|
Real Dudes,
In the last blog I pointed out how the world’s message is this, “It’s my mind, and I’ll think what I want.” Today I want us to remember that we are created in His image. Meaning, we have the ability to display some of the Lord’s characteristics. The mindset in which Christ provides as an example for His followers is found in Philippians 2:5-11 (KJV). In this passage the Apostle Paul states that you ought to, “5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Servanthood, Humility, and Obedience. I pray that if you’re struggling in any these areas, then take some time to ask the Lord as to how you can improve in one or several of them. And then act on what He reveals to you. Practicing His Presence, Nate
0 Comments
Real Dudes,
I don’t recall when and where I heard this song, but the lyrics caught my attention. A band from the 1960’s, The Animals, sang a song entitled It’s my Life. A couple lines in the song read as follows, “It's my life and I'll do what I want, It's my mind and I'll think what I want.” Sounds much like our world today…maybe that’s even your current mindset. But how should the mind and life of a follower of Christ be different than the world regardless of what messages they’re attempting to instill in us? The Apostle Paul answers this for us in Romans 12:1-2 (NLT). He says, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” In Galatians 2:20 (NLT) the Apostle Paul also states that, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Those verses ought to be the message that our minds and lives reflect. Doing what I want and thinking how I want will never lead to anything beneficial in my life or in the lives of those around me. Making every effort to do what God would have me to do and thinking how He’d have me to think has to be at the forefront of my mind each day. I trust that each of us will have this conversation with the Lord today…letting Him know that he has all of you…all of your mind and actions, giving Him permission to lead and grow you in every aspect of your life. Surrendering All, Nate Real Dudes,
I had the privilege of being able to preach this past Sunday for Father’s Day at Grace Community Church here in Grinnell. Below are my sermon notes. I’ll leave you to read through these this week and next. Hope the words in this message will cause each of us to grow in Him. Enjoy! Nate Title: A Father Who Forgives Luke 23:34a (NIV) Jesus said [prayed], “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Who was Jesus praying to?
What was Jesus’ request?
Who is the “them”?
He prayed Father, forgive…wipe their slate clean, pardon them, cancel their debt. Who? The one’s mocking, persecuting, and rejecting Him. Jesus prayed to His Father, so Who do we pray to?
How should we pray when mocked, persecuted and offended…by family members, by co-workers, by our brothers and sisters in-Christ?
Challenge:
I’ll leave you with these lyrics from the Song: Forgiveness by Matthew West It's the hardest thing to give away And the last thing on your mind today It always goes to those that don't deserve It's the opposite of how you feel When the pain they caused is just to real It takes everything you have just to say the word... Forgiveness Forgiveness It flies in the face of all your pride It moves away the mad inside It's always anger's own worst enemy Even when the jury and the judge Say you gotta right to hold a grudge It's the whisper in your ear saying 'Set It Free' Forgiveness, Forgiveness Forgiveness, Forgiveness Show me how to love the unlovable Show me how to reach the unreachable Help me now to do the impossible Forgiveness, Forgiveness Help me now to do the impossible Forgiveness It'll clear the bitterness away It can even set a prisoner free There is no end to what it's power can do So, let it go and be amazed By what you see through eyes of grace The prisoner that it really frees is you Forgiveness, Forgiveness Forgiveness, Forgiveness Show me how to love the unlovable Show me how to reach the unreachable Help me now to do the impossible Forgiveness I want to finally set it free So show me how to see what Your mercy sees Help me now to give what You gave to me Forgiveness, Forgiveness Real Dudes,
I recently came across Matthew 22:14 (NIV) during my devotions time. This verse reads as follows…14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.” So, what does that mean? The article below is from gotquestions.org…I provide what our response and responsibility should be at the conclusion of the article. Enjoy! Nate “What does ‘Many are called but few are chosen’ in Matthew 22:14 mean? This statement is the conclusion to the Parable of the Wedding Feast. Jesus spoke this parable to show what the kingdom of heaven will be like when the end of the age comes. In the parable, the king sends his servants out to gather the wedding guests to the wedding feast. But those invited refused to come, some because they were too busy with their own worldly pursuits and some because they were positively hostile toward the king. So the king commands his servants to go out and invite anyone they find, and many come and fill the wedding hall. But the king sees one man without wedding clothes, and he sends him away. Jesus concludes by saying that many are called/invited to the kingdom, but only those who have been ‘chosen’ and have received Christ will come. Those who try to come without the covering of the blood of Christ for their sins are inadequately clothed and will be sent into ‘outer darkness,’ (v. 13) i.e., hell. Many people hear the call of God coming through His revelation of Himself through creation, the conscience, and the preaching of the Word. But only the ‘few’ will respond because they are the ones who are truly hearing. Jesus said many times, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear’ (Matthew 11:15; Mark 4:9; Luke 8:8, 14:35). The point is that everyone has ears, but only a few are listening and responding. Not everyone who hears the gospel receives it but only the ‘few’ who have ears to hear. The ‘many’ hear, but there is no interest or there is outright antagonism toward God. Many are called or invited into the kingdom, but none are able to come on their own. God must draw the hearts of those who come; otherwise they will not (John 6:44). Second Corinthians 5:17 says, ‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.’ God creates life, grants repentance and gives faith. Man is totally unable by himself to do these things which are necessary to enter the kingdom of heaven. Ephesians 1:4-6: ‘For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.’ Salvation is by God’s will and pleasure for His glory. John 6:37-39, 44-45: ‘All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day…No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.’ So, all of God’s ‘chosen’ will be saved without exception; they will hear and respond because they have spiritual ears to hear the truth. God’s power makes this certain. Romans 8:28-30: ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew (loved) he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.’ How do we know if we are among the few that have ears to hear? By responding to the call. Assurance of this certain call, this chosen call, is from the Holy Spirit. Consider Philippians 1:6, which says, ‘Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.’ ‘Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose’ (Philippians 2:12-13.) If we listen with our spiritual ears and respond to the invitation, there will be fear and trembling in our souls as we recognize that it was God’s work in us that caused our salvation.” https://www.gotquestions.org/many-called-few-chosen.html The response and responsibility of a follower of Christ: Obey the command to "go." Be invitational and let God do His thing. Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV) The Great Commission 16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Real Dudes,
Again, lots going on this past Saturday in Grinnell…with the Prairie Burn and baseball tournament at Ahrens. But we still had a solid 26 in attendance with two new visitors which was exciting. Aaron Harper did a great job as he explained how to be strong and of good courage from the Book of Joshua. Below are a few notes I took as he spoke. And here is the link to his challenge on-line at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrtfo2zizK0. Enjoy, Nate As God’s people were on their way to the Promise Land we read about conversations that were had leading up to the transition of Leadership from Moses to Joshua. Notice when reading Joshua 1:5-18 how many times the phrase be strong and of good courage is mentioned.Why the emphasis on this phrase?
|
AuthorNate Smith is a college baseball and football coach, a husband, a father of 6 girls, grandpa to 2 granddaughters, a police chaplain, and has a passion to see men grow in Christ. 
#girldad including granddaughter
Archives
August 2022
Categories |
RSS Feed
|
Let us know how we can pray for you.
|