Above & Beyond

The Wonder of the Cross, Part 2

2012-02-15T00:05:00.000-08:00

“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.” Ephesians 1:3-6

The wonder of the cross is that it displayed both the love and holiness of God. In one moment in time, God’s hatred of sin and His unfailing compassion for sinners blended together in the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.

The cross was necessary because man could not save himself from sin, and holy God could not condone sin. God’s holiness, however, was matched by His love which sent Christ to die in our stead, bearing our guilt, dying our death. In his book, The Cross of Christ, the Rev. John R. W. Stott writes of the significance of sin’s gravity and God’s amazing love:

“All inadequate doctrines of the atonement are due to the inadequate doctrines of God and man. If we bring ourselves to His, then, of course, we see no need for a radical salvation, let alone for a radical atonement to secure it. When on the one hand, we have glimpsed the blinding glory of the holiness of God and have been so convicted of our sin by the Holy Spirit that we tremble before God and acknowledge what we are, namely ‘hell-deserving sinners,’ then and only then does the necessity of the cross appear so obvious.”

“You do not understand Christ till you understand His cross.” -P.T. Forsyth

The Wonder of the Cross

2012-02-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

“And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

The cross of Calvary - where Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died - is the extraordinary instrument of freedom where man’s eternal liberty was secured. For you see, man’s freedom cannot be purchased with a social revolution or a majority vote. The source of his oppression is spiritual - not political, economic, or cultural.

Man is born a sinner, separated from the life and liberty of his creator, God. He is imprisoned by the darkness of sin, chained by its selfish grip and under the influence of the god of this world - Satan. His only hope is to be rescued by the One who alone has the power and right to liberate him from sin’s reign and rule. That is exactly what Christ did at the cross. He bore the penalty of sin - death - making it possible for man to be reconciled to the author of spiritual liberty, Jehovah God.

At the cross, Jesus released us from the curse of eternal death. When we receive Christ, we gain the incredible inheritance of eternal life. We still die physically, but our spirit is made alive by God. And we will be with Him forever. The cross shattered the bonds of sin, making spiritual freedom possible for all who believe in Jesus Christ.

“The cross is the pivot as well as the center of the New Testament thought.” -Samuel Zwemer

Freedom of the Soul

2012-02-13T00:03:00.000-08:00

“But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14

The winds of freedom blow hard in our world today. Politically oppressed, communist bloc countries demolish imprisoning walls and topple the icons of brutal dictators. Countries are dropping the shackles of ideologies that have padlocked individual freedom for the sake of state control.

Yet even when freedom is achieved, the once gold promises of liberty are tainted by painful new realities. Democracy is not a panacea. New leaders are not messiahs. The gains of social crusades are often short-lived. In each case, freedom is defined as that which allows a nation, a group, or a person, the right to pursue and obtain their own goals. It involves the removal of external barriers to self-fulfillment.

But true freedom is spiritual, within man’s heart. It is the removal of the universal oppressor - sin - whose great infection lies in the bosom of every man and woman. It cannot be earned or legislated but received only as a gift from God.

God’s freedom, liberation of the soul from sin’s tyranny, can be enjoyed behind barbed-wire walls, within prison camps, or in the midst of injustice. It cannot be stifled, regulated, or imprisoned. That is freedom worth pursuing.

“...everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.’” John 8:34

Build on the Right Foundation

2012-02-12T00:06:00.000-08:00

“According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

All of us like to be rewarded for a job well done. No one turns down a paycheck. There is nothing wrong with that in God’s eyes, as long as our motivation for seeking rewards is based on the right thing.

The problem usually comes as a result of unfilled needs. Many people have learned one of the surest ways to receive positive regard and strokes of praise is by performing amazing tasks. Their entire lives become treadmills of performance-based acceptance. Then they meet the Master of unconditional love and acceptance, Jesus Christ, and their performance-based world falls apart.

They learn their acceptance is not based on what they accomplish but on what one man accomplished on a lonely Roman cross. There is nothing they can do to increase their worth. The only worth they have is found in God’s Son, and He paid the price for all their sins - past, present, and future - at Calvary.

God’s rewards are eternal. They are not based on what or how much we do. Instead, they are based on who we faithfully worship. We’re not graded for mental brilliance but for the times we follow Christ in humble obedience.

“If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.” 1 Corinthians 3:14

Your Labor of Love

2012-02-10T00:06:00.000-08:00

“Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.” 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5

Good works are as much a part of a believer’s life as faith. Everything we do, all our deeds and all our works for God, should be a labor of love motivated by our faith and hope in Him. Good works are meant to be a blessing - not an obligation or a means to salvation. We do good works because of God’s love within us, not because we feel pressured to do so.

Many people try to work their way to heaven by accomplishing good works. But there is only one way to God, and that is through personal faith in Jesus Christ (John 14:6). God is not impressed by material gifts or the number of times you help another person. He is, however, impressed by the motivation of your heart - that is love expressing itself through faith.

Good works that hold eternal value are the result of an overflow of our devotion to Christ. If the devotion is there, good works will follow naturally. They never come as a result of self-determination. When God is evident in our lives, the evidence of His good works will be there. Praise, worship, obedience, and prayer are all signs of a heart totally committed to Jesus Christ and overflowing in good works.

“You know of Jesus of Nazareth...and how He went about doing good...” Acts 10:38

Be a Servant

2012-02-09T00:02:00.000-08:00

“It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:26-28

It wasn’t easy for Peter to restrain himself. He was a natural leader, and leaders lead others. However, the events of Christ’s last week on earth shattered any dreams Peter may have had concerning self glory and leadership. He watched in frustration as the Savior wrapped a towel around His waist and began washing the disciples’ feet. When he approached Peter with the basin of water, the disciple recoiled: “Never shall You wash my feet!” (John 13:8).

Jesus was firm in His reply, “Peter, don’t you understand; unless you allow Me to do this, then you will have no part of Me.” A restless silence stood between them. God was confronting the motive of Peter’s heart. Peter neither understood the ways of God nor was he ready for service. It takes both humility and grace to serve others. It also takes the same to allow others to serve you.

Peter’s life was still on the drawing board. Soon he would learn firsthand of God’s grace through the painful trial of humility. Jesus said to the disciples: “So the last shall be first, and the first last” (Matt. 20:16). The only way you will develop a servant’s spirit is by treasuring this truth deep within your heart.

“For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep...” Acts 13:36

He has Equipped You

2012-02-08T00:04:00.001-08:00

“Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21

Jesus tells us in Mark 2:17 that He did not come to the healthy. Instead, He came to the sick. In the Greek, sick is used metaphorically of mental ailments. The people of Jesus’ day were in need of much more than a physical touch. They were in need of a Savior. They struggled with depravity. Instead of worshiping God in purity, they often were bound to the darkness of their day. Paganism and legalism were just two of the infirmities that plagued them.

Once they were set free, Jesus commissioned them for service. He told them to go and share what God had done for them. The woman caught in adultery told of God’s forgiveness. The demon-possessed lad told of the Christ’s deliverance. Mary told of the Savior’s unconditional love. Matthew shared how he had been freed from greed. And Peter spoke of God’s restoration.

This is how the gospel spread, by the testimony of those Jesus touched and healed. It is also how God equips us for service. Believers, once mentally insensitive to the things of God, are freed to share the hope of Jesus Christ. Your life is a living testimony of the healing power of God. Ask Him to show you how you an share His victorious truth with someone today.

“...God...comforts us in all our affliction...” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

God has Chosen...

2012-02-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, ‘ Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.’” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Have you ever thought about the people God uses? If you took a heavenly roll call, the group would include: an Egyptian castaway turned sheep herder, a shepherd boy whose best friends were criminals, an abandoned widow and her mother-in-law, a broken old women whose only home was the temple, a carpenter whose hands were cracked and callus, a common Jewish girl, a brawny fisherman, a tax collector, a prostitute, and prideful pharisee.

You may be thinking, “What a group! Looks like God would have chosen someone of nobility.” The truth is, He chose these very people, common in social status but uncommon in spirit, to change the course of history. They may have appeared “foolish” by the world’s standards, but they were wise by God’s. He takes the world’s hand-me-downs and molds them into precious instruments of His loving grace.

Common people doing uncommon things. God isn’t looking for polished social giants; He is looking for people who are available and willing to trust Him. Whatever your past holds, it is no match for God’s grace. Tell Him you are available to be used by Him, and you will be surprised at the work He gives you to do.

“...Don’t you ever let anybody tell you God don’t love you cause He do. [sic]” -Dwight L. Moody

Enjoy Your Salvation

2012-02-06T00:02:00.000-08:00

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” John 15:5-11

Knowing and experiencing Christ as your life is possible because of the great exchange that took place when you embraced Jesus as your Savior. At salvation you received His righteousness for your guilt, His light for your darkness. However, that was only the beginning. Because Christ now indwells you in the innermost part of your being, you have His resources to meet your every need.

Jesus freely gives you His peace for your anxiety. Although you may be in the midst of fretful circumstances, you do not have to worry or be filled with fear. Jesus is your peace; there are no troubled waters that He cannot calm.

Jesus freely gives you His joy for your depression. Depression comes from dwelling too heavy on your circumstances instead of fixing your focus on Christ. The joy of the Lord is in you and can be released as you turn to Him, worship Him for His sufficiency, and trust Him to work our your problems.

Jesus freely gives you His love for your loneliness. The love of Jesus is without measure. He accepts you as your are, planning only the best for you. And He gives you His Helper, the Holy Spirit, to be with you at all times.

God never lets go and never ceases to bless you with superabundance of divine love.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Christ - Our Help

2012-02-05T00:02:00.000-08:00

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4

Every Christian knows Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, freed from the penalty of sin through Christ’s sacrificial death on Calvary. Many Christians know Him as Lord, submitting their will to Him on a daily basis, acknowledging His right to rule in their lives. However, few Christians know Christ as their life. Knowing Him as our life is the daily expression of His indwelling Spirit, abiding in Christ as our source of joy, peace, steadfastness, and love.

J. Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, wrote of the drastic difference that knowing Christ as our life makes: “How then shall a Christian bear fruit? By efforts and struggles to obtain that which is freely given; by meditations on watchfulness, on prayer, on action, on temptation, and on dangers? No. There must be a full concentration of the thoughts and affections on Christ; a complete surrender of the whole being to Him, a constant looking to Him for grace. Christians in whom these dispositions are once firmly fixed go on calmly as the infant born in the arms of its mother.”

Come to Christ as your life, and the fragrance and fruitfulness of your life in Christ will be unmistakable.

“How to get faith strengthened? Not by striving after faith but by resting on the Faithful One.” -John McCarthy

...but you were washed...

2012-02-03T00:01:00.000-08:00

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

In the above passage, Paul writes to the Corinthians concerning the sins of their society. He reminds them of their past involvement with immorality and how they had been washed clean from their sins through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

In the Old Testament, priests entering God’s service were bathed “all over” as an act of consecration. The experience was never repeated. However, during their daily service, the priest became defiled from handling various sacrifices. In this case, only the priest’s hands and feet were washed clean, symbolizing spiritual cleansing.

Jesus told Peter, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean...” (John 13:10). The Lord sensed the need for spiritual renewal in Peter’s life but only to cleanse away the defilement of the world, not to gain acceptance with the Savior.

When Paul told the Corinthians they had been washed, he also reminded them that they were sanctified and justified through faith in Jesus Christ. This too, represent a one-time act. They now were new creations and should act accordingly. His admonishment to us is to walk in the light of God’s truth, realizing that as the temples of the living God we are called to a holy priesthood.

“The great miracle of the grace of God is that He forgives sin.” -Oswald Chambers

True Freedom

2012-02-02T00:05:00.000-08:00

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:31-36

Throughout the ages men and women have fought for what they believed was freedom. Now that we have obtained a higher level of national security, the theme has shifted to how we can remain free. But are we really experiencing true freedom?

Everywhere we turn there are evidences of freedom granted and freedom abused. Political leaders, exhausted from their flight to freedom without moral restraint in the seventies, now claim we must return to the moral values of our forefathers. As a society, we have rejected judgements that even hint at morality. In a recent interview, one congressman stated that our nation no longer has any clear cut “moral guidelines.”

Jesus tells us there is only one way to experience true freedom - by abiding in His truth. Freedom without moral restraint is not freedom; it is chaos. When we reject God’s moral values, we trade freedom for bondage. We run the risk of becoming so comfortable in our sin we refuse to take the way out when it is given.

Are you experiencing Christ’s freedom, or are you living in bondage to the world’s sin? When we come to Jesus, placing all our needs and expectations on Him, He grants a freedom the unsaved only dream of knowing.

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free...” Galatians 5:1

The Key to Contentment

2012-02-01T00:06:00.000-08:00

“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

There is a contentment that only God can provide - a place of peace that is safe from the storms and tempest threats of life. It is a place that we learn to enter as we grow in faith in God. It is not a tangible place but a place that exists within our hearts. It is where God abides and faith bears its wings.

David went there often as a young shepherd boy. A good portion of the book of Psalms is our witness to his flights. Daniel rested there while waiting in the lions’ den. Anna spent years there praying for the birth of the Messiah. Paul ran to it when stoned and left for death outside Iconium.

