Recently, I was speaking with someone whom I didn't know well. Mid-way through our conversation I found out that she claimed to be a Christian, and I was completely in shock because I just would not have guessed that in a million years based on the way I'd watched her live. I went away from that conversation really asking the Lord to change me in such a way that it would be evident to all Whom I serve. And included in our service to Him is the way we live.
"Live no longer as the Gentiles (ungodly) do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their closed minds are full of darkness; they are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds and hardened their hearts against Him. They don't care anymore about right or wrong, and they have given themselves over to immoral ways. Their lives are filled with all kinds of impurity and greed" (vs. 17-19).
When I read this, it makes me sad. I know people like this, and I love people who live their lives this way. Yes, they are making these choices for themselves, but the truth that they live their lives this way breaks Jesus' heart; and I pray that it will always break mine, too. I have to remember as I read sections like this that it is not a checklist for me: "I don't do that; I don't do THAT; oh gosh, and I never do that. I'm doing pretty well, I guess." That attitude is just rooted in pride. Were it not for God's grace toward me, where would I be? Paul wants us to read that and then remember:
"But that isn't what you were taught when you learned about Christ. Since you have heard all about Him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus, throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception" (vs. 22)
Throw it off. This obviously doesn't mean take your time getting rid of impurity and greed. Get rid of it immediately! Today! Now, I know, sometimes when I'm planning to start watching what I eat a little more, I might start by gearing up and saying, "well, I'll start Monday." But there is no waiting for Monday here. Whatever the Lord brings to your mind today, He wants you to throw it off. Now!
"Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness--righteous, holy, and true." This is like what I shared with you about my mom yesterday. Again, Paul is saying here, "You are a Christian. Here's how you act like it." And do we not want to be made new? Oh, please, do it in me, Lord. As I continue to pray for God's guidance in my life, He continues to show me just how rotten I am left to my own devices and my own sinful nature. I need Him to change me on the inside.
Though God is the ultimate make-over guru (gosh, He's been making people new for a long time), it still requires a desire and willingness on our part to choose to make different choices. See if any of these speak to you today:
"So put away falsehood and tell your neighbor the truth because we belong to each other. And don't sin by letting anger gain control over you. Don't let the sun do down while you are still angry, for anger gives a might foothold to the devil. If you are a thief, stop stealing. Begin using your hands for honest work, and then give generously to others in need. Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. (The Message says "Say only what helps, for each word is a gift).
"And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, He is the one who has identified you as His own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all (read these slowly) bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Jesus Christ has forgiven you" (vs. 25-31).
If I slow down and read each of those slowly while really searching my heart, I see some things for which I need to ask God's forgiveness. I even see one that I need to go ask forgiveness of someone I love. It's not fun to find areas of my life like that, but I know in asking for forgiveness and then walking in the other direction, I will be walking one step closer to becoming like my Lord.
Don't wait for Monday. Start walking toward Christ today!
Coffee with Jesus
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Ephesians 4:1-16 (How Now Shall We Live?)
When I was in high school, I can remember my mom talking with me when I had done something. She had discovered through our conversation that I was not telling her the entire truth, and I'm not surprised because she told us that she prayed daily that we "would get caught." And by God's grace, if I didn't get caught every stinking time I was doing the wrong thing! So as we were discussing my lack of truth-telling, she looked me in the eye and gently and confidently said to me, "McCrackens don't lie."
There was something about the way that she said it -- not in a proud way at all, but in a quiet confidence that let me know that our family chose to do it differently than the world. God's way. And from then on, I had the confidence to do the right thing and knew that I wasn't alone. My family and I were truth-tellers.
Now I can't say, sadly, that I have never told a lie since, but I have given great effort and prayer toward being a truth-teller because of my mom's reminder of my identity.
That is what I see Paul doing in the first verse in Ephesians 4. He says, "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." He is esteeming them in the Lord. And what does that look like? "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." In other words, if I could borrow the sentence structure of my mom, "You are a Christian. Christians are humble, patient, and peaceful."
But God did not intend for us to work on these characteristics of our new identity alone. In verse 11, Paul says that the Lord gave people gifts -- some would be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers in order to "prepare God's people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all...become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (vs. 12-13). I told you that the whole reason I am doing this 90 day challenge is because of listening to Pastor James MacDonald on my iPod. Preparing and building up the body of Christ is exactly what I hear him doing as I listen, and he challenges his listeners to be humble, patient and peaceful in a way that is incredibly convicting and challenging to me.
"Then, we will not longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men and their deceitful schemeing" (vs 14). Oh man...this was me! Put a powerful speaker who incorporates a bit of humor, and they will have me hook, line and sinker. I would buy whatever they're selling. Yet, I can see how God is changing my thinking to be more like His and teaching me to be a little more critical as I listen, even to Christian speakers. I want to make sure that nothing I decide to claim as my own thinking is out of line with the Word. To do this though, we have to know the Word.
There is a whole lot more to read and apply about specifics of how we should live in the rest of the chapter. But today, I want to remember my identity, the family to whom I belong:
1 Cor. 6:17: But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
Phil. 3:20: But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Cor. 3:16: Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
2 Cor. 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Eph. 2:20: For we are God's workmanship...
May we remember who we are today and seek to live a life worthy of it.
There was something about the way that she said it -- not in a proud way at all, but in a quiet confidence that let me know that our family chose to do it differently than the world. God's way. And from then on, I had the confidence to do the right thing and knew that I wasn't alone. My family and I were truth-tellers.
Now I can't say, sadly, that I have never told a lie since, but I have given great effort and prayer toward being a truth-teller because of my mom's reminder of my identity.
That is what I see Paul doing in the first verse in Ephesians 4. He says, "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." He is esteeming them in the Lord. And what does that look like? "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." In other words, if I could borrow the sentence structure of my mom, "You are a Christian. Christians are humble, patient, and peaceful."
But God did not intend for us to work on these characteristics of our new identity alone. In verse 11, Paul says that the Lord gave people gifts -- some would be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers in order to "prepare God's people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all...become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (vs. 12-13). I told you that the whole reason I am doing this 90 day challenge is because of listening to Pastor James MacDonald on my iPod. Preparing and building up the body of Christ is exactly what I hear him doing as I listen, and he challenges his listeners to be humble, patient and peaceful in a way that is incredibly convicting and challenging to me.
"Then, we will not longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men and their deceitful schemeing" (vs 14). Oh man...this was me! Put a powerful speaker who incorporates a bit of humor, and they will have me hook, line and sinker. I would buy whatever they're selling. Yet, I can see how God is changing my thinking to be more like His and teaching me to be a little more critical as I listen, even to Christian speakers. I want to make sure that nothing I decide to claim as my own thinking is out of line with the Word. To do this though, we have to know the Word.
