Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Commanding Presence

God is Always Present

They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority. Luke 4:32

Being in some people’s presence is noteworthy. They carry themselves in such a way that it feels different. Maybe it is their incredible business acumen, charisma, or influence that draws you in. Whatever the reason, it’s unmistakable and grabs your attention.

Jesus, despite his humble character, drew large crowds. His purpose was to serve selflessly and glorify His Father. His divine nature allowed Him to perform miracles with a simple touch or spoken word. His presence was vastly superior because His authority came from God and not from man. Today, His holy presence continues to bring peace and healing to those who trust in Him. While man can captivate us for a time, only Jesus can captivate us for eternity. And once you meet Him, you’ll understand why.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Because God is always present, through Jesus I can experience true peace.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Busy


God Is Wisdom

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” Luke 10:38-40

Life seems so busy. Our daytimers are packed with work obligations, family commitments and social functions. Like a “No Vacancy” sign, we all believe that being busy is good because busy pays bills and busy gives us worth. But does it really? Or does busy just distract us from experiencing our true purpose in life?

Mary and Martha had different views on how to effectively use their time. Mary was enjoying the company of Jesus while Martha racing against deadlines became full of worry. Ironically, Martha who was doing all the hard labor was going to miss out on God’s intended blessing. Don’t let busyness cause you to miss the big picture. God in His infinite wisdom has great things planned for us, and so we must find time to listen and follow.

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:40-41

Because God is wisdom, in Jesus, my true purpose is revealed.