The Glory of God

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

These words were spoken by Paul to the church of Corinth in an attempt to reshape a fallible perspective. As humans, we are naturally self-gratifying, inward-focused creatures. Despite this inclination, God has chosen us to bring Him glory. In fact, our existence in itself was created to bring God glory (Isaiah 43:6-7). That’s something that can be a little difficult to wrap one’s mind around when culture, inward desires, and sugar-coated understandings of God suggest otherwise. You see, we don’t always look at God’s full character.

While God holds many titles, we tend to hold on to the ones we like best.  He is a loving father, a friend, a healer, a counselor, and a redeemer. What if we were to re-focus, however, on one of His greatest qualities? What if we were to view God as more than someone who helps us in times of need? The truth is, God is powerful. He is glorious. He is Holy. In fact, His full presence is something we are not even capable of handling (consider Moses’ encounter with God on Mount Sinai (Exodus 33:20)). We are selling ourselves, and, quite frankly, God short if we do not honor this aspect of His nature.

As His creation, it should be our joy to give Him glory. He gave us, whom He did not need, life. He gave us, a people who chose to sin against Him, a chance for restoration. He gave us, an undeserving people, a chance to bring Him glory.

Sometimes we can forget what it’s really all about. While culture, sugar-coated Christianity, and selfish desires tell us that a relationship with God is solely for our benefit, there is a much greater picture. More than this, we are created with the purpose of bringing God glory in everything we do.

This week, I challenge you. First, ask yourself: Am I viewing the full nature of God? If not, study further upon who He is. Secondly, consider the question: Am I living every moment for the glory of God? If not, where can I improve?

Let’s bring God the glory that is already His. 

Written by: Tamara Sturdivant

Edited by: De Ann Sturdivant

Lost in Translation

At a time in my life where I was anxious about my relationship with God, feeling as though there was some “spiritual ladder” I just wasn’t climbing high enough, and getting knocked down a few steps on my roughest days, a good friend and mentor said something that changed my life. She told me that salvation is not a one-time explosive experience; it is a daily decision.

Every morning, every minute, we make the decision to die to ourselves and live through Christ. I cannot begin to describe the relief I felt and the sudden release of the pressure I had been putting on myself when I first understood that His mercies are truly new every day. Though we are all aiming to finish this race, it still must be done one foot after the other.

While it’s a huge relief that we are meant to take things day by day, it can be a process of learning to make that commitment every day. While Mike Cross was delivering his message on Sunday, he explained the actual process Jesus experienced while dying on the cross. He endured an excruciatingly long process—suffocation. It is so appropriate then, that in Matthew 16:24 the Bible says “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’”.  

When we make the decision over and over again to die to ourselves, it is not a quick, easy process, like a beheading. We don’t just sever the parts of ourselves we must sacrifice. But rather, it is a process of suffocation, of not allowing the desires of the flesh to breathe and grow within us, but instead, to live fully as we are filled with the breath of God.

The great news in which we place our hope, however, is that Jesus did not just die. He rose again, a seemingly impossible miracle. The world tells us that we should live only for ourselves, that we shouldn’t sacrifice our lives or change our ways for any god. What they do not understand is that our God is a LIVING and ACTIVE God. When we die to ourselves, we don’t remain in the tomb. Instead, Jesus made it clear that “for whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it,” (Matthew 16:25). We have this promise not just in heaven, but on earth, that those who take up their cross and lose their life for Jesus’ sake will experience a new and abundant life with Him.

This week, as we reflect on our daily decision, I challenge you to do as I was advised by my wonderful friend. Each morning, as you are beginning your day, make the conscious decision (whether in your thoughts or out loud): “Today I will take up my cross. Today I will die to myself and my desires. Today I will receive the life through Jesus that God promises me.”

Written by: Brianna Vanderveen

Edited by: Brigit Edwards

The 50/20 Rule

Many of us are familiar with the story in Genesis about a man named Joseph and his not-so-great brothers. If you haven’t read this story, I encourage you to check it out in Genesis 37-50. In short, Joseph was the favorite of many sons, and as a result his brothers grew jealous. To add fire to the flame, Joseph shares two prophetic dreams with his brothers that allude to his future reign over them.  His brothers, not surprisingly, did not appreciate hearing of these dreams. Therefore, they sold their brother into slavery and put his life on the line for the sake of revenge.

