Why do we need the church? Part 1

My friend, Lance (founder of Legacy dad), penned this blog post, "Dear Church, Are We Off Course?" in which he spoke from the heart and from some frustration and pure honesty with issues in today's church in the free world, The United States of America.  If you haven't read it or have, I encourage you to read it again and then ponder to yourself to ask what you see in your church and where are we going.In Ephesians 5:25 we read are "Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her", which applies to those whom Christ died for.  In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said that "I will build my church."  In the Old Testament they reference to an assembly of people who worshiped God.  The Greek word, Ekklesia, is a term that is translated as church, which simply means assembly.  The Church is both local and universal.  The church is both visible and invisible.  It is not defined as brick and mortar.  In metaphors in the New Testament, the Church is referenced as "an olive tree (Romans 11:17-24), a field of crops (1 Corinthians 3:6-9), a building (1 Cor. 3:9) and a harvest (Matthew 13:1-30 and John 4:35).  The Church is a group of new priests, holy believers (that is you and I who are set apart for Him).

Some reasons why we need the church (found in Scripture):

• The church is for a community of believers (others known as a family) that come together to worship God
• The church is there to nurture its members.  In Colossians 1:28 we are to understand that the church is there to "present every man mature in Christ".
• The church is there for evangelism and Mercy - we are to go unto all the earth and make disciples (not just fans) of Jesus Christ
• The church is called to remember and practice the Sacraments (Baptism and Communion)
• The church is there to preach the Word (hear it and listen to it and to live it).  There is reference to this with Jesus talking to Peter in Matthew 18 (bind and loosen).
• In practical terms, the church should be a hospital (always there to help, that is, to comfort and encourage and urge each of its members to live a life worthy of Jesus Christ)
• The church is there to discipline  (Matthew 18)

I was very moved by this post from Lance that I started asking fellow Elders to read it and to comment back to me on it.  I asked some of my Pastors' their thoughts on this and to give us feedback on it.  One Pastor actually wrote back to me in regards to Lance's post.  This pastor has been both an encouragement to me (as he officiated my father's funeral) and a mentor.  In replying back to me he said that Lance has asked some great questions that we need to continue to ask ourselves and we should always be evaluating.

When we appoint Elders and Deacons we should be selecting leaders based on gifting and their fruit (reference Galatians 5).  However, the Pastor told me, that we need to be careful in making broad assumptions - meaning sometimes a person's profession/generosity are examples of gifting that need to be included in leadership.

Lance is spot on in discipleship.  I will go onto to say that if a church's discipleship "program" (or model or way whatever you call it) is not built upon the word in creating overseers/leaders/lay leaders, then I would be confident to say that church's model is flawed both Biblically and internally.  I would go further to say that we have a lot of "head knowledge" in the American church but not all have connected the head to the heart.  There are too many religious (theologians) and not enough disciples!

One caution for us to be quick to judge the Church is to look all over and make broad brush assumptions about the whole.  The real life changes happen in a man/woman or child's life when they let go to self and let God and His Spirit move us to where He wants us to be.  The old saying applies, "Don't be quick to judge a man, until you walk a mile in that man's shoes."  This could mean that maybe he is right where God wants him to be.  The other side of this coin is that maybe, just maybe, a lot of these men have never been mentored or discipled the way that God calls us to disciple.  In 1 Corinthians 3:5-9, you read that our job is to plant seeds and water seeds, after that, it's God's job to grow and by how much He grows each of them.  We should be careful to deceive ourselves that every person is going to reach the level of sanctification continuum that we think is appropriate.  The Church's economy is to take care of those in need from within and to reach outward to those who do not know Christ and to grow those who come to know Him.

As far as those of us that are in the church versus those of us that are out of the church, the Pastor friend of mine and I would both agree that there are two scales of economy here to consider:  1) Those of us that are in Christ have a different understanding - a biblical economy and understanding then those who are outside the church and have a completely different set of economies.  The world's view versus the Christian view.

