I had a conversation with a good friend of mine last week that was so refreshing.  He had been thinking about the message series on relationships, and specifically considering what it takes to become the spiritual leader of his home.  Here’s someone who doesn’t just walk away from a message and think, “Okay, that was fun,” and never thinks about it again.  He genuinely listens to what God may be telling him, and actually tries to put it into practice.

I’m afraid that it is just too easy for us to feel a conviction from God, and then do nothing to back up what God is saying to us.  And what’s worse is that after ignoring God’s commands for a while, sometimes we may not hear anything new from Him, and we wonder, “God, where are You?  Why don’t you speak to me?”

In the New Testament book of James, the writer says,  ²²Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

In the message Sunday, I spoke about four responsibilities that we share in being on Jesus’ Team. I’ll list the four below, but you can get a better description and videos that will help you understand more at www.teamchurch.com/our-values.

• Love One Another
• Serve the Church
• Give to God through the Church
• Share Jesus with Others

Now, it would be easy to have heard this message, pumped your fist, and said, “Yep, we’ve got to love more, and serve others… oh and what were the other two???”  You could definitely spend this week making no change at all …BUT what if you were like my friend, and asked, “How, can I do those things that you said were like the most basic responsibilities of every believer?” Ask yourself some tough questions, like taking a hard look in the mirror, and make some changes.  After all it’s what God has been asking you to do.

• Do I really know what it is to love my co-workers?  How do I show love when I am so frustrated by them?  Am I afraid to love because I may not get love in return?
• I know there are people worse off than me, but why don’t I serve them?  I want others to support me when I need help, but I haven’t helped others that much lately.
• When it comes to giving, do I really trust God to provide what I need…or maybe I’m afraid He wants to whittle me down to only my needs.  I know my money is a huge worry to me, and at the same time I’m guilty that I don’t give more.  What am I supposed to do?
• Am I anyone special to talk to someone about Jesus?  Won’t they laugh?  Won’t I feel ashamed?  But if God opens up an opportunity and is asking me to say something, isn’t this just a question of will I do what He says or not?