Here’s a Resolution

So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Tend My lambs.’ He said to him again a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Shepherd My sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend My sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.’ Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me!’

Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, ‘Lord, who is the one who betrays You?’ So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, ‘Lord, and what about this man?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!’” John 21:15-22       

Someone said, “The trouble with turning over a new leaf is that once you’ve done it twice, you’re right back where you started..” There’s a big difference between turning over an new leaf and turning over your life to Jesus Christ.

Twice in our passage Jesus said to Peter, “Follow Me!” We have too many Christians who want the blessings but no the responsibilities. The gifts but not the goals. The comforts but not the commitment!

You want to make a New Year’s resolution? Make up your mind that by the grace of God your going to be a follower of Jesus Christ! Walk the talk, live the life, and be all you can be for the glory of God.
This year -
1. Have a daily quiet time.
2. Spend time in prayer.
3. Get involved in church.
4. Invite your friends to church.           
5. Be a witness for Christ.
6. Invest your time, talents, and money.
7. Enjoy your relationship with Christ.

Don’t be a hearer of the Word, be a doer - and you will be blessed!

Happy New Year!

Worship with Thanksgiving

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning
And Your faithfulness by night,
With the ten-stringed lute and with the harp,
With resounding music upon the lyre.
For You, O Lord, have made me glad by what You have done,
I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.
How great are Your works, O Lord!
Your thoughts are very deep.” Psalm 92:1-5

Some who are musically inclined are able to worship God as the Psalmist describes. Through the expression of thought in a musical setting, they are able to beautifully communicate a deep sense of worship, praise, and adoration to God. Others who are gifted with different talents express those same emotions, feelings, or impulses through the medium in which they have been gifted by God. Have you every considered that each one of the senses is open to motivate us to uniquely express praise and worship? They are.

The ears are receptive to the presence of music or speech. The eyes are receptive to artwork, to nature, and to visual expressions of praise. The sense of smell triggers memories and emotional responses to a far greater decree than any other sensory organ. Temple worship was incomplete without the burning of a special incense (made to a unique, unrecorded God-given recipe). The sense of taste can also find its place in worship as thankfully we partake of God’s provision. How thankful we are too for the ability to touch and feel the world around us.

All of our perceptive organs continually tell us of God’s love and care, of His concern for mankind. Won’t you respond with true thanksgiving, worship, and praise?

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord
And to sing praises to Your name...” Psalm 92:1

Life’s Supreme Goal

“Although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:4-14

When reading this passage, it is hard not to get caught up in Paul’s delight in reflecting on the great change, the transformation of his life. His past, deeply rooted in his position as a Pharisee; his present, a man who suffered much for the sake of Jesus Christ. Paul was a man who knew and understood much when it came to the grace and forgiveness of God. Paul was the bearer of liberating news to those who follow Christ, news of freedom from bondage and the inexpressible joy of knowing Christ.

Can we say the same? Do we have the same type of effervescent joy and purpose in life? Do we have a measurable goal, and objective into which we are pouring every ounce of effort, all our abilities? Can you state the goal of your life? Have you ever given it much thought, or are you basically living a day-to-day existence?

Paul said his goal was the upward call of God in his life. He fully expected to develop and become more Christlike every day. What is your expectation? What are you aiming for in life? Will it lead to godliness, or will it lead to self-centeredness? “I press on,” Paul said. “I’m going for it.” “I’m determined.” Are you? Set your goal to be Christlike. Then focus your expectations on achieving that goal day by day.

Be like Jesus all day long. I would be like Jesus!

And the Peace of God...

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

The problem: anxiety. How often are we accosted by anxious fears and concerns? It’s an everyday occurrence, common to all. Anxiety can (and often does) lead to great distress, rendering us unable to function to our God-given capacity.

The method: prayer. But don’t miss the adjectives which describe just what type of prayer this is: “Supplication” is including, and “with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God.” This is believing prayer.

The result: peace. Not just peace but God’s peace. Not just peace with God but the peace of God. The peace, we are told, “will guard you hearts and your minds.” That speaks of a stabilizing effect on our lives, our emotions. The heart is the center of our emotional makeup, and when the peace of God radiates its comforting light in our hearts, there is tranquility and peace on the inside of our lives.