It is a place where anxiety is banished and peace of the highest kind reigns. When we become convinced of the ability and providence of God, we cross contentment’s threshold. The apostle Paul tells us that when this happens, the peace of God that surpasses all comprehension stands guard over our hearts and minds (Phil. 4:7).

God cannot force you to live a contented life. It is something you can experience only when you learn beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus Christ knows you perfectly, accepts your flaws, and loves you unconditionally. Once you become confident of His care, anxiety will be a thing of the past.

“...The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing...” Philippians 4:5-6

The Secret of Contentment

2012-01-31T00:05:00.000-08:00

“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:11-13

From a dreary dungeon come the words of the apostle Paul to capture our hearts and imaginations. Alone and suffering a punishment that few of us can comprehend, Paul writes: “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am...in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:11-3).

Is this idealistic fluff? Mere words written to pass the time of day? No. Paul had learned the most valuable of all secrets - the secret of contentment. He no longer looked to temporal values for security and peace. He looked only to Jesus for his strength and reward.

While many rushed to gain prominence, Paul sought the highest reward of all - a personal relationship with Christ. Few people enter the sanctuary of God as Paul did. Unshackled from bonds of fear and anxiety, Paul walked boldly into the presence of God, finding eternal peace and providential care.

Contentment’s greatest adversary is anxiety - fretting over things beyond the control of God. Have you learned the secret of contentment?

“There is a stillness that lets God answer the cruel blow, in His own unfailing, faithful love.” -A.B. Simpson

He is Our Present Help, Part 2

2012-01-30T00:01:00.000-08:00

“God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;
He raised His voice, the earth melted.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariots with fire.
‘Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.” Psalm 46:1-11

The writer of Psalm 46 knew what it meant to face turmoil and tragedy. Wars and violence were very much a part of Old Testament life. Entire civilizations were wiped out without warning. Imagine the fear and dismay of such perilous times. You may know personally what it feels like to abide in the instability of pain and suffering. At times you find yourself longing for something or someone to anchor and steady your hurting heart. Jesus is your anchor. He is your sure hope.

The psalmist tells us that even though our world appears disjointed, turned upside down, and on the brink of desolation, God is with us. He never abandons His omnipotent station. He is our hiding place when the storms of life lash out at us. He is our abode of trust, covering us with His divine veil of protection when forces too powerful attack. Martin Luther captured this thought in the words: “A mighty fortress is our God.” God is our refuge, and He cannot be shaken.

How do you tap into His sovereign watchcare? Verse ten of Psalm 46 holds the answer: “Cease striving [be still] and know that I am God.” Lay aside your human effort and call out to your Eternal Hope - Jesus Christ.

“In all thy fiery trials, His presence is both thy comfort and safety.” -Charles Spurgeon

He is Our Present Help

2012-01-29T00:03:00.000-08:00

“So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off; and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house. Martha then said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to Him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?’” John 11:17-26

Few of us are prepared for the worst when it comes. Often tragedy strikes without notice - the sudden death of a loved one, a lay-off at work, or a medical report confirming a terminal illness. These events and many more have the potential to turn our world upside down. How do we handle circumstances that leave us suddenly feeling out of control and frightened?

At the death of her brother, Martha longed for Jesus to return to Bethany. The pain was too great for her to bear alone. She knew He was the Christ, the Son of God; and yet she was torn emotionally by her human feelings. Had Jesus been present when Lazarus became ill, she reasoned, he never would have died.

Faith versus human reasoning - in this case faith won out. Fighting back tears Martha said: “Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You” (John 11:22). She believed Jesus had complete control over the situation. No matter how upside down her world appeared, Christ’s presence restored order and hope.

God may not completely remove the painfulness of your circumstances. But He will bring order and peace if you will turn to Him. He is our present help in troubled times.

“Jesus is no security against storms, but He is perfect security in storms.” -Annie Johnson Flint

Obedience

2012-01-27T00:03:00.000-08:00

“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He said to them, ‘My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.’

And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.’ And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’

He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.’” Matthew 26:36-42

It was the hardest decision he had ever made. Only a telephone call separated him and twenty thousand dollars - illegal and untraceable gain. Thoughts of what he could do with the money ran through his mind. No one would ever know. No one, that is, except God.

As tension grew inside of him, he suddenly found himself recalling the words of his grandfather: “Son, no matter what you do in life, make your goal obedience to God. You’ll never lose by obeying Him, and you’ll never win if you disobey.” A smile crossed his face and tears flushed through his eyes. How could he have allowed himself to be so tempted? Obedience to God’s standards is not always easy. At times it is quite difficult.

The night before the crucifixion, Jesus faced the severest of trials. He was not tempted in a human sense to refuse the Father’s will, but instead was intensely challenged to obey. Obedience was the only way to fulfill the Father’s will, and Jesus chose that way.

The magnitude of the task was overwhelmingly repugnant. Yet in pure and perfect obedience, Jesus took the sins of humanity onto Himself, thus opening a way for eternal salvation. Anything less than perfect obedience is disobedience. Is obedience to God your life’s goal?

“If we are in love with our Lord, obedience does not cost us anything, it is a delight.” -Oswald Chambers

God Knows...Still God Calls

2012-01-26T00:05:00.000-08:00

Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I live among a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.”

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.’” Isaiah 6:5-9

The days in which Isaiah lived were filled with sinful peril. Israel worshiped many gods and adhered to all kinds of evil. When sin surrounds you, you rarely notice its silent gathering. Such was the case with the prophet Isaiah.

It is true; he should have known better than to overlook Israel’s compromise. He knew the value of holiness. Yet sin in its quiet deception had stolen a place in his heart. The day he stood in the presence of God with heralds of Seraphim hovering above him with his day of reckoning. God was looking for one man, one voice to carry His truth to the people. Who would go for Him? Who would answer His call? The startling presence of the holiness brought the prophet to his knees. As he cried out at the reality of his sin, the Seraphim rushed to cleanse his lips with coals taken from the altar of God.

Has God called you to a certain task but the memory of past failure holds you back? Take heart; He is near. Get on your face before Him. Tell Him the ways you have failed, and He will cleanse you. One of the most wondrous attributes of our heavenly Father is His mercy in forgiveness. Will you, like Isaiah, answer His call?

“...‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us’...?” Isaiah 6:8

Who Will Go?

2012-01-25T00:05:00.000-08:00

In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.”

And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.”

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.’” Isaiah 6:1-9

For a moment he studied the crowd moving toward the front of the church. Then with sweaty palms and a nervous feeling in the pit of his stomach, he stepped out into the aisle. As he walked to the front of the church, the words of Have Thine Own Way comforted him.

Standing at the altar, he suddenly felt a small hand slip inside of his. In looking down he saw the face of his seven-year-old daughter. “I will go for Jesus, too, Daddy,” she beamed. As he lifted his eyes, he saw his wife holding their eighteen-month-old son, “Darling, we’ll all go for Him.”

He knew this moment meant total surrender to the will of God. But so much had happened in the past. So many tears. So many words spoken in haste and anger. Could Jesus see past the years spent in sin and denial? Could God really be calling them to carry the light of His gospel halfway around the world? Yes.

God uses people with hearts turned toward Him. Past sins and failures are forgiven. He abides in the immediacy of the moment. When we open our hearts in obedient faith to His will, He uses us. There is a job Jesus has for you to do, and no one else can take your place.

God doesn’t just call out international missionaries - He calls all of us. We all can be in a ministry for Him. Will you go for Him? Will you answer His call?

“...‘Here am I. Send me!’ He said, ‘Go...’” Isaiah 6:8-9

We are Ambassadors for Christ

2012-01-24T00:03:00.000-08:00

“For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Those who met Jesus were eternally changed. The man born blind. The woman who anointed His feet with oil. The leper He healed and the Pharisee who came to Him by night. No one meets Jesus and remains the same. Even Judas after the betrayal cried, “I have betrayed an innocent man” (Matt. 27:4). Either we accept Jesus as the Messiah and become reconciled to God, or we reject Him and live a life of separation and denial. No matter how you view it, anytime someone encounters Christ they are changed.

Sin once separated us from God; but Jesus, being God’s Son, broke the power of sin through His death, burial, and resurrection. When we accept Him as our Savior, God reconciles us eternally unto Himself. Reconciliation is the goal of salvation. Yet the message of reconciliation does not stop here but continues through us to reach others who have never heard the truth of the gospel. Nothing has changed since the call of the Great Commission. God reconciles us to Himself that we might have a ministry of reconciliation.

The words He spoke to His disciples at the resurrection are the same words He speaks to us today. We are His channels of reconciliation to a lost and dying world. We have been blessed by God that we might be a blessing to others.

On a Divine Mission of Love

2012-01-23T00:04:00.000-08:00

There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” She said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.” He said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.” The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.
John 4:7-19

The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
John 4:25-26

Jesus insisted on going to Galilee via Samaria. He could have taken any one of three other routes, but He chose the one least traveled by the Jews. The reason - He was on a divine mission of love. Samaritans were a mixed race - part of Jew and part Gentile - that grew out of the Assyrian captivity. They were rejected by the Jews because they could not prove their genealogy. However, Jesus was not swayed by Jewish prejudices.

By the time He and His disciples arrived at Jacob’s well, it was late in the day. After dismissing them to buy food, Jesus noticed a woman drawing water from the well. She was as Samaritan and a known adulteress. He knew their paths would cross the moment he began His journey. Racial barriers and sin are no match for the love of God.

Often people want to know who Jesus is. They cannot imagine love like His so divine, so wondrous as being theirs. Just like this woman, their lives are entrapped by sin. However, these are the very people Jesus rushes to meet.

The giving of His love at Calvary was God’s way of shouting to the world: “I love you unconditionally.” No matter where you are in this life, Jesus loves you want wants His best for you.

“...Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come...” Revelation 1:4

Let God Meet Your Needs

2012-01-22T00:01:00.000-08:00

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:25-34

Samson was a man of supernatural strength. Yet even this gift from God did not keep him from seeking to meet his needs in an immoral way. We all know the end of his tragic story.

God understands our needs. He wants to meet them in such a way that Christ is honored, we grow spiritually, and the gospel is advanced through our circumstances. Unfortunately, we often choose our ways instead of God’s. We seek our own solution, calculating what we think is best instead of sifting our need through His Word and the insight of His Spirit.

If you have a need and are on the verge of making a decision to fulfill that need, make sure you address the crucial spiritual issues. Have you sincerely asked for God’s will to be done, even at the expense of ruining your own plans? Have you spent time in the Scriptures asking God to speak to you concerning your situation? Have you waited on God to give you direction? Are you willing to work on His time schedule instead of yours?

If you respond positively to these questions, you are on your way to getting your needs met God’s way. Take what steps you need, give God the right to stop you at any point, and look to Him as your Source along the way.

God saves the very best to those who are willing to leave the choice to Him of where and when.

Come to Me...

2012-01-20T00:05:00.000-08:00

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for you souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

When our burdens become unbearable, we can seek to dump our loads in several places. Perhaps we have a friend who will listen to our problems. Perhaps we can find relief in a brief get-a-way where we can be refreshed and strengthened. We might even have access to a Christian counselor who can give us solid advice. But nothing or no one can provide the rest and relief that Jesus can when we come to Him with our burdens. Our Savior has broad shoulders, sturdy hands, and a compassionate heart. There is no grievous or weighty matter that He does not bid us to give to Him.

If you are carrying a burden that has you at the breaking point, come to Jesus in prayer. Don’t worry about the right words; just cry out to God. Tell Him how you feel. Prayer is simply talking with God, and that is what you do to shift your burden to Christ.

Come in childlike faith. Jesus said He would give His light and easy load in return for your heaviness. Does He lie? Is He being to simplistic? No. God can sustain you as you trust Him. Focus on His power and receive His all-sufficient help. He will not let you down. He will not let you fall. Jesus hears your plea. He will lighten your load so that you may persevere.

“Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you...” Psalm 55:22

How to Handle Your Own Burden

2012-01-19T00:03:00.000-08:00

“How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered!
How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit!

When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.
I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.
Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him.
You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.”
Psalm 32:1-7

Sin is not only a slam against the character of God, it can be a milestone around our emotional and spiritual necks. King David found himself carrying that burden after his adulterous sin with Bathsheba. Psalm 32, though not definitely connected with this act, is thought by many biblical scholars to be the sequel to Psalm 51. Listen to the oppressive adjectives David used to describe the state of his soul: Wasted, groaning, heavy, drained, fever heat.

The burden for the penalty of our sins - eternal death - is removed by Christ’s sacrificial death when we place our personal trust in Jesus. The penalty has been paid in full. However, when we sin after salvation, our sin - while not separating us from God - does fog our fellowship and make our communion with the Father bittersweet. But there is release. David addressed the blessed cure in Psalm 32:5: “I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’; and You forgave the guilt of my sin.”

If you have sinned, your burden of guilt can be instantly removed through humble and honest confession. It is a burden you need not carry any longer.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

How to Bear One Another’s Burdens, Part 2

2012-01-18T00:04:00.000-08:00

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

A handmade sign in a local craft store read: “A heart for God, and a hand to man.” That summarizes the two great commandments given by Christ and paints a complete portrait of authentic Christianity. Bearing one another’s burdens is an essential means to fulfilling the second commandment - loving one another as we love ourselves by extending a helping hand.

