Lead Pastor's Blog http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/ These blogs provide an interactive learning opportunity. Pastor Tim will post topics that range from issues of church politics to controversial topics. When you subscribe you will receive a notice of new blogs as they are posted. Please subscribe and leave comments or suggestions.     Fri, 07 Nov 2008 08:26:58 CST en-us Copyright 2008 Grace San Diego Review of The Shack http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/review-of-the-shack/ http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/review-of-the-shack/ Fri, 07 Nov 2008 08:26:44 CST shack splashDo you see God as a man?  Do you see Him as a wise sage with a long flowing beard? The Shack, by William P. Young, will challenge your view of God.  As you read, your understanding of scripture will be tested and provoked.

Abused by a father:
Years ago I was involved in a ministry to women in the Santa Clara County Jail. Many of those women had experienced abuse by their father or their stepfather.  I noticed that when I spoke of Jesus they saw Him as a friend and savior, someone that was approachable. However, when I spoke of God the Father there was a negative reaction.  It seemed that they projected their pain on God and saw Him through the eyes of their experience.  Wow, what an irony, they were missing the redeeming power of a true loving father who favors them and wants to redeem their souls.

To anyone who has ever experienced deep pain at the hand of a parent, a brother, or a stranger, The Shack will reach your heart in a way that few books do. The sensitivity, humor, and relationship of the persons of the Godhead ring clear and reach the wounded heart in a way that may change the way you see God.  

Foundational truth:

God is triune, i.e. He is three persons in one divine essence. Even though God is spirit He has shown Himself to man in unique and powerful ways in scripture, e.g. the burning bush.  The manifestation of God in physical form does not negate the truth that He is spirit and is eternal and living above the finite realm. Salvation is through Christ alone.  Salvation is a whole work of God and is only given to those who believe. The relationship of God as Father is an anthropomorphic (The attribution of human characteristics to nonhuman things such as God) term of convenience.  Specifically, God took on a role of Father/Son relationship for our understanding of Him (read Hebrews 1:5). Jesus died for our sins; the Father did not personally die for our sins.   Fiction is not a theological treatise. Let fiction be fiction.


As I read The Shack, my heart was broken with a view of God that I have never considered in such tangible ways.  It provoked my thought and moved me to tears several times.  I’m not sure I will ever see God the same.  My theological feet are firmly on the ground and I know what scripture teaches about God; but The Shack pushed me to look at God with fresh eyes. Unmovable truths were not moved.

Who is God?
As you read various reviews of The Shack you will hear the recurring complaint that God is not to be shack bookseen as a physical image.  This misrepresents the point of The Shack.  God is presented in a form that will accommodate Mack’s condition, a man who had an abusive father.  In the story, after Mack forgives his father, the image of God changes from a mother to a Father, now personally understandable to Mack’s healed heart.  Looking at this through a flawed “systematic theological lens” (Man’s doctrinal bent) will give rise to a rejection of the book. However, a “Biblical view” (The truth of God’s Word) will affirm the precedent of God coming to man in various forms like the burning bush or a wrestler, etc.  These manifestations help man to relate to Him. Moses realized through the burning bush that God is eternal and was therefore encouraged to fulfill God’s directive for him.  You should know that the term ‘father’ is for our understanding. God is Father by His own declaration, Hebrews 1:5 “For to which of the angels did He ever say, ‘Thou art My Son, Today I have begotten Thee’? And again, ‘I will be a Father to Him And He shall be a Son to Me’?” Note that the Father/Son relationship takes place in time and at the point of the declaration it began, and would continue on into the future.  What was the relationship before this declaration?  God was three in one as He is after the declaration, but now there is a way for fallen man to understand the relationship of the Godhead.

Literature and Christians
It may be that the lack of literary exposure of some Christian reviewers leads to a rejection of all that is not woodenly connected to their own separatist theology.  This book takes license in presenting God as a woman to show a character trait of God. It is literature not scripture.  There is too much demand placed on the writer of The Shack by Christian critics.  Young did a great job of showing the heart of God in this literary genius. The book does not present God as a man or a woman, but rather as a spirit.  The revelation of a great ending puts the book in perspective. As you read the conclusion of the book, look back upon the story in light of Mack’s actual experience.