Men seem to be caught up in getting to the top, making it big, pushing, achieving, doing. All this activity, struggle, and accompanying strife breed anxiety, fear, guilt, and frustration. Then men spend the rest of their time trying to find tranquility and peace. How tragic that the One Who offers real peace is most often cast aside as unable to meet that critical need when He alone can provide it.

“He hideth my life in the depths of His love and covers me there with His hand.”

They Made Known...

“And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.’

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, ‘Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.” Luke 2:13-18

Christmas means so many things to so many different, people. We must always remember - not everyone enjoys Christmas. Hence the following poem -

“Twas the day after Christmas,
When all through the place
There were arguments and depression -
Even mom had a long face.

The stockings hung empty
And the house was a mess;
The new clothes didn’t fit...
And dad was under stress.

The family was irritable,
And the children - no one could please;
Because the instructions for the swing set
Were written in Chinese!

The bells no longer jingled,
And no carolers came around;
The sink was stacked with dishes,
And the tree was turning brown.

The stores were full of people
Returning things that frizzled and failed,
And the shoppers were discouraged
Because everything they bought was now on half-price sale

Twas the day after Christmas
The spirit of joy had disappeared;
The only hope on the horizon
Was twelve bowl games the first day of the New Year!”
                                              - Charles Swindoll

Don’t be a Scrooge - Be someone who make known
the Good News!

Merry Christmas!

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.’” Matthew 2:1-2

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:10-11


May the Christmas gifts remind you of God’s Gift,
His only Begotten Son.

May the Christmas candles remind you of Him
Who is the “The Light of the World.”

May the Christmas tree remind you of another tree
upon which He hung for you.       

May the Christmas cheer remind you of Him
Who said, “Be of good cheer.”

May the Christmas feast remind you of Him
Who is “the Bread of Life.”

May the Christmas bell remind you of the
glorious proclamation of His birth.

May the Christmas carols remind you of the song
the angels sang, “Glory to God in the Highest.”

May the Christmas season remind you in every way
of Jesus Christ, your King.


Enjoy the day, your family and friends, and may you be blessed by the Lord!

The Christ Who Divides

“And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

‘Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,
According to Your word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
A Light of revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.’

And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.’” Luke 2:25-35

Christ divides as well as unites. We dare not lose sight of this fact. Isaiah the prophet predicted that the Messiah would become a stone of stumbling (8:14), and Simeon, holding the Christ Child in his arms, affirmed the truth in these words: “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel” (Luke 2:34).

Historically, the people of Israel stumbled over three aspect of Jesus.

First, “there was a division among the people because of” His birth. Hearing the claim of some that “this is the Christ,” and not being in possession of the full facts, some said, “Surely the Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is He? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” (John 7:41-42).

Second, “there was a division among” them because of His Person. When Jesus restored the sight of a blind man on the Sabbath, some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath day.” Others said, “How can a man that is sinner do such miracles?” Thus the people were divided as to His identity.

Third, “there was a division therefore again among the Jews” over His teaching. “I have power to lay it [My life] down, and I have power to take it again,” declared Jesus (see John 10:18-19). Hearing His remarkable claims, some said, “He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?” Once again there was division.

When the message of Jesus is presented, there is always division. Some accept; some reject. We should not be surprised by the fact, and we should not seek to compromise the message in order to lessen its divisive impact upon its hearers.

Make This a Winning Christmas Season

“While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’” Luke 2:6-11

Football season is winding down with the favorites winning their conference or league while other teams either surprised or disappointed their followers. The Baylor Bears surprised a lot of people and had the best season ever (10-1). They had a winning season. Several years ago an editorial in the Texas Baptist Standard suggested the way to have a winning Christmas season.

Keep Jesus First - There would be no Christmas season unless there was the Christ. The economy of our nation would suffer without the Christmas season. But the very soul of our nation will suffer without remembering the person of the occasion, Jesus Christ. We do not honor the birth of Jesus Christ by selfishness, drunkenness, indecency, and surrendering to sensuality. A winning Christmas season includes keeping Jesus first.

