Friday, November 4, 2011

Missional Focus: {Day 29} Faith Without Deeds...

Being missional is living a life that involves intentionally serving others to win more to Christ through living out and sharing the Gospel.


14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if people claim to have faith but have no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. (James 2:14-19)

We cannot be satisfied with our salvation being the end of our story. Our salvation is really just the beginning. Our lives shouldn't be just about getting saved, but about being saved for a purpose.

Serving and caring for others is an outward sign of what Christ has done in our hearts. Doing good or the "right thing" doesn't give us salvation. We love because He first loved us. We do good to others because Christ did, and He calls us to do the same. Faith first, deeds flow out from a grateful heart!



Day 10: Pioneers
Day 11: Mission Aviation Fellowship
Day 12: Living Water Development
Day 13: Heartline Ministries
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Thursday, November 3, 2011

Missional Focus: {Day 28} Love

Being missional is living a life that involves intentionally serving others to win more to Christ through living out and sharing the Gospel.



16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.  (1 John 3:16 - 23 NIV)

1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NIV)

Loving others the way Jesus does, seeing people through His eyes, is something I have been praying for a lot recently. And I have to say that the days I do pray this, I am noticeably more patient with people, I get frustrated a lot less (and I am easily frustrated!) and I have a real, deep desire to give more of myself to others.

I know that I can't love people the way God calls me to love on my own. I can only love wholeheartedly, compassionately and without expecting anything in return if I have the Holy Spirit pouring into me first.



Day 10: Pioneers
Day 11: Mission Aviation Fellowship
Day 12: Living Water Development
Day 13: Heartline Ministries
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Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Missional Focus: {Day 27} Mercy

Being missional is living a life that involves intentionally serving others to win more to Christ through living out and sharing the Gospel.


Luke 10:25-37 New American Standard Bible (NASB)



25 And a [a]lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? [b]How does it read to you?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” 29 But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
The Good Samaritan
30 Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and [c]beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, 34 and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 On the next day he took out two [d]denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’ 36 Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” 37 And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do [e]the same."
Aren't we the image of the man travelling down the road, and Jesus Christ the loving Samaritan who comes upon us.
Satan loves to rob us of our joy, our peace, our blessings and leave us lying on the road with nothing.
Our Saviour loves nothing more than bandaging our wounds, bringing us to His inn and showing us mercy.
If we profess to love our Lord, we must follow in His footsteps in living out the Gospel. Showing mercy to those in need, binding wounds in His name, pointing people to Him with our actions and our words.

"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6


Day 10: Pioneers
Day 11: Mission Aviation Fellowship
Day 12: Living Water Development
Day 13: Heartline Ministries
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Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Missional Focus: {Day 26} Win More to Christ

Being missional is living a life that involves intentionally serving others to win more to Christ through living out and sharing the Gospel.


"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19-20


14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

If we believe in God, who in all mercy and grace, offers us a way to have a relationship with Him, a way to spend eternity with Him, shouldn't we be living lives that are passionate about seeing the lost turn to Him and find the same saving Grace as we have?

I know I should be a lot more passionate about praying for family and friends who haven't come to a saving relationship with Him.

Why do I want to keep what I have in Christ Jesus a secret? Why do I not act like I want others to have what I have in Him?

I want to be more passionate about being a witness for Him.

I pray that my light might shine bright for Him!


Day 10: Pioneers
Day 11: Mission Aviation Fellowship
Day 12: Living Water Development
Day 13: Heartline Ministries
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