There is a whole lot more to read and apply about specifics of how we should live in the rest of the chapter. But today, I want to remember my identity, the family to whom I belong:
1 Cor. 6:17: But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
Phil. 3:20: But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Cor. 3:16: Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
2 Cor. 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Eph. 2:20: For we are God's workmanship...
May we remember who we are today and seek to live a life worthy of it.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Ephesians 3 (Christ's Love for You)
Jesus loves you. This you know, right? Because the Bible tells you so? Yes, me too. But I still think that if I really understood this fully, some of my daily life choices might be different. For goodness sake, Christ tells me that the God of the Universe loves me and knows me personally, down to the very number of hairs that are on my head! That is a BIG deal. Yet, I'm astounded that I might even go one day without remembering that.
Apparently, some people in Ephesus were struggling to grasp the same thing that I am. Ephesians 4:17-19 says, "And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God."
I love this idea of roots. May our roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. Of course, roots are what transports nutrients to support a plant's life. Through our roots we can soak up whatever nourishment we will need to survive. Of course, if we're rooted in something other than the knowledge of Christ's love for us, we will not be nourished to the fullest extent. We are all rooted in something. All of us get our energy, our purpose, and our perspective from something. Yet Paul knows from experience that the abundant life is found in one who is rooted in the knowledge of Christ's love.
And "may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how WIDE...His love is." One dimension of Christ's love is that is is wide enough to reach out to the whole universe. And His love is wide enough to to cover the breadth of our experieces and our sins: "as far as the east is from the west, so far He has removed our transgressions from us" (Ps. 103:12).
His love is also LONG. Length makes me think of time. "You knit me together in my mother's womb" (Psalm 139:13). Even before you were born, God loved you. Picture this God knitting you together. What a picture of love that is! And God desires for us to be with him eternally...now that's a long time.
His love is HIGH and DEEP. It rises to great heights during times of our celebration, but it also goes down into the darkest valleys of our lives and is with us during our sorrow, discouragement, despair, and even all the way to the moment of death.
Yet, what brings me the most comfort from this passage today is that Paul tells us, "May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it." So, God knows that as much as I might desire to know Him fully and understand His ways, it just won't be happening this side of heaven. "For now we see only a reflection, as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12).
In the meantime, God is honored by our continual pursuit of Him, and quite frankly, I am better when I am in continual pursuit of Him. I can ask the Lord to show me His love for me as it is revealed so many different ways in His Word, and I can grow in my love for Him. But as for my unanswered questions, it's okay. I'm not meant to know everything now. Lord, help me to be okay with that while I wait, and just to trust that all I need to know is that Yes, Jesus Loves Me...the Bible tells me so.
Apparently, some people in Ephesus were struggling to grasp the same thing that I am. Ephesians 4:17-19 says, "And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God."
I love this idea of roots. May our roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. Of course, roots are what transports nutrients to support a plant's life. Through our roots we can soak up whatever nourishment we will need to survive. Of course, if we're rooted in something other than the knowledge of Christ's love for us, we will not be nourished to the fullest extent. We are all rooted in something. All of us get our energy, our purpose, and our perspective from something. Yet Paul knows from experience that the abundant life is found in one who is rooted in the knowledge of Christ's love.
And "may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how WIDE...His love is." One dimension of Christ's love is that is is wide enough to reach out to the whole universe. And His love is wide enough to to cover the breadth of our experieces and our sins: "as far as the east is from the west, so far He has removed our transgressions from us" (Ps. 103:12).
His love is also LONG. Length makes me think of time. "You knit me together in my mother's womb" (Psalm 139:13). Even before you were born, God loved you. Picture this God knitting you together. What a picture of love that is! And God desires for us to be with him eternally...now that's a long time.
His love is HIGH and DEEP. It rises to great heights during times of our celebration, but it also goes down into the darkest valleys of our lives and is with us during our sorrow, discouragement, despair, and even all the way to the moment of death.
Yet, what brings me the most comfort from this passage today is that Paul tells us, "May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it." So, God knows that as much as I might desire to know Him fully and understand His ways, it just won't be happening this side of heaven. "For now we see only a reflection, as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12).
In the meantime, God is honored by our continual pursuit of Him, and quite frankly, I am better when I am in continual pursuit of Him. I can ask the Lord to show me His love for me as it is revealed so many different ways in His Word, and I can grow in my love for Him. But as for my unanswered questions, it's okay. I'm not meant to know everything now. Lord, help me to be okay with that while I wait, and just to trust that all I need to know is that Yes, Jesus Loves Me...the Bible tells me so.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Ephesians 2:1-10 (Salvation Summary)
I must be frank with you. Today is a difficult day for me. My mom died two years ago today from cancer, and sometimes the pain is so intense that I can't imagine going on without her for another 60 years, if the Lord would have me live that long. But what I have been reminding myself all week, and I'm sure what I will continue to tell myself all day and for the next 60 years, is that I do not have to lose hope!
Our family's favorite verse during the back-to-back death of my grandma and then my mom was 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." This is the HOPE we have! (Maybe the next book we study should be 2 Cor....that is good stuff).
And I love that this verse that means so much to me today ties in with where we are in Ephesians. If you do not have this section marked in your Bible, mark it. Our passage for today I have labeled in my Bible "Salvation Summary." This is the whole picture of what really matters: (underlines mine)
"Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else.
But God, so rich in mercy, and He loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's special favor that you have been saved!) For He raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with Him in the heavenly realms--all because we are one with Christ Jesus. And so God can always point to us examples of the incredible wealth of His favor and kindness toward us, as shown in all He has done for us through Jesus Christ.
God saved you by His special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago."
And it's because of this gift of salvation, from the Lord who loves me, that I am promised eternal life in heaven, where I know my incredible mom is right this very moment, and I will join her there one day in the presence of Jesus.
So, "we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever."
Amen.
Our family's favorite verse during the back-to-back death of my grandma and then my mom was 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." This is the HOPE we have! (Maybe the next book we study should be 2 Cor....that is good stuff).
And I love that this verse that means so much to me today ties in with where we are in Ephesians. If you do not have this section marked in your Bible, mark it. Our passage for today I have labeled in my Bible "Salvation Summary." This is the whole picture of what really matters: (underlines mine)
"Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else.
But God, so rich in mercy, and He loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's special favor that you have been saved!) For He raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with Him in the heavenly realms--all because we are one with Christ Jesus. And so God can always point to us examples of the incredible wealth of His favor and kindness toward us, as shown in all He has done for us through Jesus Christ.
God saved you by His special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago."
And it's because of this gift of salvation, from the Lord who loves me, that I am promised eternal life in heaven, where I know my incredible mom is right this very moment, and I will join her there one day in the presence of Jesus.
So, "we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever."
