Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13 (NIV)
One night I was standing in front of the refrigerator. I'd gotten out of bed to make a midnight refrigerator raid even though I was on a diet. And I stood there with the refrigerator door open, thinking, "Just one bite ...."
You know how it goes. You get into a debate with yourself: "Go ahead; it won't hurt this one time." "No, I'm on this diet."
It's in moments like these that Satan feeds us a devilish excuse, "No one will ever know."
You may not be standing in front of the refrigerator. You may be at work, or filling out your income tax form, or some place your family wouldn't want you to be. But you go ahead and do something questionable because it's easy to get caught up in the false belief that 'no one will ever know.'
The truth is, God already knows!
The Bible says nothing in creation is hidden from God (Psalms 147:5), and that God knows everything about you (Psalm 139). This means there's no question God can't answer and no problem that confuses Him. He's never surprised and he's never shocked. He never says, "Oh, really!?" God knows everything. Theologians call this the omniscience of God.
By : Rick Warren
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
Minggu, 21 Maret 2010
A Church Family Is A Laboratory Of Love
All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27 (NLT)
You are not the Body of Christ on your own. You need others to express that. Together, not separated, we are his Body.
A church family moves you out of self-centered isolation. The local church is the classroom for learning how to get along in God's family. It is a lab for practicing unselfish, sympathetic love.
As a participating member you learn to care about others and share the experiences of others: "If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it. Or if one part of our body is honored, all the other parts share its honor." (1 Corinthians 12:26 NCV)
Only in regular contact with ordinary, imperfect believers can we learn real fellowship and experience the New Testament truth of being connected and dependent on each other. (Ephesians 4:16, Romans 12:4-5, Colossians 2:19, 1 Corinthians 12:25)
Biblical fellowship is being as committed to each other as we are to Jesus Christ. God expects us to give our lives for each other. Many Christians who know John 3:16 are unaware of 1 John 3:16: "Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (NIV)
This is the kind of sacrificial love God expects you to show other believers—a willingness to love them in the same way Jesus loves you.
By : Rick Warren
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
You are not the Body of Christ on your own. You need others to express that. Together, not separated, we are his Body.
A church family moves you out of self-centered isolation. The local church is the classroom for learning how to get along in God's family. It is a lab for practicing unselfish, sympathetic love.
As a participating member you learn to care about others and share the experiences of others: "If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it. Or if one part of our body is honored, all the other parts share its honor." (1 Corinthians 12:26 NCV)
Only in regular contact with ordinary, imperfect believers can we learn real fellowship and experience the New Testament truth of being connected and dependent on each other. (Ephesians 4:16, Romans 12:4-5, Colossians 2:19, 1 Corinthians 12:25)
Biblical fellowship is being as committed to each other as we are to Jesus Christ. God expects us to give our lives for each other. Many Christians who know John 3:16 are unaware of 1 John 3:16: "Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (NIV)
This is the kind of sacrificial love God expects you to show other believers—a willingness to love them in the same way Jesus loves you.
By : Rick Warren
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
Satan Loves Isolated Believers
Encourage one another daily ... so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)"Mind your own business
A church family will help keep you from backsliding.
None of us are immune to temptation. Given the right situation, you and I are capable of any sin. (1 Corinthians 10:12; Jeremiah 17:9; 1 Timothy 1:19) God knows this, so he has assigned us as individuals the responsibility of keeping each other on track.
The Bible says, "Encourage one another daily ... so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." (Hebrews 3:13 NIV) "Mind your own business" is not a Christian phrase.
We are called and commanded to be involved in each other's lives. If you know someone who is wavering spiritually right now, it is your responsibility to go after them and bring them back into the fellowship.
James tells us, "If you know people who have wandered off from God's truth, don't write them off. Go after them. Get them back." (James 5:19 MSG)
A related benefit of a local church is that it also provides the spiritual protection of godly leaders. God gives the shepherd leader the responsibility to guard, protect, defend, and care for the spiritual welfare of his flock. (Acts 20:28-29; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Hebrews 13:7, 17)
We are told, "Their work is to watch over your souls, and they know they are accountable to God." (Hebrews 13:17 NLT)
Satan loves detached believers, unplugged from the life of the Body, isolated from God's family, and unaccountable to spiritual leaders, because he knows they are defenseless and powerless against his tactics.
