the sense that it may cause us to be selective in evangelism. The word “all” in the above passage is bolded because I think that is a word we often overlook. We know that we are to give the gospel to others, but do we realize that we are to give it to everyone? I want to encourage you today (this week, month, year, etc.) to not neglect someone the opportunity to hear the gospel just because they aren’t on your “list.” 

Instead of only focusing on those on your “list”, keep a look out for every opportunity to talk to anyone and everyone about the gospel. Every encounter is another chance to spread the gospel. While I think it is good that you have people you are targeting, it’s important to always be on the lookout for an opportunity to talk about Christ. We need to not be selective in our evangelism. The gospel is for all and we need to share with all, not just our chosen few!

What's Your Offer?

^“And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on" (Mark 12:41-44 ESV).

The above verse is one that I’m sure you’ve seen many, many times before. I know I have. We know this passage is dealing specifically with the monetary offering of this woman, but I think it has a wonderful application in another area. I know the context of this passage is referring specifically to money but if you think about it, doesn’t this apply to our life as well? We are told that the widow “put in everything she had.” When I read this passage the other day I began to think about my own life. I asked myself “do I put in everything I have?” I’m not referring to money but rather effort. In my life do I give the Lord my all, or just out of my abundance? We ought to ask ourselves this question every single day and our response should be just like that of the widow’s who put in all that she had. There are two reasons we just put in all that we have in our life to the Lord.

The first reason we should offer our all is because of the example that has been set for us. Jesus during his lifetime gave everything he had, much to the enjoyment of his Father. Jesus healed others (Matthew 8:28ff, 12:13; Mark 3:10; etc.), taught others (Mark 11:17, 14:49; etc.), and even died for others (John 19; Luke 23; Mark 15; Matthew 27).  Jesus set a pattern in his life of giving things his all. We should give our all as well because Jesus set that example for us. 

The second reason we should offer our all is because God wants our all. The physician Luke wrote down these words of Jesus in Luke 9:23 “if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (emphasis added). We are also told in the New Testament to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and to give our bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). It is clear from these three passages that God doesn’t want only part of us. We are to daily take up our cross, pray all the time, and constantly give our bodies as a sacrifice to God. God wants us to give our all!

We give our all because of Jesus’ example and because God wants us to. How do we do this? We have to make the decision to do everything for the Lord each day. One thing you could do is pray that God will use you that day to work for Him. Another way you can give your all is to keep this verse on your heart at all times: “choose this day whom you will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15). Write this verse down somewhere so that every time you see it you will remember that you have chosen this day to serve the Lord. These are only a couple of ways that we can give our all. If you find that there are some other ways that are better for you than do those things. The important thing for us is how much we offer. God doesn’t want a part of us, He wants the whole thing! We need to become a people who offers God our all.

No Post This Week

I apologize for not posting last week. It turns out I won't be posting this week either. It's been a busy couple of weeks at Bear Valley and that has caused me to push some of my extra-curricular stuff off to the side (i.e. my blog). I plan on posting next week when and I hope that you'll enjoy some of my previous posts this week. Have a great week everyone!

See you next week! - Jack D. 

Christian Citizenship

 ^“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:17-20 ESV)

In this month’s Think magazine issue, a dear friend of mine wrote an article called “Looking Upward.” In this article he wrote about how he often reminds his family that they are headed to heaven. He then challenged the readers to “look upward”. In other words, we, as Christians, need to have a positive mindset because as long as we’re “walking in the light” (1 John 1:7) we can be confident that we have a home in heaven. 

As Christians we have this confidence, but do we think about it? Each day when we go about daily activities do we think about heaven? If not, why not? I want to encourage you this week to think about the hope of heaven that you have. If you’re a Christian you should be in a state of perpetual happiness, because of the blessed assurance we have of heaven. It’s a wonderful thing to be a Christian because even though troubles and hardships may befall us here on Earth, we know the reward that awaits us at the end. Our citizenship is in heaven. What a beautiful and comforting thought that is! 

Every morning for the rest of this week I am making it a point to say this statement:

“Today could be the day I go home to heaven!”