Amen.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Ephesians 1:15-23 (Paul Prays for You)
The book of Ephesians is not written to a small group of people, but rather to the entire body of believers in Ephesus, and much of this book is referring to how The Church should be (all Christians everywhere). Paul says in verse 15-16 "Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and you love for Christians everywhere, I have never stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly," and I would like to extend that to this part of The Body who is online. If Paul was such a great letter writer back in the day, don't you think he would totally be a blogger if he were alive today? I think so. And what an encourager he is -- "I have never stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly." He is such an encourager of Christians. I think so many times, we know that we need to reach out to the poor down at the shelter and to the woman and her children staying at the battered women's shelter. But in Galatians 6:10, Paul also reminds us that "as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to our family of believers." (I just recently saw this and realized how important it is to care for Christians, too...duh, Molly). So, what does Paul pray for when he prays about The Church?
"asking God...to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might grow in your knowledge of God." That's my prayer for us on this journey! Lord, I just want to grow to know You more! Because in our growth in knowledge of Him, we can't help but become more like Him. "I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light (discernment and understanding) so that you can understand the wonderful future He has promised to those He called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given His people." Paul knows that once we REALLY understand who God is and who Jesus is to us, our lives will be changed. This wonderful future he's talking about is heaven. Don't I know that if I could just catch one little glimpse of what it really looks like, my attitudes, perspectives and actions would change? Yes, but this is where faith steps in, believing in what we cannot see; and Paul says he prays for spiritual wisdom and understanding because he knows that once we Know Christ, our lives will be changed. Look at this...
"I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead." Oh my gosh! This is huge! We have access to this God who has the power to raise someone from the DEAD. We have heard that story so many times, but just think about the incredible amount of power that is! Can you do that? Can you raise someone from the dead? I'm gonna take a stab at this one...no, you can't. But Our God can! And who does that verse say that power is for? "The incredible power for US who believe Him." His power is available to us! What do you need Him to do in your life today? Do you have a relationship that has been ripped apart? He can mend it. Did you lose your job? He can find you a job. Are you lonely? He can fill that loneliness. Because He has the power to raise people from the dead, do you not know that he has power to work miracles in your life?
"Now He is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader of anything else in this world or in the world to come. And God has put all things under the authority of Christ..." We do not need to fear anything or anyone. Our God has the victory and authority over any dictator, or nation, or even satan himself. The deal is already sealed. Now we can rest assured as we wait for Christ's return. You need not fear or worry about any single thing today. God, your Lord who loves you, has got this, and He will protect you and provide for you. What a comfort to know that I can live this day in the freedom of knowing Who I serve. May these truths give you peace today.
"asking God...to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might grow in your knowledge of God." That's my prayer for us on this journey! Lord, I just want to grow to know You more! Because in our growth in knowledge of Him, we can't help but become more like Him. "I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light (discernment and understanding) so that you can understand the wonderful future He has promised to those He called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given His people." Paul knows that once we REALLY understand who God is and who Jesus is to us, our lives will be changed. This wonderful future he's talking about is heaven. Don't I know that if I could just catch one little glimpse of what it really looks like, my attitudes, perspectives and actions would change? Yes, but this is where faith steps in, believing in what we cannot see; and Paul says he prays for spiritual wisdom and understanding because he knows that once we Know Christ, our lives will be changed. Look at this...
"I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead." Oh my gosh! This is huge! We have access to this God who has the power to raise someone from the DEAD. We have heard that story so many times, but just think about the incredible amount of power that is! Can you do that? Can you raise someone from the dead? I'm gonna take a stab at this one...no, you can't. But Our God can! And who does that verse say that power is for? "The incredible power for US who believe Him." His power is available to us! What do you need Him to do in your life today? Do you have a relationship that has been ripped apart? He can mend it. Did you lose your job? He can find you a job. Are you lonely? He can fill that loneliness. Because He has the power to raise people from the dead, do you not know that he has power to work miracles in your life?
"Now He is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader of anything else in this world or in the world to come. And God has put all things under the authority of Christ..." We do not need to fear anything or anyone. Our God has the victory and authority over any dictator, or nation, or even satan himself. The deal is already sealed. Now we can rest assured as we wait for Christ's return. You need not fear or worry about any single thing today. God, your Lord who loves you, has got this, and He will protect you and provide for you. What a comfort to know that I can live this day in the freedom of knowing Who I serve. May these truths give you peace today.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Ephesians 1:1-14 & Psalm 5 (The Goodness of God)
Christ the Lord is risen today! I hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend. We're going to jump into Ephesians next, and I pray today's passage will just add to your Easter experience.
As I read this section of scripture, I can't help but hear the goodness of God! There are some pretty heated theological points in this passage (predestination, etc.) which I will not be addressing today -- that would take more study time than my little hour in the morning allows. I did find myself hung up on the words "predestined" and "chosen" as I read, but let me just say this, the character of our Lord is in 2 Peter 3:9, "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." This I know to be true.
As you read this section, and I hope you read it a couple times so that it really sinks in, I would highly encourage you to put your name wherever you see a pronoun (we, us, etc). Because THAT is how God feels about YOU. Go ahead; try it. Put your name wherever I have a blank:
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed __ in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose __ in Him before the creation of the work to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestined __ to be adopted as His son/daughter through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His will and pleasure..." (Do you see that, it makes Him happy!) "to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given ___in the One he loves."
Okay, now slow down. I know you rushed through it. Read it again...slowly.
Do you see how much He loves you? Oh my, soak that in this morning! He is crazy about you!
Not only that, but then once we have accepted Him and this gift and Love that he wants to give us, the following gifts also follow starting at verse 7. "In Him, we have..."
"redemption through His blood," Our sin requires such a large sacrifice that we would never be able to pay it by ourselves, but He paid it for us because he is God. The sacrifice of a perfect God is all that would be enough to cover our great sins. And He paid it for us! He was the only way we could be forgiven, and He did it!
"the forgiveness of sins" Not only did he pay for our sin, but he forgives us of it. He's not holding it over us. Do you still feel that your sin is with you wherever you go? That guilt doesn't come from Him. Since He's already forgotten it the moment you asked for His forgiveness, ask Him to help you forget it, and walk in the freedom that He's given you.
"all wisdom and understanding" Wow, Lord. You already paid for my sin AND forgave me of my sin. And now you're going to give me wisdom and understanding? (That's part of the grace that was mentioned in this verse -- getting something I don't deserve). In Him, we have insight that does not come from us. It is a gift.
Finally, comes the icing on the cake, which is found in verse 13, "Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession." The Holy Spirit is the stamp that God uses to claim that you belong to Him while you are still on this earth and await your eternal home in heaven! Such hope we have! According to Eph. 2:18, it is through that Holy Spirit that we have access to the Father. We can pray whenever, wherever because of the Holy Spirit living in us.
