Missionary or Mission field?

I work with the public. I am a waiter so I am in constant contact with people. As a minister this awesome. But, it brings up questions about how I am to serve certain individuals. Do I treat everyone as they are lost? Do I treat everyone as they are saved? Or, if they mention church or Jesus, do I assume they are a believer? Do morals play a role in this?

I have come to a conclusion. There are two kinds of people. Not good and bad, because we are all bad. Not saved or lost, because only God knows every man's heart. But, by mission. By partnership.

When Christ calls us to salvation, He calls us to ministry. He calls us to serve Him, and to serve others for His glory. We are called to a mission, as missionaries. So, we are to minister to people based on their mission and how they are living it out. Are they a missionary, or a mission field? Are they my partner, or what I am working towards for the Glory of God?

This brought up another question: When people look at me, do they see a missionary or a mission field? Do they see a servant of Christ, or a way to serve Christ?

This question has turned into a conviction. So often, as the American church, we look at Africa, Asia, and Haiti as mission fields. But, what about our workplace? What about our household? What about our school? And, this is scary, but what about our church? We often assume that everyone has heard, or we assume that every situation around us will take care of itself. We assume that it is someone else's responsibility. Don't assume, because "assumers" accomplish little for the Kingdom.


So, are you a missionary or a mission field? There is no other option, and often enough, this answers the question of "saved or lost?" So, looking at your life, are you on mission.? Are you serving Christ with true conviction, passion, and love?

Matthew 28:18-20

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,* baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."


Are you making disciples or do you need to be made into a disciple?
 
Mission or Mission Field...

Lose Everything

Cover via Amazon

I have been reading two books at the same time. For me, this is quite difficult. I am not the brightest star in the sky, but God is using it. Along with daily bible reading, I am reading Radical by David Platt and Crazy Love by Francis Chan.

Both of these are challenging books. Though I have just begun reading, I have already been deeply convicted.

The biggest theme that has stuck out to me in both books is that Jesus is worth losing everything for. Both writers have written about the greed of the American Church, and how lazy we are when it comes to loving Christ.

I recently asked my Sunday School class if they were willing to get their tongues cut out for Christ. Is Jesus worth it to you? As you look at your life, are giving everything to Christ or living out the typical SBC bull. We have fallen into the trap of giving our possessions and comfort higher value than our relationship with God.

Jesus is worth much more.

If you don't want to settle, I recommend these books to you. Check them out!

Watch This video by David Platt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZfC7vAbte4&feature=player_detailpage

You're Beautiful

It's the first date. You're nervous. Your stomach is full of butterflies. Your palms are sweating ferociously, and you probably used too much cologne.

You want to be impressive, because you are impressed. Why? She's beautiful.

How do we feel about the Lord?


I was recently convicted on the way I approach daily devotions and worship. I'm lazy when it comes to these things. I don't act the least bit impressed with Jesus. My stomach doesn't turn, and His breath no longer causes my hands to sweat.

So, how should we approach these things?

Like we are in love.

As the Bride of Christ, we are to live and worship with all passion and faithfulness driven by a deep love for our King.

Are you impressed?

If so, you will approach every devotional with intensity. If so, you will approach every chance to worship like you are going to meet the love of your life.

We are not to "casually" worship. But, God calls us something way more intense. He calls us to be in love with Him, which is not a casual, or less-than exciting.

Are you impressed?

Identification, please.

I'm a waiter. The restaurant in which I work serves alcohol. Often enough, someone will order a drink, and I will have to ask the question of, "May I see your I.D?"



On a license you see very limited info.  You see a birth date, eye color, height, and gender. It also includes race, and address. These are what we call demographics. I think we would all agree that there is more to a person than demographics.

Who are you? Don't tell me your age. Don't start describing yourself with physical traits.

We have come to a place in society where we sum ourselves by saying what others can already see. To know me, you have to know my heart. To truly know Thomas Seth Springs, who was born on 12/22/92, you have to know my desires. To know me, you gotta really know me.

So, I ask again, who are you? I had to ask my self this same question recently. To really know, we have to escape what others see. We have to look beyond the obvious. We have to look at private moments. We have to look at our thought-life.

In some places I was disappointed. In some places I realized that I was not who others think I am, and that I was not living for Jesus 100% of the time.  If you are not Jesus himself, you will probably see the same thing.

So, Who are you? Are you playing church. What is the difference between who you are, and what others see? Who do you want to be?

Do you want to be someone who is sold out to Jesus, or do you want to be a pretender. I look at my brother Trey, and I am impressed. Trey loves Jesus. It is genuine. He has his struggles, but he admits to them, and tries to abandon them. Trey wants to be someone who is totally committed to Christ, therefore he pushes toward the goal.

