God's Man | Nighttime Musings - Questions

I was sitting here NOT SLEEPING and into my mind pops this quote from the Matrix,

I know why you're here, Neo. I know what you've been doing... why you hardly sleep, why you live alone, and why night after night, you sit by your computer. You're looking for him. I know because I was once looking for the same thing. And when he found me, he told me I wasn't really looking for him. I was looking for an answer. It's the question that drives us, Neo. It's the question that brought you here. You know the question, just as I did.

During the last Men of Zebulun meeting, my churches men's group, I shared about how powerful questions are. They can either build up a belief system or tear it down. Early in the Bible Satan used questions to challenge the belief system of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-5 Message),

The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal God had made. He spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?"

The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'"

The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil."

Satan knew that he wouldn't be able to attack their belief in what God had said directly. He started the discourse with a question, "Did God really say..." This allowed the conversation dwell on a topic that didn't need additional discussion. God said should be the end of it but by focusing on it the trap had been set. Adam and Eve, notice I put Adam in there too, spent time on a subject that had been closed by God and succumbed to temptation.

In the Matthew Jesus uses words to challenge, inspire and motivate. (Matthew 5:43-47; 6:25-26 Message)

Power in Prayer

Jesus was matter-of-fact: "Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, 'Go jump in the lake'—no shuffling or shilly-shallying—and it's as good as done. That's why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you'll get God's everything. And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it's not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive—only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins."

Get Busy Loving Everyone

"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

Why Worry

"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

This morning I ask you to use your words to create a vision for you and your family. Here are some questions that will help to trigger your thinking. Have a great week.

When you dream, how grand is the vision you create? If you had NO LIMITS, what would you envision for yourself and your family? What really big and meaningful dream would you like to visualize achieving next?

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