Blessed…simply blessed!
What is the secret to a blessed life? I meet people all the time that when I ask them how they are doing they answer with, “Blessed.” I take a moment each time and wonder what makes them say that. Are they really blessed or are they saying that to convince themselves? What is it when we are challenged in life that makes us say that we are blessed? How can we be blessed while at the same time endure so many burdens in life? Is being blessed based on my circumstances or is it based on God’s promises? What does the Bible say?
“Blessed are those who do not walk in step with the wicked or
stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
but delight in the law of the Lord and meditate in His law day and night.”
Psalm 1:1-2
“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to Him.”
Psalm 128:1
“Blessed are those whom God corrects: so do not despise the discipline of the Lord.”
Job 5:17
“Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.”
Psalm 2:12
You will enjoy these passages as well: Psalm 32:1-2; Psalm 33:12; Psalm 34:8;
Psalm 40:4; Psalm 41:1; Psalm 65:4; Psalm 84:4-5, and Psalm 84:12.
In all these passages it is very clear that our blessedness is not based on our circumstances; but instead, it is founded upon our dependence on God. We are blessed when we seek Him first, when we trust Him only, when we walk in His truth, when we meditate on His Word, and so much more. We can be blessed even when our bank account is empty. We can be blessed when we are struggling at work. We can be blessed even in the midst of family chaos. God made us even more blessed when He provided a way for us to be reconciled with Him through Christ. Praise be to the God who cares for us and makes us a blessed people!
Blessed way more that I deserve,
Aaron Hodges
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Quit Making Excuses!
Quit Making Excuses!
We all have our moments when we say dumb things and speak before we think. Each of us from time to time will type the same way and hit SEND without thinking through our words. Take a look at some funny statements found on resumes showing that people often do not think before they speak, or print.
"Please call after 5:30 p.m. because I am self-employed and my employer does
not know I am looking for another job."
"I am very conscientions and accurite."
"I am also a notary republic."
“The firm currently employs 20 odd people."
"My consideration will be given to relocation anywhere in the English-speaking
world and/or Washington, D.C."
Under physical disabilities: "Minor allergies to house cats and Mongolian sheep."
And reasons given for leaving the last job: "The Company made me a
scapegoat—just like my previous three employers did."
Have you ever heard someone publicly lie in a way that was as dumb as it was obvious? “Did he just say that out loud?” Sometimes we hear such intellectually-challenged lies in an effort to make excuses to cover up sin. All you have to do is turn on the news on any given day and see people with poker faces offering conspicuous and dumb lies in an effort to make excuses for their sin. When we make those excuses we often don’t think before we speak.
Take for example the pathetic and deceitful excuse for sin given by Aaron in Exodus 32. When Moses went up on Mt. Sinai to seek the face of God, the children of God turned to idolatry in the valley below. Moses was instructed by God to go down off the mountain. When he arrived back at camp, he found the people behaving badly.
But when Moses confronted Aaron and the people with their sin, Aaron gave the most ridiculous excuse ever recorded in the Bible. Obviously, he did not think before he spoke. Take a look at Aaron’s brain-damaged response.
Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil. They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’ So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!” (Ex.32:22-24).
Wow! I have no response to that. In that very moment, there must have been a massive hemorrhage in the speech center of Aaron’s brain, a complete synaptic collapse. If not, we have the most amazing moment of sheer stupidity in the Bible recorded here in Exodus 32. COME ON MAN! Own up to your sin!
We are really quick to judge Aaron for his sin but how many times do we do the same thing? When we, like Aaron, seek to justify or side-step our sin, we only magnify our guilt. From now on, let’s commit together to call sin what it really is, that is, confess it and accept the forgiveness that God offers.
Aaron
We all have our moments when we say dumb things and speak before we think. Each of us from time to time will type the same way and hit SEND without thinking through our words. Take a look at some funny statements found on resumes showing that people often do not think before they speak, or print.
"Please call after 5:30 p.m. because I am self-employed and my employer does
not know I am looking for another job."
"I am very conscientions and accurite."
"I am also a notary republic."
“The firm currently employs 20 odd people."
"My consideration will be given to relocation anywhere in the English-speaking
world and/or Washington, D.C."
Under physical disabilities: "Minor allergies to house cats and Mongolian sheep."
And reasons given for leaving the last job: "The Company made me a
scapegoat—just like my previous three employers did."
Have you ever heard someone publicly lie in a way that was as dumb as it was obvious? “Did he just say that out loud?” Sometimes we hear such intellectually-challenged lies in an effort to make excuses to cover up sin. All you have to do is turn on the news on any given day and see people with poker faces offering conspicuous and dumb lies in an effort to make excuses for their sin. When we make those excuses we often don’t think before we speak.