Thoughtful Worship - A winning Christmas season includes worship where we give ourselves to Christ and then give our gifts to Christ. Jesus is our King, Priest, and through His death, our Savior.

Gracious Receiver - Many lose in the Christmas season at the point of receiving. It is easier for some to give than receive. “I don’t care what I get for Christmas, just don’t give me anything that makes me blow my top,” wrote Hal Boyle. Gracious receiving leads to a winning Christmas season.

Rediscover Family - God sent His Son into a family and home. Christmas is a family time, and a winning Christmas season involves forgiving, ending estrangements, and repairing broken relationships. A winning Christmas season includes rediscovering the family.

Keep the Spirit - Sometimes we feel that Christmas is artificial. We take it all down and store it in a closet until the next year. The coming of Jesus was not intended to liven us up for a few days each year. He was not born to provide only temporary escape from the monotonous affairs of human life.

“It matters not whether you win or lose but how you play the game,” is the advice of a tired phrase. This is not true. It matters that we win in life, and it matters that we win in this Christmas season.

The Good News

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “‘But the righteous man shall live by faith.’” Romans 1:16-17

“Have you heard the latest?” How often has this question preceded the juiciest of stories concerning someone else’s life? Wouldn’t it be refreshing actually to hear some great news about someone instead of the latest defaming gossip?

There is some great news we can share which would set people’s minds on a whole different path That is the good news of the gospel. That is what the word gospel means: “good news.”

Let’s take a look at the difference between gossip and the gospel:
- Gossip is shared because it is interesting. The gospel is shared because of its utmost importance.       
- Gossip leads to the bondage of a habit while the gospel leads to freedom from bondage.
- Gossip is demoralizing while the gospel leads to righteousness.
- Gossip tends to be done in order to set one’s self above others while the gospel develops the heart of a servant.
- Gossip develops severity, harshness, the coldness toward others while the gospel develops compassion, humility, and genuine, warm concern for others.
- Gossip drives a person inward while the gospel draws one outward!

Make a habit of sharing the good news of the gospel of Jesus with others. It’s what they need to hear, want to hear, ought to hear.   

Plant a little gossip, and you will reap a harvest of regret.

Take Heed to the Ministry...

“Say to Archippus, ‘Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.’” Colossians 4:17

It has often been said that the highest calling a person can receive in life is the calling to carry God’s message of salvation, leading to righteousness for those who have not heard or who have not yet entered into that living relationship with Jesus Christ. In the words of a song, God is calling “faithful men” to serve Him and give their lives for the furtherance of the gospel. Has He called you?
       
Not everyone who is called responds in obedience and submission to the will of God. Some flatly reject God’s call as an inconvenience to their plans. They are not interested in God; they are interested foremost in self.

Those who do respond may fall into one of these three categories:

The rowboat response: This person must be pushed and prodded at regular intervals to keep going. They believe for only small things and are slow to accomplish anything.

The sailboat response: This one may make great headway but often in the wrong direction since they always go with the wind.

The steamboat response: This person has an inner power source, the Holy Spirit, Who provides not only movement but guidance, or direction, as well. Calm or storm, this one is doing his business - making headway, doing the Father’s will.

Reckon him a Christian indeed who is not ashamed of the gospel nor a shame to it.

Formula for Personal Growth

“Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:21-25

There are those whose imbalance in even good and necessary things lead to illness or tragedy. Over-eating or under-eating or exercising can cause all sorts of difficulties and result in various consequences. One who concentrates on a hobby or pursues a personal interest at the expense of family or friends soon finds themselves at a loss. So too a Christian, who focuses on developing one aspect of their life to the exclusion of another, may find their relationship with Christ to be diminished.

Beware of the good and necessary elements of life. Often they are the easiest to “over indulge” in. For instance, one who expends all energies on learning scriptural truths - yet does not seek for practical ways to apply that truth to their everyday life - may soon find that they are actually being counterproductive. So gaining truth alone is not a guarantee against spiritual barrenness.