There are others who claim to walk the walk, but don't. They may admit their faults, but they probably don't have a true, Christ-centered, desire to grow towards Christ. These are the people who are at church. They go, and they feed off of everyone elses fruit, but struggle to bare their own. See, but don't seriously serve. They use the product, but they don't pay.


So, who are you?

Are you pouring your life into your friends, family, and church? Or, do you sit back, go to bible study, and refuse to grow?

Identification, please.

February of 2011? (Video)

My Top 10

At the top of my blog it says, "A blog used for voicing biblical truths, personal opinions, and motivations."
Time for some opinions. My top 10.

Here is a list of the top 10 things that I enjoy...

1. God-to-Man Companionship- Man. This is unexplainable. There is nothing like walking hand in hand with the King.
2. Christian Fellowship- I love meeting with my brothers in Christ. Whether it's over breakfast or a football game, it's a blessing.
3. Coffee and Breakfast food- I love coffee and breakfast food. I am a firm believer that they both can be consumed at any time of the day.
4. Charleston, SC- The prettiest place on the planet. I miss it. I'm feeling a trip soon.
   
5. Pictures- I love pictures. There is nothing like catching moments on film.
6. Comfortable Shoes- Cleats, tennis shoes, or dress shoes. Look good, feel good, and do good.
7. Chopping Wood- A stress reliever. Enough said.
8. Bond Fires and Cold Weather- I love winter. I could live in Alaska.
9. Writing- I like to blog, but I'd much rather be writing poetry. Yes, poetry.
10. My Brothers- I have 3.

You're Trash

You are despicable. You are low down and disgusting. You're scum. You just aren't good enough. You're not worth it.

Ever heard this?

Chances are that you have. And, chances are that you will again. People like to be-little others. It makes them feel big, to think little of you. No matter where you turn, there is someone to criticize you and to blame you.

So, who are ya? Did you grow up rich or poor? Are your parents together, divorced, or are you adopted? What kind of car do you drive? Oh, and do you happened to have a past?

To the world, these are the things that define us. Our occupation, standard of living, and relationship status puts us in a category. Jocks, nerds, and Emo's. Pretty, ugly, and pretty ugly. Monroe, Waxhaw, and Marvin.

Despite what the world says, this is not you. You are not your parents, and you are not your car. You are not athletics, and you are not a stack of text books. You are not a mansion and you are not a trailer.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." -Psalm 139:14

God did not make you as trash, and he does not see you as trash. You were made wonderfully, and even though we a filthy, God sees you as clean through the Jesus.

Who is the authority? When you die, this world will not judge you. You do not receive salvation from the world, nor do you receive damnation from it. God is the Judge. It is by His standard we are tested, and by His Son's blood, we pass the test. Through Jesus, the Father sees us as blameless.

So? Find your identity in Christ. Seek to please Him, and Him alone. Do not stress over the words of others, but rest in God's purpose for you. By Him we are saved, so by Him we must live.

How does it feel? How does it feel to know the Lord of the universe finds you to be wonderful? He sees you as beautiful, by the grace of His Son. God loves you so much that He chose you. He called you by name. How does it feel?



Breathe In, Breathe Out

Life is under appreciated. We wake up each day, live, and go right back to sleep. We often do not think of the implications that it has on us and the ones around us.

Life is precious. Life is precious, because it expires. Our physical life will not last. There will come a day where we will breathe our last. Our body will be an empty shell. Think about the last minute of your life. Whatever you did in that minute is gone. You cannot get it back. One day, all the minutes that have made up our lives, will be that way.

So how do we make our life last? How do we make it count?

"If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord." - Romans 14:8

We were made with a purpose. That is to honor God. That is the only way that our life can last.

Will yours last? What if today was your day? Would people stand at the podium and say, honestly, that you lived for Christ? Would they describe you as a person who had a breath-in, and breath-out commitment to the Lord?

The only way our life can last is if it belongs to the Lord. A key to following Jesus is self-denial. As followers we have to have a "Your kingdom come, and your will be done" attitude. If you live for you, your life will die with your body. But, for those who live for Christ, they keep on living past their expiration date. How? Jesus is the giver of eternal life.

So, what effect will your life have on the world today? Will it just be another day, or will you live a life in which every breath is breathed for the glorification of the King?

I encourage you to live breathe by breathe and day by day. Pour yourself out in the name of Jesus, for the name of Jesus. Be spent for the Love of Christ. As we take it breath by breath, pouring ourselves out, the memory of us will cause people to have a memory of HIM. When people remember what you do today, will it cause them to remember Christ?

Breath in, and breath out.

