Christ Daily

I know, especially nowadays, how it feels to have things.  To have money.  To have clothes, a car, a nice house.  To have… just stuff.  So many people obsess over their stuff, they tend to forget about others in need.

“The good person is generous and lends lavishly…”  -Psalm 112:5

I bet you know what I’m talking about – someone that has only their best interest in mind.  Someone that hoards money.  Someone whose life revolves around their  stuff.  Someone who would rather have extra then have just what he needs.  Who rolls in his money.  Who is obsessed over what he has.  That would rather help himself then others.

We see, from the bible, that’s just wrong!  Being generous and giving is an act of love.  If we are to love completely, we should love like Jesus Christ did, and not only be willing to put down a few bucks to give a brother a meal, but we should be willing to DIE for a brother, because love is the foundation of Christian Living.

So, think about a way you can be generous today – and do it with a smile!

written by Matt \\ tags: Attitude, Bible, Generosity, Giving, God, Jesus, Love, Psalms, Who God Is

What if you saw that note?  What if you had only seven days to live?

That’s such an intense question, but really think about it; you have seven days to live.  What would you do differently.  Surely you wouldn’t waste any time.  You’d try and fix everything you have that’s broken – relationships, friendships, grudges.  You’d try and say everything you’d been too afraid for all these years.  You’d live more passionately.  You’d love a little more.  Focus more on spreading the word of God a bit more, perhaps?

This month in church, we are talking about ‘One Month to Live.’  It’s based on a book about that very subject – what if you had one month to live?  I’ve decided to talk a little bit about that, but for you, dear readers, I’ve given you a week.

So, really – what would you do?  It’s interesting to think about.

Here’s another question: Why don’t you live like that already?  Seriously.  Why don’t you live that passionately everyday?  Fear?  Embarrassment?   What’s to be afraid of?

Well, here’s something from the Bible that might make you think a bit differently.

⁴ “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is.
⁵ You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.”
⁶ We are merely moving shadows,
and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
We heap up wealth,
not knowing who will spend it.     —Psalm 39:4-6

Now, from the other Testament…

¹⁴ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.   — James 4:14

Your days are numbered.  There WILL be a day when you will die.  Here’s the kicker: what if that day is tomorrow?  The bible even says that tomorrow is not promised to you.  Isn’t that a very good reason to live more passionately, love more, and meet more people today?  What sort of legacy are you going to leave?  Something meaningful, or something worthless?

No one’s going to remember you for your funny Facebook statuses.  No one’s going to remember you for your ability get 100% on ‘Through Fire and Flames’ on Guitar Hero.  You’ll be remembered for the live’s you’ve touched – change – and the life that you devoted 100% to God.

It’s something to think about.
-Matt

written by Matt \\ tags: Advice, Bible, church, Death, God, James, life, Living, Love, Psalms

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
Matthew 16:24, KJV

Last night, I was at a Tenth Avenue North concert (which was amazing, by the way), and the lead singer was speaking for the moment between a song set, and he mentioned that verse in Matthew that says for us to ‘Deny Ourselves.’  He talked a bit about that, and I loved what he, Mike Donehey, said about it.

We hear ‘deny ourselves’ and a lot of the time, we think about giving up what we think is fun, entertaining, or things that make us happy for God.  For some reason, a lot of Christians have the mindset ‘God wants us to be miserable… for him!’  This is not the case at all!  Did you really think a God that loves you wants you to be miserable?

I think we can all agree – sin is tempting.  Haha.  We think it looks so good – it’s so tempting.  That’s why it’s called temptation.  It looks so good.  Lovely.  Harmless.  Pleasurable.  How else could The Enemy get us to disobey our God?  It looks like ‘This will not hurt me,’ or ‘Oh, this is harmless.’

We THINK these things, but we know the truth – we know these are bad, awful things that God hates.  Real happiness, real love, real pleasure, real joy does not come from sin.  It comes from God.

‘You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.’
Psalms 16:11

When Jesus say ‘Deny Ourselves’ he does NOT want us to be miserable or unhappy.  Just the opposite.  He wants us to live the BEST life possible.  We KNOW this is the best life possible, too – God obviously did.  He sent Jesus to DIE for THIS LIFE you’ve been gifted with.

When Jesus says ‘Deny yourself,’ he means for us to deny ourselves of the things we THINK look attractive, but what he and we know are wrong.  Stealing something that does not belong to you.  Sex and pornography.  Lying to cover up something.  All these things looks like good ideas on the outside.  ’If I steal this, I’ll have something without paying for it!’  ’Sex feels so great!’  ’If I lie, then so-n-so won’t know what I did – I’m off that hook!’  But we know, from the bible, what these things cause.  It does not end up good.  Sin leads to death and a miserable life – exactly the opposite of what Jesus wants.

So next time you want a Cheeseburger, eat a Cheeseburger – you don’t have to deny yourself.  Next time you’re sleepy, take a nap – you don’t have to stay awake ‘For Jesus’ sake!’

Deny yourself of the things that make your life miserable and that make you unhappy.  Jesus loves you, and wants to see you smile.

So smile.  Jesus loves you.

Thanks for Reading,
Lots of Love,
-Matt

written by Matt \\ tags: Bible, Christ, Deny Yourself, God, Jesus, Love, Matthew, Music, Psalms, salvation, Sin, Story