That coin has another side. If you put all of your energies into practicing biblical principles but do not work at developing an intimate relationship with Christ Himself, you may quickly find an emptiness in your life, a diminished zeal, or a sensitivity to sin which has been quenched. Balance: be and do the will of the Father.

Instruction plus involvement equals spiritual growth.

When Facing Life’s Mountains

Then the angel who was speaking with me returned and roused me, as a man who is awakened from his sleep. He said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it; also two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side.” Then I said to the angel who was speaking with me saying, “What are these, my lord?” So the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”

Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel—these are the eyes of the Lord which range to and fro throughout the earth.” Zechariah 4:1-10

Have you ever been in a situation where you would have greatly welcomed a “personal word from the Lord”? You can probably appreciate how Zerubbabel must have felt when he received the Lord’s word in the above Scripture.

His obstacles seemed to be overwhelming. But how did God view the situation? That’s a question we need always to keep before us. How does God see your situation? Does it seem impossible to Him? Is it like an unmovable mountain of rock?

Take heart in God’s Word to Zerubbabel: “What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain.” What a graphic explanation of God’s viewpoint when it comes to the mountains in our lives. He has the power to make the mountains we face into super highways. Where once we thought we would only progress a few feet each hour - once He has done His leveling work - our progress can be measured in miles per hour, not feet or inches.

What mountain do you face? Leave it in the hands of the “Mountain Mover.” When it’s within His will and His best plan for your life, He can and will flatten that mountainous obstacle and lead you safely on a smooth path.

“‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6

The One True Way

“‘Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.’ Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.’”
John 14:1-7

There is a world of difference between having someone give you directions and having someone accompany you, giving directions as you go.     Those who are lost in the darkness of their sin are hoping for someone to take them by the hand and lead them to the light. Yet how many are given directions by others who are also in the dark? How often do they hear conflicting opinions about the direction to go?

What a comforting and assuring illustration Jesus gives of His involvement in guiding us to God:
- “I am the way...”: To reach God, you have to know your way. The very pathway to God is a knowledge of, and a faith in, His Son.
- “the truth...”: Do you want to know God’s way? The words Christ spoke are the truth concerning God and our access to Him. Jesus not only told the truth, He was and is the truth.
- “and the life”: Jesus proved to have power over life and death. He is the embodiment of physical life and of spiritual, eternal life.

When one approaches God on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ, he can be confident that his way is sure concerning his relationship with God and that he possesses spiritual life and will live eternally in God’s presence.

If Christ is the way, why waste time traveling some other way?

Good Stewards of God’s Grace

“Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:8-11

From childhood we learn that when we are given a gift, it is ours. It is to be used for our enjoyment. It is our possession, uniquely owned. But when we receive a spiritual gift from God, it is made very clear that it is not to be considered ours alone but is to be shared with others for the benefit of all. In other words, our gift is more of a management responsibility than a thing we keep to ourselves. There’s that word again: self. Whenever you see it in a sentence, it should set off a little alarm in your spirit. It’s an automatic warning of the greatest resistance against God in our lives.

Much of Christ’s teaching goes against our “natural” way of thinking. As a child of God you have been gifted for ministry. There’s an old song that says, “If you do not use it, you will surely lose it. You have a talent, use it for the Lord.” That may be true concerning a talent, but a gift is another issue. If you don’t employ your gift, what you’ll lose will be your God-given opportunity to be God’s instrument in someone else’s life. Lost opportunities can never be “made up.” The opportunity and its subsequent reward are lost when we choose not to be “good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

A Spirit-filled life results in service to others. That’s the will of the Father!

The Riches of God’s Grace, Part 2

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

Throughout the history of the church, there have been those who have looked on the gospel as a method for achieving personal gain in finance, prestige, or status. Some would focus on the above verse and use it as “proof” that God wants to pour out His “blessings” on them. But that mindset is awfully close to that of the world where self is king - where you use any angle to get what you want, even the misinterpretation of God’s holy Word.

Don’t misunderstand “the goodness of God” (Rom. 2:4, KJV). It’s not the same as ease, comfort, and pleasure. God does have your best interest at heart; and because He knows you better than you know yourself, He knows what it will take to lead you to repentance.