The first step toward shouldering the load of others is realizing you cannot help everyone. Jesus did not heal everyone. He did not visit every city. He did not share meals at every citizen’s home. But you can depend on God to guide you to the particular people that need your prayers and love. Often, they are experiencing some of the same conflicts you endured. Your empathy is real and your understanding accurate.

In other instances, you may be called to serve a person whose burden is foreign to you. Do not choose and escape route if God is leading you. You can listen. You may not understand, but you can tell them you do care and will pray for them and aid them as possible. This is a tremendous encouragement to the fainthearted. A heart for God is incomplete without a hand to man.

“...encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14

How to Bear One Another’s Burdens

2012-01-17T00:03:00.000-08:00

“Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load.”Galatians 6:1-5

C.S. Lewis wrote that “mankind is one vast need.” How true. Emotional, physical, financial, marital, parental, and a horde of other demands weigh us down and keep us preoccupied with finding solutions to our abundance of problems. It is this common predicament that often renders us unavailable to help others in their time of need. How can we help others with their problems when we are so overwhelmed with our own?

What we need is a spiritual perspective that allows us to deal with our set of problems so we are free to minister to others. One of the most satisfying endeavors for a Christian is supporting hurting believers. It refreshes us as well as them. That can begin with an outlook that “seeks first the kingdom of God” (Matt. 6:33). God cares for us, values us, and promises that if we make His priorities ours, He will provide our needs - all of them.

That freedom continues as we learn to daily cast our burdens on Christ. Jesus was a burden bearer for our sins and is a burden bearer for our everyday problems. The load becomes His, not ours; and suddenly we have room in our hearts for the burdens of others.

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden...” Psalm 68:19

How to Deal with Personal Conflict, Part 3

2012-01-16T00:01:00.000-08:00

“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

While some have suggested that Paul’s physical eyesight was impaired, his vision of God was perfectly clear. In his troubles, he learned to never focus on his circumstances but instead to turn toward Christ and keep his eyes on the Deliverer and Savior. In this way, he came to know Jesus in the most personal, intimate way possible.

It is a crucial lesson for you to learn as well. Conflict will force you to turn your knowledge about Christ into knowledge of Christ. It will take you out of the theory and study and put you in the furnace of application and reality.

This is good, for the more you know of Christ, the more you will trust Him. When crises push you to Christ, you cry out to Him. He answers you through a Scripture, a word from a friend or Bible teacher, or an arrangement of certain encouraging events.

The more you trust God and see evidence of His faithfulness, the more you love Him. And isn’t this the real goal - to love Him with all your heart and soul? You love Him not just for what He does but for who He is. Knowing God. Trusting God. Loving God. These are the tried and true results of conflict. So no matter what the trouble, you can endure, for God is at work deep within in a dramatic way.

“Growing deep beneath the sod, strife has never conquered mortals who are rooted deep in God.” -Byron Debolt

How to Deal with Personal Conflict, Part 2

2012-01-15T00:01:00.000-08:00

“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Paul was “knocked down but not out” as The Living Bible paraphrases the apostle’s struggles (2 Cor. 4:9). It is conflict that drives us to God, exposing the trivial aspects of the Christian life and compelling us to honest, heartfelt interaction with our personal God. There is purpose in turmoil. It is not accidental for we have a sovereign God controlling every circumstance. Paul knew his external dilemmas only caused his inner man to be strengthened for it forced him to rely on Christ daily.

Our weakness is opportunity for Christ’s strength to be demonstrated (2 Cor. 12:9). God does not want to help us in the sense of lending an occasional helping hand but to actually live His life through us by His Spirit. He is within us, and His life is experienced most extravagantly when we depend on Him for our life breath. The wisdom, power, and love of God are fully available to you during your struggles.

Don’t give up. Jesus, the Overcomer, is the One who is with you, for you, and in you. He will not ever leave or forsake you. Let that truth sustain you through your troubles. He is able when you are not.

“Crises bring us face to face with our inadequacy which leads us to the...sufficiency of God.” -Catherine Marshall

How to Deal with Personal Conflict

2012-01-13T00:02:00.000-08:00

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.”
2 Corinthians 4:7-10

In speaking before a Chicago audience in 1899, Theodore Roosevelt spoke of the benefits of conflict for personal progress. “I wish to preach, not the doctrine of ignoble ease, but the doctrine of the strenuous life,” the sturdy Roosevelt said. “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”

That is good advice for Christians as well. Jesus said, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). More than anyone, Christians should be realists about trouble. We have an adversary, the devil, who is committed to our harassment; a world system ordered by principles directly opposed to Scripture; and the power of sin that is still around in our mortal bodies to lead us down the wrong road.

Problems are the norm, not the exception. Accepting that reality is the starting point, and you will be in good position to successfully deal with your conflicts.

“Our antagonist is our helper. He that wrestles with us strengthens our muscles, sharpens our skill.” -Edmund Burke

How to Deal with Criticism, Part 2

2012-01-12T00:03:00.000-08:00

“The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, and each is tested by the praise accorded him.” Proverbs 27:21

Everyone likes a pat on the back. An encouraging word from a mate, employer, or friend puts extra fuel into our emotional tanks, lifting our spirits and lightening our load. Yet for some, praise can be a stumbling block, leading to overbearing pride. Praise can be a scriptural test, revealing motives that lie deep within. We can handle praise sensibly and rightly as we employ several practical principles.

First, be direct when kudos come your way. A simple “thank you” is a succinct response that acknowledges the acclamation without false pretense or humility.

Second, deflect the praise to others when appropriate. In most instances your success was made possible by the background efforts of others.

Third, as soon as you have occasion for privacy, be driven to your knees where you graciously thank God for His blessing. He is worthy of all praise and thanksgiving and is the source for your success.

In this manner, praise is handled appropriately. Your work is commended; you acknowledge the help of others; and most importantly, you ascribe credit to Christ, who enables you for every good work.

“Sweet praise is like perfume. It is fine if you don’t swallow it.” -Dwight D. Eisenhower

How to Deal with Criticism

2012-01-11T00:04:00.000-08:00

“He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof
Will dwell among the wise.
He who neglects discipline despises himself,
But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.”
Proverbs 15:31-32

The boss walks in the office and reprimands you for a minor flaw in an otherwise well-executed plan. Your mate scolds you for forgetting to fix a loose hinge that has now broken and cracked the glass door. Criticism. Whether merited or not, it is never wanted. However, if we are to gain from criticism, we need to install a mental grid system that will glean the positive and remove the unnecessary.

First, listen. Resolve not to defend yourself immediately. Put your emotions in God’s hands while you allow the complaining party to fully state his case. Restate exactly what the criticism is about so there is no misunderstanding.

When possible, delay your response. Pray and examine yourself under the Holy Spirit’s leadership while waiting. Take responsibility for your mistakes and look for ways to improve. If the criticism is unfounded, ask God to protect you from harm and keep you from developing a bitter spirit.

You can learn from criticism as long as you know you are secure in Christ and open to positive correction.

God Uses People Like You!

2012-01-10T00:02:00.000-08:00

“As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information. For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts; and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of your number. They will inform you about the whole situation here.

Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas’s cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him); and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me. Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also Demas. Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house.” Colossians 4:7-15

In Colossians Paul lists several men who were sources of true encouragement to him. There was Luke, the doctor who treated his illness; Tychicus, Paul’s beloved brother and faithful servant; Barnabas, the ultimate encourager; Timothy, Paul’s beloved son in the faith; and John Mark, the author of the book of Mark and his fellow missionary.

Each of these men was completely different in personality and appearance. Yet each had a common thread holding them together. They had been called to a ministry within the family of God. No one was greater than the next. They were a team. These were common men with uncommon hearts. All they had to give, they gave to the work of God.

Luke had no idea that he would end up becoming Paul’s personal physician or that his education would lead him to author two New Testament books. Timothy was shy in nature; yet Paul sent him to Ephesus, a city steeped in paganism. Because of men like these, we have the new Testament today. You may not know what your ministry is, but you have one. God uses what we make available. Open your heart, and He will show you the ministry He has for you.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works...” Ephesians 2:10

We are His Workmanship

2012-01-09T00:05:00.000-08:00

“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 2:4-10

Working diligently with a small cross-stitch design, the lady leaned over to her friend and proudly displayed her finished product. Her friend reached out to touch it. But the lady pulled back and said, “Please don’t look at the back.” Turning the needle work over, an abundance of knots and strings were revealed. It was the sure sign of a beginner’s work. But a smile brightened on her friend’s face: “Don’t be silly. The only thing that truly matters is the front, and it looks perfect!”

God has a design for each of our lives. There are times when we fail to follow His plan, and several knots are sewn into our lives. From the back side, our lives may look disastrous. However, turn your life design over and see it from God’s perspective. Yes, there were times of failure; but there also were times of yieldedness and victory. From God’s viewpoint, the knots represent times of instruction.

He knew from the beginning that we would face times of discouragement an defeat. However, He also knew there would be times when we would refuse to yield to Satan’s deception. You are God’s workmanship. From His viewpoint, your life is being woven into a design that bears a remarkable resemblance to the life of His Son.

“...we will also bear the image of the heavenly.” 1 Corinthians 15:49

Christ - Our Strength

2012-01-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

“Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, ‘Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory. No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.’” Joshua 1:1-9

The reason Jesus calmed the raging sea was not so the disciples could witness another miracle, but that they might be caught up in the reality of His strength and personal care for him. Jesus allowed fear to captivate their hearts briefly so they could learn of Him. After the first few opening chapters of the book of Acts, we see His principles come to life in the lives of His followers. They found their strength in Jesus.

Joshua faced a similar situation as he prepared to lead Israel into the Promised Land. Chosen by God to complete the task, Joshua struggled with thought of fear and failure. The angel of the Lord gave him three principles to keep him focused on the victory of God’s strength: Meditate - focus on the Word of God daily; be watchful and not distracted by the turmoil around him; do exactly whatever God told him to do.

When you begin to realize who Jesus Christ is and how much He cares for you, your trust level will increase. The greater your trust level, the more clear His strength will become. Remember what the angel of the Lord said to Joshua: “Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1:9).

There is no way to fall obeying God.

Christ - Our Judge

2012-01-06T00:02:00.000-08:00

“You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” Acts 10:38-43

Think about this for a moment: All you have to be or do in this life is what Jesus has given you to do - nothing more, nothing less. That means you do not have to fight for a job promotion, scrabble for a raise, undermine the employee next to you. All you have to be is what Jesus Christ has made you to be.

The apostle Paul tells us his ultimate goal is to “know Him and the power of His resurrection” (Philippians 3:10). That was it - to know Jesus. Paul could have been anything. He had the power, position, financial prominence, even a Roman citizenship that worked to his advantage. However, his one desire more than anything else was to know Christ.

When Jesus comes back, He will come as our ruling Judge. Believers will not be condemned but rewarded for their faith, though some will be disappointed. We can work an entire lifetime striving to achieve all kinds of recognition and never gain the glorious reward of the widow who gave all she had to Jesus.

Can you say with the apostle Paul, “All I want in this life is to know Him”? That is all He made you to be - totally His.

“For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son.” John 5:22

Christ - Our Returning King

2012-01-05T00:03:00.000-08:00

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, ‘King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.’” Revelation 19:11-16

Jesus came as a man, a person, much like any one of us. He willingly chose to lay aside His royal robe of glory to take on the tattered robe of humanity. Though sinless, He knew what it felt like to cry, to laugh, and to suffer, disappointment. He felt the encroachment of rejection and the sting of loneliness. He knew there would be times when we felt unloved and unwanted.

He could have chosen any number of avenues, but He chose to come as a baby. All power was His to command. Angels stood waiting to meet His every request. Yet He became a servant so we might grasp the hope of God.

And except for a chorus of angels singing to a band of misfit shepherds, His first coming almost went unnoticed. It was not much of a birth announcement for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He slipped into the pool of humanity with barely a ripple in the clamor of Bethlehem. However, when He returns He will come as the returning Lord and ruling King. His first coming opened the way to salvation. His second coming will be to establish His kingdom.

Do you know Him as Savior and Lord? If not, take this moment to ask Him to come into your heart. Ask as a child. He will not refuse you.

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout...” 1 Thessalonians 4:16

Christ - Our Lord

2012-01-04T00:02:00.000-08:00

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11

Some people just cannot seem to get excited about Jesus Christ. Perhaps they have lost sight of who He was and what He did for us. Perhaps they have never known.

Jesus is the Son of God - our reigning Lord. He was that before time began, and He will be that at time’s ending. He was in the Garden with Adam, with Noah on the Ark, with Abraham on the mount, with Moses in the wilderness, and on and on.

He loved us, even in our sin - and in the fulness of time, left heaven’s glory to become a man. To live with us, teach us, and die for us. He gave to us the love of God, and we put Him on a cross - yet, that was the eternal plan of God. He know what we would do and, yet, He came anyway.

And the Father has highly exalted Him and bestowed upon Him the name above every name. He is not only our Redeemer - He is our Lord!! May His name be praised, and may God give us the grace to serve Him.

