They Wanted It More
Title: They Wanted It More
Subject: Desire; Enthusiasm
They Wanted It More
Volume VI Issue 43
10/23/2006
May God bless you this day ... to want it more!
Recently I read an article about a game in which the home team had suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of a lesser opponent. While several offered their wisdom as to why this tragic event had occurred, one player uttered those seven little words every coach hates to hear.
"They wanted it more than we did."
He wasn't impressed with the abilities of the other team. He didn't point out any superior strategy or blame the officials. Instead, he placed the entire result on one thing: desire. And with those few words he had condemned his team. They wanted it more than we did. They fought harder, took it more seriously, cared more. It did not mean as much to us. For him, they had not been beaten. They had failed!
As I look at the state of Christianity today, those same words ring loudly in my ears. I'm not referring to churches, ministries and Christian organizations. I'm talking about individuals...the men and women who claim to be Christian. What team are they on? Can anyone tell? Ask yourself...
Do I truly follow Jesus? Do I live the way He commands? Do I walk the way that He walked? Do I stand for the things that He stands for? Do I search His words, share with His heart, and listen to His counsel to find out what I should do or say? Do I want to be different from the world?
I have little patience with those who put on others their own standards of what it means to be a Christian. The number of people you witnessed to today, how many times you were at church this week, the number you've led to Christ this month, how large your church is, how large your bank account is...all of it is nonsense and anyone who tells you different is a false teacher. Only one thing matters.
Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:5-6
I am the way. Walk with me! I am the truth. Believe what I say! I am the life. Live as I've shown you!
This is what it means to be a Christian and it doesn't get any simpler. When we walk with Him, believe what He says, and live as He has shown us, then others experience Christ in our lives. God works through us to reach, love and encourage those around us. Christian living takes on renewed strength and direction because we realize these lives are no longer ours ...they are His !
In our recent Directors' meetings we've had to deal with much of this as well, especially the feelings of complacency that come when we think, We're a small organization and so what if people think this is a Chuck thing , we're doing enough. But we've discovered something. We're not satisfied!
We're not satisfied that more Christians are lonely, depressed and hurting, and Ciloa is not reaching them. We're not satisfied that the messages God has given us for these Notes, books, and seminars are not getting to more of the Body of Christ to help it become stronger. We're not satisfied that the uplifting things we and others have learned in life are not being shared more. We're not satisfied that each Christian does not yet understand that this ministry is also his and hers.
The bottom line is that sometimes we have not kept our eyes as closely on God as we should. Sometimes we, too, get caught up in a program, a plan, or an effort. Sometimes we get satisfied with where we are. Then we sit back, look at our lack of progress and ask, What went wrong? It's time to refocus.
As people seek meaning in their lives, false teachers in this world welcome them with open arms. Will we be a true witness of God, or will we look at those teachers and say, They wanted it more than we did?
O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel , keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. 1 Chronicles 29:18
Take care and be God's,
Chuck
Ciloa ... Encouraging one another as long as it is called Today!
Ciloa is a registered trademark of Ciloa, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
A Note of Encouragement is a copyright interest held by Ciloa, Inc.
Volume VI Issue 43
10/23/2006
May God bless you this day ... to want it more!
Recently I read an article about a game in which the home team had suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of a lesser opponent. While several offered their wisdom as to why this tragic event had occurred, one player uttered those seven little words every coach hates to hear.
"They wanted it more than we did."
He wasn't impressed with the abilities of the other team. He didn't point out any superior strategy or blame the officials. Instead, he placed the entire result on one thing: desire. And with those few words he had condemned his team. They wanted it more than we did. They fought harder, took it more seriously, cared more. It did not mean as much to us. For him, they had not been beaten. They had failed!
As I look at the state of Christianity today, those same words ring loudly in my ears. I'm not referring to churches, ministries and Christian organizations. I'm talking about individuals...the men and women who claim to be Christian. What team are they on? Can anyone tell? Ask yourself...
Do I truly follow Jesus? Do I live the way He commands? Do I walk the way that He walked? Do I stand for the things that He stands for? Do I search His words, share with His heart, and listen to His counsel to find out what I should do or say? Do I want to be different from the world?
I have little patience with those who put on others their own standards of what it means to be a Christian. The number of people you witnessed to today, how many times you were at church this week, the number you've led to Christ this month, how large your church is, how large your bank account is...all of it is nonsense and anyone who tells you different is a false teacher. Only one thing matters.
Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:5-6
I am the way. Walk with me! I am the truth. Believe what I say! I am the life. Live as I've shown you!
This is what it means to be a Christian and it doesn't get any simpler. When we walk with Him, believe what He says, and live as He has shown us, then others experience Christ in our lives. God works through us to reach, love and encourage those around us. Christian living takes on renewed strength and direction because we realize these lives are no longer ours ...they are His !
In our recent Directors' meetings we've had to deal with much of this as well, especially the feelings of complacency that come when we think, We're a small organization and so what if people think this is a Chuck thing , we're doing enough. But we've discovered something. We're not satisfied!
We're not satisfied that more Christians are lonely, depressed and hurting, and Ciloa is not reaching them. We're not satisfied that the messages God has given us for these Notes, books, and seminars are not getting to more of the Body of Christ to help it become stronger. We're not satisfied that the uplifting things we and others have learned in life are not being shared more. We're not satisfied that each Christian does not yet understand that this ministry is also his and hers.
The bottom line is that sometimes we have not kept our eyes as closely on God as we should. Sometimes we, too, get caught up in a program, a plan, or an effort. Sometimes we get satisfied with where we are. Then we sit back, look at our lack of progress and ask, What went wrong? It's time to refocus.
As people seek meaning in their lives, false teachers in this world welcome them with open arms. Will we be a true witness of God, or will we look at those teachers and say, They wanted it more than we did?
O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel , keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. 1 Chronicles 29:18
Take care and be God's,
Chuck
Ciloa ... Encouraging one another as long as it is called Today!
Ciloa is a registered trademark of Ciloa, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
A Note of Encouragement is a copyright interest held by Ciloa, Inc.