One is so insignificant in the minds of most people. We think nothing of losing a penny. We won’t even waste our time picking one up as we walk. The effort it would take to do so wouldn’t be worth the gain of the cent. Even the single dollar bill has begun to suffer this fate as it loses its value. We say, “It’s only a buck. Why not….buy it…get one…”.
When multiplying or dividing by one, whatever that number is stays the same. Even zero has a tremendous impact. One does nothing.
One cookie before dinner won’t ruin the meal.
One more minute before bedtime is not a major request.
One bite won’t wreck my diet.
We don’t give one a lot of credit. God does.
Jesus was always interested in the one. He always took the time to stop what he was doing to touch the one. Zaccheaus, the woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery, the repentant thief on the cross, each disciple; Jesus was always interested in the one.
In the Gospel of Luke chapter 15 Jesus tells of the shepherd who left the ninety nine safe sheep to go out and find the one lost lamb. The most famous verse in the Bible, John 3:16, says that “whosoever” may have eternal life. Any one of us may come.
Jesus knows that one drink may turn into alcoholism.
Jesus knows that one affair will ruin a marriage.
Jesus knows that one night of passion may bring a disease.
Jesus knows that one harsh word may hurt for a lifetime.
Jesus knows that one cry for repentance brings forgiveness.
Jesus knows that one encouraging word can build a foundation.
Jesus knows that one teenager can turn out to be Billy Graham.
I thank God that He thought enough of a 5’2” 115 lb. teenage boy to love him, nurture him and make a Pastor out of him. I thank God that He is still with me now as He was then. He cares about me. He cares about you. He cares about one.
Jesus lived His life without fanfare, without parade, without marketing, without a media event. He just went from place to place loving and caring for the people one at a time. Two thousand years later His one life is still touching others.
You may think no one cares. You may think you can't make a difference. Neither of those thoughts are true. There is a God who cares for “whosoever” and there is a Holy Spirit in every believer willing to use him to touch one.
By ourselves we are only one. The God in you is infinite. With you and God, no matter if you divide or multiply, it comes out the same – infinity.
We can make a difference in our world. It will be one at a time as each one of you with an infinite God inside of you reaches out and touches one.
Touch one today and everyday.“Infinity Times One”
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
The Moods of Jesus
Jesus was the man of sorrows. Jesus was the man of joy. Jesus wept. Jesus called the Pharisees "white washed tombs" and a "brood of vipers". Jesus was gentle. Jesus spoke softly. Jesus shouted. Jesus was abrasive.
Jesus was moody!
No? Do you think, "Get behind me, Satan!" is not abrasive? Go ahead. Next time someone disagrees with you say, "Get behind me, Satan!" and see how that works! When your kids are fighting, stomp into the room and scream, "YOU BROOD OF VIPERS!!!" As a matter of fact I think I hear that slithering sound right now....just kidding kids!
Jesus was one of those people that you wanted to stay on his good side or else you might end up like some fruitless fig tree. The lesson there? Don't tick Jesus off! He'll curse your lazy carcass and leave you for the vultures.
I was reading Luke 19 the other day and realized that Jesus displayed three different moods when interacting with three different groups of people. He was kind, patient and accepting with the little tax collector Zacchaeus. He wept over the city of Jerusalem at his "triumphal entry". Then he was angered and over threw the vendors out the temple. One chapter three different moods.
What I find very interesting about this passage however, is if I place myself in Jesus' shoes I probably would not display the same moods. I'd be angry at Zacchaeus, the little thief! I'd be on top of the world if a whole city were praising me, looking over my shoulder for when my boys would bring the barrell of gatorade. I am the MAN!!! I'd be patient with folks in the temple. I mean, yeah, they were not supposed to be making a profit in the temple but hey, if it's a good fundraiser who can argue.
Here is the real problem. We Christians are quick to judge, scold and reject a sinner like Zacchaeus. We're quick to over look the heart that is decaying when everything on the outside seems like a success. In the church we are quick to look the other way when it comes to holding each other accountable. Jesus was just the opposite.
Zacchaeus was a thieving, lying, manipulative man. We know that. He admitted it. After Jesus forgave him he confessed that he would give back up to 4 times the amount that he had stolen. Yet Jesus ate with Zacchaeus. Jesus laughed and spent time with him. He became his friend. He didn't rebuke, scold or reject him. He wasn't afraid of getting any of Zacchaeus on him. Instead he was thinking how he might get some of himself on Zacchaeus. Here is a man that most churches would preach to stay away from at all costs because he is an example of all that is currupt and filthy and ungodly in the world....yet Jesus loved him and a soul was saved.
The crowds cheered, they waved palm branches welcoming the Savior, the Messiah, the KING!!! Instead of reveling in the glory of the praise he initiated, he wept. Jesus wasn't fooled by temporary, worldly success. He wouldn't settle for anything but the heart. We measure church success with numbers, building amount and size, bank accounts, programs, radio and t.v. time and name recognition. Jesus would never settle for that if the heart was wrong. Would he weep in some of the churches that we consider to be the most blessed? He measured success by a very different set of criteria than we do.