Did God the Father die for our sins?
The scars of the crucifixion are not only on Christ but are also seen on the wrist of God the Father.  This leads some to reject the book based on the heresy of Modalism, i.e. the view that holds there is one God with three modes of operation. We Trinitarians hold that there is one God with three individual persons.  This Trinitarian presentation of God is clearly given in the book.  There seems to be a hint of patripassionism (the idea that God the Father died on the cross) in the faint scars on the wrists of “papa,” i.e. God the Father. However, when Mack views the scars on Jesus’ wrists they are distinct and clear.  The writer’s intent was expressed when God said, it cost the entirety of the Godhead when Jesus died. He was not saying the Father died for our sins.   

Will everyone ultimately be saved?
I would have given a stronger and clearer presentation of the gospel if I were writing The Shack.  That’s why I’m a teacher and not a fiction writer.  A follow up discussion with those who have read the book could really help them to understand the gospel.  Most of these people would never come to a formal presentation of the gospel in a church somewhere.  This is an opportunity for you to talk about the truth with them. The Shack brings the gospel to those who are unsuspecting… it is genius.  The redemption through the cross is presented, but not a strongly as I would have liked.  At one point it almost seemed that The Shack was promoting a salvation of universalism, i.e. all will be saved, (page 182).  This was corrected toward the end of the book however.

Why read the Shack?
You will be inspired to a greater intimacy with a loving God who longs to reach you where you are.  You will read of a God who comes down to your level without loosing anything of His majesty.  I love God and I think when we get to Heaven we are all going to be surprised at what God is truly like.  Read with discernment and don’t follow false teaching.  The Shack is safer than some reviewers who make a living off being critical would like you think.  

As always, “love God with all your heart, soul and might…” Deuteronomy 6:5

]]> God’s Sovereignty and the Election http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/gods-sovereignty-and-the-election/ http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/gods-sovereignty-and-the-election/ Tue, 04 Nov 2008 09:03:22 CST It is six o’clock in the morning on Tuesday, November 4th.  I have already voted by mail in ballot, but I’m excited for all the people going to the poll today.  My wife, Kimberly will be going to the poll and voting after she drops off the kids this morning.  What an incredible country… I love America.  I don’t need my candidate to win to love this country. 

I know some people who are so concerned about the electorate getting it right they have forgotten that God is in charge.  What a blessing it is to trust God for my family, my church, my country, my finances… to trust Him for everything is the safest most secure place to be.

By the time you read this it may already be over.  Did God agree with you? Did He answer yes to your prayers?  Let God be God, submit to Him and rejoice. There is a purpose. 

]]> Why are Christians so easily offended? http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/why-are-christians-so-easily-offended/ http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/why-are-christians-so-easily-offended/ Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:35:07 CDT I find many Christians are afraid to love non-Christians.  They seem to have a fragile love for others, one in which they love until they see some flaw in the one they love.  It seems to me that when a person personalizes the actions of others, they create misery for themselves.  Usually offense comes from weakness. We may judge the flaws of others because it makes us feel better about our own inadequacies.   

Should we ever judge behavior?
The person doesn’t see the difference between what is right and wrong behavior is doomed to his or her own failure.  However, the person that is trying to find out “who” is right or wrong may have overreached in his/her role in society.  We need to distinguish between behavior and people. Of course we can judge someone’s behavior without rejecting him or her.  The question is, why is it so difficult to discern what is right and wrong and still love people?

Should we love flawed people?
If we don’t love flawed people we will have no one to love. People are fascinating and we should see them as God does, His creation even though fallen and flawed.  People don’t need our censorship; they need our love and consideration.  “Jesus came not to condemn, but to save.” What would happen if Christians loved deeply, meaningfully and with genuine acceptance?

