the other day, I kept thinking of all that we do in the name of Christianity. How much of what we are doing is truly Spirit led?
How much is excess and waste? For instance, and I mean to offend no one.. but can anyone really see Jesus going to get a theology degree? or spending thousands of dollars flying from conference to conference? or passing around a collection plate so that a new fountain can be put in church courtyard?
sigh.. I truly don't mean to offend anyone. I'm sure that there has been knowlege from theology degrees that have helped someone in some way or another. I'm sure that the information that you have received at one of the thousands of conferences you have attended all across the globe, have benefited you in some way, shape, or form..perhaps, what you have learned has even trickled down to someone else..
I guess the point that I am trying to make is that Jesus never needed to do any of these things. What would he have to say about the billions of dollars that we waste every year in the name of Christianity..all the while, while we ignore the needs of suffering people. suffering children. suffering anyone, for that matter.
I truthfully have no one in mind as I write this..I have no particular religion in mind..i just simply want others to see how the life of Jesus seemed so different than the way He is often represented.
Before Jesus began His ministry, he didn't need to obtain a degree. He didn't rally for support. He simply laid down His will and gave Himself wholly to His Father. He went to the desert, and while He was there..He learned hunger. He learned thirst. He was tormented and tempted by demons. Jesus learned humility long before He ever marched to the Cross. Jesus became Humility so that we would have a clear example of the very nature of Love. I started thinking..Jesus could have gone anywhere. Why did He choose the harshest environment known to man? He puposely chose to give up every creature comfort so that he could could suffer for 40 days and nights without food, nor drink, nor companionship. Why?
Perhaps, He knew that the will of the Father was to lead Him to the Cross, and the desert was a way to prepare for a life of total surrender and self sacrifice.
When He emerged from the desert, we can see compassion for sinners. We can see anger at hypocracy. We can see wisdom. We can see power. We can look into His life and see beauty and ultimately, we can find an example.
I guess the entire purpose of this post, is to say...that, in order to find Jesus, you don't always have to spend the thousands of dollars. Sometimes, you can find Him in the desert.
Be willing to lay your life down..He says that when you do, you find it.. are you willing to walk in the desert? are you willing to walk to narrow path that leads to life?
The Bible talks about being led by the Spirit. Haven't we yet learned that the Spirit will always take us down the same path of Jesus, the way of love, and self sacrifice..ultimately, the way of the Cross.
Can't people see how a lot of today's teachings lead us away from that?
More on that later.
Matthew 10:39
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? - from Luke
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8: 13-14
How much is excess and waste? For instance, and I mean to offend no one.. but can anyone really see Jesus going to get a theology degree? or spending thousands of dollars flying from conference to conference? or passing around a collection plate so that a new fountain can be put in church courtyard?
sigh.. I truly don't mean to offend anyone. I'm sure that there has been knowlege from theology degrees that have helped someone in some way or another. I'm sure that the information that you have received at one of the thousands of conferences you have attended all across the globe, have benefited you in some way, shape, or form..perhaps, what you have learned has even trickled down to someone else..
I guess the point that I am trying to make is that Jesus never needed to do any of these things. What would he have to say about the billions of dollars that we waste every year in the name of Christianity..all the while, while we ignore the needs of suffering people. suffering children. suffering anyone, for that matter.
I truthfully have no one in mind as I write this..I have no particular religion in mind..i just simply want others to see how the life of Jesus seemed so different than the way He is often represented.
Before Jesus began His ministry, he didn't need to obtain a degree. He didn't rally for support. He simply laid down His will and gave Himself wholly to His Father. He went to the desert, and while He was there..He learned hunger. He learned thirst. He was tormented and tempted by demons. Jesus learned humility long before He ever marched to the Cross. Jesus became Humility so that we would have a clear example of the very nature of Love. I started thinking..Jesus could have gone anywhere. Why did He choose the harshest environment known to man? He puposely chose to give up every creature comfort so that he could could suffer for 40 days and nights without food, nor drink, nor companionship. Why?
Perhaps, He knew that the will of the Father was to lead Him to the Cross, and the desert was a way to prepare for a life of total surrender and self sacrifice.
When He emerged from the desert, we can see compassion for sinners. We can see anger at hypocracy. We can see wisdom. We can see power. We can look into His life and see beauty and ultimately, we can find an example.
I guess the entire purpose of this post, is to say...that, in order to find Jesus, you don't always have to spend the thousands of dollars. Sometimes, you can find Him in the desert.
Be willing to lay your life down..He says that when you do, you find it.. are you willing to walk in the desert? are you willing to walk to narrow path that leads to life?
The Bible talks about being led by the Spirit. Haven't we yet learned that the Spirit will always take us down the same path of Jesus, the way of love, and self sacrifice..ultimately, the way of the Cross.
Can't people see how a lot of today's teachings lead us away from that?
More on that later.
Matthew 10:39
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? - from Luke
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8: 13-14
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