“For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

Christ - Our Redeemer

2012-01-03T00:06:00.000-08:00

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,
And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of David His servant—
As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—
Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;
To show mercy toward our fathers,
And to remember His holy covenant,
The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,
To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways;
To give to His people the knowledge of salvation
By the forgiveness of their sins,
Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:68-79

Throughout the Old Testament, there were constant foreshadowings of a divine Redeemer who would deliver men from bondage and captivity. Perhaps the most interesting facet of Old Testament redemption was the kinsman-redeemer which allowed a close family member to rescue a relative through payment of his debts.

The New Testament carry-over is clear. Jesus is our Kinsman. He became flesh and blood so He might share in our humanity, becoming the Son of Man as well as the Son of God. His humanity provided His identity with mankind - being tempted in all things as we are yet without sin.

However, it was the deity of Christ that provided the only acceptable price for deliverance from sin - the shedding of Christ’s blood at Calvary. No one else but Christ could pay the enormous, adequate price. No one could deliver men from sin’s grip except Christ.

The Redeemer has come as your Kinsman, made like you so He could pay the price as your Deliverer. He alone could purchase men from the marketplace of sin and bring them into the kingdom of God.

Our Redeemer came. Our Redeemer lives.

“For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:20

Bathed in Grace

2012-01-02T00:04:00.000-08:00

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 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, 4 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.” Ephesians 1:1-7

Many of the apostle Paul’s epistles begin and end on the high note of grace: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren” (Gal. 6:18). “Grace to you and peace from God our Father...” (Gal. 1:3). The life of the believer is bathed in the light of God’s grace. Our behavior, altitudes, and lifestyle should reflect the supernatural change that grace brings.

The person walking in grace is grateful. The more we understand and experience the grace of God, the louder our applause for the love of God. We reduce our level of criticism and griping.

The person walking in grace is content. Since all comes from grace, we understand that God will withhold no good thing from us. If we lack something, we perceive that God knows best. If we need it, God’s grace provides it. The grace of God give us whatever we truly need when we need it.

The person walking in grace is kind to others. We cannot receive grace for ourselves without extending that same grace to our fellow man. God does not treat us as we deserve, nor should we treat others as they deserve. The riches of God’s grace are yours through faith in Jesus Christ.

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” Philemon 1:25

God Give Grace..

2012-01-01T00:03:00.000-08:00

“You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.” 1 Peter 5:5-6

The grace of God is the wellspring of all spiritual blessings. Grace gives and gives, super-abounding in its measure and effectiveness. How then can we cease striving, get off the performance treadmill, and learn to walk in such rich and plentiful grace?

Here is the key: The more we humble ourselves before God, the more we receive the fullness of God’s grace. God “gives grace to the humble” (1 Pet. 5:5). Not to the strong, but to the weak. Not to the self-sufficient, but to the dependent. Not to the proud, but to the poor of spirit.

We humble ourselves by realizing the majesty of God, worshiping Him as the mighty God. The more we adore and praise the Savior, the more highly we think of Him. We can do much, but it is so little when compared to what we may accomplish when directed and empowered by God.

Humbling ourselves does not belittle our self-esteem or worth to God. It positions us to receive our sustenance from the Source of all good things, Jesus Christ. The humble believer flings himself on the grace of God, leaning his full weight on Him. He draws all his strength, peace, joy, and security from the sufficiency of God’s generous grace.

“Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” James 4:10

Don’t Abuse God’s Grace

2011-12-30T00:01:00.000-08:00

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” Romans 6:1-2

The gospel of God’s grace, His full provision for man’s sin - present life and eternal destiny - is frequently perverted and attacked. At the foundation of most false religions is a denial of the free gift of salvation and an embrace of good works. Others caution that the good news of grace can lead to a lifestyle of sin without appropriate punishment. “I am saved by grace so why does it matter how I live,” is the standard argument.

The Scriptures clearly refute both errors, citing man’s inability to know God apart from the Savior’s initiative and man’s responsibility to live obediently. The rebellious believer recaps what he sows and is a most miserable creature. However, we should never let such opposition dilute the overwhelming truth of amazing grace. Critics can never dampen the transforming, liberating power of God’s free, unconditional, unmerited, love and mercy.

The gospel of grace, though misunderstood, cannot be replaced. It is the cornerstone for all of life, illuminating the goodness of God and attracting us to Him. Delight yourself today in the God of all grace.

“Perfection demands perfection. That is why salvation must be by grace and not by works.” -Donald Barnhouse

Be Strong...

2011-12-29T00:02:00.000-08:00

“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 2:1

The Christian life is compared to a race in the Scriptures. Paul calls us to run the race so we may win (1 Cor. 9:24). The author of Hebrews tells us to run our race with endurance (Heb. 12:1). The only means by which believers can triumphantly run and finish the course God assigned for each of us is to run on the wings of grace. The legs of performance eventually grow weak. The muscles of legalism and religion weigh us down and become rigid hindrances.

Our problem is that we can understand the need for grace in salvation and glorification, but we tend to rely on other means in the interim - our sanctification on earth. Justification, the securing of a favorable verdict by Christ’s death, is by grace. Glorification, the consummate conforming of our bodies and souls to Christ’s glorious image, is by grace. Sanctification, the process of growing in Christlikeness, is also by grace.

In His grace, God supplies all the gear you need for running the spiritual race - His Spirit, His Word, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. Be strong in grace. Throw off the leg irons of works and religion and receive the power of God’s grace.

“Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected” -Jonathan Edwards

Standing in God’s Grace

2011-12-28T00:05:00.000-08:00

“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7

If God’s offer of grace is so rich and free, why do so many people fail to receive the gift of salvation? The inability to receive the grace of God is almost always connected with an overdose of pride. It is often difficult for some persons to receive a helping hand from another person in regards to material matters. They would rather earn the gift offered on their own initiative and can even be insulted by the generosity of the giver.

Perhaps you can identify with that feeling. You may have had a definite need. Someone graciously volunteered to meet that need; but you refused the offer because it wounded your pride, your sense of self-esteem.

Perhaps in some way you devised a means to satisfy your need. But in the spiritual realm, there is no substitute for grace. You cannot supplant good works or performance for grace. You can either receive it or reject it. It is yours to enjoy by faith or yours to turn away by pride.

Do not refuse the offer of God’s grace in salvation. There is no other ground by which a man can be saved. Let go of pride and receive the grace of God.

“Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin.” -Charles Wesley

The Marvel of God’s Grace

2011-12-27T00:02:00.000-08:00

“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 2:8-10

Amazed at the endless measure of God’s grace, St. Augustine could not find words to quite explain its wonder: “What is grace? I know until you ask me; when you ask me, I do not know.” God’s grace is His undeserved love given to men for salvation, sanctification, and glorification. We can do nothing to earn or merit salvation. It is a gift of God’s unfailing love, expressed in its highest form in the Person and work of Jesus Christ.

C. Samuel Storms writes in his book The Grandeur of God: “The first and possible most fundamental characteristic of divine grace is that it presupposes sin and guilt. Grace has meaning only when men are seen as fallen, unworthy of salvation, and liable to eternal wrath....Grace ceases to be grace if God is compelled to bestow it in the presence of human merit....Grace ceases to be grace if God is compelled to withdraw it in the presence of human demerit....[Grace] is treating a person without the slightest reference to desert whatsoever, but solely according to the infinite goodness and sovereign purpose of God.”

The grace of God is greater than any sin, any failure. It is the eternal benevolence of God who rescues fallen men with the hand of His saving love.

“The law detects, grace alone conquers sin.” -St. Augustine

Be a Bridge Builder

2011-12-26T00:04:00.000-08:00

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Several years ago during a storm, the bridge from Martha’s Vineyard to the mainland was washed out. The islanders were stranded. The people could be ferried off and on the tiny island, but supplies could not. The people were isolated until the bridge could be rebuilt.

Have you ever thought of yourself as a bridge-builder for Jesus Christ? We are all potential “bridge-builders” for Him. It is a call that He issues to all believers. Bridge-building is a ministry that includes reconciliation, reaching out, giving, and sharing so that stranded people may come to know the love of Jesus Christ.

You may think bridge-building is an occupation only reserved for skilled architects, but you are mistaken. Right now you are in the process of becoming an architect for Christ. Each hurt you have suffered, each time you have found victory by trusting Jesus is a completed chapter in the guidebook. None of us can build a bridge unless we personally know the design of the structure.

Your classroom is the life God has given you. Your teacher and employer is the Holy Spirit, and your commission is the world in which you live. Many people live like islands, but deep down inside they long for someone to reach out to them. You may be God’s only bridge of love to them.

“For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:20

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T00:01:00.000-08:00

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 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. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 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. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them. Luke 2:1-20

May you and yours know the joy, peace, and love of the season. Merry Christmas!!!

Living a Consistent Life

2011-12-23T00:04:00.000-08:00

“So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Ephesians 4:17-24

One of the key ingredients to success is consistency - a willingness to stick to the plan. You may be thinking that sounds a great deal like persistence and perhaps it does. A major element of consistency is persistence. If we want to be successful in our Christian walk, we must learn to be consistent with Jesus Christ. However, many Christians give up after a few disappointing setbacks.

The truth is that the Christian life is a process - a life long process. It begins the moment you accept Jesus Christ as Savior and continues until you draw your last earthly breath. That means there will be times when we blow it, when we wish we could just pick up the pieces and start over again. The remarkable thing about our Lord is that he never keeps score. All He requires of us is that we turn our hearts toward Him.

Consistency is built into our lives as we spend time in prayer and worship. It is there that we learn consistency, where our lives take on Christlikeness. We are to be renewed in Christ daily. It is a continuous, consistent process that leads to one final goal - becoming more like God’s Son.

Take a few minutes and ask God to show you how to build consistency in your life as you live for Him today.

“...be transformed by the renewing of your mind...” Romans 12:2

God’s Loving Desire for You

2011-12-22T00:03:00.000-08:00

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.” 1 Timothy 2:1-8

There are three reasons why God desires us to be saved. The first is that we may know the love of God. God’s love is unconditional. Regardless of your circumstances, God loves you. When we refuse His love, we miss the joy of His fellowship and settle for the conditional love of the world.

A second reason God desires us to be saved is to become trophies of His grace. We are saved by grace through faith. There is nothing you can do to make God love you more than He does at this very moment.

A third reason God wants to save you is that He might be glorified through your life on earth - much like He was through the life of His Son.

The primary purpose for our existence is to bring glory to Christ. When Jesus returns the Bible says the entire earth will be filled with His glory and the knowledge of Him. You can honor Christ every day as the Holy Spirit works in you. Remember His personal love for you today as you drive to your job, talk to others over the telephone, and work with those around you.

God is glorified when we share what Jesus did for us on the cross. The only way a lost person knows that God’s love is real is by seeing it lived out in the lives of His saints.

“We proclaim Him...that we may present every man complete in Christ.” Colossians 1:28

Finding the Will of God

2011-12-21T00:01:00.000-08:00

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2

Someone once said: “The will of God is like a Hebrew word. It can only be read backwards.” What he meant was that God’s will for our lives becomes more clear as we look back at His sovereign hand. However, we most often want or need to discover His will now. God understands our predicament. He does not want us to make misguided decisions that leave distasteful consequences. How can we knows the will of God in such instances?

Our hearts must be bent toward God. That means we want God’s will above our own, that we are fellowshipping with Him consistently and our love and devotion are directed toward Him. We may occasionally slip and stumble; but when we do, we confess, repent, and move on with God.

In addition, we must be busy doing what we already know to be God’s will - giving thanks in all things and walking obediently. The heart that is bent toward God and that delights in His ways will find that the will of the Lord will be accomplished even when we are unsure of His way. Once on the other side, we can look back and thank God for His loving guidance and wisdom that providentially ordered our steps into His kind and profitable plan.

“...walk as children of Light...trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:8-10

Abide in Me

2011-12-20T00:03:00.000-08:00

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:1-5

Does an apple tree struggle to produce apples? Does a pear tree labor to make its sweet crop? As simple as it may appear, the liberating principle for doing God’s work God’s way is learning to abide in Christ. Abiding in Christ means we rest in the finished work of the cross. The cry of Jesus at Calvary was, “It is finished.” He had accomplished the work of redemption, providing the way of victory over sin and Satan for all who place their faith in Him.

Our toil or effort can add nothing to what Christ has done. Our task is to receive the complete sufficiency of Christ for every situation. We do so with the same childlike faith we had at salvation. “Yes, Lord, I believe You can solve this problem, heal this relationship, take care of this anxiety because You are my adequacy. You are all I have, but You are enough.”

The abiding life is the restful life spoken of in Hebrews 4. It is the place of absolute trust and confidence in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. Christ is all-sufficient. His life richly flows through you in the Person of the Holy Spirit. He will satisfy every need, fulfill every demand, and produce the abundant Christian life in you as you depend wholly on Him. He is able.

“For we who have believed enter that rest...” Hebrews 4:3

God’s Work Done God’s Way

2011-12-19T00:06:00.000-08:00

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!”’” Zechariah 4:5-7

When a person becomes a Christian, he enters a new dimension of spiritual living. Before, he was a physical being with emotions and personality; but his spirit was dead toward God. That all changed with the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit who came to indwell each believer upon personal faith in Christ.

