X-Ray: Sardis, Day 2

I love boats.  Weekends as a high schooler was devoted to the water with my friends and a speed boat.  We would ski, tube and just drive around enjoying the weather.

Something I've learned about the water is that you can easily drift without even knowing it.  One minute you are at one place and another you are 15 feet away from it.  This is where the anchor comes into to play.  The purpose of an achor is to keep one steady and in one place.

Because of the winds of society, we need to hold on to something that will keeps us steady and in one place.  That anchor is Jesus.

So, let me ask you, who are you anchored to, Society or Jesus?

Paul writes about this is 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1.  Read it or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+6%3A14-7%3A1&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return.)

Paul tells us that we need to be careful what we get connected to.  We have no benefit being anchored to the world but we have everything God has promised when we anchor our lives to Jesus Christ.

How do we know who we are anchored to?

First of all, if you are anchored to the world you will desire the things of this world and the personal pleasures it brings.  Or if you are anchored to Jesus, you will desire to please Him and do whatever it is He wants for your life.

Second of all, if you are anchored to the world you will find that your values are vastly different than the Biblical values presented in the Bible.  (i.e. money, sex, power, pleasure, work, etc.)

These are just a few ideas and thoughts to help us discover who we are connected to.

So, who are you anchored to? World? or Jesus?

As you close:  God knows how difficult it is to live in this world and be anchored to Him.  Ask Him for His guidance and strength to remain true to Him.

God Bless!

X-Ray: Sardis, Day 1

  I don't know if you realize this or not, but the battery in our cars are very important.  If you battery isn't working, you aren't going anywhere.

I have two vehicals that will need to have the batteries replaced pretty soon.  My van still has the original from 2004.  My truck still has its original and it's an 2007.  You can tell everytime I try to start them up that it takes a lot to turn over the engine.  My dad tells me that I'm running on borrowed time.

One day I went out to my vehical and it wouldn't start.  How frustrating is that.  I have places to be and people to see.  I don't have time for a dead battery.  Battery charger, here I come.  So why don't I just replace it?  Because I'm cheap!

There is something to be learned from this battery about the spiritual life.  It doesn't matter if you have a battery hooked up to the car, you still have to have the power the battery provides for the car to work.  Some people have dead batteries. 

There were many people in the church at Sardis who had the reputation of being alive, but they were dead on the inside.  Jesus saw that and pointed it out to them.  They need to wake up, return to Christ and follow Him.  This would be the battery charger they were in desperate need of. 

How do you know if your battery is dead spiritually? 

1.  If you don't care about God's leadership in your life, your battery is dead or dying.
2.  If you have a bible but don't care to read it and learn from it, your battery is dead or dying.
3.  If you think just being a nice person is all that you need to please God, your battery is dead or dying.

So how is your battery?

The Spirit is God desires to bring life to your battery.  Read about in Galatians 5:16-26 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A16-26&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)

Live, led, keep in step with the Holy Spirit is your responsibility.

As you close:  Why not pray and ask God to help you to live by, be led by and to keep in step with the Spirit.  He will then begin to recharge your battery and you will see life begin again.

God Bless!