Is the sin of others contagious?
It is clear to me that those with whom we associate will impact our lives.  So how can we stay close to God and love sinners?  Must we hide from them?  Should we drop all friendships that are not with “godly” people?  The point of balance may come by analyzing the impact that our friendships have on our life.  For example, if I find myself being sucked into a actions that breach my values when I’m with certain people, I need to be careful how much time I expose myself to them.  It is my responsibilities to set boundaries and limits on the power these people have in my life.  We need to be exposed to good influence and yet love those who do not share the same values as us.  This balance of time and influence is crucial to being relevant to a hurting world that needs Christ. Christ prayed for us in John 17 and asked His father that we would be protected from the world not removed from it.

Tolerance with discernment:
I think we need to avoid personalizing the behavior of others within a heart of discernment and tolerance.  Tolerance is not accepting sinful behavior but looking at the one sinning through the eyes of love.  Let’s love authentically.  How can we do this?  We must realize that love is a divine source.  Galatians 5 gives us the formula for loving, surrender to God, walk in the Spirit not the flesh.  In Romans 5:5 we are told that the love of God is manifest from our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit.  We need to be so surrendered to God that His love permeates our life and causes us to see others as God does.  Next time you feel offended by the actions of others, check and see if this is coming from insecurity.

Love well… love often…

]]> Politics and the Church http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/politics-and-the-church/ http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/politics-and-the-church/ Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:58:41 CDT All across America there are churches involved in partisan politics.  They say who to vote for and how to think about partisan issues.  I have always prided myself in steering clear of the partisan perspectives from the pulpit. 

When a pastor stands in the pulpit, at what point does the message “sermon” go too far in addressing “political concerns?”  My personal interest in politics has been peeked this year with all that is going on about Prop 8 and the presidential race.  Yesterday, I made a harsh statement about Franklin Raines. This was used to illustrate my point about the impact of perjury upon others. The problem was, I then directed people to check out his connection to a certain unnamed candidate.  There are two problems with this: The campaign is denying any significant relationship between this “candidate” for president and Franklin Raines, and more importantly; this turned my illustration into a politically partisan point.  I went too far.  This impacts people by forcing them to take my political view and try to make it fit into a Christian worldview or at least their experience of worship at Grace San Diego.  I don’t want to be a political advisor to the members of Grace. I overstepped my role as a pastor.  My desire is to give biblical instruction and spiritual leadership.
 
I do believe there are some legitimate issues to be addressed from the pulpit: Issues like abortions, infanticide, sanctity of marriage, homelessness and the impact of substance abuse, etc.  What issues do think are legitimate issues to be discussed?  What do think about the message and the partisan politics that I expressed?

]]> Passion for His Greatness http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/passion-for-his-greatness/ http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/passion-for-his-greatness/ Sat, 26 Jul 2008 17:46:27 CDT Passion for His Greatness

I was thinking about how difficult it is to see God in all of His glory. I recently shared this thought in the following way, “we have a tendency to bring God down to an understandable finite and therefore fail to worship Him in all his glory.” This is devastating to the heart of man according to Romans 1. Paul teaches that the lower one’s view of God, the greater his risk of deviation from health: emotionally, spiritually, sexually and intellectually. This is a staggering warning to the believer and non-believer alike. What causes deviance? Our theology! Wow, can this be?

I recently spoke at a pastor’s conference where a pastor asked me how he could reach his wife who was in deep depression. She had lost passion for everything. She was lethargic and not able to be present in the moment. As I listened to him speak and share his pain, the word “worship” was the first thing that came to mind. I asked, “Does she worship?” He was confused and didn’t answer so I asked again, “Does she worship?” He said of course we go to church every week and we have great worship. I said, “No, does SHE worship?” He again said nothing.

I proceeded to tell him that I have never met a depressed worshipper of God. People worship best when they are alone with God and truly are in awe of His greatness. I explained that depression other than organic depression is caused by a state of isolation from service, thankfulness and worship.

First, a person who is isolated from others is vulnerable to emotional depression. God said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” When I speak of being with others I mean serving their needs. I have never seen a servant who truly served with abandonment of self-interest, who was chronically depressed. Second, a thankful person does not have room for depression… I mean real thanksgiving that is pervasive in the heart and continual pursued in the life. The kind of thanksgiving that so captivates the heart that you can’t remember the things you want because you are so grateful for what you have. Third, a worshipper of God has a dynamic that happens to the soul that fulfills the heart’s need. We are created to worship God in all His glory. In scripture we see the devastation that comes to the life of those who fail to worship God properly, Romans 1:21 "For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened." Two things, honor and thanks, lead to a darkened heart, i.e. depression.