So God’s “goodness” may come to you in the form of adversity, difficulty, sorrow, danger, sickness, accident, financial loss, discouragement, hunger, emptiness, or great turmoil. Or it may come in a peaceful, uneventful life; but God alone knows what it takes to lead us to repentance.

Be careful not to confuse “goodness” with good things. God’s goodness is His grace and His mercy which He extends to unworthy individuals in order to bring them to repentance - and finally to salvation, the goal of God’s highest plan for mankind.

Do you not know that it is the goodness of God which leads you to repentance?

The Riches of God’s Grace

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him.” Ephesians 1:3-9

How easy it is for us to view God’s loving grace from a selfish perspective. In this age of selfism, the god of pleasure has so twisted the hearts and minds of the world that it is difficult for them to be able to accept the message of the cross.

When your whole life is caught up in “bigger” and “better,” the thought of forsaking all and following Christ seems a cruel joke. Some have attempted to “bend” the truth in order to make it say something it really doesn’t, in order to keep from having to obey the Word of the Lord. But truth (although denied) is still truth.

Do you find it hard to turn your back on the “stuff” the world offers:
- the promise of happiness if you just buy the right clothes or car, if you have enough of this or that?                   
- the promise of security by investing in this, insuring with that company, buying that?
- the promise of success if you give up this silly preference, ignore your convictions, play the game, go along with the crowd?

When the grace of God is “shed abroad in our hearts,” it ought to be undeniable and blatantly conspicuous to believer and unbeliever alike. Let the grace of God be evident in every moment of your day - in all you do. “May Christ be seen in me!”

The riches of God’s grace are given to us, not on our own merits, but those of Jesus Christ.

The Grace in Which We Stand

“Through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:2

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:7

What a graphic word picture Paul uses to describe our position as recipients of God’s grace. He takes an almost indescribable element (grace) and mixes it with an everyday reality, giving us a unique glimpse into the character and properties of grace.

Paul’s statement, “this grace in which we stand,” conveys a steady state of affairs and an assurance of a position known by those who have been justified by faith in Christ. We stand in a condition of grace: it is all around us, surrounding, undergirding, and supporting us.

There’s a great contrast between the life apart from grace and the life which is standing in grace. The two can be immediately recognized as being opposed to one another. Compare your life before you responded to the grace of God with your life now as a recipient of His grace. Do you see any differences?

If you’ll look closely and if you are walking in fellowship with Christ daily, the changes will be obvious. Attitudes and actions, responses and desires shift dramatically when the grace of God is realized in one’s life. His grace displaces our self-centeredness and draws (never forces) us to loyalty, love, obedience, and true reverent worship. Praise God today for His grace in which you stand.

“Nor can a man with grace his soul inspire, more than the candles set themselves on fire.”

Access into Grace

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2
   
Many who work in a mechanical field are familiar with what is called an “access panel.” For the most part, this is a small door which gives technicians a handy access to strategic parts of the device on which they are working. In much the same way there is a special “access” by which we can tap into God’s grace - namely the person of Jesus Christ. His substitutionary death on the cross opened the way for us (gave us access) to the grace of God.

Without the work of Christ and without the exercise of faith on our part, the grace of God would be outside the scope of our experience. But God has made provision for anyone to make use of that special access to His grace. No wonder so many church hymns and Christian songs deal with the grace of God. It is so unexpected, such a great gift - that the heart has difficulty grasping the magnitude of this undeserved gift of God’s love and mercy.

For those who have yet to gain access to God’s grace, it is important that you realize that it is the goodness of God (His grace) which leads you to repentance. Will you share this good news with someone today? May they see and know God’s amazing grace.

Grace means that though we were sinners and enemies, we have been treated as sons and heirs.

Saved by Grace!

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:1-10   

When you are granted something you don’t deserve, when you gain something you don’t merit, when you receive something you didn’t purchase - you are the recipient of grace. Grace is far more than love, far more than mercy. Love is an emotion which is the foundation of God’s dealing with men. Mercy is God’s compassion for me. Grace is God’s unmerited, undeserved, unpurchased favor granted to men through the person and work of Christ.

