Week of 1/8/08

We had a great night! Was really good catching up with everyone after the holidays.

'Encouraging' was the word i heard several times after our discussion, and i totally agree. Lots of insightful input from a bunch of different people.

The discussion started in the end of Matthew chapter 7, verse 21. In the context of the entire chapter we talked about how Christ uses 3 analogies to describe our lives in this chapter. The WAY points to the path we choose to follow for our lives. Will we take the easy, broad way of selfish indulgence, or will we choose to become a follower of Christ? Following Christ will cost us something.

The TREES refer to the fruit or growth in our lives. If we are following Christ, the evidence will be fruit - love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control- these things will be dynamically growing in our lives. Romans gives us the progression - Romans 8:9 tells us that the very Spirit of God lives within us if we follow Christ. Romans 5:5 then goes on to tell us that through that very Spirit, God has poured His love into our hearts. And love is only the first step...

This whole process begins not with an intellectual decision, but with a heart choice. It is not about knowing about God, or even the good things we do - but as Jesus says in Matthew 7, about knowing Him or not knowing him.

The HOUSES refer to the final state of our lives. This is bases on the choices we have made throughout our lives. Either we lose everything we have ever built because we built on the wrong foundation, or our lives become an eternal legacy because they were built on a solid foundation.

Homework for this week is to do some personal evaluation. Answer the following questions.

What has following Christ cost you?

What evidence or fruit do you see in your life?

Next week we'll be introducing a biblical look at fasting. I'll post some scripture to read very soon.

peace to you my friends,
-davey