From the heart to the hands

Friends,

1 Corinthians 5:8 [NKJV]
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

For many reasons, the modern church continues with a wide variety of old rituals and habits. The Lord understands the comfort that men find in old rites and ceremonies.

The biggest danger, though, is that we persist in these habits without any change in the heart. If our hearts are still full of resentment, unforgiveness, and bitterness, then the rituals are simply an acted out lie.

But if there has been a change, then we will be keeping the feast simply by the course of our words and deeds. There will be no real need for the rituals (though they may be useful for remembrance). For our every breath will be a proclamation of the amazing work that our Lord has done.

Be encouraged, Jose

Where Did That Come From?

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7 [KJV]

We reap what we sow is something that my grandmother drilled into my head over and over as a child growing up.  I always took it to mean that what we put out, we would get back.  So, if we were very mean to others, someone would be mean to us.  Conversely if, we were nice to others, then someone would be nice to us.  The lesson was a this for that lesson.  As I have grown up, the lesson takes on a different context.  

I have learned that what you put in the ground is what you get out.  As well as what you put into your mind, you get out.  You read and study the bible, you act out biblical principles. You listen to music and teaching about praise and worship, you act out praise and worship naturally.  I recently talked about coaching and teams executing.  This verse is valuable in reminding us that we execute what we know and we can't fool our ultimate Coach on what we know since He has seen us in practice.  Let's look at what we practice so we can execute.  

Be Encouraged,

Martin