Those in the temple angered him. These were the religious ones. These were the "holy" and "God fearing". Jesus was angry with them and threw them out of the temple calling them thieves. Why is it that we will look the other way calling sin a "struggle" or a "discipline we need to work on" rather than what it is.....sin? We tend to be really soft on each other and on the occaision we confront someone, the offense that is the result divides the fellowship as if going to a brother in love was the sin.
The Bible says that judgment begins in the house of the Lord. Why do we judge the world by a Biblical standard that they have not agreed to follow and coddle the church that HAS agreed to the standard? It seems if we really want to see transformation happen in our communities we would instead start treating "sinners" with love, respect and kindness leading them to Jesus and start holding each other accountable for the things that cause the world to cry out "HYPOCRITE!" It seems to me that if we'd measure our churches by how much we love, give, care and reach out to each other rather than how good we look on t.v. we'd have a far better reputation in the eyes of people.
Jesus wasn't really moody. He always displayed the proper mood to the appropriate situation. If he were in my world he'd be spending lots of time making friends with unbelieving people, teaching people how to love and care for others and making sure that his church was spotless in and out.
If Jesus was moody, I want to be moody too.
Jesus was moody!
No? Do you think, "Get behind me, Satan!" is not abrasive? Go ahead. Next time someone disagrees with you say, "Get behind me, Satan!" and see how that works! When your kids are fighting, stomp into the room and scream, "YOU BROOD OF VIPERS!!!" As a matter of fact I think I hear that slithering sound right now....just kidding kids!
Jesus was one of those people that you wanted to stay on his good side or else you might end up like some fruitless fig tree. The lesson there? Don't tick Jesus off! He'll curse your lazy carcass and leave you for the vultures.
I was reading Luke 19 the other day and realized that Jesus displayed three different moods when interacting with three different groups of people. He was kind, patient and accepting with the little tax collector Zacchaeus. He wept over the city of Jerusalem at his "triumphal entry". Then he was angered and over threw the vendors out the temple. One chapter three different moods.
What I find very interesting about this passage however, is if I place myself in Jesus' shoes I probably would not display the same moods. I'd be angry at Zacchaeus, the little thief! I'd be on top of the world if a whole city were praising me, looking over my shoulder for when my boys would bring the barrell of gatorade. I am the MAN!!! I'd be patient with folks in the temple. I mean, yeah, they were not supposed to be making a profit in the temple but hey, if it's a good fundraiser who can argue.
Here is the real problem. We Christians are quick to judge, scold and reject a sinner like Zacchaeus. We're quick to over look the heart that is decaying when everything on the outside seems like a success. In the church we are quick to look the other way when it comes to holding each other accountable. Jesus was just the opposite.
Zacchaeus was a thieving, lying, manipulative man. We know that. He admitted it. After Jesus forgave him he confessed that he would give back up to 4 times the amount that he had stolen. Yet Jesus ate with Zacchaeus. Jesus laughed and spent time with him. He became his friend. He didn't rebuke, scold or reject him. He wasn't afraid of getting any of Zacchaeus on him. Instead he was thinking how he might get some of himself on Zacchaeus. Here is a man that most churches would preach to stay away from at all costs because he is an example of all that is currupt and filthy and ungodly in the world....yet Jesus loved him and a soul was saved.
The crowds cheered, they waved palm branches welcoming the Savior, the Messiah, the KING!!! Instead of reveling in the glory of the praise he initiated, he wept. Jesus wasn't fooled by temporary, worldly success. He wouldn't settle for anything but the heart. We measure church success with numbers, building amount and size, bank accounts, programs, radio and t.v. time and name recognition. Jesus would never settle for that if the heart was wrong. Would he weep in some of the churches that we consider to be the most blessed? He measured success by a very different set of criteria than we do.
Those in the temple angered him. These were the religious ones. These were the "holy" and "God fearing". Jesus was angry with them and threw them out of the temple calling them thieves. Why is it that we will look the other way calling sin a "struggle" or a "discipline we need to work on" rather than what it is.....sin? We tend to be really soft on each other and on the occaision we confront someone, the offense that is the result divides the fellowship as if going to a brother in love was the sin.
The Bible says that judgment begins in the house of the Lord. Why do we judge the world by a Biblical standard that they have not agreed to follow and coddle the church that HAS agreed to the standard? It seems if we really want to see transformation happen in our communities we would instead start treating "sinners" with love, respect and kindness leading them to Jesus and start holding each other accountable for the things that cause the world to cry out "HYPOCRITE!" It seems to me that if we'd measure our churches by how much we love, give, care and reach out to each other rather than how good we look on t.v. we'd have a far better reputation in the eyes of people.
Jesus wasn't really moody. He always displayed the proper mood to the appropriate situation. If he were in my world he'd be spending lots of time making friends with unbelieving people, teaching people how to love and care for others and making sure that his church was spotless in and out.
If Jesus was moody, I want to be moody too.
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