These are the "big" gifts of our faith. If you're like me and have known Christ for a while, it's so easy to look past what a big deal this is sometimes. I am constantly asking God to really help me understand the weight of what all this means. But if these concepts are too much, add more gifts to your own list. The gifts that He gives us are endless. Many times He reveals Himself in the little things. How is God revealing His goodness to you today?
As I read this section of scripture, I can't help but hear the goodness of God! There are some pretty heated theological points in this passage (predestination, etc.) which I will not be addressing today -- that would take more study time than my little hour in the morning allows. I did find myself hung up on the words "predestined" and "chosen" as I read, but let me just say this, the character of our Lord is in 2 Peter 3:9, "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." This I know to be true.
As you read this section, and I hope you read it a couple times so that it really sinks in, I would highly encourage you to put your name wherever you see a pronoun (we, us, etc). Because THAT is how God feels about YOU. Go ahead; try it. Put your name wherever I have a blank:
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed __ in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose __ in Him before the creation of the work to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestined __ to be adopted as His son/daughter through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His will and pleasure..." (Do you see that, it makes Him happy!) "to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given ___in the One he loves."
Okay, now slow down. I know you rushed through it. Read it again...slowly.
Do you see how much He loves you? Oh my, soak that in this morning! He is crazy about you!
Not only that, but then once we have accepted Him and this gift and Love that he wants to give us, the following gifts also follow starting at verse 7. "In Him, we have..."
"redemption through His blood," Our sin requires such a large sacrifice that we would never be able to pay it by ourselves, but He paid it for us because he is God. The sacrifice of a perfect God is all that would be enough to cover our great sins. And He paid it for us! He was the only way we could be forgiven, and He did it!
"the forgiveness of sins" Not only did he pay for our sin, but he forgives us of it. He's not holding it over us. Do you still feel that your sin is with you wherever you go? That guilt doesn't come from Him. Since He's already forgotten it the moment you asked for His forgiveness, ask Him to help you forget it, and walk in the freedom that He's given you.
"all wisdom and understanding" Wow, Lord. You already paid for my sin AND forgave me of my sin. And now you're going to give me wisdom and understanding? (That's part of the grace that was mentioned in this verse -- getting something I don't deserve). In Him, we have insight that does not come from us. It is a gift.
Finally, comes the icing on the cake, which is found in verse 13, "Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession." The Holy Spirit is the stamp that God uses to claim that you belong to Him while you are still on this earth and await your eternal home in heaven! Such hope we have! According to Eph. 2:18, it is through that Holy Spirit that we have access to the Father. We can pray whenever, wherever because of the Holy Spirit living in us.
These are the "big" gifts of our faith. If you're like me and have known Christ for a while, it's so easy to look past what a big deal this is sometimes. I am constantly asking God to really help me understand the weight of what all this means. But if these concepts are too much, add more gifts to your own list. The gifts that He gives us are endless. Many times He reveals Himself in the little things. How is God revealing His goodness to you today?
Friday, April 22, 2011
Easter Weekend 2 (Judas)
Jesus washed His disciples feet...yeah, yeah, we know...that has been my very poor attitude at times as I have recounted this part of Easter week. But more than once during this week, I have been moved by the idea that Jesus washed ALL of His disciples feet, even the man that would betray him.
I invite you to read all of this account in John 13: 1-17.
Verse 2 tells us that "the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus." So think about Judas coming to this Passover meal knowing what was already stirred in his heart and what he was planning to do to this Man who loved him. My mind races with questions: has Jesus not been abundantly good to you, Judas? Have you seen His power as you've watched His miracles? Can't you see the love that He has for YOU in His eyes? Yet, he would betray Him anyway.
The next verse lets us know that Jesus already knew that it was Judas who would betray Him, and being fully man and God, He must have struggled with what he was about to do. I am about to wash the feet of my betrayer. So, Jesus remembered what He had come to earth for in the first place. For verse 3 tells us, "Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God."
The next word is the absolute most powerful word to me in this whole passage: "So," Or we might say "because He knew this," because he know that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God "...he got up from the meal and wrapped a towel around his waist." Scripture doesn't say that He jumped up because he just couldn't wait to go wash Judas' feet! He wasn't thrilled about this part. I can imagine as He was walking to wash the first disciple's feet, He was probably praying and asking for strength. Jesus knew that he would be knelt before Judas, looking like a lowly servant, on the floor, peering up into Judas' eyes. What would Jesus see in those eyes? Yet, he first remembered Whose work He was doing on this earth. He remembered that all things were under Jesus' power -- he could have struck Judas down right then and there for doing what he did. And Jesus knew that soon He would be returning to God. This man, Judas, would be responsible for beginning that process that would ultimately lead to Jesus death in just a matter of a day or two. Despite all this, Jesus took that towel, moved from where He was sitting, and washed each and every one of the disciples' feet...anyway.
That is our God. Do you see this picture? Can you put yourself in His place and try to think of what emotions you would feel? After all you've done and how deeply you've loved this person who has been following you, talking with you daily, probably even shared some good belly laughs with you. But he's about to hand you over to die. This, loved ones, is what sets our God apart. He was a servant to all.
Today, this incomprehensibly powerful God and unbelievably humble man is going to die...for you.
I invite you to read all of this account in John 13: 1-17.
Verse 2 tells us that "the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus." So think about Judas coming to this Passover meal knowing what was already stirred in his heart and what he was planning to do to this Man who loved him. My mind races with questions: has Jesus not been abundantly good to you, Judas? Have you seen His power as you've watched His miracles? Can't you see the love that He has for YOU in His eyes? Yet, he would betray Him anyway.
The next verse lets us know that Jesus already knew that it was Judas who would betray Him, and being fully man and God, He must have struggled with what he was about to do. I am about to wash the feet of my betrayer. So, Jesus remembered what He had come to earth for in the first place. For verse 3 tells us, "Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God."
The next word is the absolute most powerful word to me in this whole passage: "So," Or we might say "because He knew this," because he know that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God "...he got up from the meal and wrapped a towel around his waist." Scripture doesn't say that He jumped up because he just couldn't wait to go wash Judas' feet! He wasn't thrilled about this part. I can imagine as He was walking to wash the first disciple's feet, He was probably praying and asking for strength. Jesus knew that he would be knelt before Judas, looking like a lowly servant, on the floor, peering up into Judas' eyes. What would Jesus see in those eyes? Yet, he first remembered Whose work He was doing on this earth. He remembered that all things were under Jesus' power -- he could have struck Judas down right then and there for doing what he did. And Jesus knew that soon He would be returning to God. This man, Judas, would be responsible for beginning that process that would ultimately lead to Jesus death in just a matter of a day or two. Despite all this, Jesus took that towel, moved from where He was sitting, and washed each and every one of the disciples' feet...anyway.