The "American" church compared to all other churches in the world will not always look the same.  There are some non-negotiable qualities that should be identified in God's  Pure Church:

• Solo Scriptura
• Biblical Doctrine (the right preaching of the Word)
• The Church preaches the Word
• The Church is accountable the Word
• The Right use of Church Discipline
• Genuine Worship (Lyrics that point and are based on the Word)
• Effective Prayer
• Effective Witness
• Effective Fellowship
• Biblical Church Government
• Spiritual power in Ministry (being the hands and feet the body of believers and to the world around it)
• Personal holiness of life among its members
• Care for the poor
• Love for Christ

The "American" church does come under fire because, at times, we can make it about ourselves and our legacy instead of pointing those from within and from the outside to Christ (this needs to be repented of).  Also, climate can play a big deal in this.  For instance, as I am writing this in the Midwest there is rain and freezing rain and then there is cold temps and in climate weather, whereas in other places of the world they are not bound by this.  In other places of the world, Christianity is illegal and a crime which is punishable by death so they need to be hidden in home churches and the like.  For instance, my Pastor friend says that you have a church building in Ethiopia but no heat (obviously not needed) but if you go to the same building in the Midwest during the dead of winter - it would not be that ideal to hear God's word under such harsh circumstances.

Lance said in this his post, "It’s not that I’m angry or even frustrated, I just long in my heart to find Christian leaders and other men who actually live their lives both in public and in private – congruent with the faith they profess."  My pastor's comment to this was "Amen. When our actions match our beliefs, we have integrity."

For me, it is tough, because one of my gifting's is discernment.  For someone like me, this is not always a good thing, because I can be very direct and shoot straight from the hip.  That being said, I need to continually pray for wisdom in when to act on this discernment or when to wait on God to act or to find that He may have someone else in mind to act.  This brings me to the point that I can find myself being very critical of church pastors and leaders and overseers, including myself.  That is, to say, that I am a church leader (both an Elder and leader of Men's Ministries).  Do I always get it right?  The answer is clearly no, because I am a sinner.

Here is a clue for you, believer, to use.  When finding a church or if you are currently in your church and Lance's post has hit a nerve or is causing you discomfort in that some of his talking points have hit the mark, then my encouragement to you is to do some things about it:

• Read God's Word
• Pray
• Fast
• Walk with other men (and if you are a woman walk with other women) and be open, honest and transparent and definitely in the Word.
• Humbly talk to your leaders - that is, don't tell them the way that you want it to be, ask them what they think Scripture says on this matter
• Don't panic - God's got this - Each one of your leaders will give an account and will be responsible for what they have done, are doing and will continue to do.  We read this in Hebrews 13:17:  "Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them?"

My church is a hospital, a place to grow and a place to learn.  My church is full of sinners that are saved by grace.  I am not sure if all of its members (or attenders) are truly born again Christians.  That is up to our leaders to discern and to pray through and to comfort, encourage and urge the body to live a life worthy of Jesus Christ.  All this being said, does my church and its leaders make mistakes?  The answer is yes (remember that we are all sinners).  BUT when we error on the side of grace and love and mercy, that is, forgive as we have been forgiven, we can come together and reason and in a humble and biblical approach we can see God's will reign in all that we do.

Why do we need the Church?  Because we are a family of believers.  Each of us that are born again ,whether we like it or not, are now brothers and sisters in Christ.  We are called to love one another.  To encourage each other, to comfort each other and to urge each other to live a life worthy of Christ.  We need the Church because we need to worship God together and hear His word together and to be the hands and feet together.  We are family!

Blessings,

D

Sources:  The Bible.  Systematic Theology (Wayne Grudem).

Test God?

First of all,  let me premise this blog by saying that I do not believe in man's definition of "Prosperity Gospel" as defined as "Prosperity theology (sometimes referred to as the prosperity gospel, the health and wealth gospel, or the gospel of success) [A] is a religious belief among some Christians, who hold that financial blessing and physical well-being are always the will of God for them, and that faith, positive speech, and donations to religious causes will increase one's material wealth. It is based on interpretations of the Bible that are traditional to Judaism (with respect to the Hebrew Bible),[1] though less so in Christianity. Prosperity theology views the Bible as a contract between God and humans: if humans have faith in God, he will deliver security and prosperity." (Wikipedia).To be a true disciple of God you have to be careful with your exegesis (defined as critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially of scripture).  That is, to say, that when you read and interpret Scripture, you are to study it well and true and to understand contextual what the Scripture is saying.  It is important to read the whole text to understand the text completely.  Is it relevant to me now, is it for the time and place that it is written, does the passage transcend time?  All of these things have to carefully weighed and meditated on.  When you read God's word in the way that it is intended to be read, then you will have a humble heart when reading this book.  Let me clear, when this book "reads" you.  The word is active and alive and it is sharper than any two-edged sword.  It is the inerrant word of God.  For a believer, in biblical inerrancy, Holy Scripture is the Word of God, and carries the full authority of God. Every single statement of the Bible calls for instant and unqualified acceptance. Every doctrine of the Bible is the teaching of God and therefore requires a full agreement.