By : Rick Warren
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
A church family will help keep you from backsliding.
None of us are immune to temptation. Given the right situation, you and I are capable of any sin. (1 Corinthians 10:12; Jeremiah 17:9; 1 Timothy 1:19) God knows this, so he has assigned us as individuals the responsibility of keeping each other on track.
The Bible says, "Encourage one another daily ... so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." (Hebrews 3:13 NIV) "Mind your own business" is not a Christian phrase.
We are called and commanded to be involved in each other's lives. If you know someone who is wavering spiritually right now, it is your responsibility to go after them and bring them back into the fellowship.
James tells us, "If you know people who have wandered off from God's truth, don't write them off. Go after them. Get them back." (James 5:19 MSG)
A related benefit of a local church is that it also provides the spiritual protection of godly leaders. God gives the shepherd leader the responsibility to guard, protect, defend, and care for the spiritual welfare of his flock. (Acts 20:28-29; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Hebrews 13:7, 17)
We are told, "Their work is to watch over your souls, and they know they are accountable to God." (Hebrews 13:17 NLT)
Satan loves detached believers, unplugged from the life of the Body, isolated from God's family, and unaccountable to spiritual leaders, because he knows they are defenseless and powerless against his tactics.
By : Rick Warren
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
You Are Unique In God's Family
A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church. 1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT)"Jesus has not promised to build your ministry; he has promised to build his church.
God has a unique role for you to play in his family.
This is your ministry, and God has gifted you for this assignment: "A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church." (1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT)
Your local fellowship is the place God designed for you to discover, develop, and use your gifts. You may also have a wider ministry, but that is in addition to your service in a local body. Jesus has not promised to build your ministry; he has promised to build his church.
You will share in Christ's mission in the world. When Jesus walked the earth, God worked through the physical body of Christ; today he uses his spiritual body. The church is God's instrument on earth.
We are not just to model God's love by loving each other; we are to carry it together to the rest of the world. This is an incredible privilege we have been given together.
As members of Christ's body, we are his hands, his feet, his eyes, and his heart. He works through us in the world. We each have a contribution to make.
Paul tells us, "He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing." (Ephesians 2:10 (MSG)
By : Rick Warren
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
God has a unique role for you to play in his family.
This is your ministry, and God has gifted you for this assignment: "A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church." (1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT)
Your local fellowship is the place God designed for you to discover, develop, and use your gifts. You may also have a wider ministry, but that is in addition to your service in a local body. Jesus has not promised to build your ministry; he has promised to build his church.
You will share in Christ's mission in the world. When Jesus walked the earth, God worked through the physical body of Christ; today he uses his spiritual body. The church is God's instrument on earth.
We are not just to model God's love by loving each other; we are to carry it together to the rest of the world. This is an incredible privilege we have been given together.
As members of Christ's body, we are his hands, his feet, his eyes, and his heart. He works through us in the world. We each have a contribution to make.
Paul tells us, "He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing." (Ephesians 2:10 (MSG)
By : Rick Warren
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
Spiritual Maturity Shows Up In Relationship
As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:16b (NLT)
A church family helps you develop spiritual muscle. You will never grow to maturity just by attending worship services and being a passive spectator. Only participation in the full life of a local church builds spiritual muscle.
The Bible says, "As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." (Ephesians 4:16b NLT)
Over fifty times in the New Testament the phrase "one another" or "each other" is used. We are commanded to love each other, pray for each other, encourage each other, admonish each other, greet each other, serve each other, teach each other, accept each other, honor each other, bear each other's burdens, forgive each other, submit to each other, be devoted to each other, and many other mutual tasks. This is biblical membership!