Those who appreciate God’s grace most are usually those who have come to realize their awful, sinful condition and understand that without the grace of God they would never get a glimpse of heaven. But by God’s grace, their sins are forgiven, and heaven is theirs.

John Newton was just such a man. His life had driven him into a ruthless and debased trade, and he was seemingly without a conscience. Sailing his slave ship through an angry storm, Newton gave way to the undeniable grace of God and became one of history’s great preachers. His hymn “Amazing Grace” is known around the world, and its words convey the mystery of God’s amazing grace.

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound! That saved a wretch like me!”       

You are Secure in Christ!

“Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.’” John 10:25-30

One of the areas where the enemy often hits hardest is in the arena of our feelings. If he can just get us to feel unsure of our salvation, it opens the door to all kinds of doubt, insecurity, and unstable attitudes and actions.

Do you suffer from doubt concerning your salvation? Are you secure in the knowledge that you are a born again child of God? If so, remember that your salvation is based upon fact, not upon how you feel. You may feel depressed or discouraged. Does that mean your salvation is hanging by a thread? No, that means your emotional state is at a low ebb.

Remember your position in Christ. As a forgiven, reconciled child of God, you are in a unique position. The above Scripture is one which gives evidence of God’s concern for you on this point. As His child, He knows who you are; He has given you eternal life; and no one, or nothing, can remove you from the security of His hand.

That position is a fact. That fact may cause you to experience a feeling of security and joy; but the feeling is a result of the fact. Many a person has grappled with uncertainty regarding their salvation, but it is something which the Lord Jesus obviously wants to be a settled issue of fact. Stand on the fact of your salvation and let feeling follow.

If we could merit our own salvation, Christ would never have died to provide it.

The Ultimate Rejection

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’” Matthew 7:21-23

Having just come through the Summer Olympics, we watched a world fascinated by athletes from around the globe who had been literally training for years to meet and compete in the games. For many, this is the most thrilling even of their lives: to compete on a worldwide level against the best athletes in the world. Bronze, silver, and gold medals are coveted; all energies are exerted in pursuit.

Can you imagine the utter disappointment and unbelief of a runner who, after being the first to cross the finish line, is told by all the judges that he didn’t win after all? When an athlete ignores a basic foundational rule of the game, he can find himself disqualified. The Bible tells us there will be those who will be disqualified from entering heaven, even those who “played well.” They have ignored a basic rule.

How about you? You may be running the race of life - and running well. But have you missed one of the fundamental rules? You may be considered by others to be a very nice person - even a godly person; but if you have missed the foundational step of confessing that you are a sinner and placing your trust in the saving grace of Christ only, in the end you have lost.

Don’t run the race of life - only to be disappointed. To win eternally, you must play by the rules.

“For man to be lost, in all his uniqueness and wonder, is tragic.” -Francis Schaeffer

Handing Down Your Faith, Part 2

“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Parents, have you thought about your will (your last will and testament)? Have you tried your best to leave your estate in order for the benefit of your children? Have you made provision in the event of your inability to care for them?

If so, take the challenge to go one step further and leave them a written record of their spiritual legacy. Write down your own spiritual journey. Tell of your initial encounter with Christ. Give a spiritual background of your own family life, and explain how you were able to identify God’s hand in your life.

As if they were sitting next to you, tell your children what your expectations are for their lives (what kind of life you hope they will live, the character quality of the mate they might choose, the dangers they may encounter when dealing with unprincipled men and women, your prayers for them to be mightily used by God in their lifetime, how to cope with disappointments and grief, what convictions you hold and encourage them to hold).

Put it with your will. It will become a legacy and a witness to your offspring and to those dealing with your estate. There is no better time than the present to hand down your faith, but even after you are gone, your children can benefit from your instruction if you follow through.

What principles do you want to be sure your children receive as a heritage from you?

Handing Down Your Faith

“I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy. For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:3-7

There are many good examples of parenting found in the animal kingdom. Such traits as tenderness, protectiveness, warmth, discipline, and provision are important to a healthy upbringing. No matter how much a parent may verbally communicate to an offspring though, it is of absolute necessity that parental performance follow verbal instruction. Why? Don’t miss this: The pattern always prevails over the principle!