That is our God. Do you see this picture? Can you put yourself in His place and try to think of what emotions you would feel? After all you've done and how deeply you've loved this person who has been following you, talking with you daily, probably even shared some good belly laughs with you. But he's about to hand you over to die. This, loved ones, is what sets our God apart. He was a servant to all.
Today, this incomprehensibly powerful God and unbelievably humble man is going to die...for you.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Easter Weekend 1 (Given a Thorn)
"To keep me from becoming conceited...there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:7-8
Thorns hurt. They are alien, unnatural objects that when stuck in our flesh demand our attention until they are removed. In the above verse, Paul is not referencing a thorn that comes from a plant, but rather the paralyzing, pummeling, and painful thorns we encounter in life -- crumbling marriages, chronic illness, financial devastation, anxiety, shame over past failures, persistent doubt, or grief that just won't fade.
Jesus also pleaded with His Father three times in the Garden that His thorn, His future suffering, would be taken from Him. Sometime during that conversation with God, Jesus became content with the thorn the Father had given Him, because in John 18:11, Jesus says to a combative Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"
How was Jesus finally able to be content with what was about to happen? Remember that the thorn itself does not come from God. In the above verse, satan was the messenger and his purpose was to torment Paul. However, nothing can happen to us without God knowing it, and "in all things God works for the good of those who love Him" Romans 8:28).
Do you believe that, dear friends? Whether your trial has come early in your life, late in your life, or will last the rest of your life, God is intending to use this trial in your life, or He would not have allowed it. It will hurt. But you will be changed by it, if you allow Him to walk beside you and make you more like Himself. He wants us to rely on His grace and provision as we persevere.
He understands your thorns. Remember His crown.
Lord, I present my thorn to You. Thank you for walking beside me in this trial and promising that you always work for good. Help me to trust You completely as You make me more like you. Amen.
Thorns hurt. They are alien, unnatural objects that when stuck in our flesh demand our attention until they are removed. In the above verse, Paul is not referencing a thorn that comes from a plant, but rather the paralyzing, pummeling, and painful thorns we encounter in life -- crumbling marriages, chronic illness, financial devastation, anxiety, shame over past failures, persistent doubt, or grief that just won't fade.
Jesus also pleaded with His Father three times in the Garden that His thorn, His future suffering, would be taken from Him. Sometime during that conversation with God, Jesus became content with the thorn the Father had given Him, because in John 18:11, Jesus says to a combative Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"
How was Jesus finally able to be content with what was about to happen? Remember that the thorn itself does not come from God. In the above verse, satan was the messenger and his purpose was to torment Paul. However, nothing can happen to us without God knowing it, and "in all things God works for the good of those who love Him" Romans 8:28).
Do you believe that, dear friends? Whether your trial has come early in your life, late in your life, or will last the rest of your life, God is intending to use this trial in your life, or He would not have allowed it. It will hurt. But you will be changed by it, if you allow Him to walk beside you and make you more like Himself. He wants us to rely on His grace and provision as we persevere.
He understands your thorns. Remember His crown.
Lord, I present my thorn to You. Thank you for walking beside me in this trial and promising that you always work for good. Help me to trust You completely as You make me more like you. Amen.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Psalm 4 & Philippians 4 (Joy)
We're going straight to the point today: Joy. How do I get it?
Well, you're lucky, because today we are in the best book of the Bible for how to have joy, and I would say even the best chapter. Here are some things to think about as you read Philippians 4.
Verse 4: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" More than anything else, we can rejoice in Christ because of what He's done for us. If you're like me, someone who has been following Christ for a while, we can begin to take this very simple fact for granted. I have had to pray many times that He would make me more aware and grateful for what he did for me on the cross. Sadly, I can all too easily take his death for granted. This week is the perfect time for us to ask Him to remind us exactly what he did for us. We do not deserve this gift at all. If you feel like you have lost some of the passion and gratefulness, ask Him to show you your sin. And may you be filled with joy over-flowing once you see just how lost you were/are.
Verse 6: "Do not be anxious about anything..." How quickly I read over that verse as well sometimes. I have read it hundreds of times! Yet, notice that this is a command. Do not. This tells me that worry is a choice, since He is able to command me not to do it. We have no reason to fear or be anxious because we have a full trust in God, who says in Psalm 62, "One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving." If we serve and trust a God whose two main characteristics are power and love, then we can be sure that wherever we are, we are in a good place, and He's got this one. Don't worry.
Verse 6 continued: "with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." In other words, count your blessings. If we can slow down and take time to remember all that God has done and given in our lives, we will be more likely to trust Him when the rough times come. Speak these things that you're thankful for out loud to Him. Don't rush past the little things -- nothing is too small for which to be thankful. Allow these blessings and a spirit of praise to well up in your heart, and let satan hear where you are placing your trust! Then let "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your heart and mind" (vs. 7) as God whispers to you, See, I've done this before, and I've got this one, too. I'm right here with you.
Verse 8: "Whatever is right...think about such things." I could talk about each word in verse 8, but today, we're focusing on the word 'right'. The NLT uses the word 'true'. Where does Truth come from? Christ. As you are thinking, check yourself to make sure that what you're thinking today is actually true. Jesus is true; his word is true. Satan is the master at making you think the lies he places in your head are your thoughts and that they are true. Any idea he plants in your mind will not be joy-producing.
Verse 11-12: "for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty." Here is one of satan's lies: that what we have will make us content and bring us joy. Yet, we all know that within 24 hours of a purchase, and sometimes even sooner, the wave of giddiness has left us, and it's time to search for the next thing that might satisfy. Let me assure you--it won't. Satan wants us to continually try to find our contentment in 'stuff' until we're blue in the face, but Jesus says, Come to Me, and let me give you joy and contentment that are unshakable. The 'stuff' will never do it completely.
And how do we do all of this? Verse 13: "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." This seems to be a theme in this book, doesn't it? Lean on Christ. Ask Him for what you need, and He will supply it. Paul reminds us in verse 19, "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Paul is speaking from experience.
True Joy exists regardless of our circumstances. It doesn't mean we will never feel sad or discouraged. But when those moments come, and they will, we will look Up; and if we can't do it, we can ask God who will "lift up my head" himself (look at Psalm 3:3). What a beautiful picture!
Do these reminders inspire joy in you today? I sure hope so, because they do me! But if the burden is too heavy today, let your God hold you and lift up your head, and may you find joy when you look at Him.
Well, you're lucky, because today we are in the best book of the Bible for how to have joy, and I would say even the best chapter. Here are some things to think about as you read Philippians 4.