On August 10th we will begin a new series on worship called, “Passion for His Greatness.” This will be a four-week study that will help to define your emotional and spiritual health based on a full adoration of who God is and what He has done. We are providing special connection groups to discuss these messages each week. Come to the worship services and plug into the connection groups. If you would like more information about the connection groups please contact: Craig@gracesd.com.

May God truly be worshipped in all His glory!

]]> Chiang Mai http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/chiang-mai/ http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/chiang-mai/ Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:14:32 CDT Wow! I'm sitting in Chiang Mai, Thailand after the most incredible trip to Mae Sot to catch the vision of the a ministry to the Karen people on two specific levels.  I want to share what God has called us to do for His Kingdom.

1. To assist the Agape Children's Hostel in infrastructure development:

Click here for the need for Kitchen repair

Click here for the need for Bathroom development

2. To assist the Agape Children's Hostel in developing the spiritual quality of the kids and helping them to reach the area with the gospel.  We will be sending a team in March to impact the 130 most beautiful kids you will ever see.  We will run a VBS program and there will be local kids that we will reach with the gospel.

3. To establish a training center for the Karen and Thai pastors to reach the border of Burma with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our goal is to plant 100 churches in the next five years.

Click here for the sight of the new Bible College

We will be home soon and we ask God for continued passion for the mission and God's people in Thailand

]]> Thailand Update http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/thailand-update/ http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/thailand-update/ Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:02:34 CDT Thailand Update

We have been here three days and our experience has been painful in watching human tragedy. It is clear; when a society turns to false Gods they will suffer great harm. I preached this concept a few weeks ago in dealing with the importance of honoring God as God, or you will suffer consequence socially and physiologically, (Listen to the sermon). What we saw in Bangkok was so disturbing that we are looking for alternative routes to Mae Sot where we are going to be doing our primary work. The immorality in Bangkok is staggering in its lack of respect for human life and sexual propriety.

We arrived in Mae Sot via the longest bus ride we have ever endured. Suffering for Jesus? Not so much! We have made incredible contact here in Mae Sot and are looking to go to the orphanage this morning. Scott Laughlin and I met two pastors from the states here this morning at 6:30 AM. Some of the ministry team is sleeping… O to be young again. We will be uploading pictures tonight. Stay tuned!

We love you and miss Grace San Diego. We long to be used here according to God’s calling. Pray that we will be wise and ready.

More tonight…

]]> Idolatry and Romance http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/idolatry-and-romance/ http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/idolatry-and-romance/ Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:32:31 CDT A recent question about idolatry and romance:

"Is it possible to make a woman in your life a false idol, so that you depend on her for your joy throughout the day and she is the center of your universe? Is it the devil corrupting what once was a beautiful relationship, pushing my weak mind and soul closer and closer towards idolatry?"

My response:

We need to be careful not to confuse our love and passion for a person as idolatry. One way to find if we have idolized a person is to ask, "Would I compromise my love for God for this person?" It is important to continually check our heart for others and our heart for God.

Remember that we are called to Love God with all our heart and our neighbor as ourselves. The passion of a romantic love sometimes feels as though we love a person with all our heart, that is the way we are suppose to love God. However, if we compare our love for God and our love for a woman/man than we can check our real condition. Are you willing to do whatever God says? Are you willing to do whatever a person says? Answer these two questions honestly it may help.

I would not run from a relationship where the feelings are so intense they seem to trump everything. I would run from an unhealthy relationship that causes me to stop following God.

What is your view?

 

Listen to the Sermon!

The Big Ten: In Rhythm with God -- Commandments 1 & 2

]]> Purpose of Grace San Diego: Connection http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/purpose-of-grace-san-diego-connection/ http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/purpose-of-grace-san-diego-connection/ Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:52:25 CDT Connection is essential to human fulfillment. Without intimacy with others man will never be all that God intended for him to be.

