Library of Thoughts

I Cor. 4: 1-5 "Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God…" There is no cultural context for being a servant in our modern culture. Let alone being a dedicated steward. Consequently the church is full of pastor's who wear the title of servant, but whose lives are incongruous with the concept. As a full-time christian worker, I include myself in the group of "those who struggle" to understand and live it out. Moreover, as a disciple maker, your impact in the sphere in which the Lord has placed you is greatly impacted by your convictions about being a servant and steward. It takes a heart level pursuit and understanding of the role of a servant and steward to engineer a good disciple maker. Servant: As much as we are commanded to serve one another, we are not one another's servant's. We are servants of Christ. I have not submitted myself to a capricious human brother or sister. But rather to an all ...

Malachi 1:1 " 'I have loved you', says the Lord. But you say, 'How have you loved us?' Worship - "Prostrate" God reveals Israel's automatic heart response to His love. Rather than live with a sense of reality, they have turned away from Him. His very covenant is ignored by them. They now believe that they will 'build up the ruins'. They don't bow before Him as God… Honor (Obedience) - 'if I am a father, where is my honor?' They don't obey Him, as a son would his father. Their will is not submitted to Him. Respect (Reverance) - 'if I am a master, where is my respect?' Their hearts and passions are not yielded to Him as king and Lord. Purity - 'when you present the lame and sick (at the altar), is it not evil?… a grain offering that is pure'  Choosing to not be holy (set apart), they don't trust the work of His altar.  So they seek a sacrifice, without sacrifice! A costless holiness. Worship is the...