Despite all of this, Joseph’s prophetic dreams come true and, in the end, his brothers needed him to ensure their personal survival. This is where the 50/20 rule comes in. After all is said and done, Joseph makes a powerful statement that can apply to us today.

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20

I love this verse because it gives me hope. We all go through rough times when it seems like God is nowhere to be found, but in reality He is right there waiting to do a work amidst the struggle. On Sunday, Pastor John Opalewski identified the 50/20 Rule with the statement, “God can transform our pain into something life-giving and good if we cooperate with Him.” This is so true! Joseph is the perfect example of this. Although he faced rejection from his brothers, hardships, and pain, God used Him to lead many people and save many lives. Joseph was willing, and God was able to bring beauty to his struggle.

In addition, Pastor John Opalewski provided us with four action step that will bring hope and purpose to our pain.

4 ACTION STEPS:

1.       Understand God is with us when our circumstances suggest otherwise. (Romans 8:38-39)

2.       Maintain integrity when it would be easy not to.

3.       Believe our steps are ordered by God. (Genesis 45:8)

4.       Forgive those who hurt us. (Hebrews 12:15)

If we make the choice to incorporate these action steps into our pain, God will turn what seems like a hopeless situation into something meaningful and good. I challenge you, as Pastor John did, to let God do a 50/20 on your greatest pain.

Written by: Tamara Sturdivant

Edited by: Jenelle Kelly

Love Week- A Ripple of Hope

Have you ever heard the adage that 20% of the people in a church (or sometimes a business or other organization) seem to do 80% of the work? That apparently was not our church last week.

Approximately 220 people (just under half the congregation, last I checked) contributed a combined 2,245 hours of volunteer service, distributed at least 400 church invitation cards and had over 120 conversations about the Lord with people in the community during Love Week, a coordinated volunteerism and service campaign at Freedom Christian last week.

Outreach activities ranged from a spa day for senior ladies at the Windemere Park Senior Community, to a first responders and city employees breakfast for Sterling Heights, or painting and landscaping the Abigayle Ministries building, and even random acts of kindness like giving out quarters at the Laundromat and delivering an unfathomable 1,920 cookies (160 dozen) for the cholesterol-needy in homes and businesses.

Way to go, brothers and sisters!

Now, none of this is to say anything of the 31 Freedom peeps who donated an additional 205 combined service hours earlier this summer to MCREST, the Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team program for the homeless, PLUS a 3-day garage sale fundraiser and planning meetings. As team leader I’d been wondering earlier this year if we should time our MCREST week this year to coincide more with Love Week. But I see now that would have been overload, considering how busy you all were already. My only point in mentioning MCREST is to note that several of our volunteers couldn’t play much of a role in Love Week, and vice versa -- so taking them together, the overall church engagement rate in the community is even higher. That’s awesome, but Love Week was never about us, as Pastor Aaron noted in Sunday’s message. It was about the people we could serve, and offering a glimpse of the Kingdom of Heaven with tangible evidence of the Love we ourselves scarcely grasp.

But don’t let me get away with sounding too spiritual. If you’re like me, hearing the deeds of others instills in you a sense of admiration tinged with guilt. Paula and I played only nominal roles at one block party and the city employee breakfast, but we wish we could have done more if schedules permitted. That’s OK, I have to tell myself. As Jesus tells John and the apostles, “Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.” (Mark 9:41 NIV). You know what I like best about that verse?  Doing the Lord a favor is easy. I can do easy. Who in the developed world can’t access a cup of water most of the time?  You don’t need an advanced degree, you don’t need the purest motives, and you certainly don’t need exceptional leadership skills. You need only the resources at hand.

One of the reasons I feel called to the homeless ministry is a conviction that one of the greatest dignities you can give to people with nothing is just noticing them. But my other motivation is that one of my abundant resources is insomnia, and this is an overnight ministry. I have spent the wee hours on everything from watching possum forage in the nature preserve (which I recommend to others) to climbing into a darkened city viaduct (which I do not). So why not make 4 a.m. count for eternity? We shall not all sleep, brethren, but we can still all be changed.

I can’t promise you that you’ll ever feel like you’ve nailed the service part of being a Christian. As Pastor noted, new challenges come along as quickly as you tackle the old ones, and some people have never known how much they accomplished as pastors until they left the role. But let me give you all a big hand for the beauty of your actions: proclaiming peace, bringing good tidings, declaring salvation, and proclaiming God’s greatness.

Written by: Chad Halcom

Edited by: De Ann Sturdivant