Are You Free To Love?

I was watching an awesome DVD series on Marriage yesterday by Andy Stanley called I-Marriage.
In it Andy taught something so profound I just had to share it with you.

Andy was talking on how we have desires before we get married (maybe to own a nice home, who will do what around the house, etc.). The problem is that somewhere along the way these desires become expectations.

When we have expectations on others... we are in a debtor - debtee relationship.
By performing such acts as housework, working at the job, etc. we are merely paying the 'debt' of expectation that we owe to the person. We get a 0 balance. But when the expectation is not there (although the desire for it will still be) when we perform that action it is out of love. We score a 10!

How do we know when we have slipped from desire to expectation?
When we are no longer thankful (why would you be thankful for what you thought was owed to you?!).

Luk 17:11-19 MSG
(11) It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee.
(12) As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance
(13) but raised their voices, calling out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"
(14) Taking a good look at them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." They went, and while still on their way, became clean.
(15) One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God.
(16) He kneeled at Jesus' feet, so grateful. He couldn't thank him enough--and he was a Samaritan.
(17) Jesus said, "Were not ten healed? Where are the nine?
(18) Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?"
(19) Then he said to him, "Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you."

How often are we like these 9 lepers... thankless. We take God's great gifts of Grace for granted... 'God owes us' after all.
And so we kill the Love that the Father wishes to lavish upon us!

Perhaps it is for this reason that we are told that it is God's will for us to be thankful...

1Th 5:18 ESV
(18) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

I look forward to your comments : )

Doing God's Will

Knowing God's will for your life is all the rage now days... we all want to know what next steps God wants us to take as we journey through life... (and so we wait... and wait... and wait).

But how much does the Bible really talk about us 'waiting' on His will.
For example, Paul on his 2nd missionary journey in Acts 16 seems to more just forge a path, and if God doesn't open doors... then he tries else where.

There is far more in the Bible about God's revealed will... yet thats not such a hot topic. But we qualify ourselves for the specifics by following the general I believe.
So what is God's revealed will for all of us? I believe that there are 4 things that God wills of each of us:

1) To be sanctified (ie. that we live according to God's standard... esp sexually).
Check out 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 & 1 Peter 2:15.

2) To be joyful always through continual prayer and thanksgiving.
Check out 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

3) That we be (daily) filled with the Holy Spirit.
Check out Ephesians 5:17 - 18

4) That all are saved (and therefore that I invest my life in sharing Jesus with others).
Check out Matthew 18:14 & 2 Peter 3:9

I have by no means made a comprehensive study on God's will... but I think what I have looked at thus far is worth thinking about.

Some questions for you to ponder:

• How often in your life has God directly revealed to you what 'step' you must take next? (what could that mean in the light of our discussion?)
  
• Do you think that God wants to lead your every step, or should we be taking initiative and looking for God's guidance as we move?
• What Biblical evidence do you have to support your thoughts?
• Why do you think that God chose these 4 things to be such a high priority for each of our lives?
• Aren't these 4 our biggest struggles generally?

I would love to hear your ponderings...