Know Him. Love Him. Serve Him

The Word, the source of Truth delivers a message revealing the purpose of why we are here and what we must do…simply to know, love and serve God.  It’s so simple in it’s purity that the human brain cannot comprehend it without the knowledge of God’s Holy Word.  Before having the knowledge of the Word, if we search for our purpose we try to analyze the when, where, what and how eventually destroying the beauty of our simple purpose based on human intellect.  God sees this doorway.  But in frustration, we give up searching for it because without the knowledge we are not fully connected and we cannot see God’s direction eventually spinning aimlessly into defeat.  We can’t “figure it out” and human pride says that we should and yet again, we fail with great intentions.  Not until we begin spending time reading the Bible, learning and knowing who God is can we grasp the power in the simplicity of fulfilling our common purpose.

Have you ever loved someone before knowing them?  We typically spend time with someone first and find out who they are.  We learn what they like and don’t like and understand their expectations.  How could we serve someone well if we don’t know them?

How many times have we tried to assemble a BBQ grill or a new toy spending hours without success until we finally surrender to that dreaded manual written in 5 languages?  What is the trigger that activates our common sense to pick up the manual?  Is it the breaking point of frustration in countless hours attempting and failing? The deadline of Christmas morning? The family gathering in one hour expecting a slab of baby back ribs?  What emotion does that deadline create? Fear, pressure, a desire to serve, a concern of what others will think if this is not put together and ready to be used?  It becomes a priority to find the knowledge that will achieve this outcome.

What about US?  Don’t we want to be put together with all the right pieces, parts, tools, and grease ready for action and serving others at our best?  And what about the deadline of our salvation?  What could be more pressurizing than our life in eternity?  We know when the family is coming and the date of Christmas morning.  We don’t know our life’s deadline.

So, where did I start to know the Lord?  Matthew 5 – The Beatitudes. I then proceeded to James and built on those foundations.  (Read all the way down for some great FREE resources)

Matthew 5 The Message (MSG)

You’re Blessed
5 1-2 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

3 “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

4 “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

5 “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

6 “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

7 “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.

8 “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

9 “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

10 “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

11-12 “Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

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I highly recommend these tools and resources to make Bible reading FUN and EASY!

– downloadable app on Apple and Android
Look at the “Plans” in the App version – very helpful!

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