Extraordinary! Ch3 Storing Up Treasure

So I am saved by grace and not by works so that I may not boast… Eph 2:8-9

Okay I get that, can’t earn your way to heaven. For we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive what is due to him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Cor 5:9-10

Why? If I am already saved why the judgment? What possible consequence could there be that a judgment necessitates?

I don’t know about you but for well over ten years I have wondered about these questions and frankly no one has adequately answered them.

Well I found an eloquent answer in the pages of Extraordinary Chapter 3. Amazing to me that John continues to hit homeruns, dealing with and helping me through core issues, areas of struggle in my faith life. I read through chapter 3 wondering where John would go now that he had already rocked my perspective on God’s love.

When we die we will go before Christ who will act as our advocate telling the father this one is mine and we will be saved on our way to heaven. But there are several peculiar scriptures that talk about that same judgment in different ways and other scriptures that encourage us to store up treasures in heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy. Why?

For that matter what about the Christians that struggle mightily with last minute converts to the faith. The mass murderer who repents seconds before execution. Will they share in the same eternity as us?

Well that last one is a big ole can of worms but all these arguments and issues relate to the same core issue. What happens at the judgment?

John cunningly uses multiple scripture to support the argument that each will be judged and afforded heavenly treasure as it relates to our acts once saved. If we lead an ordinary life not living up to God’s unique plan for our life, we can expect little treasure. Lead an extraordinary life and watch the treasure be heaped up on us.

Now I have no idea what you need treasure for in eternity but sounds pretty cool to be well rewarded in heaven. In fact as I reflected on this possibility it gave me great joy to think that I could do kingdom work and get rewarded for it. Not that I do so expecting reward, not at all. My purpose in serving had always been to say to God, here is an offering of love for you, I do this because I love you.

So you see as I contemplated this chapter I found myself in a new place. A place where a deep fundamental question had been answered and joy came welling up. Joy that I serve the creator of the universe and he wants to reward me for doing so. That is cool!

As I prayed at the end of the chapter content in what had been revealed, another thought came...

Don't read any more of this book for at least four days. Take the time to reflect on the challenge at the end.

• In your life now how are you pleasing God? How might you please him more?
• What do you believe is God's special plan for you?

More on this later

Father thank you

Thank you for allowing me to serve you

Thank you for revealing the meaning f your word

Sharing with me the reward of living for you, loving you

Amen

EXTRAORDINARY! Ch1-2 Gods Love

It was a cool fall day in so Cal, a day that stands out as there are few October days that stay below 70 degrees. This is the type of day I love; grey overcast and cool, threat of rain, it kind of reminded me of the steely grey days of Canada in my youth.

This day was special I had a new book to read.

I should say that I am an avid reader. It is not uncommon for me to read over 100 books a year. Yet in the past 6 months I could not even pick up a book. They simply held no interest to me. I had wondered why for months but allowed my time to be consumed with thee many other demands of my life. NOT today! Today I would crack open John Bevere's new book Extraordinary. Before I did so I earnestly asked God to reveal to me his wisdom as I read every word.

As I read this book implore me to read sequentially cover to cover I shrugged. I do that with every book I read, odd though for an author to ask for that behavior. When I got into the argument of God's love I understood why. This book builds on a firm foundation that must be built to gain the most value.

I read the chapter on God's love for us checking every scripture as I read and contemplating on each. What a powerful exercise. I ended the chapter reading John's challenge. Three points

• Do you believe God loves you unconditionally?

• If you do not is it based on feelings or what God has spoken?

• Make a decision to believe Gods word.

Well as I reflected on these questions, sitting at a local park I like to frequent, God spoke to me.

You see on question 1 the answer came quickly

I don't know that He loves me unconditionally...

Heck I am not even sure He loves me.

How could He love me? How could He even know me? If He knew me surely He would be ashamed of me.

I worked through this emotion and with His help came to an interesting place. Yes He loves me, He just doesn't like my behavior much lately.

Clearly my opinion regarding His love was based on my feelings which I know to be deceptive.

The final challenge was extremely powerful for me. I believe in the gospel hence I believe in His word. He says He loves me. I heard a thought to read all the verses demonstrating God's love in the bible. I did so later that day and was surrounded by a sense of peace and comfort as I did so.

You know He does love me and He loves you to. Do you know His love.

PRAISE YOUR HOLY NAME FATHER.

Thank you for loving me

Thank you for not giving up on me

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16

Amen

EXTRORDINARY!

Well long time no write...

I have spent some time out in the dark fighting demons and other characters of satan's creation. Mostly I have been fighting myself...for months. It has been a dark time with moments of bright light. Enough light to not lose hope but more darkness than I ever wanted to experience ever. Despite being lost I soldiered on fighting, winning some battles, losing others, caring for Gods people, falling into pits of selfishness. Will the battle ever abate Father? Will you help me? Will you deliver me from this swamp of despair? His answer was certainly unexpected.

I discovered with clarity God's love for me, my desire to please him and my desire to serve him.

This discovery came from the most unlikely source. A book.

This past weekend a new dear friend Pastor Gary Hornsby of The Rivers Edge hosted a leadership conference at my church. The keynote speaker at the conference was a guy named John Bevere. I knew of John because my small group is studying one of his curriculum on Drawing Near to God. Funny though I fall asleep during every video segment of this study. ATTACK ATTACK the darkness not wanting me to see something, I should have known.

I struggled through the first several hours of the conference feeling I had little right, desire, motivation, whatever to be there. Despite this a voice in the back of my head reminded me of the need to fight through where I was and worship the Lord anyway. I did and spent the entire time of worship in repentance. Alternating between worship and despair. God won.

After some preliminaries John began to speak. I have to admit my expectations were low after all I could not stay awake during video segments of this guy, how would I do with him live for two hours after an intense 60 hour work week. Man was I wrong. John talked about his new book Extraordinary: The Life You're Meant to Live . By the time he was done for the evening I was hooked.

The following afternoon John retook the stage and continued to explain how we as Christians are not called to mediocrity but to the Extraordinary. So I bought his book and decided to read it with new eyes, remember the old post? I want to read this book with the eyes of my heart.

So in this series of posts I will chronicle chapter by chapter what my journey through this book is. You see I am only a few chapters in and already I can see that God desperately wanted me to read this book. My journey need not be so dark, he has offered me a light to guide my path and I want to share the journey with you.

'The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

Zep 3:17

PRAISE BE HIS HOLY NAME

AMEN