From the Pastor’s Heart

The word or thought of being a servant is a forgein or dirty word in our culture today. We want one thing and one thing only. To be in charge. We want what we want and when we want it. We do not want to be told what to do or to do the thing that gains us no attention or clout with our peers. We strive to be on the top of the social pyramid and to stay there as long as we can. This is not what Jesus has in mind for those who choose to be His disciples.

If we look at the pattern of Jesus’ life ,we see that He began His earthly life humbly in a manger, with poor parents.  The only people who honored His arrival were poor shepherds. He grew up in a mundane lifestyle. All the way to His death He was not the King that the Jews sought. He never sat on a throne while on earth or lived a Kingly lifestyle. In fact, in Matthew 8:20, Jesus said that He didn’t even have a place to lay His head. Jesus spent His earthly ministry serving and ministering to others.  In Philippians chapter 2, the apostle charges us to make ourselves servants and make ourselves as no reputation, as Jesus did.

A disciple of Jesus will look at themselves as a servant of the Master. If we are Jesus’ disciples and He asks of us anything, what will our answer be?   Jesus came and served while on earth. Who will you humble yourself to and serve today? Remember you are always serving someone, make sure it’s the One.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 19.7 million children (1 in every 4 children) live in a fatherless home. According to fatherhood.org, a child who grows up in a fatherless home is 17 times more likely to become pregnant as a teen, then a child who has a present father in the home. Children without a father in the home are 279% more likely to become involved in dealing drugs, then those who live with their father. We see Satan attacking the Family on every front but especially on the dad. In this politically hot and hate filled world, the role of the Father in the home had been depleted to that of an ignorant, stupid , almost primal animal on many cartoons, sitcoms and even political fronts. The dad seemingly is of no importance. We probably, as men, have brought this on ourselves with the number of Dads that walk out on their families for carnal fleshly reasons or reasons that they can only justify in their minds. Maybe that is why in church, when we say Jesus is our Heavenly Father, it unfortunately may not stir our emotions of great love and care, but of great disappointment instead. We must as fathers rise up and be what God has called us to be both to our own children and to those who have no father. Most importantly we must teach both in deed and in word who the Good Father is and what He did for us all.

Romans 8:15-17 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Do you ever just feel like no one loves you? Like no one really cares? Do you feel like there should be something more to this world? The question that has even had songs made after it is very simple. What does love got to do with it? Well, Love has everything to do with it. Love is the fabric of what Christ clothes me and you in. We call that, grace. Love is the payment that Jesus made on our behalf. We call that, mercy. Love is the home Jesus is preparing for those that Love Him and put their faith in the finished work of the Cross.
The Bible says in John 13:34,35 “34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” As we continue this thought of being a disciple for God , love is at the forefront of that change. Love has everything to do with how we reach the lost. Love has everything to do with how we build relationships. Most importantly Love that God sacrificially showed us should motivate us to love those who no one loves. Is there someone in your circle of people that needs some genuine love? Not that hand in hand love, but Agape love. Unconditional, no strings attached, Love for another human being. Love is action because Love is a verb.

We all hear the term “being a Christian” or “that is the Christian thing to do”, thrown around very loosely in our Christian circles. The funny thing is that the word Christian or “little Christ” was only ever used three times in the Bible. The Webster dictionary defines the word Christian as , “ One who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ”. While there is no problem with using this term, I am afraid that because of the changing times and the lack of “true Christians” living for Christ, we must look at what we are really called to be. The name Christian today can even just mean a morally good person, or a person with a set of standards that are not longer the socially accepted norm.

The term “disciple” is not new to anyone that has spent very much time in the Bible. No matter what version of the Bible you choose to use, the word “Disciple” is in it at least 255 -280 times. We are not just called to be disciples, which again according to Webster means, “One who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another”,but rather we are called to be Disciples of Jesus Christ. Luke 14:25 is a hard passage for many and this is usually due to lack of understand the passage. In this verse Jesus is asking people that would follow Him to “hate their families” in order to follow Him.

The real meaning of the text is quite simple. Jesus is simply stating that compared to the love we have for Jesus and His work , it should look like we don’t love anyone else comparably. Is this a call from God to not love our families? Absolutely not, Jesus charges us to love,lead and direct our families. But to be a disciple for Jesus should even out shine our love for everyone else. The question you have to ask yourself is simple. Are you a Christian or are you a disciple? 
Pastor Matt

We are about to start a 10-12 week series on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. We hope to see you soon at Believers!

Many times when we think of Memorial Day, we think about many things that actually have nothing to do with the day itself. It might be the thought of jumping in a pool or a backyard barbeque, but what is Memorial Day really about? Originally called Decoration Day, a day meant to honor the Union and the Confederate soldiers who died during the American Civil War, by the early 1900’s it had become something more.  In 1967 Memorial Day became the name we celebrate it by today and it became a federal holiday in 1971. Unlike Veterans day, which Honors those who are living service men, Memorial day honors those who gave their life for Our Country. Lee Greenwood’s famous patriotic song says,” I’m proud to be an American Where at least I know I’m free , And I won’t forget the men who died ,Who gave that right to me”.

His song should ring true in our hearts. We should be proud to be an American. We should be proud and grateful for the liberties we have because of many brave men and women that  paid that great price. As Christians how do we really honor those who gave their life so that we can be free? I guess the same should be asked for how to we honor Jesus for the life that He gave as well. The soldier gave his life so that we can learn about Jesus freely. Jesus gave His life so that we can all be free. Let us honor,pray, and lift up those families who have had a love one die for our freedoms.