Take for example the pathetic and deceitful excuse for sin given by Aaron in Exodus 32. When Moses went up on Mt. Sinai to seek the face of God, the children of God turned to idolatry in the valley below. Moses was instructed by God to go down off the mountain. When he arrived back at camp, he found the people behaving badly.
But when Moses confronted Aaron and the people with their sin, Aaron gave the most ridiculous excuse ever recorded in the Bible. Obviously, he did not think before he spoke. Take a look at Aaron’s brain-damaged response.
Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil. They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’ So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!” (Ex.32:22-24).
Wow! I have no response to that. In that very moment, there must have been a massive hemorrhage in the speech center of Aaron’s brain, a complete synaptic collapse. If not, we have the most amazing moment of sheer stupidity in the Bible recorded here in Exodus 32. COME ON MAN! Own up to your sin!
We are really quick to judge Aaron for his sin but how many times do we do the same thing? When we, like Aaron, seek to justify or side-step our sin, we only magnify our guilt. From now on, let’s commit together to call sin what it really is, that is, confess it and accept the forgiveness that God offers.
Aaron
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION
The Ministry of Reconciliation
Lately I have seen a scene played out over and over again. At times this scene has been played out Biblically and at other times it has not been played out according to God’s design.
Scenario 1:
1. A problem occurs between two believers. Something is said or done to offend you or someone else.
2. A decision is made to confront the offender. You decide to discuss the issue with the one that has offended you.
3. The problem is addressed and a solution is found. Everyone goes away pleased at the outcome.
Scenario 2:
1. A problem occurs between two believers. Something is said or done to offend you or someone else.
2. A decision is made to avoid the problem and move on. The problem is you can’t move past the hurt. Therefore you harbor ill feelings toward the one who offended you.
3. The problem is not addressed and you go away mad and hurt.
15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Matthew 18:15-17
What does this passage teach us? How do we reach reconciliation with a believer when we are wronged? Very simply put: if a professed Christian is wronged by another, he ought not to complain of it to others, as is often is done, but he should go to the offender privately, explain the matter kindly, and point out the offense. IF we actually followed the guidelines given in the Bible, we would most of the time get the desired outcome. Then the parties would be reconciled. We often choose the easier less productive path and just push away any idea of conflict resolution. In 100% of the occasions that we do not resolve conflict, anger and hurt and bitterness grow. Actually, the act of conflict resolution is solely for reconciliation between two believers. We should always be seeking to offer forgiveness simply because we were forgiven by God for much greater offenses.
I pray that we will begin a lifestyle of seeking to resolve issues in order that God may be glorified in our relationships. When the world sees this process played out Biblically, they are drawn to Christ. When we do not follow this sure-fire solution plan, the world is turned away from Christ.
With Christ’s help we can conquer all disagreements!
Aaron
Lately I have seen a scene played out over and over again. At times this scene has been played out Biblically and at other times it has not been played out according to God’s design.
Scenario 1:
1. A problem occurs between two believers. Something is said or done to offend you or someone else.
2. A decision is made to confront the offender. You decide to discuss the issue with the one that has offended you.
3. The problem is addressed and a solution is found. Everyone goes away pleased at the outcome.
Scenario 2:
1. A problem occurs between two believers. Something is said or done to offend you or someone else.
2. A decision is made to avoid the problem and move on. The problem is you can’t move past the hurt. Therefore you harbor ill feelings toward the one who offended you.
3. The problem is not addressed and you go away mad and hurt.
15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Matthew 18:15-17
What does this passage teach us? How do we reach reconciliation with a believer when we are wronged? Very simply put: if a professed Christian is wronged by another, he ought not to complain of it to others, as is often is done, but he should go to the offender privately, explain the matter kindly, and point out the offense. IF we actually followed the guidelines given in the Bible, we would most of the time get the desired outcome. Then the parties would be reconciled. We often choose the easier less productive path and just push away any idea of conflict resolution. In 100% of the occasions that we do not resolve conflict, anger and hurt and bitterness grow. Actually, the act of conflict resolution is solely for reconciliation between two believers. We should always be seeking to offer forgiveness simply because we were forgiven by God for much greater offenses.
I pray that we will begin a lifestyle of seeking to resolve issues in order that God may be glorified in our relationships. When the world sees this process played out Biblically, they are drawn to Christ. When we do not follow this sure-fire solution plan, the world is turned away from Christ.
With Christ’s help we can conquer all disagreements!
Aaron
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