I hope you’ll join me in saying this statement this week. It’s a great way to start off your day and really puts things in the right perspective. We’re one day closer to heaven. One day closer to going home! –Jack D.

p.s. If you haven’t read this article in Think magazine yet, or don’t have a subscription to Think magazine I certainly recommend one! Just follow this link:

http://www.focuspress.org/cart_product.cfm/prod_id/27092/bk/1/tid/137

Way of Escape

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV)

All of us at some point in our lives have been tempted. We have been tempted by different things in different situations but the fact remains that temptations are a part of life. We do what we can to avoid them, but a temptation will still arise in our life somewhere, somehow. And being the imperfect humans that we are, we oftentimes give into that temptation and sin. That one time sin we commit can sometimes even turn into something habitual, or something we commit constantly. That’s kind of bleak isn’t it? Well, it doesn’t have to be!

As a struggling sinner myself, I constantly think about this verse (posted above). As I’ve said before in a previous post, I used to be an avid cusser. When I finally made the decision to try and kick that habit I had to figure out how to do it. The problem was that I let this become such a habit that it was near impossible for me to stop completely right away. A word would slip out every now and then and I would think: “Will I ever be able to stop?” Then I remembered 1 Corinthians 10:13. This part of the verse stuck out to me the most:

“…but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10.13b)

God will provide a way of escape! I thought and thought about how I was going to fix my problem. The answer was right here all along! God provides a way of escape for every temptation! It was up to me to find out what was causing me to cuss and run away from it using the “escape” route God had made available for me. 

Why does this matter to you? Temptations are a part of life. We all face them at some time or another and we’ve all given in at one time or another. That’s why it matters to you! This verse ought to encourage you! No matter what temptation you face you can take solace in the fact that God will provide for you a way of escape from that sin! 

Whenever I find myself getting wrapped up in a habitual sin I say this prayer:

 “God help me to find the way of escape that you have made for me in this sin.” 

I hope this was encouraging to you today. Remember that God will always provide you with a way to escape your temptations. You just have to want to take the exit! –Jack D. 

But Set the Believers an Example: Purity

"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." (1 Tim. 4.12 ESV)

In his letter to Timothy, Paul states five areas that he wishes for Timothy to set an example in. That fifth area is purity and that is what we’ll be looking at today.

This word here for purity (there are two total words for purity in the NT, the same Greek word is used here both times) was found in only one other place in the New Testament. That other place was 1 Timothy 5.2. I wanted a proper definition and looked at what the New Bible Dictionary had to say about this word purity. It says this concerning purity:

“Purity is thus the spirit of renunciation and of the obedience which brings every thought and feeling and action into subjection to Christ.” (991)

In light of this definition, it appears that purity does not refer to just ‘sexual’ like many may think. It instead refers to having clean thoughts (in other words, thoughts that are in “subjection to Christ”). Timothy’s thoughts were to be ones that were constantly centered on Christ and what Christ wanted! That leaves this question to us then: What are we thinking about?

For Timothy to “set an example” he had to have thoughts that were centered on Christ and those thoughts would in turn produce an action from him. It’s the same for us isn’t it? Our thoughts are going to produce an action. If we think bad thoughts then our actions will be bad, right? If we think pure thoughts though, our actions will be pure (right, good, etc.). We need our actions to be centered on Christ. Two easy ways to do this are to:  

1. Meditate on God’s word - By meditate I am referring to studying the scriptures, not just reading them. In a chapel talk at BVBID today we were told of the difference between reading and studying. When you read you just read words off of a page, maybe a couple things soak, but not much. Studying on the other hand is when you go in to reading with the mindset that you are going to learn something (what a novel concept!). Let us be a people that learn from God's word, not just read it.

2. Pray constantly - By constantly I do not mean that we need to never stop. I mean that we need to stay prayers several times as we go throughout our day to day lives. Talking to God through prayer is a wonderful way to keep our thoughts and intentions "pure".

We need to keep our head in the book and our eyes on things above. Having scripture on our mind will help keep our thoughts pure. Talking to God will also keep our thoughts pure and because our thoughts are pure the things we do will be pure. If we have act on those pure thoughts we have than we will no doubt be setting an example to others in purity, just like Timothy. –Jack D.