Verse 4: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" More than anything else, we can rejoice in Christ because of what He's done for us. If you're like me, someone who has been following Christ for a while, we can begin to take this very simple fact for granted. I have had to pray many times that He would make me more aware and grateful for what he did for me on the cross. Sadly, I can all too easily take his death for granted. This week is the perfect time for us to ask Him to remind us exactly what he did for us. We do not deserve this gift at all. If you feel like you have lost some of the passion and gratefulness, ask Him to show you your sin. And may you be filled with joy over-flowing once you see just how lost you were/are.
Verse 6: "Do not be anxious about anything..." How quickly I read over that verse as well sometimes. I have read it hundreds of times! Yet, notice that this is a command. Do not. This tells me that worry is a choice, since He is able to command me not to do it. We have no reason to fear or be anxious because we have a full trust in God, who says in Psalm 62, "One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving." If we serve and trust a God whose two main characteristics are power and love, then we can be sure that wherever we are, we are in a good place, and He's got this one. Don't worry.
Verse 6 continued: "with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." In other words, count your blessings. If we can slow down and take time to remember all that God has done and given in our lives, we will be more likely to trust Him when the rough times come. Speak these things that you're thankful for out loud to Him. Don't rush past the little things -- nothing is too small for which to be thankful. Allow these blessings and a spirit of praise to well up in your heart, and let satan hear where you are placing your trust! Then let "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your heart and mind" (vs. 7) as God whispers to you, See, I've done this before, and I've got this one, too. I'm right here with you.
Verse 8: "Whatever is right...think about such things." I could talk about each word in verse 8, but today, we're focusing on the word 'right'. The NLT uses the word 'true'. Where does Truth come from? Christ. As you are thinking, check yourself to make sure that what you're thinking today is actually true. Jesus is true; his word is true. Satan is the master at making you think the lies he places in your head are your thoughts and that they are true. Any idea he plants in your mind will not be joy-producing.
Verse 11-12: "for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty." Here is one of satan's lies: that what we have will make us content and bring us joy. Yet, we all know that within 24 hours of a purchase, and sometimes even sooner, the wave of giddiness has left us, and it's time to search for the next thing that might satisfy. Let me assure you--it won't. Satan wants us to continually try to find our contentment in 'stuff' until we're blue in the face, but Jesus says, Come to Me, and let me give you joy and contentment that are unshakable. The 'stuff' will never do it completely.
And how do we do all of this? Verse 13: "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." This seems to be a theme in this book, doesn't it? Lean on Christ. Ask Him for what you need, and He will supply it. Paul reminds us in verse 19, "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Paul is speaking from experience.
True Joy exists regardless of our circumstances. It doesn't mean we will never feel sad or discouraged. But when those moments come, and they will, we will look Up; and if we can't do it, we can ask God who will "lift up my head" himself (look at Psalm 3:3). What a beautiful picture!
Do these reminders inspire joy in you today? I sure hope so, because they do me! But if the burden is too heavy today, let your God hold you and lift up your head, and may you find joy when you look at Him.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Psalm 3 & Philippians 3 (The Goal)
Wow...take some time to read all of Philippians 3 if you haven't today, and if you possibly can, read it out loud and with some passion (c'mon, get that preacher voice going). I can just hear Paul exhorting this to his fellow Christians. Notice in verse 18, he even says that he speaks with tears in his eyes! Oh, to have the passion for Christ and for the lost that Paul has! I love this chapter, but for today, I want to focus on verses 8-14 specifically.
Vs. 8 "I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ..." Do you know someone who appears to have it all? That was Paul -- just look at verses 4-6. And he compares all of that a loss to Jesus. This coming from a man who has "been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again". If you haven't ever read the list, I challenge you to read all that Paul endured during his ministry. The list is in 2 Cor. 24-28. And after all that, he still would rather have Jesus than anything else!
So he wanted to know Christ Jesus, he said. In verses 4-6, Paul boasted about all that he had done that he thought at the time would put him in right-standing with God. But then in verse 9 he says that he doesn't want to be made right (a righteousness) that come from the law (following rules) but "that which is through faith in Christ -- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith." We are made right in God's eyes simply by trusting in Him! Not a single "good thing" we do will make us any better in God's eyes. But we are made perfect in God's eyes when we trust in Jesus Christ and what he did for us! That's all we have to do! Simple? Yes. Always easy? No. And it isn't always easy for Paul either. Look at verse 12 (I want to use the New Living Translation for this next verse): "I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection..." Phew, even Paul wasn't perfect.
"BUT, I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I straining to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven."
Have you even been in a race, even a relay race when you were younger maybe? Do you remember your team cheering you on? I feel that is what is verse is to me. The NLT says "keep working toward" and the NIV uses "press on toward", both of which help me to hear Paul and Jesus saying us: "Come on, ______(your name), just keep going! You are doing great! I am so proud of you. Not much longer; you're almost there! Don't stop now. Just keep going!" So what are we doing? We are pressing on.
Another action verb I see in that verse is forgetting the past. How often does our past come back to bite us? And satan knows this. If I keep her hung up in the past, she will never be able to move forward and keep going. We must forget it, friend. As much as you wish it were different sometimes, there is absolutely nothing in your power that you can do to change it. Don't let yourself focus your attention on the past. It's not worth it. Paul says this because he knows, even from his own life, how hard it is to forget the past. He killed Christians, and lots of them, before he met Jesus. Don't you suppose satan holds that over his head every day? But we must forget the past, not that it will completely be out of your mind forever, but that it no longer has power over you. Ask Jesus for the strength to let it go. He will give it to you.
The third action I see is looking forward to what lies ahead. What lies ahead for those of us who trust Jesus? Heaven! I wish I could sit with you now and tell you all that the Lord has taught me about heaven in the past two years. Before that time, I thought that we'd be singing in a choir for eternity and walking on gold streets. That was it. And I love singing, but I couldn't get excited about doing that for all eternity. But when we know the character of God, we can begin to understand what heaven really might be like. I recommend reading Randy Alcorn's 50 Days in Heaven to get a small, but powerful picture of what we can be looking forward to one day!
Finally, straining toward what is ahead. It will not be an easy race to run. Jesus doesn't promise it, and Paul didn't experience it that way either. It will be a strain at times. But in Jesus we have everything we need to keep going, and as Paul says in verse 15, "if you disagree (about these verses) on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you."
The goal is heaven. It will be worth it. Just keep going...you're almost there...you're doing great!
Vs. 8 "I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ..." Do you know someone who appears to have it all? That was Paul -- just look at verses 4-6. And he compares all of that a loss to Jesus. This coming from a man who has "been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again". If you haven't ever read the list, I challenge you to read all that Paul endured during his ministry. The list is in 2 Cor. 24-28. And after all that, he still would rather have Jesus than anything else!