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So where does Scripture ever tell us that we can test God?

Answer, in the only "Italian" Book of the Bible (pronounced "Mell" "Lotch" "Ee")

ESV Version:

Malachi 3:10-11English Standard Version (ESV)

10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer[a] for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts.

NIV Version

Malachi 3:10-11New International Version (NIV)

10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty.

NLT Version

Malachi 3:10-11New Living Translation (NLT)

10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! 11 Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease.[a] Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

Please note that this text tells us a few things:

• We are to Tithe to God (through our church)
• Stop robbing God, by not tithing
• We are to trust God (who He puts in place as leaders of our church) with the tithe that they are doing God's will
• If we trust him completely with our first fruits he will bless us
• He will open the storehouses of blessing

Many take this blessing and have turned it into a sort of religious (man-made) prosperity gospel and try to make it financial blessing (does it say that anywhere in the text?).   This is an abomination and should not be tolerated at all.  If we are to humbly understand the text, then we realize that God says that he wants us to test him.  He wants us to try and out give him and to see if we can match His blessing (note:  We never can, it's not about that, it is about our heart).  When God says that He will open the storehouses of blessing for us what does that mean?  To me, it means different blessings for different people.  (Think of the parable of the talents.  Think of the fruit of the Spirit and think of how each one of God's family members has their own gifts given to them by the Holy Spirit).  All this to be said that it starts with complete trust and faith in God.

He has plans for you and I.  He loves you and I and wants us to rely on Him completely.  It doesn't meant that He doesn't want us to work (Look at Adam and Eve - He gave them work from the beginning).  To each of us, there are things to do, people to serve and a call for purity and for us to seek His righteousness.

He has a plan for each and every one of us.

Do you trust Him?

Do you have complete and child-like faith in Him?

Do you love Him?

Do you call yourself just a fan or are you a true friend to Him?

Then trust Him, by testing Him.

My wife and I (along with training our kids in stewardship) live by the 10/10/80 rule.  That is, that we tithe 10% of our income, we save 10% of our income and we live off 80%.  It's not always easy and when we first began this journey of complete trust and faith in Him, we (I) was not in a position to tithe 10% because of debt and school loans.  That being said, my wife and I made a commitment to each other and to God that we wanted to honor Him with our first fruits and we no longer wanted to be bad stewards (my wife was a good steward - I wasn't) and to honor Him in all that we do.  The first year was tough and we took a financial class at our church.  We read a few books on this (The road map to financial freedom along with Dave Ramsey material) and we got there.  Within the first 3 years of our marriage, we were completely debt free (other than mortgage) and we were tithing God on what rightfully belonged to Him.

Since my wife and I put complete trust in God with our money, my life is completely different.  Please note that I didn't say perfect because it isn't and it never will be until Christ's return.  Occasionally, I have those moments of earthly desires (mine mine mine and want versus need).  But I confess and I turnaround and we move toward what He calls us to do.  I will confess to you that I still struggle with time (The Stewardship of Time).  It is rough and I am a fast brain and active person - I need help and wisdom in this area.

Test God!  See what He has planned for you and your life.

Blessings,

D

Hate your brother?

1 John 4:7-21New International Version (NIV)God’s Love and Ours7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

1 John 3:11-24New International Version (NIV)

More on Love and Hatred11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters,[a] if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.

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. 24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

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First, let me be perfectly honest here and say that I thank God for His faithfulness, love, grace and mercy.  Because without it, I would be a lost cause.  However, because of the gift of His Son, I have hope eternal.