I grew up hearing about the need for rugged individualism. I guess I have always admired those who have the ability to lead when others don’t support them. They cut their own path, march to a different drummer, etc. However, I have come to realize that those who walk alone may never experience the human need for intimacy with others.

God created us to not only be spiritually connected to Him but to also have deep connection to others. We are social and need to have human contact. With the computer and passive entertainment so prevalent in our world today, we may fall into the trap of doing it alone and all the while believing we are connected. Watching a TV show is not connection. You are aware that when you watch the show "Friends" your not one of the friends, right?

God said it is not good for man to be alone. We need each other. Grace San Diego is committed to having each of our people connect to others in connection groups. We believe connection groups are the place to grow and mature in the things of God. Check out a connection group and enjoy real friends.

Grace San Diego Connection Groups

 

]]> What about Burma? http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/what-about-burma/ http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/what-about-burma/ Wed, 28 May 2008 12:22:42 CDT Just weeks ago, a cyclone hit Burma and has killed thousands and made homeless an unbelievable number of people. The Myanmar (Burma) government has been holding off help from the nations for fear of international interference in their Junta. This situation is getting worse. Lives are being devastated right now.

Cyclone in BurmaI heard a man say, “Thank God I didn’t know anyone there.” The human tendency is to see tragedy as our responsibility in our world: my family, my friends, and my people. Jesus, when asked, "who is my neighbor?" answered by giving the parable of the Good Samaritan. His point, your neighbor is anyone who has a need that you can meet. It is disturbing to think that a tragedy at this large of a scale can comfortably be dismissed by those of us who don’t see it each day.

The problem is that the cyclone hit and the attack on the Karen people by the government has not slowed down. Some of these people are fleeing over the border into Thailand and finding some sanctuary from the military assault on their lives. It is possible to feel their pain in the love of Jesus. I will be going to Thailand in July to be meet with a local minister to see what we as God people can do. Please help reach these people for the love of Christ. www.GoGrace.org

]]> Theology in Blue Jeans http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/theology-in-blue-jeans/ http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/theology-in-blue-jeans/ Wed, 28 May 2008 18:36:22 CDT I was wondering what would Jesus do with the Southern California culture. Would He embrace the culture and wear Jeans and T-shirts or would He wear the robe we have come to picture him wearing in the first century. Did He wear the robe because it was inherently better or more spiritual then some other form of dress? Does it matter?

As I run from the 8:45 AM service to the second of three Sunday morning services, I make a quick stop in my office to change from my suit to blue jeans and a more casual look. Is this compromise out of fear or love from the heart of a pastor? I guess some will have to decide this on their own. I even change my style of preaching to meet my audience’s demographic. I love truth and I love people and want to reach their hearts.

When the church decides to reach the culture it is in, it must set aside some of its own subcultural sensibilities to be effective. Will the church see as spiritual its own cultural traditions and give a message of conformation? Or will it adapt without compromising the presentation of the truth to the culture it ministers in and give a message of powerful transformation?

]]> Pursuit of Happiness Part 2 http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/pursuit-of-happiness-part-2/ http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/pursuit-of-happiness-part-2/ Tue, 13 May 2008 16:40:33 CDT I received a great email the other day about my first message in the "Pursuit of Happiness" series. I had said in the message that many Christians equate having fun with being happy, ("A Healthy View of Pain"). I had mentioned that fun should be a part of every Christian's life. The question I received was about how much fun we should have, because fun seems to lead to temptation. I will deal with this extensively in my message on June 8th, but I will give some governing principles here:

1. Does the fun violate a scriptural principle? If we are prohibited by scripture to do certain things and then transgress that directive, we will not acquire happiness but actually undermine it with a sense of guilt and shame.

2. Does the fun bring shame to the Lord or the cause of Christ? There is a case that can be given that if Christians are too far from society, (i.e. not engaged in the healthy, fun activities of that society) the world will see Christ as a God who lacks understanding of human need. On the other hand, if we indulge in fleshly activities we will give the sense that God is not Holy. People will equate His character with our behavior. Because we need close intimacy with God our happiness will be undermined. We cannot divorce the spiritual and the emotional.