So he wanted to know Christ Jesus, he said. In verses 4-6, Paul boasted about all that he had done that he thought at the time would put him in right-standing with God. But then in verse 9 he says that he doesn't want to be made right (a righteousness) that come from the law (following rules) but "that which is through faith in Christ -- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith." We are made right in God's eyes simply by trusting in Him! Not a single "good thing" we do will make us any better in God's eyes. But we are made perfect in God's eyes when we trust in Jesus Christ and what he did for us! That's all we have to do! Simple? Yes. Always easy? No. And it isn't always easy for Paul either. Look at verse 12 (I want to use the New Living Translation for this next verse): "I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection..." Phew, even Paul wasn't perfect.
"BUT, I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I straining to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven."
Have you even been in a race, even a relay race when you were younger maybe? Do you remember your team cheering you on? I feel that is what is verse is to me. The NLT says "keep working toward" and the NIV uses "press on toward", both of which help me to hear Paul and Jesus saying us: "Come on, ______(your name), just keep going! You are doing great! I am so proud of you. Not much longer; you're almost there! Don't stop now. Just keep going!" So what are we doing? We are pressing on.
Another action verb I see in that verse is forgetting the past. How often does our past come back to bite us? And satan knows this. If I keep her hung up in the past, she will never be able to move forward and keep going. We must forget it, friend. As much as you wish it were different sometimes, there is absolutely nothing in your power that you can do to change it. Don't let yourself focus your attention on the past. It's not worth it. Paul says this because he knows, even from his own life, how hard it is to forget the past. He killed Christians, and lots of them, before he met Jesus. Don't you suppose satan holds that over his head every day? But we must forget the past, not that it will completely be out of your mind forever, but that it no longer has power over you. Ask Jesus for the strength to let it go. He will give it to you.
The third action I see is looking forward to what lies ahead. What lies ahead for those of us who trust Jesus? Heaven! I wish I could sit with you now and tell you all that the Lord has taught me about heaven in the past two years. Before that time, I thought that we'd be singing in a choir for eternity and walking on gold streets. That was it. And I love singing, but I couldn't get excited about doing that for all eternity. But when we know the character of God, we can begin to understand what heaven really might be like. I recommend reading Randy Alcorn's 50 Days in Heaven to get a small, but powerful picture of what we can be looking forward to one day!
Finally, straining toward what is ahead. It will not be an easy race to run. Jesus doesn't promise it, and Paul didn't experience it that way either. It will be a strain at times. But in Jesus we have everything we need to keep going, and as Paul says in verse 15, "if you disagree (about these verses) on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you."
The goal is heaven. It will be worth it. Just keep going...you're almost there...you're doing great!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Psalm 2 & Philippians 2 (Shine Brightly for Christ)
Whether you have known Christ for a long time or not, you have probably heard the song "This Little Light of Mine". Often, this song has sounded so juvenile to me that I fail to miss the real, deep, and Biblical foundation of my faith in Christ that is really is.
Verses 14-15 in Philippians 2, says this:
"In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing, so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them."
We are living in a world of darkness. I'm sure I don't have to convince you of that; just turn on the news tonight! But it's easy to think that the people on the news might be living in darkness -- but what about your funny co-worker down the hall or your neighbor next door who always waves and says hi? If they don't know Jesus, they too, are living in darkness and they may not even know it.
That's where you come in. We are to live in such a way that people can see a difference. A big difference. We are to be the complete opposite of this dark world. We are to live without complaining (eeek, that's really hard when it seems like everyone is complaining...or should I saw "venting"). And we are to do things without arguing. Arguing stems from feeling like our "rights" were violated. So, let me ask you, what if Jesus had argued about His rights? And certainly, if anyone in all of existence ever had any rights about which to argue, it was Jesus. Yet, Jesus went to the cross without complaining or arguing. Imagine what the world would see if we could also relinquish our "rights" in humility and service to our Savior.
How do we do this? Sometimes, complaining and arguing just comes out! Guess what. Verse 13 has your answer..."For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.
By nature, we will complain and argue. We are sinful and self-seeking without Christ. But when Christ lives in us, God begins to do work in us that the world can't help but notice! Notice that our desire to live as Christ even comes from Christ himself! "You do not have because you do not ask," James 4:2 tells us. Ask him for the awareness and the opportunities, and then He will give you the power to be different.
Let your lives shine brightly before them, and then may you point them to Christ Himself.
Verses 14-15 in Philippians 2, says this:
"In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing, so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them."
We are living in a world of darkness. I'm sure I don't have to convince you of that; just turn on the news tonight! But it's easy to think that the people on the news might be living in darkness -- but what about your funny co-worker down the hall or your neighbor next door who always waves and says hi? If they don't know Jesus, they too, are living in darkness and they may not even know it.
That's where you come in. We are to live in such a way that people can see a difference. A big difference. We are to be the complete opposite of this dark world. We are to live without complaining (eeek, that's really hard when it seems like everyone is complaining...or should I saw "venting"). And we are to do things without arguing. Arguing stems from feeling like our "rights" were violated. So, let me ask you, what if Jesus had argued about His rights? And certainly, if anyone in all of existence ever had any rights about which to argue, it was Jesus. Yet, Jesus went to the cross without complaining or arguing. Imagine what the world would see if we could also relinquish our "rights" in humility and service to our Savior.
How do we do this? Sometimes, complaining and arguing just comes out! Guess what. Verse 13 has your answer..."For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.
By nature, we will complain and argue. We are sinful and self-seeking without Christ. But when Christ lives in us, God begins to do work in us that the world can't help but notice! Notice that our desire to live as Christ even comes from Christ himself! "You do not have because you do not ask," James 4:2 tells us. Ask him for the awareness and the opportunities, and then He will give you the power to be different.
Let your lives shine brightly before them, and then may you point them to Christ Himself.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Psalm 1 & Philippians 1 (Spiritual Maturity)
Do you ever wonder when you will finally arrive, spiritually speaking? We are surrounded by books that tell us "10 Days to Better Abs" or "How to Love Your Mother-in-Law in 5 Easy Steps" and we start to think that there must be an easy step-by-step plan to everything in life. But, if you've had any major disappointments in your life as I have, you have quickly found that there aren't easy steps and easy answers to everything. Such is our spiritual life. Paul even compares this life to a race, and the end isn't until we die and are in heaven! Yet, we continue to press onward, Paul says. Okay Paul, why would I want to keep pressing onward if I can never actually win the race here?
But that's just it, we can win the race down here. There is a way to run this race and live our lives that is The Way we should be doing it. There is a path to choose which leads to the prize at the end! There is also a path that leads to our destruction. Which path will we choose? Well, if you're reading this blog, I would hope that you are desiring, or curious about desiring, to run the direction that leads to the prize, which is Jesus and eternal life in heaven.