Keep Loving Jesus,

Seth

You're Boring Me

I was recently I asked if I had any talents. My response? "No"

All in all, I am pretty boring. I do not have any distinctive hobbies or defining ablilities. I don't play instruments and I don't go sky diving. You will probably never see me on TV and I don't dream of being on the radio.

I love sitting at home. I love to hang out with friends, and I enjoy coffee. And, yes, I am a reader. There is nothing like sitting in a rocking chair. And, man, I love talking to people who were born over 60 years ago.

So, I am cleary no Indiana Jones. I am no hero. Everything that I dreamed to be as a little boy? I'm not that. I am not scoring touchdowns, I am not an astronaut, and I am not wooing the ladies. I'm not making lots of money, I am not driving a fancy car, and I've never rode a bull. I'm not what I always dreamed of being.

Am I okay with that? Most definitely.

Colossians 2:9-10



9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.[a] 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

Our adventure is to be found in Christ. There is nothing like waking up everyday and living on faith. Christ called 12 men. He called them to walk with Him on the greatest action story ever recorded. They were not going to go into bars and start fights, or have the american dream, but they were called to be satisfied by the riches of Christ. Now, that is exciting.

I pray that my life be an adventure. To be honest, I am quite bored with the mediocrity of denominations and religion. I am bored with my own mediocrity. I am bored with walking by logistics and math equations. I'm bored with trusting in my gas tank, and not God, to get me that extra mile. What kind of life are we making for ourselves?

Who Are We?

• Runner- Some of us are runners. You may be the kind of person who runs back and forth between situations looking for excitement. Often looking for adventure in all the wrong places. You try new jobs, new hobbies, and new relationships. Why not a new car, or a late night. You are constantly looking for a good time. "Where's the party at?"

          Runners struggle to find satisfaction. They're constantly hungry for something. Their appetite is often left unsettled. They do not feel complete. You may ask yourself, "Why does everything seem to feel so dull?" or, "Why doesn't anything ever go my way?"

• Log- Some of us are like logs. We enjoy just laying around. Motionless. We don't see a need for adventure. I, being boring, find myself in this category often. We like rocking chairs. We like sitting at home, and we are okay with having little reaction with others. We are dull, and often think that we are smarter than we really are. We are often proud. We like to brag about our lack of calamity.

         The truth is, our calamity is just organized. Our minds struggle with the open time. We become weathered from staying in one place for so long. Our nothingness and boredom causes us to age and wear out. We often say, "there has to be something else", but we don't bother with looking.



So?

Runners need to stop running for themselves. They want to be filled but find themselves at the wrong well. Go to Jesus. If you want to be excited, walk by faith. There is nothing like waiting in anticipation of what God will do next. We are to be complete in Him. Good times will fade, but the adventure with Christ is eternal.

Logs need to be moved. We need to have a sincere hunger for the Word of God so that we may be pushed into a journey full of life and excitement. We need to live out of inspiration from the Holy Spirit. When we get lazy we must push on and resemble a cross country star pushing towards the goal.


Challenge:

Do something different in the next ten days. But, don't do it to fill yourself up. Do something exciting for the Glory of Christ. Take a "risk" and tithe 20% instead of 10%. Push yourself to take a chance and share Jesus with someone. Step out into the waters and really walk by faith. Do not settle for less than what God has for you. Push for a life full of excitement in the name of Jesus. Leave everything and go on missions. Pay for an African Child's food for a month. Just do something, and do it in the name of Jesus. For the next ten days live it up..for Christ. It will be exciting, and you will want to make it a habit. Remember your days to impact the world for Christ are running thin...

"If we live, it's to honor the Lord. And if we die, it's to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."

-Romans 14:8-



What's Next?



Sometimes life looks like this...

So, which road do you take? Which school? Which career? Or, which T-shirt do I wear today?

Life is full of choices. Some are simple. Some are not. But, either way, we must choose. No matter how many options there are, we must make a pick. Some of these picks may put us on the high way to success, but others can leave us deserted and lost. This is scary. We don't want to find ourselves stuck in a ditch.

So what choices are you facing? Any forks in your road? You're going to have to make a decision.

1. Don't Rush

So many of us rush things. Whether it is a relationship, or job choice, we make impulse decisions. In the Gospels, we see that Peter's impulse choices got him into some trouble. He would think little and say much. He found himself digging himself out of many ditches. Let's learn from this. Let's take it slow. Take time to pray and seek God's face in each situation. Don't be rushed into anything. If needed, pull over, and take some time to think.

    2.  Don't Panic

One of the biggest mistakes we can make while driving along this road is panicking. Life is scary. When we come to the fork in our road, and forced to make a decision, we seem to throw our hands up in the air out of fright. Don't do this. Stay focused on your destination. Remember your reason for being in the car, and be determined to make it to the finish line. Also, remember that you're not in control anyway. We need to remember, as believers, that God is moving us. He is in control. The best that we can do is let Him drive, and follow His directions like a map. No reason to panic, the King of the universe has His hands on our wheel.




