August 30, 2009 |
Volume XXVIII - Number 35 |
I Want To!
Maxie B. Boren
Most folks do what they want to do. If a persons desire to do something is strong enough, he'll somehow get it done. Motivation is the key. This is true in all realms of human endeavor. It's true in education, in business, in athletics, in recreation, in hobbies, or whatever.
And it is certainly true in every facet of living the Christian life. If a person really loves the Lord, the church, and the truth, he will do what the New Testament teaches he should do. Jesus said, If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). There wont be any bickering about it, no balking, and no effort to circumvent the plain teaching of the Savior. The true Christian will worship, work, and sene, because that is what he WANTS to do!
One of the worst mistakes we make in the church is to deal with symptoms instead of the cause, with externals instead of the internal. We who preach, "rake brethren over the coals" for their sporadic attendance, lack of interest, and noninvolvement. In our frustration we see these obvious manifestations of spiritual deficiencies, and thus, we strike directly at them. But the real "culprit" is what is missing in the hearts of the lukewarm - the "I WANT TO" factor! To repeat, motivation is the key!
But how is one motivated to "want to?" The answer surely begins with Matthew 22:37-38. "Thou shalt love the Lord with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the great and first commandment," When the "affections" in our heart are "sorted Out" as to priorities, then so shall it be in our lives! This is exactly what the apostle Paul meant in Colossians 3:2, where he wrote, "Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth." Once this is a reality within our hearts, then, and only then will we be able to say, "For to me to live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21). Paul could express such a sentiment, and what he further states in Philippians 3:7-9a, because his heart was right with the Lord, his affections were centered on Him, and his priorities were straight! Therefore, he served the Lord with everything he had! And he did it because he "wanted to!"
Dear brother or sister in Christ, if you feel yourself "slipping" spiritually, will you not think prayerfully on this little article? And learn to say from the deep recesses of your heart, "I want to" be a worker for my Lord!"
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New Calendar PM Fellowship The Pantry
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TODAY'S SERMONS
AM:Attitudes Needed In The Church: PM: Richard Meadows PRAYER LIST
Wanda Greene, Gaylon West, Micky Bell, |
The September edition of the Activities Calendar and Those to Serve List is available today in the foyer. Pick-up your copy today and be informed.
We will meet this evening after the PM worship for a time of fellowship and food in the annex. We will honor this month's birthdays and anniversaries and all of our members and guests are invited to stay and share.
HELP!! WE ARE OUT OF FOOD. The Food Distribution Program set a record this past week seeing 37 people and feeding 131. It was reported that Annie, Nancy, Bill & Sandy worked themselves into a frenzy on Thursday. It would almost be simpler to list what is not needed but we are completely out of the following:
In the "Bible Brain Twister" run in last weeks bulletin, the publication from which the piece was copied did not include the authors name. The authors name contained the 17th Bible book. There were only 16 in the puzzle as it was published. Sorry about any anxieties we caused.