A Christian is primarily a spiritual being. We still have our bodies and personalities, but our spirit is alive unto God. It is our spirit, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, that defines our true identities. As author Bill Gillham says, we are “spirit critters with an earth suit.”

Our competence in the spiritual realm can be attributed to our reliance upon the Holy Spirit. He equips us for the Christian life. It is only as we yield our natural gifts and abilities to Him that we experience the abundant Christian life Jesus promised. The Holy Spirit wants to permeate every area of living - work, thoughts, deeds, relationships, goals, family - with His wisdom and power.

Will you let Him fill you with the fulness of Christ? The Holy Spirit will do in you and through you what you could never do in your own power and might.

“...for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Are you Helping or Hindering?

2011-12-18T00:04:00.000-08:00

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:28-29

Pain. Suffering. Hurt. Heartache. Failure. Disappointment. Trials. These are the tools God uses to achieve His ultimate purpose in each person - to conform every believer to the likeness of Jesus Christ. Not distinguishing these tools as God’s instruments for change can result in misguided intervention in the life of a fellow believer.

How then do we know when to help and when to wait? God clearly calls us to minister to others in His name. We are not to become isolationists, refusing to become involved in the troubles of our brethren.

First, pray. Before you rush in to help, bring the matter specifically before the Father. Ask for His will to be done in the person’s life, not your will. Also ask that God deal with the root problem in the person’s life.

Second, wait for God’s timing. God may use you, but not until He has accomplished His loving plans. By waiting until He provides the opportunity, you are acknowledging God’s control over the situation.

Third, depend on the Holy Spirit. He will use you according to God’s will. Be sensitive to His prompting.

Help others, but make sure that you are not interfering with God’s loving purpose in the process.

“For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13

Are You a Stumbling Block?

2011-12-16T00:03:00.000-08:00

“From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.’ But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.’

Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?’” Matthew 16:21-26

A friend has a debt that he cannot repay. Reluctant to see him in financial straits, we write him a check to cover the amount. A son is reprimanded at school for misbehavior. We rush to the principal’s office to vent our displeasure, and the principal lifts the punishment. Our well-intentioned efforts to help can be stumbling blocks that hinder God from accomplishing His will.

We may find the friend we rescued from financial duress in problematic debt again. He did not learn God’s lesson of the responsible stewardship. The son we delivered from just punishment may be back in the principal’s office only a few weeks later. This time the offense is more serious. God’s lessons can be difficult to learn. We must often be placed in strenuous circumstances before we seek the Lords’ will and are open to His solution.

Are you getting in God’s way in His dealing with someone? If so, you may be lengthening the time frame for God to work His purposes in someone’s life. God is far better equipped than we to solve problems. Be careful not to unnecessarily interfere with His plan.

The Standard of Morality

2011-12-15T00:04:00.000-08:00

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” Proverbs 14:34

When in doubt about the future, it is sometimes best to return to your roots. As America searches for the correct balance between social ethics and religion, the discerning words of our first president, George Washington, provide an interesting context: “Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education of minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

The religion Washington referred to is Christianity, and the principle he alluded to is the truth of the Bible demonstrated in the life of the believer. If the epidemic of moral, political, and social corruption in our country is to be reversed, we must embrace the authority of the Bible and its relevance for personal and national morality.

The Bible is God’s revealed truth for men and the nations they govern. Read, understood, and applied, it is the standard for healthy morality of persons, corporations, and countries. Morality has no compass apart from the Bible and no rudder apart from the personal example of the Christian.

“...This great nation was founded not...on religion but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.” -Patrick Henry

Blessed is the Nation

2011-12-14T00:02:00.000-08:00

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.” Psalm 33:12

Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Russian novelist, former prisoner, and astute observer of both American and Russian politics, wrote the following summation on the moral and political decline of the old Russian empire: “If I were asked today to formulate...the main cause for the ruinous [Russian] revolution that swallowed up some sixty million of our people, I could not put it more accurately than to repeat: ‘Men have forgotten God.’”

Has America forgotten God as the changeless, authoritative arbiter of social and moral justice, the author of human life, and the Deity to whom we owe our absolute allegiance? The phrase “forgotten God” is found repeatedly in the book of Jeremiah. The persistent prophet accused both religious and civil leaders of abandoning God’s agenda and substituting instead an artificially contrived system that was morally bankrupt.

The cure has always been genuine repentance, turning away from all that counterfeits God. If America is to remember God, to put Him in the forefront of ethics and social justice, then believers must examine themselves routinely and set the example. A nation that remembers God is comprised of individuals who don’t forget Him in their daily agenda.

“It is the duty of nations as well as men to recognize the truth announced in holy Scripture...” -Abraham Lincoln

One Step at a Time

2011-12-13T00:03:00.000-08:00

“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 3:12-14

Someone said you can’t drive a car very well by constantly looking in the rear view mirror. That is good counsel for the person bogged down in the murky waters of failure. We must look up to God and out to others. And in the process, we will find ourselves gradually leaving the failure behind us. But how do you do that? How do you look ahead when failure and trouble seem to be the constant focus of your attention?

Lawrence O. Richards writes in his book, The Believer’s Guidebook: “When my oldest was crawling...I remember my wife propping him up as I crouched a few feet away. ‘Come to Daddy!’ Paul, on tiptoes, would stagger a step toward me and fall. I would pick him up, hug him and say, ‘Good boy! That’s right! Try again. Walk to Daddy.’ God, the truly good Father, isn’t upset when you and I fall. We struggle to toddle to Him. Taking one step at a time, supported by His love, we eventually will leave failure behind and find our way to truly productive lives (Titus 3:14).”

Don’t try to take giant leaps out of the pit of failure but let God lead you and lift you one step at a time. God is patient and kind and graciously extends the hand of His unfailing love.

“...but one thing I do...” Philippians 3:13

Failure - What You Need to Know

2011-12-12T00:05:00.000-08:00

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you.
Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
But he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.” Psalm 32:8-11

The emotional overload of failure can fog our vision of God so completely that we lost our spiritual bearings. We can wander aimlessly, withdraw from the fellowship of believers, and pull away from the God we feel no longer cares.

If that is where you find yourself, read on. If not, read on anyway because you probably will find yourself spending fortnight in what has been called the dark night of the soul. Anchor yourself to these truths and act on them promptly.

In your failure, God never condemns you. God vented His full fury against sin on His Son at Calvary. His love for you is not based on your performance. When you blow it, He still loves you. He forgave all your sins at the cross, past, present, and future - and still drew you to salvation.

In your failure, God is always with you. Once saved, God never lets go of you. He never relaxes His grip of eternal love. Thank Him for His never ending presence by confessing the truth of Scripture and choosing it above the faulty gage of emotions.

In your failure, God is working for your good. The providence of God is never thwarted. He is able to weave your pain and sorrow into a majestic design. Submit to His rule and failure never need be final.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me...” Psalm 23:4

Failure: The First Step to Victory, Part 2

2011-12-11T00:02:00.000-08:00

“‘Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.’ But he said to Him, ‘Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!’ And He said, ‘I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.’” Luke 22:31-34

Failure, as intensely painful and undesirable as it may be, can be the first phase of God’s rebuilding job, knocking out the props we lean on and building His enduring truth into our hearts and minds. We develop certain behavioral traits through the years that seemingly serve us well. Our intense work ethic propels us into leadership positions, our initiative thrusts us past our peers, our desire to control our circumstances pushes us to the forefront.

But the day comes when our work isn’t enough, when our initiative leads us down a dark alley, when the rug is pulled out from under our ability to control our circumstances. Failure becomes a reality. But this is not the time to give up. God often must bring us to the end of ourselves so we might see the truth that will set us free.

Peter appeared to have brazen notions of being Christ’s right hand man. But Jesus first had to bring Him to his knees to show him that He would exalt the humble man, not the proud. Failure cuts away our rotting timber so Christ may implant in our hearts the restoring and lasting truth of Scripture. It is an opportunity to know the Savior more intimately than ever before.

“...for when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10

Failure: The First Step to Victory

2011-12-09T00:04:00.000-08:00

“For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.” Romans 7:15-19

“Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.” Romans 7:24-25

Failure often reads or sounds like: An F on a report card; A poor on a job performance appraisal; “I didn’t think you would stick with it,” from a Bible study teacher after dropping out of the course; An almost unbearable silence from our mate after having said a harsh, demeaning word.

Failure - we hate the sound of the word itself, much less enduring its distasteful consequences. We want triumph. We crave to be on top and struggle to maintain an upward spiral. Yet at some point, in some way, to some degree, we all fail. We stumble in our moral life. We make a mess of our finances. We drift far from our devotion to Christ. We easily fall into the pit of depression. We feel we have nowhere to go and no one to turn to. The pits may be where you are today. Regardless of how or why you got there, you do not have to stay.

You may have to press through some difficult times because of the failure, but you can move on. The God who has rescued you from the power of the grave and lifted you from eternal death will and can bring you up out of the miry pit. If you let Him, failure can be the first step to victory.

“We may fail - do fail continually - but He [Christ] never fails. -J. Hudson Taylor

Lighten the Load

2011-12-08T00:03:00.000-08:00

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

The backpacker and family camper live in two different worlds. The family camper is interested in large tents, sufficient cookware, inflatable mattresses, ice chests, and other such essentials. The backpacker, however, wants as little gear as possible for the journey. Everything must fit into a backpack, and the critical concerns are size and weight. His world is literally on his back and his load must be light.

Because eternity is such a hard thing to fathom, we tend to accumulate emotional and spiritual weights that God never intended for us to carry. The Scriptures speak of this life as a pilgrimage, not our forever home but merely part of a journey.

The best advice is to rid yourself of excess baggage. Do you lug around false guilt? Is there sin in your life you need to confess and stop practicing? Is your mind riddled with depressing thoughts? Is there someone whom you have offended that you need to ask forgiveness? Do you need to forgive a person who has hurt you deeply?

Let go of the crippling and fatiguing weights that exhaust your spiritual and emotional energy. You will find a new spring in your step and peace in your spirit while preparing to face the crises that are bound to strike.

“...they began to lighten the ship by throwing out the wheat into the sea.” Acts 27:38

How to Protect Your Family

2011-12-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

“For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach — if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.” Colossians 1:19-23

You do not fight real wars with pop guns, and you don’t fight the devil with mere determination or resolve. Our families’ defense against Satan is provided by God. If we are to succeed, we must take up His weapons.

Pray for each member of your family every day. Ask God to surround them with His supernatural hedge of protection against the tactics of the evil one. Call out their names before God, thanking Him that they are inscribed on the palm of His hand.

Especially pray the Word of God. Find Scriptures that pertain to your particular problems, and pray those Scriptures to God. It is the truth of God, and the truth always defeats the lies of Satan.

Resist the devil in the name of Jesus. Through your union with Christ, you have been given victory over the enemy. Jesus defeated Satan through His sinless life, His atoning death, and His triumphant resurrection.

Satan is a vanquished foe. Though he still puts up a vicious fight, you can overcome him through the power of Jesus Christ. Rebuke the devil in Christ’s name, command him to flee, and stand firm. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill your family members and leave no room for the devil to set up shop.

“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Dad - Stand in the Gap!

2011-12-06T00:03:00.000-08:00

“Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw. All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, ‘This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?’ But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, ‘This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.’

And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, ‘Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.’” Matthew 12:22-30

The devil wants your family. Does that grab you by the throat? It should. Our adversary, Satan, is a crafty foe whose intention is to deceive and destroy you and your family.

Some Christians live as if Satan doesn’t exist. Others are aware of his opposition but do not have a clue how to resist him. Although each person is responsible for his personal choices, Satan is always involved in sin as the tempter, the deceiver, the liar. He would like for nothing better than to keep your family in constant turmoil, arguing, fighting, quarreling, and bickering.

Sometimes his tactics are less noticeable. There could be more subtle forms of rebellion - lack of communication between husband and wife, a chill in your emotional oneness. Maybe your children are not on drugs or engaged in immoral behavior. But they could be trapped in the mire of low self-esteem or distant in their personal relationship with Christ. Prayer is the last thing on their minds.

Understand this: your family has a cruel enemy who wants to divide our home, seeds of discontent, and create as much turmoil as possible. This is spiritual warfare, and it requires spiritual weapons. Remember, no one can enter a strong man’s house until he first binds the strong man! Dad, be the man - stand strong!

“...Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

The Father’s Gift to His Children

2011-12-05T00:02:00.000-08:00

“My son, if you will receive my words
and treasure my commandments within you,
make your ear attentive to wisdom,
incline your heart to understanding;
for if you cry for discernment,
lift your voice for understanding;
if you seek her as silver
and search for her as for hidden treasures;
then you will discern the fear of the Lord
and discover the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
Proverbs 2:1-6

The Bible is pretty hard on fathers. It commands us to lead our homes through the discipline of servanthood, to rear children without letting their tempers get the best of them, and to provide for the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of every family member. Of course, we all fall short on many counts. Nonetheless, that should not prevent us from seeking to discharge our scriptural responsibilities.