These are your "family responsibilities" that God expects you to fulfill through a local fellowship. Who are you doing these with?
It may seem easier to be holy when no one else is around to frustrate your preferences, but that is a false, untested holiness. Isolation breeds deceitfulness; it is easy to fool ourselves into thinking we are mature if there is no one to challenge us.
Real maturity shows up in relationships.
We need more than the Bible in order to grow; we need other believers. We grow faster and stronger by learning from each other and being accountable to each other. When others share what God is teaching them, I learn and grow, too
By : Rick Warren
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
A church family helps you develop spiritual muscle. You will never grow to maturity just by attending worship services and being a passive spectator. Only participation in the full life of a local church builds spiritual muscle.
The Bible says, "As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." (Ephesians 4:16b NLT)
Over fifty times in the New Testament the phrase "one another" or "each other" is used. We are commanded to love each other, pray for each other, encourage each other, admonish each other, greet each other, serve each other, teach each other, accept each other, honor each other, bear each other's burdens, forgive each other, submit to each other, be devoted to each other, and many other mutual tasks. This is biblical membership!
These are your "family responsibilities" that God expects you to fulfill through a local fellowship. Who are you doing these with?
It may seem easier to be holy when no one else is around to frustrate your preferences, but that is a false, untested holiness. Isolation breeds deceitfulness; it is easy to fool ourselves into thinking we are mature if there is no one to challenge us.
Real maturity shows up in relationships.
We need more than the Bible in order to grow; we need other believers. We grow faster and stronger by learning from each other and being accountable to each other. When others share what God is teaching them, I learn and grow, too
By : Rick Warren
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
Mengapa Begini Tuhan...!?
Pagi itu Lina yang sedang hamil bersiap-siap untuk berangkat ke gereja bersama suami dan kedua anaknya. Karena gereja membutuhkan dana untuk pembangunan, maka malam sebelumnya Lina dan suaminya berembuk mengenai bantuan yang akan mereka berikan untuk pembangunan gereja. "Besok kita mau kasih apa ya untuk pembangunan gereja? Kita tidak mempunyai uang yang lebih," kata Lina kepada suaminya. "Bukankah kita masih mempunyai perhiasan?" jawab suaminya. "Tapi perhiasan-perhiasan itu adalah pemberian keluarga kita ketika kita menikah," elak Lina. "Tidak apa-apa, berikan saja semua untuk pembangunan gereja," jawab suaminya. Lina pun membuka kotak perhiasan dan mengambil semua perhiasan yang ada di sana, kecuali kalung pemberian mamanya dan sebuah cincin milik suaminya pemberian dari papanya.
Karena gereja cukup jauh, mereka berangkat lebih pagi dengan membawa perhiasan untuk dipersembahkan bagi pembangunan rumah Tuhan. Usai kebaktian, Lina dan suaminya pulang ke rumah, tetapi betapa kagetnya mereka ketika menemukan pagar dan pintu rumah sudah terbuka sementara seisi rumah berantakan. Ternyata ketika mereka ke gereja, pencuri menguras apa yang mereka bisa bawa, termasuk kalung dan cincin yang Lina simpan. "Mengapa seperti ini Tuhan? Kami berangkat beribadah sambil membawa persembahan untuk Tuhan, yaitu perhiasan yang begitu berharga buat kami, tetapi apa yang terjadi? Barang-barang kami yang lain dikuras pencuri," jerit Lina dalam hati. Meskipun kejadian itu sempat membuat mereka bertanya-tanya, tetapi baik Lina maupun suaminya tidak menyalahkan Tuhan. Mereka tetap setia dan mengumpulkan sedikit demi sedikit untuk menggantikan barang-barang yang hilang. Tuhan bekerja memberkati mereka, sehingga mereka dapat membeli barang-barang yang baru. Bahkan semakin hari usaha mereka semakin diberkati, jauh melebihi apa yang dulu mereka miliki.