Lately, I've dealt with some uncertainty. School is coming to a close, and with that are lots of questions. This verse is one that God has been using to comfort my spirit:

"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

Remember that we have someone to go to. Don't be so prideful that you refuse ask for directions. The Father loves us, and wants us to be on the right road. Be faithful enough to let Him drive. 

Heart Like Ice

Ice is water in solid form. When water is exposed to frigid temperatures, you get ice. Ice is frigid. Ice has no regards for the surface on which freezes. It doesn't care how it effects it's surroundings. Ice is sharp. It's edges can be shaped in such a way that it can pierce the flesh. Ice is used for cooling and burning. Ice can become so cold that it can "burn" anything that is exposed to it. Ice is hard. To be removed, it must be melted, chipped, busted, or scraped. Ice is slick. There is no traction. It is dangerous.

Sound like your heart?

So many of us have frozen hearts. Hearts that are cold and sharp. Hearts that have little concern about those around us. Our hearts may be hard and need to be scraped. They may be slippery, and it causes our lives to spin out of control. And, if your heart is icy, you're probably denying it right now.

Maybe it's because you have been exposed to harsh conditions. Maybe your heart was put in a cooler by a family member or friend. Maybe you were hurt, and your heart has grown cold towards people and God. Either way, we need to be melted.

With a frozen heart, we struggle to love. We find ourselves feeling angry for no reason, and we feel like the world is coming at us with a snow plow. We feel pushed to the side. We feel that it is everyone else's issue, so why bother with changing.

This is not the heart of a joyful person. A heart that leaps with joy is one that is fully focused on the Lord. And, the Lord is like a warm cup of hot chocolate pressed against our lips that warms our insides. His love comforts our hearts and pushes past any sign of a frosty barrier.



So who are you? Are you someone who is frozen from the inside out? If you show no regard for those around you, be melted by the love of God. If we struggle with loving people, we need to exposed to God's ice pick...

It may be hard. Have you ever heard a snow plow scrape the street clean? It doesn't sound joyful. It may not feel great, but it's for your benefit. You will have to forgive. God wants you to experience His warmth. The Father wants you to feel The Son.

My last Tuesday Teaching YCI (Pictures)

This past Tuesday(Jan. 17th) was my last non-exam day of High School. It was also my last time teaching at the Youth Commision International club. It was a good time. To my surprise, my emotions were running high. I will miss this stuff. I will miss these people. You don't get this time back.

High as a Kite

Drugs. You've got a view. You've got a memory. You may have an addiction.

No matter who you are, drugs play a role in your life. Whether you've done them or not, you've had interaction with someone who has. They are not only on the radio, and in movies, but they are on your street, and maybe even in your own house.

I've had my experiences. Over the past few months, questions have been asked. In the past week, I have been asked twice if I do drugs. Over the past month and a half, I have been told at least three times that I look like a "druggie". My response? I was.

Growing up, I had holes to feel. Drugs were a space filler. By the time I was in 7th grade, I had begun experimenting with prescription pills. Anything that I could get my hands on. They were an escape. They made the issues temporarily disappear.

As I continued my use through middle school and into high school, I saw myself change. I was consumed. My thought process was turned upside-down. It's all I could think about. I was never happy with myself. I replaced a kid's smile with a plastic one. The hole I thought I was filling, was getting bigger. The memories I thought I was washing away, began to haunt me more and more.

Not only did my mind change, but my body did as well. I was an athlete. But, my love for game was replaced with selfish ambition. My mind switched from team to a self-driven life due to an addiction, and ultimately, my sin. My eyes began to droop, and personal hygiene was a daily struggle. I guess this is why I look worn out now. I was being used, by myself.

I haven't been able to stop thinking about these comments. They have made me reflect on my life. They have made me take a close look in the mirror in both literal and figurative ways. Through this, I have come to two major conclusions.

One: It wasn't worth it. If I could get those days back, I would. No matter how high I got, it would wear off. I've come to learn that getting wasted, is a waste. The bottle would always run empty. I hurt myself, and others. Those days did nothing but create more baggage than I already had.
It wasn't worth it, because it wasn't Jesus. See, highs wear off, but the love of God doesn't. He doesn't create holes, but he makes them over flow. I wasted 3 years of my life.

No matter how fun you think it is, it's not worth it. If you use, don't. You're not only using drugs, but you're using yourself. This will end up in disappointment. Put it down. Jesus wants to give you a satisfaction that exceeds anything of this world.

