A Note of Encouragement

from Ciloa

It is impossible to follow Jesus
if you're standing still.

I Want To Live Like That

Volume XVI, Issue 26

June 27, 2016

I'm a certified--Ooh, what's that do?--gadget person. Even if I have no use for them, they call to me. If there's a button that makes all my tires explode, I'd probably want it. Many of us want stuff. But be careful. The desire of things can dominate our lives and define who we are.

A program once aired about famous people. They had luxury cars and private jets, huge mansions and glimmering pools. Attendants awaited their beck and call. With eyes toward the extravagant, they were beyond wealthy. And many thought, "I want to live like that."

Yet a problem often comes with such a wish. Our want grows into longing, longing transforms into need, need evolves into a goal, and a goal becomes a singular focus, until finally that focus is the sole purpose of life. What once merely caught our eye is now all we see.

Jesus once told His ragtag band, Follow me.¹ And over the next few years, He changed their focus---Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, and all your strength.²

He showed them how to express their love for God---Love your neighbor as yourself and love one another.³ Then He described how far this reached---Regard no one as worthless. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Be perfect. Forgive.⁴

And He explained the impact that such love would have for the entire world---By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.⁵

It's all about people. Not cars or jets, houses or pools, attendants or gadgets. People. You, me, and everyone around us. We have been called to a different life...to carry the light of the world.

I cannot care for those in need when my heart has grown so cold,

Nor think upon such excellent things when my mind longs only for gold.

I cannot shine that holy lamp when my soul has refused the light,

Nor lift one up who's all alone when my strength has lost its might.

I cannot love my neighbors near when my deeds are for all to see,

And I cannot...will not...be a child of God when my eyes are filled with me.

When it comes to our blessings, if all we do is tell God, "Thanks," then we've learned nothing. We must use our blessings to redefine our lives in acts of love. Reaching out. Never holding back. So others will see, praise our Heavenly Father, and say...I want to live like that!

Sometimes I think,

"What will people say of me,


	Live Like That...by Sidewalk Prophets

When I'm only just a memory,

When I'm home where my soul belongs."

Was I love

When no one else would show up,
Was I Jesus to the least of us,
Was my worship more than just a song?

I want to live like that and give it all I have
So that everything I say and do points to You

If love is who I am, then this is where I'll stand,
Recklessly abandoned, never holding back

I want to live like that!6

Take care & be God's,

Chuck

¹Matthew 4:19; 9:9, 10:38, 16:24; John 1:43, 12:26, 21:19-22

² Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30

³ Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31a

⁴ John 13:34

⁵ Matthew 5:23, 44, 48, 6:14-15

⁶ Live Like That by Ben Glover, Ben McDonald, David Frey, David Douglas Frey

Performed by Sidewalk Prophets, 2012-Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

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