We have all read, witnessed or talked personally with someone who has denied Jesus. Some can be extremely vocal about it. Sometimes Christians can feel anger towards their denial, taking it personally, like somehow they are denying us or our intelligence. When God says “every knee will bow” no one will be smugly looking at their neighbor who rejected their faith. We will all be equal, bowing before God and God alone.  

Questions for further thought:
1. Have you ever had a heated debate with someone who refuses to believe in Jesus? 

2. How can we change anger into love?  

Challenge: Think about one or two things you could say the next time you get into a discussion with an unbeliever that will challenge real thought rather than anger. 

I have always been prone to worry. National and world events are usually what set me off. Unfortunately, there will always be contentious elections, financial meltdowns and ongoing violence and unrest. There are definitely things I can do to help ease some crisis and help others that have been affected. But remember that our peace will never come from this world, and it is not our home. 

Questions for further thought:
1. What type of things cause worry to set in for you? 

2. What have been some ways you have conquered worry in the past?  

Challenge: Look up verses about “worry,” and focus on memorizing one that you don’t already know this week. 

Your heavenly father wants what’s best for you, but it’s up to you to take that gift. The urgent situations and concerns of life will always be screaming for your attention, but don’t just listen to something because it’s loud, listen to it because it’s good. Following Jesus over everything else is not meant to be restrictive, it is meant to fill you up with peace and joy. Choosing the important things over the urgent things will not restrict you, it will set you free. 

Questions for further thought:
1. Have you ever considered placing Jesus first in your life with annoyance, reluctance, or frustration? If so, why?

2. Have you made any changes to your habits/lifestyle this week? How’d it feel to make those changes and how’s it going?  

Challenge: Check out Ordering your Private World by Gordon MacDonald. This book offers loads of encouragement and tips on how to reorganize your life and place Jesus first. Enjoy!

We are in a constant battle with the realities of time. Somehow, we want to do it all, and we trick ourselves into believing we can. Unfortunately, we can’t do it all. We’re linear. Our time on Earth is but a grain of sand in a desert that is eternity. What we’re actually doing right now is running a race. It might feel like you’ve been running forever; your legs are aching and you’ve got a stitch in your side. But you can’t stop for what’s happening on the sidelines, you have to finish the race. And once you reach the finish line, all that hubbub in the middle won’t matter. You did it; you finished the race! And guess who’ll be smiling his head off when you do.

Questions for further thought:
1. What distractions are on the “sidelines” in your life right now?

2. What’s your vision of eternal life look like? It’s impossible in our present state to imagine, but give it your best shot.   

Challenge: Think back on your past experiences and struggles. Did it feel endless while in the middle of them? Do you have a different perspective on them now?

God knows that you have to eat. He also knows you have to go to school or make a living. Consider this: if God sent his only son to die for you, will he not take care of you while you wade through your time on Earth? Some of us spend so much time focused on our current human condition we forget what’s really important: to, “seek first his kingdom, and his righteousness.” Worrying is a state of mind ill equipped for either. 

Questions for further thought:
1. What do you worry about that keeps you from God’s work or his plan for you?

2. How can you push past these worries and focus on what’s most important?  

Challenge: Evaluate what causes you the most stress; chances are that’s where your heart is at the moment. Find a way to turn what you’re stressed about over to God, even if that’s only allowing His peace to wash over you.

Our lives are often filled with a million activities and to-do’s begging for our time. Most of these are very good things, filled with friends, family, and hard-work. They are fulfilling… for a time. All those things you run to are like a cool glass of water. You’ll drink it and be refreshed, but you’ll have to come back and drink again. Jesus doesn’t want you to be constantly running, fueled by shots of spiritual caffeine. Your heavenly Father’s arms are open, and He is willing to provide the deep satisfaction and peace you need. All you need to do is go to him. Even Jesus stepped away from the good work to be alone with his Father for a time. 

Questions for further thought:
1. What’s your brand of spiritual caffeine?

2. How’s your spiritual health doing? I’m great? I’m feeling a little empty? I’ve been running on shots of spiritual expresso and I’m going to crash soon? 

Challenge: Your spiritual health depends on what time you put into it. Depending on your answer to the above question, rework your quiet time. It doesn’t have to be long, but the more often the better. 

Hold onto your seats and buckle your seatbelts folks, because its time to make some life changes! Jesus tells us that following Him isn’t a part-time deal, it’s the 100% determiner of everything else you do in your life. To follow Jesus is to chase straight after Him, no detours, pit-stops, or sniffing petunias. You’ve decided to dedicate this “temple” to God, and that means that the new management might require some cleaning and reorganization. It’s going to take some elbow grease, but if you start scrubbing, the Lord will be right alongside you. 

Questions for further thought:
1. How does you being God’s temple change your perspective on what you decide to do each day?

2. Take a look at your current schedule. How does the layout of your days reflect Jesus’ number one spot in your life?
  
Challenge: You’ve looked at your schedule, now it’s time to revise. What spiritual roadblocks must be cleared away? What time should be dedicated to spiritual growth? 

Do you run the race in vain? Is your work useless? I think we have all asked ourselves these questions. Maybe more like, does my job make a difference? Does my busy life have a point or is it making a difference? We need to step back and ask God why he has given us this job and take the time to see all the blessings God has given us. Our lives should be a sacrifice poured out to Christ. We need to live sacrificially and give God the glory in all our circumstances.

Questions for further thought:
1. How are you living sacrificially?

2. How does knowing that everything we have comes from God change your outlook?

Challenge:  What will you do to not run the race in vain?

We are living in some very unique times. We are seeing the world imposing a lot of ideas that are contrary to our faith. As Christians we are to have nothing to do with “worldly fables.” We must “discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness.” We must be disciplined to be in the word and keep God’s instruction on our lips. If we keep God’s instructions on our lips, we will not be swayed by what the world is throwing at us.

Questions for further thought:
1. How do you keep scripture reading a daily practice?

2. How has what the world says contradicted with what the scriptures tell us?

Challenge: Make reading scripture the first thing you do every day. Don’t hit the snooze button, read the word. It is not the amount that your read, just be in the word every day.

Staying disciplined takes a lot of work and is defiantly hard. We must encourage one another to keep up the good race. Paul is encouraging the Colossians to stay disciplined and keep the faith. We are all going to face challenges with staying disciplined. We must draw strength from our faith in the Lord. We must also surround ourselves with fellow believers who will encourage and lift us up.

Questions for further thought:
1. Who do you surround yourself with?

2. When things get tough, what and who do you turn to?

Challenge: Get connected with a small group at church so you are not running the race alone.