Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Love or Compliance by Todd Pierce
Hi, everyone!
I am so glad we have a Father whose goal with us is intimate relationship, not compliance. I think it is important to stay mindful that if God's goal was to make you follow the rules, He could do it. Instead, He prefers the inside out approach. He knows that if we will learn to have confidence in His love for us and respond to that love with the same longings as He has, we won't be able to help but be holy. His goal is intimacy with us.
This has profound effect on every area of our existence when we realize that this can become the same pattern for our lives and relationships. Let me give you an example. My sons all have very strong and energetic personalities and I used to think that my job as their Father was to get them to obey the rules of our house. Do this! Don't do that! Although I owe it to them to teach them right from wrong and give them instruction, it can never be the goal of my interactions with them. If obedience is my goal, then I will get it - for a while anyway. If I take our Father's model, I will make sure that my focus is on building a heart connection through the instruction and guard it above all else. Consider: Jesus said "If you love me, you will obey me." He didn't say "Obey me to prove you love me." If we have a love relationship with Him, the consequence will be obedience. Do you think God is focused on getting you to obey Him or to love Him?
Your brother,
Todd Pierce
Hi, everyone!
I am so glad we have a Father whose goal with us is intimate relationship, not compliance. I think it is important to stay mindful that if God's goal was to make you follow the rules, He could do it. Instead, He prefers the inside out approach. He knows that if we will learn to have confidence in His love for us and respond to that love with the same longings as He has, we won't be able to help but be holy. His goal is intimacy with us.
This has profound effect on every area of our existence when we realize that this can become the same pattern for our lives and relationships. Let me give you an example. My sons all have very strong and energetic personalities and I used to think that my job as their Father was to get them to obey the rules of our house. Do this! Don't do that! Although I owe it to them to teach them right from wrong and give them instruction, it can never be the goal of my interactions with them. If obedience is my goal, then I will get it - for a while anyway. If I take our Father's model, I will make sure that my focus is on building a heart connection through the instruction and guard it above all else. Consider: Jesus said "If you love me, you will obey me." He didn't say "Obey me to prove you love me." If we have a love relationship with Him, the consequence will be obedience. Do you think God is focused on getting you to obey Him or to love Him?
Your brother,
Todd Pierce
Labels: compliance, goal, intimate, love, obey, relationships
Sunday, October 9, 2011
YADA by Todd Pierce
YADA. This has become my new favorite Hebrew word. This past weekend, it was the word I spoke over every congregation I had access to. The word is first used in Genesis 1 when God said that Adam knew (Yada) Eve and they bore a son. Yada means to know, to know, to know. It does not mean that they had sex. It means that they knew one another intimately and became one and the fruit was a son. Intercourse came as a result, but the word our Father chose to use was a word that noted that they knew each other so well that they became one. The reason this is so powerful is because it becomes the standard for the type of oneness that our Father desires with us. In Matthew 7:23, we learn of people that were able to cast out demons, do miracles and prophesy, but tragically, the day will come when Jesus will say, "Depart from me for I never knew you." We are children of a God who desires oneness with His kids and all the gifts He gives us is an expression of His love. The gifts were intended to help us be closer with Him. Unfortunately, we tend to fall in love and worship the gifts and miss the purpose of them. Consider the extravagance of gifts like the local church, your Bible, and all sorts of christian media and literature. They are given to us so we can become one with Him, not so we can simply learn. The stories of many people's tragic lives are recorded within the pages of the Bible to warn us of this very temptation. Consider how much the Jews of Jesus' times loved the church and the Bible, yet when God was in their presence, they hated Him. Be careful not to think I am saying to devalue your Bible or your church. But consider if they are a substitute for what our Father longs for. He has invited us to be joint heirs with Jesus in an everlasting Kingdom. He has given us the ability to have Yada with Him because of the blood of Jesus. Jesus was the doorway into a relationship that was designed to continually grow into a oneness. The process we are all in now is a maturing that prepares us to handle the blessing of our Father. He is too good to give us responsibilities that will only destroy us. Enjoy the journey and always know that what He really wants is for you to become one with Him. Have some Yada with our Father and see what kind of fruit you bear.
Todd Pierce
YADA. This has become my new favorite Hebrew word. This past weekend, it was the word I spoke over every congregation I had access to. The word is first used in Genesis 1 when God said that Adam knew (Yada) Eve and they bore a son. Yada means to know, to know, to know. It does not mean that they had sex. It means that they knew one another intimately and became one and the fruit was a son. Intercourse came as a result, but the word our Father chose to use was a word that noted that they knew each other so well that they became one. The reason this is so powerful is because it becomes the standard for the type of oneness that our Father desires with us. In Matthew 7:23, we learn of people that were able to cast out demons, do miracles and prophesy, but tragically, the day will come when Jesus will say, "Depart from me for I never knew you." We are children of a God who desires oneness with His kids and all the gifts He gives us is an expression of His love. The gifts were intended to help us be closer with Him. Unfortunately, we tend to fall in love and worship the gifts and miss the purpose of them. Consider the extravagance of gifts like the local church, your Bible, and all sorts of christian media and literature. They are given to us so we can become one with Him, not so we can simply learn. The stories of many people's tragic lives are recorded within the pages of the Bible to warn us of this very temptation. Consider how much the Jews of Jesus' times loved the church and the Bible, yet when God was in their presence, they hated Him. Be careful not to think I am saying to devalue your Bible or your church. But consider if they are a substitute for what our Father longs for. He has invited us to be joint heirs with Jesus in an everlasting Kingdom. He has given us the ability to have Yada with Him because of the blood of Jesus. Jesus was the doorway into a relationship that was designed to continually grow into a oneness. The process we are all in now is a maturing that prepares us to handle the blessing of our Father. He is too good to give us responsibilities that will only destroy us. Enjoy the journey and always know that what He really wants is for you to become one with Him. Have some Yada with our Father and see what kind of fruit you bear.
