The moment we think we know everything, is the very moment we stop learning…& that’s a problem.

Have you ever said, “I’ve got it!” ? It’s easy to pretend that we’ve got it, but the moment we think we know everything, is the very moment we stop learning & that’s a problem.

My son asked me last night what I’d desire for a future wife for him & my 1st response was a woman who loves Jesus more than him. My 2nd was a woman who knows that she doesn’t know everything.

The believers in the early church were called disciples for a reason. The Greek definition means a  learner. They didn’t just follow Jesus, they learned as they went with ears to hear, eyes to see & hearts to follow.

The wisest man grew into that title by answering 1 simple question the Lord asked early in his kingship:

“What do you want? Ask & I will give it to you.”

Solomon didn’t just ask, but 1st confessed how much he didn’t know:

“I’m like a little child who doesn’t know my way around & here I am in the midst of Your chosen people, a nation so great they can’t be counted!”

Y’all he could’ve asked for ANYthing, & yet he asks for the 1 thing that leads to all others: wisdom.

It takes wisdom to know AND confess that we don’t know everything, won’t know EVERYthing & therefore don’t have to be right all the time!

So he humbly asks:

“Give me an understanding heart that I can govern YOUR people well & know the difference between right & wrong. For who by himself can govern this great people of YOURS?”

His humility is so winsome! He understands that anything he’s been given is God’s.

Wherever God has called us to govern, it is as a steward of the time, talents & treasures HE’s given! There’s great freedom to confess that we’re not a know-it-all!

The Holy Spirit came to guide us into ALL Truth! We just need to humbly ask-whether it’s an emotional wound that needs healing, a relational divide that needs mending, a financial need that requires provision…He IS the Source of ALL Truth Who promises to lead us into ALL Truth! (Jn 16:13)

Father, thank You for the freedom to confess that we don’t got it! Holy Spirit, lead us into all Truth, which begins with a confession that we don’t know it all & never will! Lead us to become life-long learners  so we may humbly govern the life God has given us!

#OneYearBible

June 8th One Year Bible Readings

1 KINGS 3:3-4:34

ACTS 6:1-15

PSALM 126:1-6

PROVERBS 16:26-27

Periodical Godliness is Perpetual Hypocrisy

“Periodical godliness is perpetual hypocrisy.”

As much as that quote by Charles Spurgeon stings, it spurs me to ask, “Is there anything I’m withholding from the Lord that causes my life to be one of periodic vs. perpetual godliness?”

Because here’s the thing:

God will disregard what is given if anything is secretly held back.

This is the case with Ananias & Sapphira, a Jewish couple who sells property to give the funds to the early church. While their actions look like self-surrender, they cherish quite the opposite & here’s how we know: when Ananias gives the money to Peter, he offers only a portion while claiming it was the full amount!

Immediately Peter discerns the dishonesty & asks why he’d lie to God. As soon as the man hears Peter’s words, he falls to the floor & dies.

3 hours later his wife returns not knowing what’s happened. Peter asks her if the amount they gave was the price they received, & she lies by replying yes! She too instantly falls to the floor & dies!

Verse 11 tells us that great fear gripped the entire church…and for good reason!

The word for church is ecclesia & it means, “to be called from & to”. It had nothing to do with a building & everything to do with a people called OUT of this world & TO God for His eternal purposes!

The early church’s approach to care was not a communistic share & share alike, but rather a stewardship approach where none would lack.

This couple gives with hypocritical pretense for the greed of applause. The apostles didn’t care if they kept a portion, but God did because it was held dishonestly.

We are all part of the ecclesia, called out from the world to steward our time, talent & treasures so that none will lack.

We ALL have something to give & yet our fast-paced culture makes it easy to settle as consumer Christians who go to a church building without thought that we are holding anything back.

The heart is deceitful above all

Things…I don’t want to live a life of periodic godliness, but one of perpetual surrender.

Oh Lord, the church today lacks a holy fear. May a wide reverence of You fall upon Your people so we may flee hidden hypocrisy in our hearts. Reveal any places we’ve withheld from You.

#OneYearBible

June 7th One Year Bible Readings

1 KINGS 2:1-3:2

ACTS 5:1-42

PSALM 125:1-5

PROVERBS 16:25

Want to be Bold?

Can you imagine seeing your friend who was whipped, beaten & crucified, suddenly standing before you, living, breathing & speaking?

Maybe there’d be a mixture of emotions…confusion, elation, maybe even doubt like Thomas, but after seeing, hearing & touching Jesus, one thing would certainly rise - bold belief!

This is the state of the disciples after spending 40 days with The Resurrected King!

Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday, marking 50 days after Passover when the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus’s followers, giving them Divine power to do what Jesus did!

This moment in time is captured in today’s One Year Bible reading.

When Peter heals a man who’d been crippled for over 40 years & declares that there is salvation in no one but Jesus, the Jewish teachers are stunned into silence.

They know these men are just ordinary fishermen with no special training, but they also recognize them as men who’d been with Jesus!

Peter did life with Jesus....before AND after Jesus was crucified, dead & buried.

Peter knew first-hand the power & authority of Jesus because he’d been with Emmanuel, God with us!

The Jewish Council is amazed by his boldness! This isn’t a pull-up-the-bootstraps kinda courage…this only comes from spending time with the 

Savior, 

Healer, 

Rock,

Redeemer

& Resurrected King!

Peter is transformed simply by the Presence of Jesus AND by the physical absence of Jesus! Jesus HAD to ascend SO THAT the Holy Spirit in all of His power could come! And boy did He!

I don’t know about you, but I want to be like Peter...not the impetuous part, but the bold part 😊

This kinda life change still happens today! The same Holy Spirit that descended on Peter, is the same Holy Spirit promised to anyone who turns from sin & believes in Jesus as their Savior & Lord!

Spending time with The Word of God, letting His Holy Spirit lead our  Spirit, soul, & body, transforms everything inside of us so that we TOO might stun the onlookers in our lives by loving with a divinely-infused love unlike anything they’ve ever experienced!

Holy Spirit, come, fill us & have Your Way! Ignite an unquenchable fire within & baptize us afresh today with Your Presence & power!

#OneYearBible

June 6th One Year Bible Readings

1 KINGS 1:1-53

ACTS 4:1-37

PSALM 124:1-8

PROVERBS 16:24