Two: It's only by the Grace of God. I'm not good. I'm still an addict. I still have moments where I want to use. But, it's only by the grace of God that I can look at those people in the eye, and honestly say that I am clean. It hurts to think of what I have done to myself through my perversion. But, by the grace of God, Jesus has filled me with a joy that says I no longer need a high. I thank God for pulling me through the fire. I am so unworthy. He has over matched my sin with love. I have no reason to boast in myself, because it's only by the grace of God.

Everyday is a battle. I see things that remind me of using. When hard times come, my flesh says use. The Spirit of God says, "Be satisfied by me." I can tell you that as I am clean, I am high as a kite. But, not on drugs or sex. I have been lifted by the love of God. I have been lifted by the grace of a sovereign King.

No matter what you want to fill your life with, know that it doesn't compare to Christ.

Keep loving Jesus,
Seth Springs

Depth of the Dance

What is a title? A description? A summary? What is a Doctor? Someone who gives check-ups? Well, the truth is that there are different types of Doctors. There Doctors of medicine, Doctors of Divinity, and Doctors of Science. So when we say Doctor, do we need to be more specific? You don't want to see a Doctor of Letters when you have a cold.

In Revelation 22, Jesus gives himself three titles that are specific and to the point. To believe in a God, we must know who He is. We need to know His character.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." -Revelation 22:13

We have heard these descriptions so many times, that we forget to take them for what they are. Did you get excited when you read the verse? Did you take them as just a list of titles, or a description? Our complacency with the Word of God has watered down our understanding of many verses, including this one.

Challenge: Explore. Discover. Search the Word. Search your God. Search your Heart. Do not settle for a vague knowledge of the God you claim to serve. But, dig. Lift ever rock, and search around every corner for your God's identity. Don't settle for just knowing that your God is the Alpha and the Omega, but I urge you to experience it. To experience it, you must find it. Do not settle.

In these titles are promises. Jesus managed to sum himself up in 17 words. Don't you think that every letter of those 17 words is slam packed with adventure and explosion? But we must search those letters.

3 Promises
There is an uncountable amount of promises within our God's identity, but here are three that stood out to me...

1. Who We Walk With- We should ecstatic about our opportunity to have a day-in and day-out companionship with the Alpha and Omega. We often struggle to pray. This should not be the case. We need to count it as a privilege to talk with Him. Look at how much you talk and text. What if we talked to God that much? We can. Jesus, through the cross, bridged the gap between us and the Father. How exciting is this: We get to walk and talk with the ruler of the universe! That is a promise of Jesus' identity. Take advantage of this!
2. Who We Live For- We no longer have to live for our sinful nature. We no longer have to live trying to feed our selfish desires. Through Jesus, we have been given the opportunity to live for something more. We actually get to leave it all behind, and live for the God who created us. This reminds me of myself as a child. I love my mother. And, I constantly wanted her attention. I wanted to please her. I was constantly saying, "Mama, watch this.." We now have the opportunity to put on a show for the Alpha and Omega. He is watching. He deserves a good show. Live in a way that makes him want to give a standing ovation. Through Jesus, we have this ability.
3. Who We Live With- Jesus is the Beginning and the End. We get to live it with Him. Through His resurrection, we have been given life. His endless love, has given us endless life with Him. Our walk with Him is not brief. Our life for Him is not cut short. We get to live in the presence of the Alpha for eternity. What a promise!

Conviction

Family (Video Blog)

Blood. That's what makes family, family. But, that's not it. A family is not family without love.

In the past I have done a great job of disconnecting myself with my family. We are from Waxhaw, NC. My family is dysfunctional. We are not rich. We all have pasts, and they often smack their food when they chew. Get it?

Today, however, I realized how much I missed all of this. (I really missed being "Mr. Fix-It" with my Grandpa) I realized how selfish I have been, and how big of a blessing they are. Now, they are still weird. They still have issues. But, I'm excited about changing the "they" to "we".

God often blesses us with things that we do not see as blessings. Whether it is a lost job, closed door, or broken relationship, God keeps blessing. I have ignored the blessing of my family. Now, I'm not usually this mushy, but it all hit me at once today. I am happy. But, more importantly, I have a true joy. Not a painted on smile. God has used a snow day to expose one of the biggest blessings in life: Family.

Special Thank You (Video Blog)

Thank you guys. God Bless.

Farewell (Romans 16)

Here, I can see Paul blowing goodbye kisses.

Romans 16

1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea.2 Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God's people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me.


3 Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus.4 In fact, they once risked their lives for me. I am thankful to them, and so are all the Gentile churches.5 Also give my greetings to the church that meets in their home.


