Be Perfect?

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:48

We just got back from Winter Retreat yesterday. What an awesome time! It was great to get out of the city, breathe some mountain air and be reminded that there really are stars in the sky. It was a ton of fun hanging out together, and the services were filled with amazing times of worship and insight from God's Word. I took away a lot from our speaker, Eli Gautreau's messages, but one thing really hit me. In his last message on Sunday morning, Eli unpacked Jesus' words about being perfect.

When I hear Jesus say be perfect, the first thing that comes to my mind is "Impossible!" Eli helped us all to understand that Jesus is addressing our intentions. We've all tried and failed at changing our actions. The problem is that we haven't allowed the change to go deep enough. When we allow Jesus access to our hearts, our core convictions, we can see our intention change. When our intention is for following Jesus in everything we do, we'll find ourselves becoming more like him in thought and action.

So where are your intentions directed? Have you allowed Jesus access to your heart? How do we do this? Maybe you need to find a quiet place to pray and reflect on where your life is oriented. Another great way is to immerse yourself in the wisdom of the Bible and allow it to speak to where you live. Don't forget about the help that comes from fellow believers. Grab some coffee (if that's your thing) with a fellow Christ-follower and talk about what God is doing in your life. Whatever you do, open yourself up to Jesus. It's the only way to find the transformation we're looking for.

Change Your Routine

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland

Isaiah 43:19

We can get stuck in a rut spiritually. Sometimes the way we used to connect with God for years feels stale or just isn't working. While there can be a number of reasons for this, sometimes it as simple as changing things up. Maybe you need to find a new way or place to pray. Maybe you need to invest in a good book to help you jumpstart your stalled devotional life. Maybe it's as simple as just doing it. Are you in a rut? Invest sometime in discovering a new way to relate to God. It will be the best thing you do all week.

A great way to reconnect is by getting away. This Friday is the Fall Retreat. We still have room for you. If you'd like to come, just send me an email. It may just change your life.

As always, look below for more upcoming events and I'll see you on campus.