We’ve come into a season of KINGDOM ADVANCE! Acceleration is taking place, and this requires greater precision in our pursuit or we can more rapidly deviate from God’s intended pathway for our lives and for our legacy. Foundational truths matter more than we may realize to hold us on course. So, we return to the five foundational truths we know God has given us as a church family to focus on and to grow in together.
EVERYWHERE WE GO WE BRING GOD’S PRESENCE TO REAL LIFE by being OUTRAGEOUSLY LOVING people who PASSIONATELY PURSUE the Lord with IRRATIONALLY GIVING lifestyles as we CONSISTENTLY SUBMIT to God’s desires and EFFECTIVELY DISCIPLE others to do the same. These core values have core practices, so we know how to put our values into practice. See Core Practices at the bottom.
OUTRAGEOUSLY LOVING PRACTICES:
Am I a loving person? Would people who interact with me on a regular basis say I am a loving person? God has called us to be loving people who reflect the outrageously gracious nature of God’s love.
Colossians 3:12-16 Put on (clothe yourselves) then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom... ESV
The word that translates “put on” literally means to clothe or be clothed with (in the sense of sinking into a garment). Sinking into “compassionate hearts….”
As you sink into the nature of Christ, the nature of Christ sinks into you!
A cucumber becomes a pickle after sinking into vinegar and soaking there for a while.
If you do not create margin in your life, you will not love others well. Margin begins with God, where we sink and soak (Sabbath principle), but it does not end there! Create margin for the things that matter (Service principle). If you don’t create margin for things that really matter then do they really matter?
It’s the little girl asking her father if they can play. Busy working on things he brought home from his office he explained daddy has some work I need to get done.” She asked him if goes to work to work then why does he also have to work at home. He explains he just couldn’t get it all done at the office. “Daddy, can’t they just put you in a slower group at work?”
Life has busy seasons. Over time you will find yourself dropping the ball and missing a family opportunity. Then you’ll drop the ball and miss a business opportunity. Perhaps you’ll drop the ball and miss a ministry opportunity. Dropping the ball is inevitable. My advice is to make sure you are never dropping the same ball twice in a row.
If you call something a priority but don't have time for it call it something else. It's not a priority.
Prioritize a place of morning prayer clothing yourself with Christ and sinking into a loving disposition. This looks totally different for the single mom and the empty nesters. Don’t beat yourself up. Practice making room.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom... ESV
The Greek word that translates “admonishing” means both to admonish and exhort. This word literally means purposing to influence behavior or beliefs to nurture spiritual growth and maturity.
Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of admonition was a common practice in educational and philosophical settings. Teachers and philosophers would use admonition to guide their students toward wisdom and virtuous living. In the early Christian church, this practice was adopted and adapted to fit the context of spiritual and moral instruction, emphasizing the importance of community accountability and personal holiness.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another.
A loving disposition comes from a place of grace and rest, but this takes time! Take time to pray in the morning and connect with God. As you are connecting with God then begin to connect with God’s desires about the day that is ahead. Consider your family, friends and co-workers that you know you will see that day. Pray for interactions and meetings in advance listening and praying over the day as you consider these three things:
Open Heart – Lord help me feel what you feel for the people I’ll meet with today.
Open Mind – Lord help me think intentionally about how I can make people feel encouraged, blessed and valued.
Open Hand – Lord help me generously bless them in some way as a result of being with them today.
GP2RL: Explore the idea of Sabbath in the context of your life. Put this open heart, open mind and open hand concept into practice daily this week in an effort to serve others well.
CORE VALUES AND CORE PRACTICES:
OUTRAGEOUSLY LOVING: Sabbath and Service.
PASSIONATELY PURSUE: Fasting and Scripture.
IRRATIONALLY GIVING: Simplicity and Generosity.
CONSISTENTLY SUBMIT: Solitude and Community.
EFFECTIVELY DISCIPLE: Sabbath and Table.