WHAT IS YOUR GOD?

Good question. In this day we live in it's a real question.

Whatever you love most, serve most, seek out most, give to the most, worship the most, and care about the most is your god.

Your “god” can be your career, your bank account, the way you look, a particular position or degree, influence, power, or physical pleasure. It can even be something that is considered intrinsically good, yet you allow it to dominate your life more than God – such as your marriage or your family. Your “god” is whatever you allow to control you, to be the ultimate guide to decision making, the place of your supreme loyalty, and the source of your self-worth.

Guard your heart. Where you spend your money and your minutes is your master.

Tony Cruz

TRUE REPENTANCE

It seems that some people have a skewed view of what it means to genuinely ask for forgiveness. For some, its punishing and denying themselves until they feel like they have re-pleased God. For others, it's burning of candles and a sense of penance. Yet others feel like unless they cry it's not acceptable. Well, there are some views that are off, some half right views and others that are completely off.

I read an article that I wanted to share that I feel lays out a clear view of what true repentance looks like. Below is a great piece from an article by Mark Driscoll that i wanted to highlight to you today:

True repentance is a combination of three things:

1. Repentance includes confession. In confession, you agree with God that you have sinned. Confession includes both your mind and mouth.

2. Repentance includes contrition. In contrition, you feel what God feels about your sin. Confession includes both your emotions and expressions. Your heart is affected, not just your words.

3. Repentance includes change. In change, you stop sinning and start worshipping. Change includes your will and works.

The next time you come to a place where you are approaching God about an area of your life that requires repentance, remember that you are a whole being with many intricate parts and each of us respond differently. However, one thing must be present. You must be genuine.

THE MEASURE OF THE CHURCH

Gene A. Getz, in his book, The Measure of a Church, asks the question, "What is the measure of maturity in the church?" And he lists what others believe are the measure of maturity:

1. An active church (involving people in meetings and programs)
2. A giving church (supporting the church and efforts financially)
3. A growing church (new people coming and staying)
4. A soul-winning church (leading unbelievers to faith and baptism)
5. A smooth-running church (efficient and orderly)
6. A missionary-minded church (supports missionaries around the world)
7. A Spirit-filled church (enthusiastic, emotional)
8. A big church (large attendance, with many programs)

God used Paul to give us a different measure for maturity of the church. Paul says that the church is mature when it functions like one body, where Jesus Christ is the Head.

As my little girl Hannah learns of her surroundings, I could see her eyes wanting to reach for a toy, but her hands and arms were not yet able to cooperate. As she becomes more mature and aware, her body parts will begin to do what her "head" wanted her to do. Likewise, when we mature as the church, we individually obey what our "head," Jesus Christ, wants us to do.

The Church is not obedient to a set of rules. We are obedient to the Person of Jesus Christ through a trusting relationship and to the truths He has spoken. And our obedience is not just in our head, but in the way we live and serve one another.

Love one another,
Tony Cruz