Greet my dear friend Epenetus. He was the first person from the province of Asia to become a follower of Christ.6 Give my greetings to Mary, who has worked so hard for your benefit.7 Greet Andronicus and Junia,* my fellow Jews,* who were in prison with me. They are highly respected among the apostles and became followers of Christ before I did.8 Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord.9 Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.


10 Greet Apelles, a good man whom Christ approves. And give my greetings to the believers from the household of Aristobulus.11 Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew.* Greet the Lord's people from the household of Narcissus.12 Give my greetings to Tryphena and Tryphosa, the Lord's workers, and to dear Persis, who has worked so hard for the Lord.13 Greet Rufus, whom the Lord picked out to be his very own; and also his dear mother, who has been a mother to me.


14 Give my greetings to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters* who meet with them.15 Give my greetings to Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and to Olympas and all the believers* who meet with them.16 Greet each other in Christian love.* All the churches of Christ send you their greetings.


17 And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people's faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them.18 Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.19 But everyone knows that you are obedient to the Lord. This makes me very happy. I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong.20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus* be with you.


21 Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you his greetings, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my fellow Jews.


22 I, Tertius, the one writing this letter for Paul, send my greetings, too, as one of the Lord's followers.


23 Gaius says hello to you. He is my host and also serves as host to the whole church. Erastus, the city treasurer, sends you his greetings, and so does our brother Quartus.*


25 Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong, just as my Good News says. This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time.26 But now as the prophets* foretold and as the eternal God has commanded, this message is made known to all Gentiles everywhere, so that they too might believe and obey him.27 All glory to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, forever. Amen.



Goodbye Kisses
As I've stated, this passage gives me a picture of Paul blowing big goodbye kisses out to the Church who he has written. In the opening of this chapter we read Paul's goodbyes, and see you laters. He expresses his love for the Church, and this love has been obvious.
 
Paul learned from the best. Christ taught Paul's heart how to love the Church. This is awesome. In these goodbyes we can see the relationships built through the blood of Jesus. Through these expressions we are able to see the love of Christ spilling out of Paul and onto his fellow believers.
 
We need to be more like this. We need to be more loving. We need to freely give away our sisterly/brotherly love like Jesus did for us. We need to learn from the God who is love.
 
Are you holding love and mercy away from those around you? Are you bitter? Or, are you just a grump? I am sure that there were issues in the Roman church. I am sure that there was drama and heartache involved with the readers of Paul's letters. Just like in your family, church, and personal bubble. But, Paul loved them anyway. Let's learn from Paul. More importantly, let's learn from Jesus.
 
Eyes and Ear
Within Paul's farewell is a challenge and a warning. He warns them of false teachers and prophets. Just like in our day, the world was filled with liars. People were filled with Satan and selfish ambition. Sound familiar? Then Paul proceeds to challenge them. He distributes a challenge to not listen to anything that clashes with the Good News of Christ.
 
We must keep learning. We must live with eyes wide open, and watch out for those who want us to stumble. We must be aware of those who lie and live a life of deceit. We must answer Paul's challenge. We must refuse to accept anything other than the Gospel. We must stand firmly on the foundation that Christ has given us. We cannot budge.
 
What the world teaches looks good. It looks rich and promising. But, we must remember that anything outside of Christ is empty. Anything outside of Jesus has no value. Refuse to accept anything outside of Jesus.




"All glory to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, forever. Amen." -Romans 16:27

Above Nothing But Hell(Romans 15)

Romans 15

1 We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. 2 We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. 3 For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.”[a] 4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

5 May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. 6 Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. 8 Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews[b] to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. 9 He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote:

“For this, I will praise you among the Gentiles;

I will sing praises to your name.”[c]

10 And in another place it is written,

“Rejoice with his people,

you Gentiles.”[d]

11 And yet again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles.

Praise him, all you people of the earth.”[e]

12 And in another place Isaiah said,

“The heir to David’s throne[f] will come,

and he will rule over the Gentiles.

They will place their hope on him.”[g]

13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

14 I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and sisters,[h] that you are full of goodness. You know these things so well you can teach each other all about them. 15 Even so, I have been bold enough to write about some of these points, knowing that all you need is this reminder. For by God’s grace, 16 I am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit. 17 So I have reason to be enthusiastic about all Christ Jesus has done through me in my service to God. 18 Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them. 19 They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit.[i] In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum.[j]

20 My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. 21 I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says,

“Those who have never been told about him will see,

and those who have never heard of him will understand.”[k]

22 In fact, my visit to you has been delayed so long because I have been preaching in these places.

23 But now I have finished my work in these regions, and after all these long years of waiting, I am eager to visit you. 24 I am planning to go to Spain, and when I do, I will stop off in Rome. And after I have enjoyed your fellowship for a little while, you can provide for my journey.

