How to Play Favorites with God and Win (new blog post)

Have you ever wondered what type of people make God smile?  Ok, I know, He doesn't actually have a mouth, He is spirit, blah, blah, blah.  You know what I mean.  What type of person brings joy to God?  Who makes Him proud? 

Is it the person who memorizes the most Bible verses?  What about the person who can pray the longest without stopping?  Is it the person who can sing the best, with tears flowing down their cheeks, at a moment's notice?  It must be that preacher who can make people laugh, cry, and then rededicate their lives to Jesus.  It's gotta be someone off this list, right?

Maybe.  Maybe not.

Check out Psalms 15

1 Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy mountain?
2 Those whose walk is blameless,
who do what is righteous,
who speak the truth from their hearts;
3 who have no slander on their tongues,
who do their neighbors no wrong,
who cast no slur on others;
4 who despise those whose ways are vile
but honor whoever fears the Lord;
who keep their oaths even when it hurts;
5 who lend money to the poor without interest
and do not accept bribes against the innocent.
Whoever does these things
will never be shaken. 

Uhhh.....okay.

So, let's look at this.  Who gets to hang out with God? Who is allowed to be with Him?  David is asking who does God enjoy being with?  Those whose walk is blameless and do what is righteous.  What does that actually mean?  He lists it out in the following verses.

1. Speak the truth.  Tell the truth to other people, and to yourself.
2. Have no slander.  Don't put other people down by lying about them, or making them look bad.
3. Who do their neighbors no wrong.  Treat others well.
4. Cast no slur.  See #3.  It must be important if he hits it twice.
5. Despise those who are evil.  Be careful who you let influence you. 
6. Honor those who fear God.  Choose people who love Jesus to be your closest friends.
7. Lend money freely to the poor.  Be generous to anyone in need.
8. Don't accept bribes.  Treat everyone the same.


So, what's the pattern?  It all has to do with how we treat other people.  Who brings joy to God?  The people who love Him, and then show that love to others.  Not the talented, the most devoted, the most serious people.  Not the upfront performers, or the leaders of the group.  God is most excited about the people who treat others well, with fairness, generosity, kindness, and truth.


So, think about this week.  If you were to decide just based on this week, would you be in that crowd?  If not, why?  What needs to change?  Who do you need to treat better?


I thought it was pretty interesting to see that today when I read it.  What are your thoughts?

"ding" You are now free to ....

There's not much worse than adults running around like a bunch of babies. And that is what Jesus hits as He continues His conversation with the Jewish leaders in John 8:31-41. Jesus is offering them freedom, He is offering them love, hope, and passion. They only want to argue that they are already just fine, thank you. Why are they fine? Because of who their great, great, great, great, great, great, great, (etc.) grandfather was. Abraham is back there in the family line, God made Him a promise, so we are automatically okay. We don't need your "freedom" Jesus, thank you very much. We are better than you (even though He was from one of the most crucial of Jewish family lines), and you can keep your offer.

Wow.

Even their words have this defiant five year old tone to them. It sounds like me when my wife or kids say something I don't like. This little brat comes out of me, and I dig in my heels.

Why do we do it? Why do we shrink to 3' tall when we are challenged? Fear. The Jewish leaders are afraid. They are trapped in it. They live in it, promote it to others, sell it on the street in their religion, and bully people into being afraid with them. So do I. I am afraid of being ignored, hurt, rejected, left, being stupid, and a whole host of other things. What are we most afraid of? The very thing Jesus offers; freedom. We are so far away from freedom that it terrifies us. We prefer the comfortable chains of here to the amazing, breath taking freedom of there. Jesus knows this full well. Yet, He offers it. Knowing we are afraid of it, He offers it calling us to let go and jump with no net, no safety in sight. He promises freedom, but never, ever safety.

Yeah, for all my false bravado, for all my "extreme sports" background, for all my big talk, Jesus' version of freedom scares the tar out of me. It simply isn't safe. There is absolutely no predicting where you will go when you are set free. It's all too grand, too wide, too beautiful to be able to take it all in.

So, do you want freedom? Jesus offers it with a sly grin and both hands full. How will you receive it? Or will you choose the chains of here?