3 John is a one-chapter book with just 14 verses but it’s packed with an awesome comparison of the lives of two different men. One, lives the truth of the Gospel out in love; the other lives for himself. Let’s read about these two men and as you do keep asking yourself the question: “Which of these men am I most like?”

Don’t ask, “Which of these men do I wish I was more like” or “Which of these men would I most like to be like,” but look hard and fast at the daily actions of your life. Your daily actions will reveal whether you are more like Gaius or Diotrophes.

Do Good

As a young man in Bible college, I remember being struck by the idea that God wanted me to love Him and serve Him out of this deeply devoted response to His goodness in my life. In other words, I was just supposed to serve Him without the need to be motivated by anything but Him. I thought mature Christians just didn’t need any external help.

It’s hard to serve people when we don’t really know them. It’s one thing to offer a meal to a homeless man, it’s another thing entirely to engage him in conversation and seek to understand his needs beyond food. But when we know someone, when we get to understand his or her plight, it becomes a whole lot easier to serve them.

If you had to take the concept of “Knowing God” and explain it practically, how would you do that? I don’t mean the theology behind salvation (which is important, but not for this particular post), I’m talking about the practical outflow of that salvation. What does it mean for my life, that I know God?

And do not forget to do good, and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased — Hebrews 13:16

Are you faithful?

I help run a massive sports ministry in our church. We work hard with over 200 families in our community to provide an awesome sports experience while using this opportunity to present the Gospel to over 300 participants. It’s pretty amazing.

It’s also pretty maddening at times! Frustrated parents seem to always find time to vent, while those who are having a great experience rarely take a moment to send along a note of thanks. Even though I have an army of volunteers who are working countless hours to selflessly serve, it seems that few people ever notice.

Each one should use whatever gifts he has to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms — 1 Peter 4:10

When my wife and I were first married and living in the Seattle area, we joined a local health club that had gyms near our apartment and near our church. This pretty much took away all of our excuses for not be able to hit the gym…although we still tried.

After several weeks of working out, I finally decided it was time to meet with a personal trainer and up my game a bit. I made an appointment and sat down with a young man whose body looked like it had literally been cut from a rock. He didn’t have a six pack, he had a 12 pack with a couple of extra muscle groups floating around his abs. He was lean, ripped and probably had about .00023% body fat.

We talked about Brandon Heath’s song yesterday and it’s powerful message: If we’d just put on Jesus’ eyes for a moment, we’d see so many people and needs that we could help. So often I cruise through life and hardly notice the ways in which I could meet the needs God has put before us. I miss the chances to just do good to people in need.

I love the Brandon Heath song, “Give me your Eyes” and Josh Wilson’s song, “I Refuse” that both speak of the need for Christians to see people the way God does, and then to do something about it! Too many believers live in the comfort of their homes and church walls missing the incredible opportunities God has given us every day at work, school, in our neighborhoods or on our clubs and sports teams.

Too often, we’re like this:

My family and I (Joe) just returned from an incredible trip to South Africa. We were gone 18 days and had a truly life-changing experience. I had been given the chance to share in ministry to students there by speaking at Summer camp (their Summer is our Winter here in the Northern Hemisphere). We took an extra week to visit several ministry sites in SA including an orphanage, an AIDS hospice care program as well as several others.

The last couple of days we’ve been talking about doing just “one thing” to make a difference in the spiritual environment around you. It doesn’t take much, but just one intentional, deliberate act of kindness, mercy, service and love could change everything for one person.

Who energizes you?

Galtians, 48 of 66

Warning:  You’re about to see a picture of Joe from high school.  Your “Jealous-o-meter” may go through the roof.

You’ve been warned.

Luke, 42 of 66

In I Peter 4:7-11 we come across another one of those ‘since/then’ statements.  One of the bible writers tells us that ‘since’ one thing is true, ‘then’ we are to act a certain way.  In 1 Peter four, Peter reminds us that “the end is near” and he follows this with several key commands.  One of them is the command to keep using our gifts to serve others:

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.  Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.  Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Welcome to day 5 of Tension.  We are so proud of you for hanging in there and fighting through the tensions of this life that all of us live in.  Some have maybe hit home for you more than others, but all of them are important to look at.  Keep fighting to live OUT OF BALANCE for God and watch the amazing things He will do through you!  You are on the right path and you are not alone!  Keep up the great work — Danny & Joe