I would be a liar if I told you that I didn't struggle with pride and lust and anger.  I would be lying to you if I told you that I didn't struggle with Anger and wrath driving every day to and from the city and/or looking at social media and seeing the venom that people put forth on both sides of the aisle.  All this to bring up our walk as a Christ follower.  The Scripture above is very clear on anyone who hates a brother or sister is not only a liar, but a murderer.

Scripture tells us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.  After re-reading these two Scriptures in 1 John, it can be very sobering truth for us to work this out.  It is not only a warning but a stark reality that we have to remove and put to death our old ways.

Soul Searching exercises:

• Read the book of 1st John
• Pray to God (ask him to reveal to you things that you have to let go of, people that you have to forgive and even people who you have to ask for forgiveness from).
• Look at Social Media differently (if it causes you to sin - remove it from your daily life)
• Pray for those who afflict you
• Set healthy boundaries around those you know who are always angry
• Forgive as you have been forgiven.

Blessings,

D

Family Devotion Time

This morning I found myself for the third morning in a row waking up an hour before my morning alarm (which is early, really early).   Needless to say, the night before I just simply prayed in my bed and managed to fall asleep for whatever remaining time I had until my morning routine, but this morning was different.  This morning, I jumped up and started the coffee pot before it's early preset time.  I let the dog out.  I read my Bible.  I journaled and I even spent more time in prayer than I normally do.  

As I drove to work, I listened to worship music and prayed for more.   I prayed for the 4 guys that I am walking with.  I prayed for the prayer list that I have been in need to get to.  For some unknown reason, it is 8:00pm and I am still wide awake.  I even went to the dentist this afternoon and had time to finish my afternoon work from home.  Please note: None of this was possible on my time.  Left to my own devices, this day would have been an epic fail.  I even had time to work out for the second day in a row before family time.

Next, family devotion.

My wife and son called me to dinner.  My wife made this excellent chicken stir fry and even my most finicky of children enjoyed the meal.  Therefore, I decided that it was time to kick up another family devotion.  The questions at hand were as follows:

Question #1:  Dad, "What do you think a disicple of Jesus Christ Is? "  (Instruct them to answer youngest to oldest)

Answer:  youngest, "a disciple is someone who doesn't whine and has their own way, but does what is required of them by Jesus"

Answer2:  middle child, "a disciple is someone who is not just a fan of Jesus but a follower, that is, someone who does Jesus' will.

Answer3:  oldest child, "a disciple is someone who follows God's word and does what it says in their entire life"

Answer4:  the wife, "a disciple is a student (a lerner) who follows their teacher"  (note this answerer asked me why I didn't answer.

The next questions was, what did Jesus mean when he said:

Luke 14:25-27New International Version (NIV)

The Cost of Being a Disciple25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."

This time I asked them to go from oldest child to youngest child and then wife:

Answer1:  Oldest Child, "it means not to put any one first"

Answer2:  Middle Child, "it means that God doesn't want us to choose anyone or any thing before Him.  He wants to be first in everything we do and how we do it"

Answer3:  Youngest Child, "to me, it means that we have to seek what God wants first and then follow His will first"

Answer4:  Wife, "it means that God doesn't want us to choose anyone before choosing Him."

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As a father, this was both humbling and exciting to watch and listen and see my family respond accurately to the Word of God.

I told them that as parents, their mom and dad want nothing more than for them to have a relationship (a friendship with God).  And that when each of them met their spouse, that our hope and prayer is that they will meet someone who loves Jesus more than them.  Because if they find that spouse, then that spouse will love them how God loves them.

I am not sure what you are thinking or what you think about my family and I at this juncture.  Maybe you are saying, "yeah, that's so nice to read and blog about, but that's not me"  Or maybe you are saying, "Not my family....not my friends".

My answer to you all, is why not?  You only miss 100% of the shots you never take (thank you Wayne Gretzky).

Trust in the Lord in all that you do....

Blessings,

Dante

Merry Christmas from Legacy Dads

MMERRY CHRISTMAS!

WE HOPE THAT IN THIS SEASON

OF THANKFULNESS

THAT YOU ENJOY LOVED ONES

AND REACH UPWARD AND OUTWARD

IN ALL THAT YOU DO!

