How do you view Jesus in your life?

Acts 20:24
I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given to me -- the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

I had to read this verse several times in different versions. What is Paul talking about?

As I understand it in simple terms, you can reach the highest of your career goals but it is all worthless if you are not using what you have gained for the glory of God.

This verse reminds me of Rich Mullins. A great musician who is most notably known for his song "Awesome God" which has been covered by many bands. He died prematurely in a car accident in 1997 but he left a legacy of someone who was fully dedicated to being a witness for Jesus.

Despite his success he lived a simple life to concentrate his devotion to Jesus. He struggled with the differences between Catholics and Protestants but concluded that the most important thing was to follow Jesus.

Today, lifes are still being changed through his music. He truly was a man who saw Jesus as worth more than anything else.

How do you view Jesus in your life?

The Four Way Test

James 1:19
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

These are obviously great words to live by. Abe Lincoln often said "better to remain silent and thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt."

I remember the early days of email in the late 90's. People would quickly respond to emails in anger and it would spread like wildfire. "Flame-o-grams" became a daily ritual for many including yours truly. These emails would be so incendiary that they surely lived up to the name and accomplished little but strife.

Then on day I came across Rotary Club's "Four-Way Test." As stated on Rotary's website, this test, has been translated into more than 100 languages, asks the following questions:

Of the things we think, say or do

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

I posted these in next to my computer so I would look at them every time I was about to send an email.

We should ask God to remind us of this "test" whenever we have an opportunity to be offended. When offended, let's put our reaction to this test and we will find that we will be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

Be free to serve one another!

Galatians 5:13
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

I read this verse and think of a really good question. Is it possible to serve one another in love while at the same time indulging in sinful nature?

Talking about OUR indulgence in sin is not something we like to do. We would like the answer to the question above to be "yes" and we come up with all kinds of rationalization to help us justify our indulgence.

Freedom is also at question in this verse. What is this freedom that is talked about? Freedom to some people is free choice, to do whatever they want. But I believe the freedom this verse is talking about is freedom from the law of sin.

Meaning, its not freedom from having to abide by the law but freedom from condemnation because God put a plan in place for our redemption through the ultimate sacrifice of his son. In other words, God knows our sins past, present and future and has already paid the penalty which is death. Hence we have freedom from the law, only by his grace, not anything we do.

So in this verse the disciple Paul (the chief of all sinners as he called himself) is telling us to use our freedom to serve one another in love. Can we do this while indulging in sin? I believe not because sin violates the love we have for one another. Sin often puts us in a state of hypocrisy and that is surely a stumbling block when attempting to serve one another.

For example, if we indulge in the habitual sin of worry, how can we help another with their worries? What if they find out you worry just as much? Then your freedom is snatched away by a wave of condemnation.

Be free to serve one another!

The freedom that is meant for you...

Hebrews 6:10
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

This weekend my wife and I met someone and we had a discussion about fearing God. This person kept insisting that God must be feared and that was the only way to make sure that you are doing the right things because the end of times are upon us and we better not get caught not being "right with God" when the day of rapture comes and we are "left behind".

However, when you read today's verse, you get a whole different picture of how God feels about this. God is not unjust, he knows your heart and if you really believe in your heart that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16) you have nothing to fear.

If you live in constant fear that God will strike you down for the things you do then you are really missing out on the freedom the Gospel offers. Everyone can recognize John 3:16 but the verses that follow are incredibly important in understanding what is this freedom we have in Christ.

"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." John 3:17-20

So do you feel free? Can you relate to Romans 8:1 which says "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus." If you can't, then maybe it is time to ask God to examine your heart and draw you to him so you can truly experience the freedom that is meant for you.