That's Expensive! Consider: Luke 9:57-62
Ever gone shopping and something catch your eye? Maybe a shirt, a video game? As you look it over you're totally sold on it. You want it.
You can imagine yourself wearing the shirt and how good you'll look. Or you can picture yourself sitting down with your friends, them impressed with your new game, and you all having a great time playing.
So you're hooked.
You look for the price... and then it hits you.
Woah. That's expensive!
It's the same with being a follower of Christ.
The benefits of following Jesus look good. But then when you evaluate the price tag, it costs everything. Jesus makes it pretty clear that "anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God." The reason I believe He said that is because it does cost everything.
The Gospel isn't simply an add-on to our life, it should become our life. If all we've done is added something nice to our life and not been transformed and consumed by the Gospel then it's possible that we've missed the point.
Grace is free, and we can't earn it, but our commitment to Him requires everything.
 Who Is This Man? Put yourself in the shoes of the disciples for a moment.
Here is this man whom you've been following for a little while now. You've been sitting under His teaching, hearing His heart and seeing His compassion for those around Him.
He tells you to get into the boat and cross over to the other side of the lake. Not that big of a deal seeing that you have fished many times.
However, once you get out into the deep parts of the lake, a storm blows up and while you're trying to figure out how you're going to stay alive, the One who told you to cross this lake in the first place is asleep.
Probably in your mind, I know in mine, I'd be thinking... who does this guy think He is? I mean, seriously?
In a panic you rush over to Jesus and begin to wake Him up. You've seen Him help others... so you know He maybe could do something for you.
He wakes up... and guess what He does... He rebukes the wind and waves and then examines your faith.
He goes from commanding creation to examining your heart.
Why? Because this Man, this One, who speaks and creation obeys, is the One who is after your heart.
 Count the stars... If you can
I love God's sense of humor. In Genesis 15:5, the LORD is speaking to Abram about the covenant He was making with him. He tells Abram to "look up into the heavens and count the stars if you can..."
Abram must have been blown away at the point. How was that even possible?
The destiny God has on each of our lives is nothing like we can even imagine simply because we have no idea the things He wants to do in and through our lives. Our destiny may not be like Abram's, but it will be a God-given, God-breathed plan that will be truly amazing. And it begins in our response to His leading, to His will for our lives.
Check out Abram's response...
"And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD declared him righteous because of his faith." - Genesis 15:6
In these beginning days of 2009 of reading through the Bible (Genesis and Luke), the recurring theme that keeps shouting at me is "what will your response be to the voice/word of the LORD?"
 If You Say So I'm always amazed at the beginning encounters with Jesus.
In Luke 5, the disciples hadn't known Jesus very long (if at all). He shows up and immediately saves the day...
They just get finished with a long days work of catching nothing and He gives them direction to go back out and to go for it.
They're response: "If you say so."
And guess what happens... exactly what Jesus said would happen. They caught many fish, so much so they had to get help to bring it in. And even then both boats were on the verge of sinking (see Luke 5:7)!
What is your response when Holy Spirit speaks to your heart? Is it "Oh God, I can't do that?" Is it "Oh God, that's impossible?" Or is it "If You say so God?"
In the beginning chapters of Genesis and Luke we find how important it is to listen to what God says. If our response isn't if You says so... then we need to check out hearts... because obviously Jesus knows exactly where the best catch is.
 Really?The tactics of our enemy, satan, are deceptive and evil. As followers of Jesus, he longs to ruin our lives. If we really thought about it, most of us are aware of this. But why then do we give in so quickly and easily to his schemes?
In Genesis 3, the serpent comes to Eve and the FIRST thing he says is "Really? Did God really say that? Did He really say that you would die"
satan uses this same ploy in our lives: Did God really say that when we sin, it breaks His heart? Did God really say that Jesus is the only way? Did God really say that He wants to heal you? Did God really say that He has a destiny for your life? Did God really speak to you about reaching that friend with His love?
It seems we listen too often to these lies and begin to question what God really said, and at that point we begin to question God
Don't forget, when God says something, it happens. Just check out Genesis 1:3.  The beginningWest Ridge will be launching our online community beginning January 1, 2009. Join us in this journey!  In The Beginning... You may have heard those words from Genesis 1:1 a million times but their impact still rings out.
I find it thrilling how it clearly states "In the beginning, God created..." It does not say, "In the beginning, God was created..." because He already was! The was no for beginning for God because He "is" beginning itself.
I know that may seem hard to wrap around minds around, but to me that speaks of the huge-ness of our God! It speaks of the greatness of who He is.
The story continues with Him speaking (in Genesis 1:3) "Let there be light." And guess what, there was. He simply spoke, and it happened.
That's how big our God is. When He speaks, it happens. Creation didn't argue with Him. It simple obeyed.
How different would our lives be if we lived instant obedience all the time! How different things would play out in our lives if we simply acted as soon as He spoke.
It's a new year... and a new day... an opportunity for each of us to simply obey as soon as He speaks.
 Meaningless Worship: The kind He hatesMeaningless worship. Yes, it is possible. See here and here.
I finished up reading Hosea and headed over to his neighbor Amos (neighbor in the Old Testament).
Even though Amos was a *just* shepherd, He was super-important to speaking the truth of God to a nation whose hearts were cold. I say just jokingly because so often we think we have to be in "full-time" ministry to be used of God, and obviously that is not the case.
Anyways, what the LORD says concerning worship through Amos takes what Hosea said a step further.
This is what He says in Amos 5:21-24:
"I hate all your show and pretense--the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won't even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your hymns of praise! They are only noise to my ears. I will not listen to your music, no matter how lovely it is. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, a river of righteous living that will never run dry."
When God uses the word hate, I think we should take note of what it is He hates. Actually, we should take note of everything He says... but that's a whole different blog for a whole different day.
Could the worship I'm giving Him be the kind He hates? Could He hate the worship you're giving Him?
Sure this is in the Old Testament, there is grace and mercy because of Jesus... and thankfully we don't have to bring physical sacrifices. But I believe 100% that these verses still speak to a truth and the still speak to the heart of God.
I had to check myself when I read this. I'm still chewing on it.
As we start this new year, maybe consider your worship... is it all for show... is it all for you...
Or is it all for Him?  Merry ChristmasMerry Christmas everyone.
Will pick up with "Meaningless Worship" on Friday.
http://merrychristmas.fromthedavisfamily.com
 Tale of Two KingdomsThe kingdom of this world is self-serving.
The Kingdom of God is self-sacrificing.
In the kingdom of this world, everyone's opinion matters.
In the Kingdom of God, the only opinion that matters is that of Jesus.
To gain promotion in the kingdom of this world, one must sell one's self.
To gain promotion in the Kingdom of God, one must give up one's self.
Deceitful, political agendas are the way of the kingdom of this world.
Living a life of integrity and honesty is the way of the Kingdom of God.
Gossip and lies are the speech of the kingdom of this world.
Love and truth is the speech of the Kingdom of God.
Hypocrisy is the norm for the kingdom of this world.
Transparency is the norm for the Kingdom of God.
The kingdom of this world revolves around humanity and the common good.
The Kingdom of God revolves around one God-man, Jesus and His goodness.
So which kingdom are you truly a part of? 
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