Understand this "You are complete in Christ"

In the movie, Jerry McGuire, we have the now famous line, "You complete me." (Holding back my tears...come on David; be strong). It is the dream of all romantics to find that person that completes them, but is that what Scripture tells us completeness actually is?

In Matthew 5:48 we find Jesus preaching on a mountain side and he says this curious and difficult phrase, "Be perfect for you Father in heaven is perfect." The Greek word is "teleios" and is better translated "having reached it's end" or "complete." In other words, perfect is not as good a translation as complete. Understand that through Jesus Christ we are made complete as the Father is complete (or whole to put it another way). That is why money, or fame, or material wealth, or love, or addicitve behaviors never really end that search for completeness. People, things, and lifestyles don't complete us...Jesus Christ does.

In the word "teleios" we find the root word "telos" from which it is formed. Telos means the end. As when the disciples asked Jesus to tell them about the end (the telos) of all things. Our completeness has reached its end in Jesus. We don't have to go searching anymore. We don't have to go winning God's approval. We are made complete in him.

What have you been using or seeking to find completeness? Love, material goods, addictive behaviors, trying to find new ways or ministries to please God? My suggestion for you is to meditate on Matthew 5:48. Then refelct on the newfound completeness you have in Jesus Christ. Or at least think about it...

Recommended Blog: Swerve

I have been reading Swerve, the blog of Lifechurch.tv’s Craig Groeschel, for over a year now. I highly recommend the blog to you. Although Craig is the main contributor others, like Bobby Gruenewald are frequent contributors. Swerve also showcases many other guest blogs to increase the reader base of a network of next generation leaders who blog. Here is today’s Swerve to give you a taste:

LifeChurch.tv : swerve
Who I’ll Never Be (by Craig Groeschel)
Posted: 14 Aug 2008 05:48 AM CDT

I’ll never be as a great a leader as Bill Hybels.

I’ll never be as deep as John Piper.

I’ll never be as smart as Mark Driscoll.

I’ll never be as creative as Ed Young.

I’ll never be as passionate as Steven Furtick.

I’ll never be as funny as Perry Noble.

I’ll never write like Erwin McManus.

I’ll never preach on one point as amazingly as Andy Stanley.

I’ll never have as big of arms as Bishop Eddie Long.

I’ll never be as Purpose Driven as Rick Warren.

I’ll never be as positive as Joel Osteen.

Thankfully, I’m not called by God to be any of those people!
And neither are you!

Although I can’t be them, God has created me with the ability to:

§ Cast a compelling vision and move people radically toward Christ.
§ Recognize talent and gifts in people most overlook.
§ Reach people for Christ who are far from God.

What are the top three gifts/talents/abilities God has given you?

All I can say is that's something to really think about!

Cardboard Testimonies

I have come across a video from a church service (www.hillsidewired.com) called "Cardboard Testimonies." Each time I watch this video, I am moved. I will let the video speak for itself, then you can stop and think about it!

I have attached the video to this blog. It is titled, Cardboard Testimonies. Watch at your own risk...

Fight the System!

Fight the system. What system? The idea that an individualism that results from a society that is consumeristic is normal. That in some way this is the way of life. To acquire more, to work longer, to slowly drive yourself deeper into isolation. This is not God's plan for humanity and it sure is not God's plan for your life.

Peter, one of Jesus' most interesting disciples, had in many ways bought into the ideas of his time. He was loud, outspoken and rough around the edges. When Peter proclaimed Jesus as Messiah, he was praised...and just a short time later had the major slap to the face as Jesus comapres him to Satan because of his quick-to-pop-off mouth. Jesus was continually working with Peter to understand the thoughts and plans of this world are vastly different than the plans and ways God has for the world.

Peter thought Jesus had come to fight the domination system of their day, the Romans. Jesus would be the King David-style king who would put Israel back on the map. Peter's thinking was like the rest of his people. It was about him, about them; it was about national pride and power. Are we so different today? We want God to bless our lives or our ministies over anothers. Why don't we celebrate more the victories of others; even the victories that look totally different then what we imagine and are accomplished in different ways then we understand...or accept.

We must fight the ever increasing temptation to become individualistic. We must be careful when Jesus speaks to us to not pop off with our own ideas. Could Jesus is saying to us today, "Get behind me Satan?" Maybe we should approach Jesus in a more thoughtful and open-hearted manner. I believe when we do this we leave the arena of individualistic thinking...and move to communal thinking. God is known for doing 180s in our thinking; if we allow him.

Peter had that 180 moment on the day of Pentecost. And it stuck with him for quite a while. Later in his life we read his words to the church in 1 Peter 2:10. "Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." Peter learned that through Christ's death on a cross and his raising from the dead, he was creating a community of like-minded followers. A community of grace, mercy, and love. Peter writes this to the church in his day as a way of saying, "Fight the system!" Once you were not a people, you were lost individuals wondering aimlessly...and now you are a people, a community, that God is purposing to bring about change in this world.

We are still that church, that community, called out of the individualistic mindset into a communal one. A community of God's mercy and grace.

What are you doing today to fight the system?

Has it snuck back into your life and you need to refocus?

What steps can you take to move yourself more in line with God's communal purposes?

Think about it.