Todd Pierce
Labels: Bible, church, know, oneness, relationships
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Relational Maturity by Todd Pierce
Relational maturity - I think we can all agree that our relationships are the most important experiences we have in this life. I believe that when Jesus wrapped the whole law up in this "Love God with your whole being and love others as you love yourself", He made relationships the most important thing. Although people are the greatest part of life, they are also the most dangerous and have the potential of inflicting the greatest pain. Because of this truth, I believe we should continue to grow in our ability to enjoy deep, rich relationships and teach others the same. It was Jesus who said that the world would recognize us as his followers by the love we have for one another.
This last week, I found myself counseling three different people who were struggling in three different kinds of relationships, but in each situation they had the same issue. I want to briefly give you a glimpse of some things our Father has shown me about preparing ourselves for deeper relationships.
Usually we choose to enter into relationships with people we like. Right? We like them because of their great qualities and willingness to like us back. There is no problem with building relationships with people you like, but if you have somehow forgot that every person in your life will eventually let you down and that they have many characteristics you won't like, then you are set up for resentment and conflict. Because it is so common for people to have shallow relationships, many of us have developed some really bad habits that effect the people we should be in deep relationship with. We have become so used to being the impressive person that people like that when someone close notices a flaw in us, we can become offended and defensive. We forget to practice giving the people around us some slack and giving ourselves the same. It is as though we are so protective of our appearance to others that we want others around us to do the same. So the time comes when someone close to you notices a flaw in you and maybe even chooses to point it out, our image is broken and it causes all sorts of emotional responses. Most of them are ugly. We have all experienced this. Right?
So what's the point? We must take a step back and realize that we must change our opinion of ourselves before we can succeed in our relationships with others. If you are able to receive the truth that our Father loves you with an everlasting love and He does it even though He sees all your flaws, then why do we think that our love for ourselves or one another should be any different? It is the Holy Spirit that will continue to make the changes in us and others. If you are able to see all your flaws in yourself and still be ok with you, then you can do the same for others. Now, when someone close points out something that offends them, you can honestly say, "Your right, and I am sorry. Please forgive me and know that our Father is still working on these areas." We won't be shocked and offended. We are free to be gracious because we are mature enough that we see our issues and others issues as part of the human experience and we are ok with it.
In service of the King, Todd Pierce
www.ridinghighministries.org
Relational maturity - I think we can all agree that our relationships are the most important experiences we have in this life. I believe that when Jesus wrapped the whole law up in this "Love God with your whole being and love others as you love yourself", He made relationships the most important thing. Although people are the greatest part of life, they are also the most dangerous and have the potential of inflicting the greatest pain. Because of this truth, I believe we should continue to grow in our ability to enjoy deep, rich relationships and teach others the same. It was Jesus who said that the world would recognize us as his followers by the love we have for one another.
This last week, I found myself counseling three different people who were struggling in three different kinds of relationships, but in each situation they had the same issue. I want to briefly give you a glimpse of some things our Father has shown me about preparing ourselves for deeper relationships.
Usually we choose to enter into relationships with people we like. Right? We like them because of their great qualities and willingness to like us back. There is no problem with building relationships with people you like, but if you have somehow forgot that every person in your life will eventually let you down and that they have many characteristics you won't like, then you are set up for resentment and conflict. Because it is so common for people to have shallow relationships, many of us have developed some really bad habits that effect the people we should be in deep relationship with. We have become so used to being the impressive person that people like that when someone close notices a flaw in us, we can become offended and defensive. We forget to practice giving the people around us some slack and giving ourselves the same. It is as though we are so protective of our appearance to others that we want others around us to do the same. So the time comes when someone close to you notices a flaw in you and maybe even chooses to point it out, our image is broken and it causes all sorts of emotional responses. Most of them are ugly. We have all experienced this. Right?
So what's the point? We must take a step back and realize that we must change our opinion of ourselves before we can succeed in our relationships with others. If you are able to receive the truth that our Father loves you with an everlasting love and He does it even though He sees all your flaws, then why do we think that our love for ourselves or one another should be any different? It is the Holy Spirit that will continue to make the changes in us and others. If you are able to see all your flaws in yourself and still be ok with you, then you can do the same for others. Now, when someone close points out something that offends them, you can honestly say, "Your right, and I am sorry. Please forgive me and know that our Father is still working on these areas." We won't be shocked and offended. We are free to be gracious because we are mature enough that we see our issues and others issues as part of the human experience and we are ok with it.
In service of the King, Todd Pierce
www.ridinghighministries.org
Labels: flaws, forgive, gracious, love, maturity, offended, relationships