Blessings,

Lance & Dante

Top 10 things to remember this Christmas

2016 ChristmasTop things to remember this Christmas

#10 - Don't forget the blessing of family and friends - As you try to catch up by wrapping presents, going to the grocery store, and getting ready to receive company or be the company, be thankful for the family and friends that you have been given

#9 - Remember to enjoy your family - A close friend and love of mine once told me that we don't get to choose our family but we do get to choose our friends.  Whether you are with family or friends or possibly both enjoy this season of giving more than receiving

#8 - Always be thankful - whether you get a gift of time, an expression of love and or an unexpected gift, be thankful that someone else took the time to give you something

#7 - Remember Attitude - We cannot control much, but we can control our own attitude and how we respond to others

#6 - Remember to say thank you- in the busyness of life and the demands of "me" and the cries of others, be kind and considerate to those who work and serve and share with others

#5 - Do for others instead for you first - the blessing is truly understanding that it is better to give than receive

#4 - Serve others - Serve one another in love as Christ has served us

#3 - Remember what God has given you - count your blessings

#2 - Share the Gospel - in whatever and wherever you do.  Give people the hope that we have in Christ alone.

#1 -  What's the gift - In all the hustle and bustle and spending and shopping please do not forget the ultimate gift that God gave us - Sending his Son down to this earth to be born of a virgin, live on this earth, spend time in his ministry, fulfilling every prophecy spoken of Him in Scripture and him drinking the cup of sacrifice for our sins - Jesus paid the price for you and me

Blessings,

Dante

The marks of a disicple

Often you have read and heard from Lance and I not to just be a follower of Jesus, but to dare to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Some may say, "Are you saying that if I am saved then I am not automatically a disciple of Jesus Christ?"  or some say, "If I am saved then I am already a disciple of Christ", while others say, "to be a disciple, your life has to bear the marks of a disciple."  So you find yourself asking where does Legacy Dad stand on this.  My answer is:  Look to the New Testament!  If you read and reread and study and meditate on the Word of God, then you cannot help but understand what a disciple of Christ must do,  must look like and what fruit he/she should be bearing.Jesus, in Matthew 7, tells us what disciples look like:

True and False Disciples21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Jesus in Matthew 28 doesn't just tell us to go out and reach the lost and save them.  He takes it one step further:

The Great Commission18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Jesus also goes on to say that if you hold onto (never let go of) his teaching, then you are a disciple.  If you follow him (that is, to say, not just believing in Him), If you teach the truths to other trustworthy people so that they can multiply God's plan for His believers.  In Luke 6:40, "A disciple is not greater than his teacher, but everyone when fully trained will be like his teacher."  Luke 9:23 says, "whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."  Jesus and His New Testament have so much to say on what a disciple must be, must do and must follow in order to be called His disciple.

Marks of A Disciple

A disciple must(s):

• Know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior:  Romans 10:9-11 "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[a]
• Renew his mind:  Romans 12: A Living Sacrifice 12:  1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
• Knows and Studies God's Word:  1 John 2:3-11 - "Love and Hatred for Fellow Believers, 3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God[a] is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. 7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. 9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister[b] is still in the darkness. 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister[c] lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them."
• Let the Word have authority over their lives:  Colossians 3:15-17 "15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
• Be Humble:  James 4:10, "10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
• Be not just hearers of the word BUT doers:  James 1:22, "22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
• Bear God's Fruit (you simply cannot help but bear His fruit if you are his disciple):  Galatians 5:22-26, "22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."
• Die to self:  Romans 6:8, "⁸ Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him."  This simply means let go and let God in all that you do.
• Be a good steward:  A good steward is someone who understands that God is all, above all and over all.  That is, to say, that God has dominion over my finances, my choices, my daily life and my gifts.  All that I do should point others to Christ.

There is so much more to say on being and daring to be a disciple of Jesus Christ (more to follow on this topic).  That being said, understand that none of us are perfect nor could ever be.  We are called to live content and humble lives.  Therefore, confess your sins to one another and understand God's call to worship together in community, in family.  To lift each other up and to supply the needs of the body.  In doing so, you will lay up treasure in Heaven where it is so much more important than the matters of a life down here on earth.  For we are but a mist and before we know it, our lives will be ending and our eternity approaching.

What are you going to choose to do?  Serve yourself?  Or serve God?

Blessings,

D