25 But before I come, I must go to Jerusalem to take a gift to the believers[l] there. 26 For you see, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia[m] have eagerly taken up an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem. 27 They were glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Good News from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially. 28 As soon as I have delivered this money and completed this good deed of theirs, I will come to see you on my way to Spain. 29 And I am sure that when I come, Christ will richly bless our time together.

30 Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit. 31 Pray that I will be rescued from those in Judea who refuse to obey God. Pray also that the believers there will be willing to accept the donation[n] I am taking to Jerusalem. 32 Then, by the will of God, I will be able to come to you with a joyful heart, and we will be an encouragement to each other.

33 And now may God, who gives us his peace, be with you all. Amen.

The Trait
Paul was gifted. He was a gifted writer, preacher, and teacher. These were gifts from God. But, another gift that he was given highly influenced the tools of his ministry. That would be the gift of humility.
 
Paul knew Jesus as Lord. Paul walked with Christ in a morning in, and morning out relationship. By this, he knew Jesus' greatest traits. He knew that Jesus was a servant. He was aware that Jesus did not boast about His works, but that he was humble in all that He did. Paul took this as an example, and followed it.
 
Verses 1 through 5 scream this. Paul writes that this life is not about us, and supports that with the fact that Jesus even denied self.
 
We must put others first. I struggle with this. I struggle with selfishness and pride. I will admit that my selfishness gets in the way often. Our relationships cannot work with selfish hearts included. For a relationship to work, we must look out for the other persons' best interest. This is tough, but it is included in the call of Christ.
 
We see Jesus putting us first often. The most obvious example is the cross. We should have died. It was our debt to pay. But, Jesus, as a humble servant, gave himself for us. He put aside His wants and did what was best for us, even though we did not deserve it.
 
If the King of the universe did this, how much lower should we make ourselves? We must remember, that as followers of Christ, we have no rights. We traded our rights in for Jesus and a cross. Therefore, we are above nothing but Hell, and we deserve that. By the grace of God, Jesus took our punishment. This gives us an opportunity to love and serve others like He served us.
 
The Beauty of It All
Verses 5 and 6 paint a beautiful picture. Can you see it? All of God's children standing in harmony, with one voice, praising the Father. Don't you want to be a part of that? We have this awesome privilege. If we could stop being so critical, and have love for one another, we could sing a united song to the Father. Don't miss it.
 
Paul's Ambition
Paul's writings say a lot about his character. Starting in verse 14, Paul writes about his goals and motivations. If you've been reading through Romans, it's obvious that Paul's goal was to honor God. His goal was to give God glory. But, how would he do that? He would humbly remind the Romans to serve Christ. Stop there? I think not. He goes on to write about his love for reaching those who have never heard the good news.
 
What pushes you? Does the need for sharing the Gospel even cross your mind? So often, we get caught up in our own little lives and we forget about the necessity of evangelism. We forget that we live in a lost world. Does this concern you?
 
I had a conversation with my 8 year old brother about this very thing today. I mentioned telling others about Jesus and he began to laugh. This is a little boy who has grown up in a Southern Baptist Church. How does he not know about the deep need for evangelizing? I will take partial blame. We should have had this talk a long time ago. I explained to him that we live in a lost world, full of people going to hell, and that they should be a top priority. Are lost people just an after-thought? When is the last time you shared Jesus with someone?
 
Challenge: Put others first. Do so by telling them about Jesus.
 
 
 

Dear Critics, please shut up. (Romans 14)

Romans 14

1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord’s help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval.

5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. 6 Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. 7 For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. 8 If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.

 

10 So why do you condemn another believer[a]? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For the Scriptures say,

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,

‘every knee will bend to me,

and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.[b]’”

12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. 13 So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.

14 I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. 15 And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. 16 Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. 17 For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. 19 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.

 

20 Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. 22 You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. 23 But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning. 
 
The Crowd:
Who was Paul talking to? This letter seems to be addressed to a room full of critics. It seems to be a room full of preferences and opinions. Sound like your church? Sound like your home? Probably so.
 
Our Day:
We are not much different from the Romans in this aspect. We are so opinionated. We are constantly criticizing, and constantly being criticized. A big thing going on today is a constant battle between traditional and contemporary music. Organ vs. guitar. You have your preferences and so do I. Does this make one better than the other? Does it really matter if I wear jeans or slacks? We have made things like this into a religion. We have divided God's family with denominations and preferences. Paul writes that this should not happen.
 