You, as parent, can give the same set of guidelines day after day; you can have the greatest reasoning in the world for choosing those guidelines for your family; but unless you live them in a conspicuous manner before your children, they wont be followed. It has been said that values are caught, not taught, and to a great degree that is true. Countless individuals can testify that the mere repetition of words or phrases does not insure their compliance.

What are your children “catching” from you? What are they really being taught? Can you identify just one guiding principle which you are consciously teaching your children? Now dedicate yourself to live that principle. Remember, the pattern always prevails over the principle.

Do you have a faith to leave your children? And is it what you want to hand down to them?

A Missing Ingredient?

“If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” 1 Peter 1:17-21

The great preacher Jonathan Edwards is well known for his convicting message “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” Under his preaching, many came to repentance and salvation from sin and eternal separation from God. We don’t hear much from pulpits these days about “the fear of God.” But God’s Word has much to say about this issue of “fearing God.”
   
God’s word to Jeremiah (32:39-40) is as applicable to Christians today as it was to the nation Israel when He said, “I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good....I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me.”
                   
Do you see evidence in today’s Christian world of a pervasive “fear of the Lord” among God’s people? Maybe, just maybe, that’s the missing ingredient in many lives. Where is the holy reverence and awe in today’s church, the kind we clearly see in Old Testament worship and in the early church? Without the fear of the Lord, we are left with only a form of godliness!

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge...” Proverbs 1:7

A Tragic Find to a Promising Beginning

“Then Saul said to Samuel, ‘I did obey the voice of the Lord, and went on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal.’ Samuel said,

‘Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
As in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
He has also rejected you from being king.’

Then Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned; I have indeed transgressed the command of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice.’” 1 Samuel 15:20-24

The race of life that God has placed us in requires a daily, deliberate exercise as well a good start if we are to finish well and strong. Many of us know Christians who started with great promise but ended in tragedy and despair.

Initially Saul loved God and did His will. God even changed his heart for good, and before long Saul had captured the hearts of his countrymen. Sadly, however, this great man’s life was spent in bitterness, hatred, and depression.

Saul offered a sacrifice when he became impatient for Samuel to arrive. It didn’t seem like much at the time, but it grew into increased rationalization. He began to blame others - “the people took some of the spoil” (1 Sam. 15:21) - until Saul no longer took responsibility for his sin, and his self-will loomed larger than God’s will for him.

The process hasn’t changed. We flirt with a particular sin, rationalize it - and before long we are captive to it. Our hearts are hardened to God’s loving conviction, and we pursue our own destruction.                       

Are you rationalizing a sin today? Is there a known area of disobedience in your life? If so, go to God and confess and repent of it. God will restore you.

“...the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind...”
1 Samuel 15:29

A Promising Beginning

“Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor. He had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.”
1 Samuel 9:1-2

Then it happened when he turned his back to leave Samuel, God changed his heart; and all those signs came about on that day. When they came to the hill there, behold, a group of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him mightily, so that he prophesied among them. It came about, when all who knew him previously saw that he prophesied now with the prophets, that the people said to one another, ‘What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?’” 1 Samuel 10:9-11

One of the most important elements in a race is a good start. In swift competition a poor start is tantamount to losing. For believers, that start is the decision to trust Christ as Savior. Just as essential is the character building that begins in the ensuing months and years.

When the prophet Samuel identified Saul as king, it was obvious that Saul had begun his journey with admirable qualities. After Samuel anointed him king, Saul demonstrated patience and humility by enduring the taunts of “certain worthless men” who mocked him, saying, “How can this one deliver us?” (1 Samuel 10:27).

Perhaps your beginning hasn’t been so favorable. Perhaps circumstances beyond your control have thwarted you at every turn. Perhaps you have never chosen to follow Christ. You can begin today. If you are not a believer, receive Jesus’ offer of salvation by inviting Him in as your personal Savior.

If you do know Jesus but are continually frustrated, submit completely to His Lordship, asking Him to take control of you and your circumstances. Trust Him to use even your problems for your welfare. He can do it if you turn to Him.

“...God changed his heart...” 1 Samuel 10:9