A Life Worthy

Attitude One-a-Day Friday 8/4/17

Posted on August 4, 2017 by michaelAugust 3, 2017

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to grasped, but made himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness (Philippians 2:6-7).

He was perfect.

Complete.

He knew everything

Had everything

Was everything

Everything that has ever been was made with the thought of his heart and the breath of his mouth.

But he stepped down from all that into a broken world. A world of

dirt

and pain

and tears

and blood

and death

for you

for me.

That is the attitude to which we are called, Beloved. We step into that same world today. We may know

dirt

and pain

and tears

and blood

and death

for them

for Him.

Are you up to the challenge?

Me neither.

Let’s pray for each other today, Beloved.

Happy Friday

Just Like Him One-a-Day Thursday 8/3/17

Posted on August 3, 2017 by michaelAugust 3, 2017

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: (Philippians 2:5)

No pressure here—just have the same attitude as the Lord of the Universe, OK? This is your calling, Beloved of Christ. To become like him, to be conformed to his image, to see the world through his eyes and love it with his heart. Tomorrow we will look at what Paul means by an attitude, “The same as that of Christ Jesus.” For today, just consider this: God has called you—commanded you—to be like him. Not in some cultish “I will be a god myself one day!” sort of way, but in a, “I love you so much that I want to be just like you!” kinda way.

If you provide the want-to, he’ll provide the how-to.

And frankly, if you ask, he’ll even provide the want-to.

He’s pretty awesome that way.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

Humility One-a-Day Wednesday 8/2/17

Posted on August 2, 2017 by michaelAugust 2, 2017

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3).

But they’re not.

Better than you, that is.

Seriously, isn’t it hard to consider others better than yourself when you know the way they live?

The way they speak?

The way they drive?

Does God really expect you to put…them before your own needs and wants?

Yep

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

Like-Minded One-a-Day Tuesday 8/1/17

Posted on August 1, 2017 by michaelAugust 1, 2017

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose (Philippians 2:1-2).

Does it show?

Does your relationship with Christ have a visible effect on who you are in the world?

Does your fellowship with other believers reflect the fellowship you have with the Holy Spirit?

You know it’s supposed to, right?

Let’s make that the focus of our prayers this morning, as we head out into a day filled with people who are not as easy to love as Jesus is.

Go and love, Beloved of Christ.

Happy Tuesday.

It’s Not in My Contract One-a-Day Monday 7/31/17

Posted on July 31, 2017 by michaelJuly 30, 2017

Final thoughts before we leave Jonah son of Amittai…

Jonah wanted to serve God.

On Jonah’s terms.

Our relationship with Jesus Christ is portrayed in many ways in Scripture.

We are servant, disciple, ambassador, friend, brother, child, Bride.

Never—not once—contract employee.

A contract employee signs an agreement to do a specified job for a specified amount of pay. Employer and employee negotiate over duties and payment, and the employee is not expected to perform any tasks not detailed in the negotiations.

“Sorry,” he can say, “That’s not in my contract.”

The Lord of the Universe doesn’t work that way.

He’s not interested in negotiation—only surrender.

Utter, complete obedience and submission, whether you understand what he’s doing or not. Whether you like what he’s doing or not. It sounds harsh, and I wouldn’t recommend it with anyone else but the One who gave his only son, that if you trust him you shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

So once again, we find ourselves at the question: Do you trust him, Beloved?

Submit boldly today. Kneel tall, and surrender at the top of your lungs.

Happy Monday, Beloved.

And Cattle, Too One-a-Day Friday 7/28/17

Posted on July 28, 2017 by michaelJuly 28, 2017

The Lord said, “You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow…but Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?” (Jonah 4:10-11)

Ouch.

Sometimes, it’s just too much for me.

The heart of God, I mean.

My world is so small, the things that affect me so close, I forget that God cares about the whole world.

All of it.

Even the cows.

I am important to him, yes.

So very important.

But so are the others.

There are, quite literally, millions upon millions of people out there who are living without Christ, who don’t know right from wrong because they have never been introduced to Truth.

And my biggest worry today is how I’m going to get to Costco and the DMV after work and still have time to deal with the pile of tree branches in my yard.