3. Does the fun really produce happiness? It may be fun to have sex outside of marriage but will in almost every case fail to bring happiness. When the fun is over you will be left with a sense of emptiness that steals whatever happiness you might otherwise have. Sex binds us to another person and is meant to be experienced in a committed marital relationship, because without that commitment it fails to fulfill.

4. Does the fun hurt others? You may have fun gossiping with your friends about someone, however this is unlikely to bring happiness. You will have fun at someone else's expense and then lose your own happiness.

Happiness is not passive, it must be pursued. Wise people know how to find a residual happiness in life.

 

]]> The Pursuit of Happiness http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/the-pursuit-of-happiness/ http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/the-pursuit-of-happiness/ Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:05:42 CDT Christians live with joy, right? What about happiness? No, that is too self indulgent and fleshly. What is the difference between happiness and joy? Some would say joy is an attitude and happiness is an emotion. One pastor often said,“Joy is dependent on Jesus and happiness is dependent on happenings.” It was such an easy way to remember the distinction, I was caught by it. It became my doctrine of happiness and simply resolved the whole matter of positive emotions. Well, at least until I came to study the Bible again on the topic. There is an old saying, "The preacher giveth and the Bible taketh away…" that’s the King James version anyway.

As I have been studying the beatitudes in Matthew 5, I have come to a distinctly different conclusion about emotions and Christ's teaching. Jesus describes in several paradoxical statements in these beatitudes how the Christ follower can have extraordinary happiness, translated “blessed.” It is an eye opener for the Christian that would squeeze out each day every ounce of life. Is it possible that Christ is calling us to extraordinary happiness? The key to happiness, as I see it, is to reinterpret life. I will be starting a six week series called, "The Pursuit of Happiness" starting on May 4th.

What is your view on happiness and joy? What makes you happy? Should Christians be happy?

]]> Purpose of Grace San Diego: Worship http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/purpose-of-grace-san-diego-worship/ http://www.gracesd.com/lead-pastors-blog/purpose-of-grace-san-diego-worship/ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:51:38 CDT All churches must know where they are going, why they are going there and how to get there. We have a clear purpose that serves as a compass to us as a community of believers. This purpose drives all that we do at Grace San Diego. Four words describe our overriding purpose as a fellowship: Worship; Connect; Serve; and Reach. But what does this mean in practical terms? Let's take a look at the first part of our purpose, worship.

Deuteronomy 6:5 "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 7You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. 8You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 9You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
This gives us a clear directive to love God. In fact, this passage according to the teaching of Jesus is the most important law in the Old Testament. There are several steps in following this directive: 1) Personal; 2) Family; 3) Public. It is important to realize that he says these words should be place on the hand and as frontlets to the eyes. The reason for this is to have a constant reminder in our behavior (hands), and our world-view (frontlets to the eyes).
In verse 10 he takes the directive into the area of human frailty and psychology. Duet. 6:10 "Then it shall come about when the LORD your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build, 11and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are satisfied, 12then watch yourself, that you do not forget the LORD who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 13 You shall fear only the LORD your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name."
The important thing to notice is the word at the end of verse 11, "satisfied." Verse 12 makes it clear that when we are satisfied we have a tendency to forget the source of our blessings. God is forgotten in a satisfied heart because man needs pain to remind him of his need for God.
Recently I gave a directive to my LEAD men. These are men in training for leadership in our church. The directive was to commit to what I call "The 15 Minute Transformation." It is a daily discipline of 15 minutes in the following way:
1. 10 minutes reading the Word.
Read one passage every day over and over until it becomes thoroughly well know by you.
2. 3 minutes expressing gratitude to God.
Picture the people and things you are grateful for and express this in prayer to God
3. 2 minutes repeating truth out load.
(e.g. "I love God with my whole heart," "I will serve the Lord today," "I will influence others to love God today," "I am filled with joy today," "Victory is mine in Christ")
These are repeated out loud to make them concrete in the heart
It is crucial that we love God today and that this love be firmly expressed in worship as it says in verse 13. We need to find ways to have this love become apart of our heart in essential ways. Try the 15 minutes of transformation for 30 days... See what happens to the quality of your love for God.
Check back next month for more on the Purpose of Grace, or subscribe to this blog for automatic updates when new posts are made!

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