Tidak sedikit orang Kristen yang bertanya-tanya mengapa Tuhan mengizinkan hal-hal buruk terjadi pada orang-orang yang setia kepadaNya. Bukankah Tuhan berjanji akan melindungi dan menjauhkan mereka dari segala malapetaka? Kisah hidup Ayub bisa menjadi pembelajaran bagi kita, bahwa tidak selamanya penyertaan Tuhan dapat kita tafsirkan sebagai perjalanan hidup tanpa masalah atau tanpa adanya kejadian buruk. Mungkin saja Tuhan mengizinkan kejadian buruk terjadi di dalam hidup kita, namun di dalam semuanya itu Ia tidak pernah meninggalkan kita. Ayub kehilangan semua yang ia miliki, tetapi Tuhan mengembalikan lebih dari pada itu.
Saat ini jika kita sedang bertanya-tanya, atau mungkin saja kecewa kepada Tuhan karena kejadian yang tidak kita harapkan, tetaplah percaya pada kesetiaanNya. Kita tidak sepenuhnya mengerti apa yang sedang Tuhan kerjakan, mungkin saja Dia sedang membawa kita pada sebuah proses pendewasaan iman, sehingga kesetiaan kita akan teruji dalam keadaan apa pun juga. Bersyukurlah dalam segala hal dan kita akan melihat kuasaNya bekerja.
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
Pesan Untuk Allah
Ayat Bacaan : Kolose 1:3-12.
"Sebab itu sejak waktu kami mendengarnya, kami tiada berhenti-henti berdoa untuk kamu. Kami meminta, supaya kamu menerima segala hikmat dan pengertian yang benar, untuk mengetahui kehendak Tuhan dengan sempurna," (Kolose 1:9).
Sebuah artikel dalam surat kabar Washington Post melaporkan tentang seorang remaja berumur 15 tahun yang mengirimkan dan menerima sebanyak 6.473 SMS dalam waktu satu bulan. Remaja ini menuturkan tentang komunikasi rutinnya dengan teman-temannya, "Aku bisa mati jika tak ngobrol dengan mereka."
Dan bukan hanya ia seorang. Para peneliti mengatakan bahwa dalam waktu sebulan, para remaja Amerika rata-rata mengirimkan dan menerima 2.200 SMS melalui telepon genggam mereka.
Menurut saya, percakapan digital yang terus berlangsung ini memberikan gambaran yang luar biasa tentang apa sebenarnya doa dan doa itu seharusnya seperti apa bagi setiap pengikut Kristus. Paulus tampaknya secara terus-menerus berdoa bagi orang lain,
".. kami tiada berhenti-henti berdoa untuk kamu.. " (Kol. 1:9).
"Berdoalah setiap waktu di dalam Roh" (Ef.6:18).
"Tetaplah berdoa" (I Tes. 5:17).
Namun, bagaimanakah kita dapat melakukan hal itu?
Penginjil Frank Laubach menggambarkan kebiasaannya "meluncurkan" doa bagi orang-orang ketika ia bertemu dengan mereka sepanjang hari. Dengan kata lain, ia sedang "mengirimkan pesan" kepada Allah atas nama orang-orang itu, dan tetap berkomunikasi rutin dengan Bapa.
Laubach percaya bahwa doa adalah kekuatan terhebat di dunia, dan ia berkata: "Bagianku adalah menjalani waktu ini dengan melakukan percakapan batin secara terus-menerus bersama Allah dan menanggapi kehendak-Nya sepenuh hati."
Tetaplah berdoa. Mungkin apa yang diminta Paulus supaya kita lakukan benar-benar dapat kita lakukan.
Berilah aku roh pendoa,
Tuhan terkasih,
Agar aku dapat bersekutu
dengan-Mu
Saat aku berjalam menapaki
jalan kehidupan yang sulit,
Dalam persekutuan dengan-Mu
selalu. --Dawe
Doa seharusnya secara alami menjadi seperti napas hidup kita.
Bacaan Untuk Setahun:
- Yosua 10-12
- Lukas 1:39-56
Sumber : Renungan Santapan Rohani.
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
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