Saved: How?

Okay...so over the past two weeks now we've been talking about the term "SAVED." We hear it all the time in church in various ways...."You need to get saved." "Jesus saves." "Are you saved?" We hear this term a lot. But do we fully understand what it means? 

We've previously discussed why we need to be saved (Because we sin), and what we're saved from (ourselves). Last week we talked about what saves us. So...what saves us? Exactly! GRACE. Ephesians 2:8 tells us, "For you have been saved by GRACE..." 

Our question this week is a little bit more difficult...I guess. So prepare yourselves.

HOW ARE WE SAVED?

Yeah...I got chills too :)

SAVED: FROM WHAT?

Two questions:

1) Why do we need to be saved?

2) What do we need to be saved from?

Fast Food Christianity

 So...I went to lunch on Wednesday. And normally I go to this little Mexican, dine-in place called Jalapeños. Well this Wednesday, I went to Burger King instead. As I sat in that fine establishment eating my Tendercrisp, eyeing my fries, and sipping a diet-coke I realized something....I absolutely love fast-food joints. They are totally awesome! Three things in particular jumped out at me about them that I love. 

1. They are convenient--they're always there when I need them. Whenever I'm hungry they're there to give me that Double Whopper w/ cheese that I need to satisfy my gluttoness heart...or stomach. Some McDonald's are now open 24 hours. CONVENIENT!!

2. They're cheap. Dollar menus...value meals...its awesome. I can go to McD's and get three double cheeseburgers for $3.75. I can get burger, fries, and drink for $5. Doesn't cost me much and I get my fill. CHEAP!!

3. They're fast. I know, I know...FAST FOOD. Obvious but awesome. I go in...I get what I need...and I get out. No waiting...just tell them what I want...30 seconds in the microwave...and boom!...I'm outta there. FAST!!

The problem is that I think we sometimes tend to treat Christianity in this manner. We only go to it when its convenient--when we need something, we don't give up anything to follow Jesus--not willing to stop bad habits or sacrifice for the sake of Christ, and when we do go to church or to God in prayer...we go long enough to get what we need and then we get out. 

This is obviously wrong. God is not a number on a value meal sign...so why do we so often treat Him like He is?

Living Christmas

It is real easy around this time of the year to get caught up in something we all love and adore very very much...ourselves. I'm not going to lie...I absolutely love Christmas. For a number of reasons. But one of my most favorite moments of Christmas is when I'm sitting in front of the tree on Christmas morning, there is a soft blend of Christmas music and coffee in the air, my parents are sitting down with the "just-woke-up" look on their face, and ALL EYES ARE ON ME as I open MY PRESENTS. That is a truly great moment.

As bad as that sounds...it is sometimes true. Okay, it was definitely true of me when I was younger. But now that I actually have money to buy other people presents, I realize that there is something more fun than opening up presents on Christmas morning...looking at the face of someone open a present that you bought them. There is like this great adrenaline rush as the tear off the Christmas tree wrapping paper and open the box to find....yeah. That's a great moment. And very fun. (Especially if they really like what you got them. Even if they don't its still fun because you get to watch them fake excitement and appreciation...that's fun too.)

But it is real easy to make Christmas all about us and what we want. But really...the Christmas season is all about others. This is exemplified to us from none other than Jesus Himself. The Bible tells us, 

"Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of Himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of Himself that He had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, He set aside the privileges of deity and took the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, He stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, He lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death--and the worst kind of death at that--a crucifixion."

Jesus modeled "living Christmas" for us. it is all about putting others first. Its like we've been asked...so I challenge you still...

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO MAKE SOMEBODY ELSE'S CHRISTMAS SPECIAL?

Relational Issues: Caught Up in the Past

Last night someone shared that one of their hindrances in their relationship with God was their past. The more I think about this I can totally see how a person's past could greatly hinder the future of their relationship with God.

So often we allow past experiences to dictate our present. And this is not always a bad thing. It is good to look to the past as a tool for learning. For instance, we learn from our mistakes. We learn from having burned our hand on the stove that maybe we shouldn't touch it when it's hot. We learn from a friend being killed by a drunk driver that maybe it isn't such a good idea to drink and drive...or drink alcohol period for that matter. 

But what about when thinking about our past actually hinders us from moving forward? When focusing on our past keeps us from moving forward in our lives and our relationships with God?

It's like this...when you are walking...normally you look in the direction you are going. If you do look around it is only for a moment and then you look forward again. If I were to try and walk through the mall looking behind me while walking forward...it wouldn't be too long before I tripped and smashed my face or ran into some old lady causing her to fall into some old man who then falls into another person who then falls into one of those fountains that everyone throws the coins in. (That's a bit exaggerated but you get the point). We are most effective at walking forward when we are actually looking forward. The same is true in our relationship with God.

We will most effectively move forward in our relationship with God when we are actually looking forward to Him...not behind us into our guilt ridden past. We cannot allow past mistakes to keep us from moving closer into the arms of God. Once you ask for forgiveness...know that you really are. The Bible says that "If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)." 

Proverbs 4:25 says "Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you." Don't try to move forward in your relationship with God while looking back at all your past mistakes, mess-ups, and heartaches. Instead, look straight ahead into the heart of God and see His great love for you. Put your trust in Him and take your first steps forward.

Relational Issues

How incredibly stupid would be for a married couple who is having trouble with their marriage to consult a marriage counselor, understand what the hindrances in their relationship is, being told how to eliminate those hindrances, yet leaving and doing nothing to fix the relationship?

That would be totally stupid right?

We say so...but in reality we do the same thing all the time when it comes to our relationship with God. Our relationship with God is the single most important relationship of our lives...yet it often gets the least amount of our attention. Why is this? Why is it that we sit in sermons and have some guy or girl tell us what we need to do...yet leave and never do it?

I can't answer that question for you. I imagine each individual has their own reason. But what if instead of ignoring our relationship with God...we actually took the time to cultivate it. What if...instead of ignoring the hindrances in our relationship with God...we actually took the time to work through them...with God? Imagine the implications this could have on your life.

Take some time and seriously consider these questions:

1) What are the top five things that hinder your relationship with God?

2) What are some practical things can you do to overcome or get rid of these things that are hurting your relationship with God?