Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “A Fresh Encounter”
Our Bible verse for today: “For me, living is Christ and dying is gain.” Philippians 1:21 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Be on God’s side.”
Many Christians go through life just a little bit discouraged and maybe even doubtful about their faith, because it seems as if God never speaks to them and that they never have fresh encounters with Him.
With respect to that dilemma author Dallas Willard poses the challenging and convicting question: “Are you and God in business together in life, or are you in business for yourself, trying to “use a little God” to advance your projects?”
Sadly that does describe how many of us live. We try to use God to get what we want. We have an agenda of our own that we hope God will fulfill for us and we therefore include God just enough so that He may grant us the things we desire.
That right there explains why so many of us experience so little of God. It’s because we’re trying to use Him to advance our own agenda, rather than simply making ourselves available to Him to advance His agenda.
During the Civil War Abraham Lincoln was once asked if he thought God was on the side of the North. Lincoln wisely responded, “I’m not so concerned with whether or not God is on our side, as I am with whether or not we’re on God’s side.”
In Philippians 1:21 the Apostle Paul expressed what was probably his life’s mission statement, “For me, living is Christ and dying is gain.” In other words, his sole purpose in life was to serve Christ. And he knew that when his life was over he would die and go to heaven, which would be icing on the cake.
In an effort to help us encounter God and have regular and meaningful communication with Him, Dallas Willard offers this addition insight: “We are more likely to hear God when we can say, “I am living for one thing and one thing only – to be like Christ, to do his work and to serve his people and him. My life is to bless others in the name of God.”
When you’re thinking and living like that then God has every reason to allow you to have frequent and close encounters with Him. Here’s one final helpful thought from the writing of Dallas Willard, “Ask yourself: ‘Am I using God to fix my world or am I immersing myself in God’s world and learning to live my life the way Christ would if he were me?”
I encourage you to resolve to be on God’s side. Align your life with His agenda.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 