Enjoy your life - Jesus did!

Hey friends; the last time we were together I commented on Luke 5; verses 1-11. I made the point that God wants you and me to live an abundant and fulfilling life. I believe that a big part of this is learning to enjoy the journey.

If you listen to some religious people, you would get the impression that God expects His children to be miserable or to withdraw from the world. None of this is true. If we follow the actual example of Jesus, we would learn that life is a precious gift to be enjoyed and shared with others.

In Luke 5; verses 29-39, Jesus is invited to a party by Matthew the tax collector, someone who would not have been very popular with most people. He also invited a bunch of other tax collectors and so called "sinners." Jesus attended and was eating and drinking with the crowd when the religious people showed up and start criticizing Him. What was their accusation? They seemed to feel that Jesus was enjoying Himself too much and hanging out with all the wrong people. They felt that He should be fasting and acting religious. Finally, they were offended because Jesus broke with tradition (that is, rabbis weren't supposed to hang out with sinners).

What was Jesus' response? To the accusation that He was enjoying Himself too much, Jesus responded that there is a time for everything - a time to laugh and a time to weep; a time to fast to give God devotion and a time to enjoy the company of friends. To the accusation that He was hanging with the wrong crowd, Jesus responded that it's the sick who need a physician, not the healthy. In other words, how will we ever influence "sinners" for God if we act like we're somehow better than them- that they are somehow not worthy of our company? So called sinners need good Christian friends the most.

As for breaking with tradition; Jesus told them in a clever way to wake up and open their minds. In Him, God was doing a new thing and they needed to see the possibilities. God was pouring out new wine and new wine requires new wineskins - old wineskins (old ideas, traditions and ways of doing things) would no longer suffice. He was calling everyone to a new and higher standard - to love God first and then your neighbor as yourself; to enjoy God, the people He made and the precious life He gave you to the fullest. So let me encourage you today friend - whatever your religious background - give God your time, attention and worship, but also learn how to enjoy your life. Jesus did!

Welcome To An Encouraging Word

Dear friends: Welcome to An Encouraging Word. If there's anything that's needed today, it's a word of encouragement. I was just writing in my other blog (Minority Business Blog) that our society seems to be overrun with negativity and pessimism. If you are not careful, that environment will creep in and leave you feeling down and out.

Sadness is a part of life but God never intended that we live defeated lives. Time and again, Jesus expressed that His followers should live abundant lives filled with meaning and purpose. In order to do that though, we will be required to step out in faith. It is my hope that in the weeks ahead, this blog will become your faith-lifter, a source of hope and encouragement. Take a few minutes out of your day today and read the Book of Luke, Chapter 5, verses 1-11.

In that passage, notice a few things. At the beginning of the scene Jesus is on the shore and His disciples are washing their nets, having returned from a long night of fruitless fishing. Jesus tells the disciples to do three things that He will also tell you and me if we are listening. He told them first to draw away from the shore a little. When they had obeyed that request, He told them to launch into deep water. Finally, He told them to lower their nets for a catch.

The disciples complain that they had been out all night and caught nothing, but here's the key: out of reverence, they obeyed and launched into the deep. What was the result? A tremendous haul - so much so that it almost sank two boats. That's God's abundance friend. I don't know where you are today, but allow me to encourage you to do as the disciples did. Whatever dream is in your heart, whatever you believe is God's calling on your life, it is time to go for it! it's time to launch into deep water and lower your nets. Do not be afraid. God is with you.