It's Your Choice

Every day (every second of the day) we are faced with decisions to make. "Will I hit the snooze button or get up the first time? Will I have eggs or cereal for breakfast? Will I wear my blue shirt or the white one? Will I work out or stay in bed? Will I go to worship services this Sunday or to a sporting event?" Get the picture?

One of the greatest blessings God has given us is the ability to choose. God has given humans freedom to make choices (right or wrong). It's a way that God shows He loves us. Granted, not every decision we make is right and pleasing to God but He still loves us.

I imagine it's sort of like parenting. Every parent wants their child(ren) to love them, but no parent can force that love. Otherwise it's not love. So, as parents we show our kids what love looks like by providing for them, encouraging them, mentoring and discipling them, supporting them - even correcting them when they make poor choices. This is all because we love them and want the best for them. Granted it would be much easier and more efficient to just tell them everything to think, feel and do but God didn't create them (or any of us ) that way.

Real love cannot be forced. Even though I'm bigger and have more authority, I cannot force my kids to love me. I don't want that kind of love from them - where they are coerced out of fear. I want them to choose to love me because they know I first love them.

We are free agents to respond to God's love. I don't believe God is a control freak but He does give us guidance to help with our choices. Look at Deuteronomy 30:19 (NLT) ¹⁹ "Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live!

God encourages us to choose life but He still leaves it up to us to actually "choose" it. After all God has done for us (refer to the 10 Blessings in Ephesians 1:3-14) why wouldn't we choose life?

Not every decision children make is pleasing to parents. It may even deeply hurt the parents, but the kids will still be loved - because real love should not be based on what someone does or doesn't do! It's based on who they are as your own flesh and blood. The same is true of God's kids. Because we are God's adopted children, He loves us no matter what. Yes, it hurts God when we make poor choices, but He still loves us because we are His own!

Praise be to God our Father.

What Is Our Vision?

Vision is not about reality or what is. Vision is all about our dreams and aspirations or what could be. Here is a vision statement that I recently read in The Parish Paper. What if this were to describe Bellwood?

We envision becoming a church where our people model biblical community in a safe place where we accept one another and are accepted, love and are loved, shepherd and are shepherded, encourage and are encouraged, forgive and are forgiven, and serve and are served. We envision helping all of our people—youth as well as adults—to discover their divine designs so that they are equipped to serve Christ effectively. Our goal is that every member be a minister. Our church will be an equipping center where every Christian can develop to his or her full potential for ministry. This development will come through these means: creative, inspiring worship; teaching that is biblical and relevant to life; vital, supportive fellowship; and opportunities for outreach into the community in service and evangelism.

We envision developing all our people—new believers as well as established believers—into
fully functioning followers of Christ through the uplifting and inspiring worship services, Sunday
school, outreach events, and most importantly, prayer. As a result, our communities will be
different in ten to fifteen years, with Christian influence being increasingly felt in homes,
businesses, education, and politics.

"Seen as a Saint"

Well, they did it. The New Orleans Saints won their first-ever Super Bowl. Quarterback Drew Brees led his team to victory. As you watched the game, it was easy to see which ones were the Saints and which ones were the Colts. They were identified by what they were wearing on the outside.

The New Testament has over 100 references to "saints". In many of Paul's letters he uses the greeting, "To the saints". (Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians and Ephesians) The Greek word for saint means "holy one". Holy is anything that God sets apart for His own use or purpose. People who surrender their life of sin to the holy life of Christ, become saints in God's eyes. Saints have been set apart to fulfill God's purpose which is to share the Good News so others may become saints also.

Unlike the New Orleans Saints (where you have to work hard to be on the team), spiritual saints only must accept the work that Jesus did on the cross. He defeated the powers of sin and death by submitting to them and then being resurrected on the third day.

St. Therese said, "You cannot be half a saint, you must be a whole saint or no saint at all." I say, you are either a saint or you ain't.

Sometimes we try to "work for" God's grace, but we can't. It's a gift. You can't work for a gift. It is freely offered and given. By receiving God's gift of grace and forgiveness, anyone can be part of God's team, God's Saints. It is not just limited to the 53 guys who were on the field last Sunday. It is available to all. Have you accepted the work Jesus Christ did for you so you can be a saint, no longer living in sin? If you ever struggle with seeing yourself as a saint, just read Romans 6. It is a powerful reminder of our new life and identity in Christ.

Now - go out and live and play like a REAL Saint!