The same God who enjoins us to lead, teach, guide, and equip our families also equips us for the task. He gives us the tools we need if we will but receive and use them. You have the wisdom of God you need through the revelation of the Scriptures. The book of Proverbs brims with relevant capsules of God’s counsel for fathers. From Genesis to Revelation, there is a myriad of examples, good and bad, of how a father should treat his wife and children.

You have help. You have supernatural help. The load is heavy; but when you turn to Jesus, He takes on the responsibility of equipping you and making the burden His light and easy yoke. It is a hard job, Dad. But it can be a job well done when we do it God’s way, looking to the counsel of His truth.

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger...” Ephesians 6:4

A Faithful Provider

2011-12-04T00:01:00.000-08:00

“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8

A father is responsible to provide for the material needs of his family as best as he can in dependence upon God. That does not always mean Dad can afford everything his children or spouse desire; but he meets their basic requirements of food, clothing, and shelter. Yet in times of unemployment, meeting even fundamental needs is difficult. He must lean (as he always should) on the provision of the heavenly Father, helping his family see their real Source, Jesus Christ.

Children and spouse need a godly perspective of their self-esteem. Youngsters lacking a biblical sense of value to God are easy prey to peer pressure. Spouses who do not understand their worth to the Father and value as a mother and wife can easily slip into depression and false guilt.

Fathers, pray with your children. Tell them daily how much you love them. Let them know how grateful you are that God gave them to you. Husbands, love your wives with sacrificial, unconditional love. Praise her regularly both in private and in public. Help her to see her oneness with Christ and inestimable value to God and you.

Don’t preach the Word. Live the Word as Christ did, becoming a servant to all.

“Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching...” 1 Timothy 4:16

The Godly Man

2011-12-02T00:06:00.000-08:00

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stand in the path of sinners,
nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and in His law he meditates day and night.
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in its season
and its leaf does not wither;
and in whatever he does, he prospers.

The wicked are not so,
but they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.”
Psalm 1:1-6

How would you describe a godly man? Some might point to a man’s personal witness for Christ in his community. Another might take note of his personal service to the kingdom of Christ in his church. Still others would consider a man’s spiritual leadership in his family. These are solid characteristics of a godly man. But a man can serve Christ and even manage his family well and still not be a man after God’s own heart - the Father’s primary description of a godly man.

A man after God’s heart admits his failures. He does not feed his ego with pride and quickly confesses his sins before God. He likewise is not too egotistical to admit mistakes to his family. A man after God’s heart understands that his strength lies in his weakness. David was frequently at the end of his rope. Paul was thoroughly convinced he could not go on unless he relied on the sufficient grace of God.

Are you honest with God and others regarding your mistakes? Do you work dependent upon God or ask for His help only during trying occasions? The man whose heart is transparent and humble before his Maker will leave Christ’s imprint on all he does.

“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20

The Believer's Reward

2011-12-01T00:04:00.000-08:00

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10

Many times the word “judgement” brings thoughts of condemnation. However, the believer’s judgement will not be a time of reproof. It will be a time of reward and reckoning as we give an account of our service to God. Jesus will reward us for our faithfulness in the work He has given us to do. We will not receive material rewards, but instead be given places of service in heaven and an unhindered ability to glorify God. You may feel unappreciated and forgotten, but the one Person who really matters is recording all that you do.

Jesus is personally interested in you, and He is preparing to reward you for your love and obedience to Him. But sadly not every believer is totally committed to Jesus. Many waver in their faith and make excuses for following the ways of the world. They try to overlook the fact that one day they will stand before His throne.

The overriding goal of Paul’s life was to know Christ and to become more like Him (Phil. 3:10). He knew the value of living a completely surrendered life. He wanted His eternal meeting with Jesus to be one of confidence and not regret. How about you?

“For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son.” John 5:22

Saved and Sure

2011-11-30T00:02:00.000-08:00

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” John 5:24

God calls us to serve Him out of love and devotion, not out of work or obligation. The Pharisees prided themselves in the fact that they kept the whole law. They believed this would please God and secure their salvation. The sad point of all of this is whenever you base anything - a marriage, a friendship, a job, or more importantly our relationship to God - on works, you never know where you stand. There is always a degree of doubt involved because you are driven to achieve standards set by yourself and others.

Jesus set a new standard for our relationship with God: “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). God never meant for the Jews to view the Law as a pathway to salvation. Instead, it was given as preparation for the coming of Christ.

We can be sure of our salvation because we are secured by Christ and not by our performance. Some people say salvation by grace alone is “cheap talk.” But there is nothing cheap about the Cross. Jesus Christ, the most valuable Person who has ever lived, loves you so much that He willingly laid His life down that you might experience eternal life with Him. It is His gift of love to you.

“...a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus...” Galatians 2:16

That You May Know

2011-11-29T00:05:00.000-08:00

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13

The reason many Christians lack joy is because they are not sure of their relationship with Christ. The Jews of Jesus’ day believed the only way they could be sure of their standing with God was by keeping the Law. It provided measurable evidence of their devotion.

However, Jesus offered a new theology, one based on God’s unconditional love and acceptance. The Jewish leaders were bound by the Law and refused to accept salvation as being a gift of grace. Imagine their dismay when Jesus told them that He was fulfillment of the Law.

Through Christ we have personal access to God the Father without bearing the burden of the Law and its consequences. Only grace secures our position with God. Jesus told Nicodemus: “You must be born again” (John 3:7). His words indicated a need for spiritual rebirth or regeneration. It is something human hands cannot achieve. There is nothing we can do to earn salvation. Salvation equals grace plus nothing.

The next time you are tempted to doubt your salvation, think of the Cross where grace paid the eternal price for all our sins. We are saved and sure by the power of His grace - nothing more, nothing less.

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1

Christ, Our Advocate

2011-11-28T00:06:00.000-08:00

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” 1 John 2:1-2

Christians often become discouraged when tempted by sinful habits they thought were eliminated at the point of their salvation. The truth is we still live in a fallen world under the influence of Satan. As a child of God, the enemy no longer holds the title to your life. Spiritually, you are seated in heaven with Christ (Col. 3:3).

However, this does not free you from the strife of Satan’s disastrous intentions. Salvation only shifts his goal for your life from one of eternal death to one of ineffectiveness. The enemy wants to render you useless in your witness and testimony for Jesus Christ. Sin is his favorite weapon because he knows it fogs our relationship with God.

However, the power of sin was eternally broken at the cross. We no longer have to yield to its temptation. The only way to handle sin is to put it in subjection to the Lord Jesus Christ. The key to overcoming it lies in living daily in the light of God’s Word.

When temptations come, remember the enemy’s power has been broken. Jesus is your strong advocate before the Father. Confess your sins, claim His forgiveness, and continue your life in the light of His grace.

Remember, Satan wants to enslave you; Jesus died to free you!

“...our old self was crucified with Him...that we would no longer be slaves to sin.” Romans 6:6

The Power of the Gospel

2011-11-27T00:03:00.000-08:00

“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

People often wonder what happened to the disciples after the resurrection. Many became our first missionaries. Much of Peter’s work was with the Jews in Jerusalem; Philip went to Samaria, as did John. Later Paul traveled extensively carrying the gospel throughout Asia Minor, Syria, Macedonia, and Achaia. Those who traveled with him, Timothy, Titus, Luke, and Silas, also joined the missionary troop.

One might think the thrust of their message was complicated, but it wasn’t. They simply told others what Jesus had done for them and mankind through His life, death, and resurrection. The message of the gospel was so powerful that by the end of Nero’s life and rule in A.D. 68, Christianity was a movement that forcibly challenged all other religions.

Judaism, the Mosaic Law, and the worship of false gods were no match for the gospel message - neither are the false religions of today. Only a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ has the power to break the stronghold of sin, guilt, and legalism.

The most effective tool we have apart from the Word of God is our Christian testimony. When you tell others what Jesus has done in your own life, you join the ranks of members of the early church.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation...” Romans 1:16

Triumph Through Trouble

2011-11-25T00:03:00.000-08:00

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

When Jesus saw that His disciples truly understood who He was, He made a startling statement. It was one they were not prepared to hear: “Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me” (John 16:32).

God’s plan for redemption did not include lifting the disciples out of their immediate surroundings. The pain and stress of facing life as children of God would never deliver them from the earthly reality of trouble. Jesus made that clear when He said: “In the world you have tribulation” (John 16:33).

Soon after these words, the agony of the cross was His to bear. How did He withstand such tribulation? Christ’s life was anchored in the plan of the Father, not in the things of the world. Jesus was not worried about men and their false accusations, nor was He overwhelmed by trials or earthly tribulations. He had overcome the world.

What is His personal word to you when trials come without warning? “These things I [share with] you, so that in Me you may have [a] peace [that passes all human understanding]. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

“...I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T00:04:00.000-08:00

“I will give You thanks with all my heart;
I will sing praises to You before the gods.
I will bow down toward Your holy temple
and give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
for You have magnified Your word according to all Your name.
On the day I called, You answered me;
You made me bold with strength in my soul.” Psalm 138:1-3

“How to Observe Thanksgiving”

Count your blessings instead of your crosses
Count your grains instead of your losses

Count your joys instead of your woes
Count your friends instead of your foes

Count your full years instead of your lean
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean

Count your health instead of your wealth
Count on God instead of yourself

-Author Unknown

Be grateful...Give thanks with a grateful heart!

He Calms Your Storms

2011-11-23T00:05:00.000-08:00

“When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, ‘Save us, Lord; we are perishing!’ He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?’ Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. The men were amazed, and said, ‘What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?’” Matthew 8:23-27

Jesus came to earth as God in the flesh. He didn’t have to take on the form of humanity, but did. He momentarily laid aside His eternal glory in order to identify with the needs of sinful man. No one knows the personal loss nor the private pain that Jesus suffered. Wherever He traveled, storm clouds gathered. Wherever He spoke, political unrest ensued. For every person that joined His fleeting band of disciples, hundreds more turned against Him.

Christ could have focused on the storms that tore at His mind and heart. Instead, He chose to calm the stormy lives of others - a Roman centurion whose servant was dying, a young man bound by demonic oppression, a woman caught in adultery, a crippled beggar, a man born blind, and a Pharisee who came to Him hidden by night’s cover.

Even when the storms grew to overwhelming proportions, Jesus did not waver in His faith. He never lost sight of His eternal purpose. Dying on the cross, He offered salvation to the thief being crucified beside Him. When the storm clouds gather in your life, remember Jesus personally understands your pain and suffering. And there is never a time when you are beyond His loving grasp.

“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but...to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28

When the Storms Come

2011-11-22T00:03:00.000-08:00

“Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.’

Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ And He said, ‘Come!’ And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘You are certainly God’s Son!’” Matthew 14:22-33

Jesus knew a storm was coming. Yet he watched passively as His ambling disciples push away from the shoreline and began rowing into deeper water. Finally, the sails caught the wind and the oars were pulled inside the boat.

From a Galilean hillside, Christ continued to study their obedient journey. Perhaps Peter was manning the rudder; John and Bartholomew, in deep conversation, rested against the bow; and Matthew, serious in thought, appeared caught up in Thomas’ animated words.

By the evening’s fourth watch, the scene was dramatically different. The sea had turned into a fierce enemy, and fear filled the hearts of the disciples. Swamped by elevating waves, the tiny boat listed in its struggle to stay afloat. There was no mistake - Jesus had deliberately sent the disciples into the path of the storm.

Some of life’s stormiest moment are found at the heart of obedience. While the storms of life are not easy, they are necessary. Jesus used this one as a catalyst to refine the disciples’ faith. He did not leave them alone. The moment all hope in human help had faded, Jesus came to them. Whatever you’re facing today, Christ is in it with you. And just as He came to rescue His disciples, He will come to help you.

“...Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Matthew 14:27

Facing Life’s Obstacles, Part 2

2011-11-21T00:03:00.000-08:00

“You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your sons may be multiplied on the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens remain above the earth. For if you are careful to keep all this commandment which I am commanding you to do, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and hold fast to Him, then the Lord will drive out all these nations from before you, and you will dispossess nations greater and mightier than you.” Deuteronomy 11:18-23

Joshua and the nation of Israel were preparing to enter the Promised Land. Moses would not go with them. His last responsibility as their leader would be to issue a charge concerning the land they were about to enter. He explained that if they would keep the commandments of the Law then God would drive out their enemies before them. Often we find ourselves wondering why God does not remove all the obstacle after He blesses us.

The excitement of a new job turns sour the moment we find out our boss has a dark side. The dream house becomes a nightmare when we find out the roof leaks and the water heater needs replacing. Many times God places obstacles in our lives to keep us humble and dependent on Him. The very name God gave the Promised Land, Canaan, means “a place of humility.” Israelites longed to enter the Land of Promise. Yet they realized along with the promise came the tests and trails of life.

There will be time when you feel as though you have run into a brick wall. The obstacle facing you may seem overwhelming, but take heart. These are the times when God wants you to true to Him and trust Him to remove the obstacle blocking your path.