Less Talking, More Honoring
It is made clear that these grumblings were not to glorify God. It was made obvious that the critical hearts were not honoring God. Verses 5 through 8 sum up the entire Chapter. As Paul writes, we are to do everything for Christ and His honor. Whether we like Lacrae or the Presbyterian Hymnal, we are to do so in a way the honors God. Paul expresses this in a way that really grabbed my heart. He writes that whether we live or die, we do so honoring Christ. Challenge: Quit criticizing others. Examine your own heart. And, do everything so that it will honor Jesus.
 
Aiming for Harmony
I cannot sing. I love music, but could never make my own. I can't harmonize. My voice goes up and down, in and out, and cracks constantly. It's awful. And, sometime the church is not much different. Because of our preferences and opinions, we get in arguments and have fall outs with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul reminds us that this should not happen, but that we should aim for harmony in the church. We should love others like Christ has loved us. Do not allow your junk to tear apart the love that should be binding us together.
 
Conviction
We are not called to examine everyone else for imperfections. But, we are called to examine ourselves. We are called to look at our lives and throw out everything that does not resemble Jesus. Paul writes that we are to live by conviction. If the Spirit gives you a tap on the shoulder, and gives you a hint that what you are doing is wrong, don't do it. If you have to question whether something is right or wrong, it is probably wrong. A good example of this is sexual impurity. The question of, "How far is too far?", is often asked. If you're unsure if something is okay, then stay away from it. Paul writes that if we go against our heart's conviction, that we are sinning. What are you feeling led to do? Are you being convicted of you're sin? Don't fight conviction, but fight what you're being convicted of. Fight sin.
 
Constantly criticizing others doesn't honor Jesus. If it doesn't honor Jesus, don't do it.

My Biggest Struggle (Romans 13)

Romans 13

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.

6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.

8 Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. 9 For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.”[a] These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 10 Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.

11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

My Biggest Struggle
This chapter is hard on my heart. Sometimes what we read seems like eating rocks, and this chapter is that way to me. It's convicting and heart-wrenching. I don't get it. I have to submit?

My biggest struggle in life is control. I want it, and I don't want anyone else to have it over me. Just ask the people in my life. I hate being told what to do. I hate it when people bark out orders in my direction. And, when people do this, I usually bark back. I love to rebel. This passage tells me to stop it. This chapter tells me that when I rebel against authority, I rebel against God. And, when I read this, I come up with a million excuses. In my heart I begin to scratch and scream at the fact that I am wrong. Me? Wrong? Yes.

WE all struggle with this. Look at children. We, as kids, would listen to anyone else before we would listen to our parents. Men fight the law, their boss, and God on about every topic. And, lots of women rebel against the entire idea of men having power. We are born rebels. We are born sinners. And, when we do this, we don't only break the law, or hurt our spouse, but we disobey God. That's scary.

Here's the challenge: Submit. C.S. Lewis wrote, "The terrible thing, the almost impossible thing, is to hand over your whole self- all your wishes and precautions- to Christ." Submitting to authority is tough, but we must do it. When we submit to the authority that Christ is given, we submit to Christ. There is no better place to be than in the submission seat before Christ. Because when we finally give up, when we let Him take control, He doesn't mess up. Christ deserves our submission. If we really beliveve that Christ is King, Lord, Savior, etc then why don't we trust Him? Wouldn't the Lord of Lords do a better job directing our lives than we do?

Another Struggle
I'm a lot like you. I've been hurt. I have been kicked, dropped, and abandoned. Therefore, I struggle with verses 8-10. Loving others? But, others are the ones who have hurt me. Others are the ones who I trusted, and split. Others? Yea, they are the ones I struggle to simply like, but you say I must love them? Yes.

I struggle to like people, and all of their awkardness. But, I must stop being selfish and bitter. My emotions must move to ones that are full of love and mercy. My feelings must be transformed into ones that reach out to others, not push away. I need to feel about others, the way that Christ feels about me.

We must remember that we put Jesus on the cross. Our sins hurt Him. Our mishaps damaged Him. He could have gotten bitter and mad, but He didn't. He loved us more. He reached out to us with open arms, and without hesitation. And, by this He satisfied God's wrath. By this, He fulfilled the law. We must do the same with others. We must love them with an endless love despite their flaws, because that's how Christ did us.


Get Dressed
Pretend you're going to a ball. One where you will meet the love of your life. It's gonna be beautiful. Big lights, with live music, and great food. Do you wear jeans and a t-shirt? No. Men, you shave up and put on a tux. Ladies, you get all dolled up. You put on your most glittery jewelry, and wear a dress that will take Romeo's breathe away.

In the same way, we need to get ready for Christ. Paul writes that our salvation is closer than ever, and we need to be ready. How? We are to derobe ourselves of our sin and dress ourselves in the presence of God. God doesn't want our hearts to be causual, but He wants to see hearts dressed with Christ. Are you ready?