“Living as a Follower of Jesus”
Pastor David Moore
Old Testament reading: Psalm 103:1-22
Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor his anger forever; He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.
The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. Praise the Lord, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His bidding, who obey His word. Praise the Lord, all His heavenly hosts, you His servants who do His will. Praise the Lord, all His works everywhere in His dominion.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
Today’s theme: Christianity is not about moral behavior, but a relationship with Jesus that leads us to behave in ways that reflect Christ in our life.
New Testament reading: Ephesians 4:25-32
Therefore each one of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Putting off the old life, without Jesus, and putting on the new self, with Jesus at the center, that will demonstrate a life that is reflecting Christ at the center of your life. ~D. Moore
2 Corinthians 5:17: This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
God puts a new attitude in our minds and there is nothing we can do to make that happen. It simply comes about. ~D. Moore
The Moral: As soon as it has come to the point that the crowd is to judge what is truth, it will not be long before decisions are made with fists. ~Soren Kierkegaard
The Bible teaches that personal change starts with truth that sets you free!
Christianity is objective in that it says, “This is the truth, and you have to believe it and obey it whether or not you feel like it.” It is absolute truth. Truth is not the truth unless you see it as a living behavior. You take it inside you where it transforms you. ~D. Moore
Morality and religion have always appealed to the able and the cultured; the people who have good lives already. They look pretty good from the outside. But Christianity is like the faceless of the world. ~D. Moore
1 Corinthians 1:18: For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
The basis of Christianity is the transformation of your personality and identity. ~D. Moore
Jesus called Peter a “rock” long before Peter was stable and mature. He leads us by calling out what he sees, not by calling out our failures.
We won’t be perfect on this side of heaven. But Jesus is perfect. Always. We are becoming more holy and true. Jesus already is. His name isn’t “Becoming.” It is “I Am.” Perfection isn’t the goal. Jesus is. ~Stasi Eldredge
This week ask for Christ’s transforming grace in your life as we change from the inside out. Be humble, with gratitude towards what Christ has done in your life, knowing we will never be perfect, but that God’s grace is sufficient. God bless, have a great week.