“...the Lord will drive out all these nations from before you...” Deut. 11:23

Facing Life’s Obstacles

2011-11-20T00:06:00.000-08:00

“Now Jericho was tightly shut because of the sons of Israel; no one went out and no one came in. The LORD said to Joshua, ‘See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the valiant warriors. You shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days. Also seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead.’” Joshua 6:1-5

Each of us has faced obstacles in life that seemed overwhelming. When the nation of Israel came to the city of Jericho, God gave the people one objective and that was to remain firmly focused on Him and His Word. They were not to calculate the fortification of the city walls, the aggressiveness of the inhabitants, or the numerous enemies living within the land. Nor were they to view the conquest of Jericho in light of their own strength.

One reason God commanded them to circle the walls in silence was to maintain their focus. The more we talk about and calculate the outcome of a situation, the less likely we are to follow God in faithful obedience. Jericho was a divinely planned obstacle. The outcome of the battle would bring glory to God and provide conclusive evidence to Israel that He was doing exactly what He had promised He would do.

Every single obstacle you face is subject to the supernatural power of God. So don’t allow your vision to be narrowed to the obstacle. Instead, learn to view it from the background of His power and infinite resources.

Forgive Freely

2011-11-18T00:02:00.000-08:00

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father charged before he died, saying, ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, “Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50:15-21

When a person hurts us deeply, forgiveness can be obscured by the intensity of the pain: “How could that person do that to me?” “How can I possibly forgive them for what they have done?” Only when our focus shifts from a damage assessment to the sovereign hand of God at work in our lives can we genuinely forgive.

When Jacob died, Joseph’s brothers were afraid he would take revenge: “What if Joseph decides to punish us now?” Trembling, they asked Joseph’s forgiveness. His response echoes his confidence in God’s guidance and provision in the face of injustice: “...you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good...” (Gen. 50:20).

Even the deliberate wounds of another cannot foil God’s purposes for your life. He can integrate even the worst pain of betrayal into rich fabric of His plan. When you freely forgive another, you cultivate the fruitful soil of God’s blessing. You are free to experience His love, grace, and mercy. Focus your attention on God’s sufficiency for your hurt. He can use it to bring good in your life if you allow Him to forgive others through you as He has forgiven you.

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other...” Ephesians 4:32

Forgiving One Another

2011-11-17T00:05:00.000-08:00

“But Jesus was saying, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.” Luke 23:34

Jesus’ cry of pardon for those who nailed Him to an agonizing cross rings through the centuries: “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). In our humanity we wonder how even the divine Christ could think of such forgiveness for the scornful lot of Pharisees, soldiers, and those who jeered on the hill of Golgotha. Yet we, as disciples of Christ, are called by the Scriptures to be like our Teacher. Is there anything more difficult? Perhaps not. But are our circumstances any worse than the darkness of Calvary?

If forgiveness can be extended in the blackness of the cross, we can offer it in our shadows of hurt through Christ’s example. Jesus forgave because He knew sin’s deceit was at work in His persecutors. When people offend us, they do not fully understand the folly of their ways, the deceitfulness of sin, and the consequences of their actions.

Christ forgave because He had come to die for the sins of all men, including those who nailed Him to a tree. We forgive because we are called to love all men - even our enemies - knowing they too are objects of God’s seeking love. We can forgive because the forgiving Christ is within us.

“...forgive, if you have anything against anyone...” Mark 11:25

Confession and Fellowship

2011-11-16T00:04:00.000-08:00

“What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.” 1 John 1:3-4

A son engages his father in a heated argument. Upset, the son slams the door to his room and remains there for hours. Days later the son still refuses to talk to his father. Finally, one evening the father and son are reconciled - their differences resolved.

When a person receives Christ as his Savior, his sins are no longer counted against him. In the fullest sense he has been pardoned. However, that is not all that salvation secures. Christ comes to make His home in the heart of the believer through the Holy Spirit, and God becomes the believer’s heavenly Father. One of the greatest privileges the Christian has in this new relationship is fellowship with the Father.

However, when we sin our intimacy is broken. Like the angry son, our relationship with our Father is affected by our selfish behavior. Confession is vital because it is the means by which God restores our close communion. When we live with open, unconfessed sin, our ability to enjoy God is diminished. God is not waiting for our sacrifice to renew His fellowship with us. He waits for our humble confession.

“This is eternal life, that they may know You...” John 17:3

If We Confess...

2011-11-15T00:03:00.000-08:00

“This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.” 1 John 1:5-10

When Christ died on the cross, He was crucified for all the sins of the world. That means He died for your sins of yesterday. All of a believer’s past transgressions are forgiven through the cross. That means He died for your sins of today. Wherever a believer violates the Word of God or grieves the Spirit of God, he is forgiven through the cross. That also means He died for your sins of tomorrow. Regardless of future sins, the believer is forgiven through Christ.

Because of the totality of His forgiveness, confession takes on a different meaning than many Christians assign it. Since Christ has died for all of our sins - past, present, and future - we do not confess our sins in order to be forgiven. We are already forgiven.

The Greek word for confess, which is used by the apostle John, means “to agree.” Confession means we agree with God concerning our disobedience and His hatred of sin. Our confession aligns our hearts with God’s perspective and restores our fellowship. He has forgiven us. Our sin disrupts our communion with Him, not our standing before Him.

“If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” Psalm 66:18

A God of Mercy and Grace

2011-11-14T00:02:00.000-08:00

But when he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.’” So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.” And they began to celebrate. Luke 15:17-24

God is under no obligation to mankind. As Creator, Lord, and sovereign Judge, He can make any decisions He desires which conforms to His holy character. Thus, when man sinned and incurred His judgement, God could have closed down planet Earth and annihilated man. But He did not, and that is what makes forgiveness so amazing.

He is a God of unconditional love. His love for man cannot be cancelled by our rejection, unbelief, or disdain. He loves us with an everlasting love, and He has demonstrated that love through that sacrifice of His Son Jesus.

Our Lord is a God of amazing grace which means He bestows His goodness upon us despite our unworthiness. Grace means God gives and gives and gives without ceasing. Salvation is the noblest gift of that grace.

He is a God of infinite mercy. While His grace gives us what we do not deserve, His mercy withholds what we do deserve. Because of the cross, God is merciful to man, refusing to treat us according to our sins.

Forgiveness flows from the heart of a loving, merciful, and gracious Father who patiently seeks to bring the lost into His waiting arms.

“...Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting...” Psalm 138:8

Choose Life

2011-11-13T00:06:00.000-08:00

“But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:22-23

Life and death struggles were commonplace in our country’s formative years. A child with an infection usually died for lack of antibiotics. A drought or crop disease meant that some would die of malnourishment. Today such problems are solved without much difficulty. An infection can be treated with any of dozens of medicines, and a bad crop year is managed with increased exports or the release of stored reserves.

Forgiveness of sin, however, remains the ultimate life and death issue. God decreed the penalty for sin as eternal death, everlasting separation from the presence of a holy, loving God. The punishment is not a temporary assignment in some unknown world or a permanent unconsciousness or destruction of mind, soul, and body.

Made in the image of God, our soul is immortal - to dwell either in God’s presence (heaven) or away from His presence (hell). God wants us to choose life which He gives through faith in His Son who paid sin’s price on our behalf. He has done all He can to keep us from the place of torment (2 Pet. 3:9).

What decision have you made? Life or death hangs in the balance.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

Understanding God’s Grace

2011-11-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

“For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

When convicted serial murderer Ted Bundy publicly shared his religious beliefs days before his execution, many Christians doubted the reality of his conversion. Their reasoning is not necessarily based on his lack of sincerity or on erroneous doctrine but on the repulsiveness of Bundy’s crimes. How could someone who perpetrated such murders possibly by forgiven? - is their fundamental question.

This thinking fails to understand the complete inability of man to receive God’s forgiveness apart from a personal faith in Christ’s work on the cross. Mankind’s greatest need is forgiveness of sin because all men are lost. Moral men are guilty; immoral men are guilty.

When Christ died as our Substitute at Calvary and paid sin’s penalty, which is death, our righteous Judge was free to forgive men based on Christ’s full payment. With the sin debt paid, mankind can receive God’s pardon and gift of eternal life based completely and solely on Christ’s redeeming work.

God saves a Ted Bundy or a Good Sam on the same grounds: personal faith in Jesus Christ who shed His blood for the forgiveness of our sins - no matter how despicable they may be. The questions is not - is God able to save the worst of sinners?...But did the sinner genuinely receive Christ?

“...Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

Man’s Greatest Need

2011-11-10T00:06:00.000-08:00

“Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.’” Acts 2:37-39

What would you say is mankind’s greatest need? There are many people living in war-torn countries who would reply: “World peace.” There are others who inhabit famine-stricken regions who would respond: “An adequate food and water supply.” There are others who live in substandard housing or rural poverty who would answer: “Improved economic conditions.”

Perhaps you have your own answer in mind. It may be “family harmony” or “racial equality” or “a stable work environment.” Suppose each of these problems was somehow eliminated - peace came to nations, the hungry were fed, the poor were elevated. What then would be mankind’s greatest need?

The Bible declares the timeless answer. Mankind’s greatest problem - for every age, for every culture, for ever man and woman - is the forgiveness of sin. Every conceivable burden is the result of sin, beginning with Adam and Eve’s transgression and polluting each succeeding generation with its poison. Worse yet, each member of the human race is a sinner - guilty before a just, holy God with the terrible judgement of eternal death.

“...through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.” Acts 13:38

The God of Hope

2011-11-09T00:04:00.000-08:00

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Richards continues his wonderful summary on the powerful biblical concept of hope with this inspiring summary:

“In what do we hope?...It is God who is the focus and object - and ultimate guarantee - of our hope. Everything you and I hope for is wrapped up in Jesus. He is the power who works our present transformation. He is the one whose return marks history’s furthest horizon. He is the one thorough whom each believer will experience both the resurrection of the body and the future’s full expression of eternal life.

Like the OT saints, you and I will know hurt and uncertain tomorrows. We may suffer and experience tragedy, yet we can face the future expectantly. We may have to wait a while for the full experience of the good that God intends for us, but God is fully committed to everyone who makes a faith commitment to Him. ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope’ (Jeremiah 29:11).”

He is the hope of the hopeless, and He is all-sufficient for every burden. Hope in God and He will sustain you.

“Instruct those...rich in this present world not to...fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches...” 1 Timothy 6:17

Our Hope

2011-11-08T00:02:00.000-08:00

“Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.” 1 Peter 3:13-16

In his book, Expository Dictionary of Bible Words, Lawrence O. Richards defines the exciting, encouraging meaning of the New Testament word hope:

“In the New Testament (NT), hope is always the expectation of something good,” writes Richards. “It is also something we must wait for. In the NT unlike the OT [Old Testament], just what we hope for is carefully explained...Resurrection is a reality...Because believers will be raised to be with the Lord, we do ‘grieve like the rest of men who hope’ when death invades our circle of friends (1 Thess. 4:13).

The NT also associate hope with character. In the NT, character development is linked with patient endurance: doing the right thing despite delays in reaching goals or receiving rewards. So it is particularly significant when we are told that ‘endurance [is] inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ' (1 Thess. 1:3; Rom. 5:4-5). We are exhorted to ‘hold on to our courage the hope of which we boast’ (Heb. 3:6) and to make our hope sure showing ‘diligence to the very end’ (Heb. 6:11)....With hope we can maintain an optimistic outlook, even when things go wrong.”

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul...enters within the veil.” Hebrews 6:19

Put on the New Self

2011-11-07T00:06:00.000-08:00

“So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Ephesians 4:17-24

Once you realize your new identity and position in Christ, obedience to God’s Word takes on new dynamics. You do not have to be frightened or discouraged by biblical terms such as holiness. You can be holy because you are holy. Obeying the Scriptures can become an adventure and delight, not drudgery. We can experience the joy of following God as we embrace the following principles of our new identity.

First, know the truth. We can only obey what we know. That is why Paul wrote to the Romans: “Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin” (Rom.6:6). Rehearse daily who you are in Christ so that you might intimately know the truth.

Second, believe the truth. You cannot let feelings be your emotional or spiritual rudder. What God says about you as a new creature is true, no matter how you perceive yourself.

Third, act on the truth. Put into practice what God says. If God says to speak in such a way to bless others, do so.

There will be plenty of stumbling, but go on in Christ. Believe and practice what you know to be true, and the truth will set you free.

“And put on the new self, which...has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Ephesians 4:24

Know Who You Are!

2011-11-06T00:06:00.000-07:00

“So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’” John 8:31-32

It is God’s truth - eternal reality - that sets men free. When the truth of the gospel was presented concerning salvation, you believed its veracity and were liberated from the penalty of sin - death - and given eternal life. Now that you are a Christian, it is through your understanding of the truth of your new identity in Christ that you gain freedom and triumph over sin and entrenched patterns of destructive behavior.

In his book, Lifetime Guarantee, author Dr. Bill Gillham provides and extensive description of our new identity. Here is a partial list:

“You are accepted.” (Rom. 15:7)
“You are always led in His triumph.” (2 Cor. 2:14)
“You have boldness and confident access to God.” (Eph. 3:12)
“You were formerly dankness, but are now light. (Eph. 5:8)
“You have all your needs (not greeds) supplied.” (Phil. 4:19)
“You are a son and an heir.” (Gal. 4:7)
“You are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 1:3)

Meditate on these truths. Think of their wonderful implications. God has set you free to enjoy an abundant life through your new identity in Him.

