Loud & Clear

guiding principle #3

These are my guiding principles. When I’m unsure, can’t hear God’s voice or filled with indecision, these are my defaults. These are what I know and will measure against.

GUIDING PRINCIPLE #3
“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…” Hebrews 10:25

This has been a huge learning for me. I use the excuse that I’m an introvert (a high functioning introvert), so my preference is to be more isolated. I’ve also used the excuse that I’m at church every week and have many conversations with close friends each week. But in my heart, I know that’s not what this verse is talking about.

This is about being connected to a small group of people I’m encouraging, are encouraging me and growing in faith.

God calls us to be in relationship. He commands us to love each other. He calls us to serve each other. He calls us to humble ourselves, to right broken relationships, to put others ahead of ourselves. He tells us to encourage each other.

He told us in John 14 & 15 that if we love him, we’ll obey his commands. See Guiding Principle #1.

When we isolate ourselves out of relationship with him and others, we find ourselves in a prison of our own creation. We become trapped by sin, guilt and self deception. Conversely, we find redemption, freedom and real life change inside the context of walking not only with God but other believers.

This is the beginning of the litmus test guiding principles. This is the first measurable by which we can see if our actions are aligning with our profession of faith.

Are you in a small group or acountability relationship?

guiding principle #2

These are my guiding principles. When I’m unsure, can’t hear God’s voice or filled with indecision, these are my defaults. These are what I know and will measure against.

GUIDING PRINCIPLE #2
‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.’ This is the first and most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, ‘Love others as much as you love yourself.’ Matthew 22:37-39

We call this the Great Commandment. Jesus said it was the first and second most important commandments in the Bible. Will I love God today? Will I love people? Will this choice I make demonstrate my love for God or others? Did I live out these commandments today?

If I love God, I will keep his commandments and his greatest two are all about loving him and other people. He says if I do that, I pretty much follow all the other commandments in the Bible.

What an awesome default! What an incredible freedom! I don’t have to worry about withholding from sin, I can engage in love.

It’s no easy thing. I wish it was. But that’s ok. God has grace for me. Because this is born out of a belief that shapes my attitudes which influences my actions.

I read this morning in my devotional.

“I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that they may be saved.” 1 Corinthians 10:33

This is not about me. It’s about becoming like Christ. It’s about looking and wanting to please the one I love. And the more I love others, the more I do both of those.

How does it play out? This shows up in some of my other Guiding Principles. But at the end of the day, when people look at my life, I want them to say- “Here was a guy that really loves others.”

Does your life reflect a love for others?

guiding principle #1

So God has been doing something cool inside me lately. One of the things he’s doing is anchoring some core scriptures in my heart that are what I’m calling guiding principles.

There’s times when I’m facing choices or situations I need God’s direction and I don’t hear him giving me a clear answer right away. These aren’t always huge, life altering situations or choices, just ever day stuff. That’s when these Guiding Principles come into play. They are my default settings. When I’m not sure about what’s going on around me or even in me at times, these things I know and will help me know which way to go.

GUIDING PRINCIPLE #1
“If you love me, you will obey my commands.” John 14:15

I love this scripture. It’s a reminder this faith we’re called to is not about religion. It doesn’t say, “Obey my commands.” It says “If you love me…” It’s a litmus test. It reveals where we are in our spiritual growth. It shows the depth of our relationship with Jesus.

When I’m faced with choices, temptations or emotional swings, I can default to this scripture. “If you love me, you’ll obey me.” It’s that simple.

Do I really love him? How much? Enough to do what he asks me? Do I really believe and trust him? If I do, then my choices just got a little easier to make.

If I don’t, then it’s time to take a look inside and see what’s keeping me from trusting and obeying.

This works out in our lives two different ways:

We’ll obey some of his commands simply because of what he’s done in us.
Because we love him, we obey him.

The other part however is harder. This part is an act of obedience.
We obey him, because we love him.

Either way, it pulls me back to center as I seek to continue to grow in my love for Jesus Christ.

What are your choices revealing about your relationship with Jesus?