I’ve always wondered what Jonah’s response to God’s question was. Did getting a peek into the scope of God’s love change his perspective?

Does it change mine?

Happy Friday, Beloved.

God Provided One-a-Day Thursday 7/27/17

Posted on July 27, 2017 by michaelJuly 27, 2017

Then the Lord God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah…and Jonah was very happy about the vine. But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint (Jonah 4:6-8).

A vine, a worm, a scorching wind.

Wow, gee…thanks God.

Notice the repetition. God provided…God provided…God provided. Delightful vine and icky worm and painful wind, it all came from Him.

And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, it time for the “Truth You Didn’t Wanna Hear Show.” And here’s your host…Michael!

Provision isn’t about what you think you want.

It’s about what God knows you need.

I know you didn’t wanna hear that…hence the name of my imaginary show.

But it’s true. Again…the name.

Do you trust God, Beloved? Do you believe that what he provides will be good and right and exactly what you need, even if it looks like a worm?

Do I?

I hope so, for both of us.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

Mercy One-a-Day Wednesday 7/26/17

Posted on July 26, 2017 by michaelJuly 26, 2017

But the Lord replied, “Have you any right to be angry?” (Jonah 4:4)

Leave it to God to get right to the heart of the issue.

I mean, seriously. Who was Jonah to get so self-righteous and uptight? I love the fact that God does not engage Jonah on the relative merits of the Ninevitian repentance, because that’s not the issue.

The issue is the nature of God.

Is God responsible to us? Is he required to answer our questions or fulfill our expectations?

Or is he Lord of the Universe, Almighty God, creator and ruler of all, beholden to none?

How easily we forget.

And by “We,” I mean, you know…me.

Beloved, when it comes right down to it, we are a lot closer to the Ninevites’ level than to God’s. If we really push for justice over grace, we will not be pleased with the outcome.

Trust me—if the Justice rock drops, we are all in the splash zone.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

Heart of God One-a-Day Tuesday 7/25/17

Posted on July 25, 2017 by michaelJuly 25, 2017

He prayed to the Lord, “O Lord, is this not what I said…? I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” (Jonah 2:10)

He knew the words.

He just didn’t live them.

The words Jonah uses here should be familiar—they’re used over and over again in the Scriptures to describe God’s character. These were probably some of the first verses Jonah memorized in Sunday School.

Yes, I know it wasn’t Sunday School at that time—just go with me.

I’ll bet that, over the years, Jonah had recited these words with joy, with hope, in supplication, applying them to himself and to his people. He rejoiced over God’s forgiveness—for himself and those he loved.

But…the Ninevites? The oppressors of Israel? Deniers of the Most High God? The wicked ick of the world? It was unacceptable to Jonah that God could apply the same mercy, the same compassion, the same love to them that he so often gave to Israel.

So, Jonah knew the heart of God.

He just didn’t share it.

And you, Beloved? And I?

Look, I’m sure you see where I’m going here, and I know you’ve got to get on with your Tuesday. Just keep this in mind, as you look around your world today:

All those verses you’ve memorized…do they apply to all those people out there?

Do you share the heart of God for these people?

Do you even want to?

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

Anger One-a-Day Monday 7/24/17

Posted on July 24, 2017 by michaelJuly 24, 2017

But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry (Jonah 4:1).

I know it’s wrong

immature

unspiritual

but…I love this.

I’m so glad we have Jonah. He’s a real person, not a cutout character from a Sunday School felt board. Jonah feels angry because he knows that the Ninevites don’t deserve God’s mercy. They deserve a serious smack down, and Jonah was looking forward to a front row seat.

Been there, Jonah.

Felt that.

Every time I’m in heavy traffic.

You know, there’s a way out of a Jonah mood. It’s kind of dangerous, though. You can look closely at those Ninevites, and you can pray that God would allow you to see these people as he sees them. God will grant your request, if you really mean it.

And you will lose your capacity to hate them, no matter how badly they drive.

Like I said, though, it’s dangerous. You may begin to see a lot of things as God sees them, and that’ll change you.

Are you up for that, Beloved?

Happy Monday.