“Having been buried with Him in baptism...you were also raised up with Him...” Colossians 2:12

Live Like Who You Are!

2011-11-04T00:02:00.000-07:00

“For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day - things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.” Colossians 2:9-17

The reason a Christian can think like a new man and, therefore, act like a new man is because he is a new man in Christ Jesus. We tend to view the Christian life like a patched tire. We think of salvation as something added to our lives when we accepted Christ, repairing the puncture of sin but still leaving us damaged. That is not the biblical version at all. When we accepted Christ, we were given a new nature, Christ’s nature. We were give a brand new tire so to speak, not a retread.

You are no longer in Adam but in Christ. You are not partly in Christ and partly in Adam but completely in Christ (Col. 2:9). You have exchanged your old corrupt sin nature for Christ’s holy nature. This happened at the cross. You were crucified with Christ, buried with Christ, and risen with Christ. God did it, placing you in Christ and Christ in you (1 Cor. 1:30).

The life of Christ is your life. You can conquer any sin habit because you are now a slave of righteousness, not a slave of sin. As a new creature in Christ, you are free to serve Christ. You still may choose to sin, but you don’t have to for you have died to sin and are fully alive to God in Christ (Rom. 6:6-11).

“...our old self was crucified with Him, in order that...we would no longer be slaves to sin.” Romans 6:6

Control Your Thoughts

2011-11-03T00:05:00.000-07:00

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1-3

As we looked yesterday, Paul reminded the Corinthians of their position in Christ - holy, righteous, and blameless - because he knew their thinking must change before their behavior could be altered. Here is where many fail to overcome unwanted habits. We try to change our actions without our thinking being conformed to God’s truth. We inevitably act the way we perceive ourselves. If we feel like unworthy sinners, then we will usually act like one - guilt-ridden, erratic, and unhappy. Satan points his dirty finger at our actions and accuses us as vile sinners until we finally believe him.

Don’t believe a lie! Don’t yield to the father of lies and the accuser of the brethren who has no truth in him. This is the truth: You are a saint who occasionally sins. However, nothing you did yesterday, today, or tomorrow can change your position in Christ.

When you do sin, even habitually, you are not acting according to your true desires or identity as God’s holy one. You are acting inconsistently with your new nature in Christ. God says you are a saint now that you have received Christ. That is why you can experience victory over all sin. Christ is in you. He will make you more than a conqueror as you know the truth that sets you free.

“...Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me...” Matthew 16:23

Your Identity in Christ

2011-11-02T00:04:00.000-07:00

“Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

You are locked into a bad habit you cannot seem to lick. The more you try to do what God says is right, the tighter the vise. You struggle - for months, for years. There is some measure of release at times, but you still feel captive to the problem.

If that sounds like a familiar scenario to you, don’t give up. God has provided a way of escape, no matter how deep the bondage. He is the Rescuer. There is help in the battle. Knowing the truth, not struggling against the lie, is what sets you free. Receiving the victory, not trying to attain it, is Christ’s liberating message.

When the apostle Paul penned his first epistle to the Corinthians the church was a mess. The people lived in immorality, were involved in idol worship, and quarreled about their leadership. You would think Paul would immediately berate the Corinthians. Instead, he begins his letter with a remarkable description of their identity in Christ. He calls them “saints” or “holy ones.” He says they “have been sanctified,” not “will be sanctified.” He continues to remind them of the grace richly available to them.

Paul spoke the truth that sets men free - knowing you are in Christ will change your behavior.

“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6

Christ our Peace

2011-11-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

“These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:25-27

The key to peace is learning to focus on one thing - Jesus Christ. The enemy knows if we learn this secret, we will hold the truth to prevailing peace and nothing he throws our way will shatter our inner strength. Prevailing peace is the peace Christ experienced in the garden the night of His arrest. It is the same peace God offers us through our relationship with Jesus Christ. It is internal, not external. It is not based on our circumstances. We live in a world of conflict and strife, but prevailing peace surpasses the world’s strife.

How do we learn to focus on Christ as our peace, especially when facing doubts and fears? Recall His words of love to you. Repeat His promises from His Word, and ask Him to give you and inner ability to lay your spirit down within His arms of love. Peace comes when you let go of yourself and let Christ hold you.

Prevailing peace is not a passive peace. It is peace in action. It speaks of hope, of victory, and of triumph. It is a peace that cannot be defeated because it is founding in God. As the Prince of Peace, Jesus has promised to place Satan and all his forces under your feet.

Claim God’s peace as your and rest in the fact that He is your prevailing peace.

“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3

He Knows You!

2011-10-31T00:05:00.000-07:00

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

We may never know the reason why some things happen in life. A friend dies in a senseless auto accident, a loved one suffers with a terminal illness, a child dies from a rare, incurable disease. We wonder how any good could possibly come from such heartache. There are times when God reveals the purpose for our suffering. Other times He doesn’t. It is in those hidden times that our faith is tested and stretched.

Jesus knew the will of the Father. He understood that pain and suffering was part of the plan. Yet, He cried from the cross: “My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46). For one brief moment in time, Jesus felt all the emotions that we feel in tragedy - loneliness, fear, confusion, abandonment. That is why He tells us to come to Him when our hearts are breaking, when fear has absorbed us, when we don’t know how we will face tomorrow, when all within us wants to question His judgement. He understands our hurt; He personally knows our pain.

There is a mystery to tragedy, but it is not mysterious to Jesus. He knows the plan. He may not always provide all the answers you want to hear, but He promises never to leave you alone in the midst of the trial. Call out to Him, my friend; He is listening.

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us...” Deuteronomy 29:29

Get Back in the Game!

2011-10-30T00:01:00.000-07:00

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.’” John 21:15-17

After the last game of the World Series, one of the losing team’s players was asked to talk about his feelings of disappointment. A smile filled his face as he replied: “There’s only one hundred-sixty days until we can begin this all over. We have learned a great deal and next time we will win.” In principle that is the way God wants us to view our failures. He knows that failure has the potential to either motivate us to try again or devastate us to the point of defeat.

Peter’s heart was broken by the magnitude of his failure. Nonetheless, the Lord had already prepared the way for His restoration. After His resurrection and before His ascension, Jesus pulled Peter aside. Had He not taken the time to restore Peter, the disciple would have faded into obscurity. His heart was shattered. He had failed the Lord, the Messiah, his best Friend.

It was in failure that Peter learned of his weaknesses. Whereas, it was in restoration that he learned of Christ’s love and forgiveness. What is God’s encouraging message to you in times of failure? Get up and brush yourself off. If there is sin involved, confess it. Get back in the game. His restoration is yours today.

“...I have loved you with an everlasting love...” Jeremiah 31:3

Growing Through Failure

2011-10-28T00:02:00.000-07:00

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.” Luke 22:31-34

All of us have experienced failure - times when we rebelled from what God wanted us to do or moments when temptation became so great we collapsed under its pressure. Peter was one of the three men closest to Jesus. Despite his zealous nature, his insensitive spirit, and fiery temper, he was a born leader. In him Jesus saw a uniqueness that was rare among men - a hidden strength. However, it lay dormant, untested, and unrefined by God’s standards.

Until Peter denied Christ, he had no idea of the unfaithfulness of his heart. Failure was the tool God chose to sift Peter’s heart. Just as chaff surfaces during the winnow process, failure reveals the motivations of our hearts.

Learning to respond correctly to failure leads to spiritual growth. Ask God to reveal any sin in your life. Confess it and deal with it. Then move on in service for the Lord. Notice what Jesus told Peter before he denied Him: “...once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32). That is God’s encouraging message to you today. Our failures are never meant to be the end of our service. They are strategically allowed by God to refine us for His work and His glory.

“...the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Romans 8:26

The Rewards of Obedience

2011-10-27T00:04:00.000-07:00

It happened when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent word to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Now let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.” So Naaman came with his horses and his chariots and stood at the doorway of the house of Elisha. Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.” But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.’ Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, “My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean.
2 Kings 5:8-14

It was the hardest thing she had ever done. Damp palms and a tension headache told the story. Obedience should be easy, but it wasn’t. She betrayed her employer’s trust without thinking. Now God was pressing her to go to him and tell the truth.

Even in our failures, God rewards obedience. We may suffer the consequences of sin, but obedience brings restoration. The next time temptation approaches, recall the rewards of obedience and respond accordingly.

There are three primary reasons why we should obey God. The first is because of who God is -the sovereign of the universe. The second reason is because of His love toward us. God only requires us to do what He knows is best for us. The third reason is because of our love and devotion to Him.

God has never required us to do something He is not willing to do Himself. Obedience is always the doorway to God’s richest blessings. Jesus stepped away from heaven’s glory to obey the Father’s will. His obedience was motivated by love. Had He refused, we would have never known the way of salvation.

Anytime God calls you into obedience, you can be sure that He has a grander plan in store for your life.

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:7

The Temptation of the Immediate

2011-10-26T00:02:00.000-07:00

“See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.” Hebrews 12:15-17

As the first born son in a Hebrew family, Esau was in a position of extreme advantage. Much of his father’s wealth, land, and power would one day be his. Regardless of his affirming heritage, he was not above temptation.

Satan tempted Esau to resign his birthright to his younger brother after a time of intense stress. The worst time to make a crucial, life-impacting decision is during times of physical or emotional stress. The enemy knows the vulnerability of those moments.

He also knows if he can get us to change our focus from Jesus to the intensity of our circumstances, we will make horrendous mistakes. Had Esau not fallen for Satan’s temptation by trying to satisfy an immediate need, he never would have given away his birthright - a decision that haunted him the rest of His life.

You may be facing an intense temptation to make an immediate decision. Deep down inside you sense God telling you to wait; but you are afraid that if you wait, you will miss the opportunity. Take time to lay the matter completely before Him in prayer. His timing is always perfect, and He will satisfy your deepest need. Had Esau waited in wisdom, He never would have known a moment of need.

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise.” Ephesians 5:15

Pray Before You Act

2011-10-25T00:03:00.000-07:00

“When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents. Now Isaac loved Esau, because he had a taste for game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; and Esau said to Jacob, ‘Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished.’ Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, ‘First sell me your birthright.’ Esau said, ‘Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?’ And Jacob said, ‘First swear to me’; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.” Genesis 25:27-34

He had a beautiful wife, two children, a spacious home, and a promising position on his job. Yet, in a moment of thoughtless passion, he lost it all. He was sure no one would find out, but they did. He jeopardized everything. We ask him, “Don’t you care about your wife and children?” and the answer is a painful, heart-breaking yes.

Passion clouded his thoughts. Had he stopped to think about the future and the tragedy of his decision, he would have said no. But he did not, and the need for self-gratification won out.

We shake our heads in disbelief at Esau because he sold his birthright for a bowl of stew. However, the irony is that we do the same thing today; the results are just as devastating. Anytime we make a decision based on an intense desire to satisfy an immediate need, we run the risk of making tragic mistakes. For the sake of gratifying needs, people make thoughtless commitments that God cannot bless.

The next time you feel the urge to act in the immediacy of the moment, stop, walk away, and ask God: “Does this line up with Your very best for my life?”

“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

For I Am Convinced!

2011-10-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

“Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, ‘For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39

The greatest truth the believer can cling to in time of need is that no problem, regardless of intensity or nature, can hinder the free, full flow of God’s love toward himself. The love of God is not just sentiment. It is not just a warm feeling or a sweet Christian saying. The love of God means that He is working to accomplish His purposes in your life in every stressful situation.

There is nothing random about your problem. It is not merely the result of fleeting earthly forces at work. Before you were born, before the universe was conceived, God knew about and figured your particular trouble into His master scheme. You may not be able to understand what is happening or why this problem has arisen. But you do know the God who has the answers and the power to bring you through.

Each time of testing is an occasion to see God work and trust Him for the results. It is an opportunity to grow in dependence on Him and discover His greatness for yourself. You are a conqueror in Christ in every situation because the Conqueror, Jesus Christ, is in control of you and your circumstances. Nothing or no one can outwit Him or overcome Him.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God...” Romans 8:28

If God is For Us Then...

2011-10-23T00:02:00.000-07:00

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” Romans 8:31-34

Christians face the same dilemmas as everyone else. Christian soldiers in the Middle East must confront the same enemy as non-Christians. Believers in the business would must deal with the same volatile economic pressures as unbelievers. Christians must encounter the same moral temptations as the unsaved. Understanding that our faith does not eliminate our problems, we can, however, have a tremendous advantage in working through them.

As a Christian, God is “for us” (Rom. 8:31). That means we never face a circumstance without God’s help and participating presence. God is intimately involved in our situations.

As a Christian, God will “freely give us all things” (Rom. 8:32). God does not withhold our needs in times of trouble. He will comfort, lead, and sustain us. We have His unlimited resources to draw upon in our difficulty.

As a Christian, we also have Christ who “also intercedes for us” (Rom. 8:34). You may not know how or what to pray. But the Son of God is always praying on your behalf, presenting you before the Heavenly Father on a constant basis.

What reassurance! Troubles? Yes. Hopelessness? Never!

“The Lord is for me; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Psalm 118:6