Okay, so I want that path. But now what? This is what I discovered in Psalm 1. I read two verses in Psalm 1 that lead to spiritual maturity and success in this life. Verses 2 and 3:
"But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper."
I would like to add a conjunction. "But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants, BECAUSE day and night they think about his law." You want some how-to steps? Okay, here you go...
Step 1: First, you must be thinking about his law, his Word. And you must think about it day and night. All the time! You may say, "but I don't know many verses by heart, how can I think about them?" The largest step is just cracking open that Bible and reading them for yourself. Then...
Step 2: Memorize them. We memorize hundreds of songs and lines from movies. We can also memorize scripture. It is a must. Put it on a note card and read it 7 times a day for a week. It will stick! Then, the Spirit can bring those words to mind when you need them. He can't bring them to mind if they're not in there though!
What's the result if we do this? Bearing fruit each season without fail this verse says. Each season! Do you know how incredible that is? That even in the midst of losing a loved one, we can bear great fruit. Even in the midst of a long season of unemployment, we can bear great fruit. Even in the midst of relational trouble like you have never experienced before, you can bear fruit. Fruit is the sweet part. Fruit is the good part that you wouldn't trade for anything. And God says, we will bear fruit every season without fail if we can get in His word. The fruit....well, that's spiritual maturity.
I challenge you. Take this 90 day challenge with me. Only GOOD can come from deciding to trust what God says about what happens when we make the choice to be disciplined in our full out pursuit of Him. Let's bear fruit together.
But that's just it, we can win the race down here. There is a way to run this race and live our lives that is The Way we should be doing it. There is a path to choose which leads to the prize at the end! There is also a path that leads to our destruction. Which path will we choose? Well, if you're reading this blog, I would hope that you are desiring, or curious about desiring, to run the direction that leads to the prize, which is Jesus and eternal life in heaven.
Okay, so I want that path. But now what? This is what I discovered in Psalm 1. I read two verses in Psalm 1 that lead to spiritual maturity and success in this life. Verses 2 and 3:
"But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper."
I would like to add a conjunction. "But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants, BECAUSE day and night they think about his law." You want some how-to steps? Okay, here you go...
Step 1: First, you must be thinking about his law, his Word. And you must think about it day and night. All the time! You may say, "but I don't know many verses by heart, how can I think about them?" The largest step is just cracking open that Bible and reading them for yourself. Then...
Step 2: Memorize them. We memorize hundreds of songs and lines from movies. We can also memorize scripture. It is a must. Put it on a note card and read it 7 times a day for a week. It will stick! Then, the Spirit can bring those words to mind when you need them. He can't bring them to mind if they're not in there though!
What's the result if we do this? Bearing fruit each season without fail this verse says. Each season! Do you know how incredible that is? That even in the midst of losing a loved one, we can bear great fruit. Even in the midst of a long season of unemployment, we can bear great fruit. Even in the midst of relational trouble like you have never experienced before, you can bear fruit. Fruit is the sweet part. Fruit is the good part that you wouldn't trade for anything. And God says, we will bear fruit every season without fail if we can get in His word. The fruit....well, that's spiritual maturity.
I challenge you. Take this 90 day challenge with me. Only GOOD can come from deciding to trust what God says about what happens when we make the choice to be disciplined in our full out pursuit of Him. Let's bear fruit together.
How it all began...
For a few years now, I have been listening to James MacDonald's sermons on my iPod while I run. Can I just tell you that this has absolutely changed my life?! For a long time, I thought that in order to get the most out of the Bible I always had to read it myself; but let me attest that listening to James has made me a better Bible reader (and doing it while running allows me to work on my physical and spiritual health at the same time). James has taught me how to break verses apart and look at them deeply. He also has been one of a handful influences in my life who has shown me what it is to DELIGHT in the Word.
In a recent podcast, he challenged us to READ the Bible (novel concept, eh?). But I realized that I had grown to the place where I now needed to not just be spoon-fed by James, but jump into the Bible myself and allow God to have an intimate relationship with me. Such was James' challenge..."it's time that you got serious about reading the Bible before you do anything else in your day." I knew this had to be true for me -- the fact is, I had tried to make time with God after work everyday, but how quickly I was distracted. Doing it in the morning would take discipline, he said. Haven't I heard that before? Yes. But for some reason, that day, I was ready to take the jump. Will it be "easy"? Well, I sure wish it was, but I think that is part of the blessing of discipline. It's not easy. It hurts sometimes. But it is ALWAYS worth the sacrifice. So, I decided it was time to try the plan. I was going to set my alarm just 30 minutes earlier, which, let me tell you, is a huge sacrifice for me. This girl loves her sleep!
After 30 days of this, he said I would be DISCIPLINED.
After 30 more days, I would DESIRE to get up and be with God.
After 30 more days, getting up early to read the Word would become my DELIGHT.
Oh, how I want to DELIGHT in reading the word and doing what God wants me to do!
So, I have done it now for two days in a row. The hard part hasn't really come yet; I know this. But the first day (yesterday) was amazing! My entire day was different because I had a different perspective, and I had gotten to drink my coffee with Jesus that morning. How incredibly special and intimate it was! That was the best coffee date I've ever had, and I make sure to have coffee with friends regularly.
So why the title, PSALM 1 WALK? Well, I didn't know where else to start reading but in Psalm 1 (and I decided to read through Philippians, too). And here is what I read first:
"Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. They leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper. (And later in verse 6) For the LORD watches over the path of the godly."
This is my desire, Lord. I desire to absolutely delight in doing everything you want because I know that your ways do not lead to destruction. I want to be planted along Your riverbed, drawing up your Truth as I walk through this life and not the lies of the culture and of satan. Help me to find my strength in you, so that I do not wither in this life, Lord. I want to prosper in whatever plans You have for me to do. Thank you for watching over me now and tomorrow. I give You my life.
In a recent podcast, he challenged us to READ the Bible (novel concept, eh?). But I realized that I had grown to the place where I now needed to not just be spoon-fed by James, but jump into the Bible myself and allow God to have an intimate relationship with me. Such was James' challenge..."it's time that you got serious about reading the Bible before you do anything else in your day." I knew this had to be true for me -- the fact is, I had tried to make time with God after work everyday, but how quickly I was distracted. Doing it in the morning would take discipline, he said. Haven't I heard that before? Yes. But for some reason, that day, I was ready to take the jump. Will it be "easy"? Well, I sure wish it was, but I think that is part of the blessing of discipline. It's not easy. It hurts sometimes. But it is ALWAYS worth the sacrifice. So, I decided it was time to try the plan. I was going to set my alarm just 30 minutes earlier, which, let me tell you, is a huge sacrifice for me. This girl loves her sleep!
After 30 days of this, he said I would be DISCIPLINED.
After 30 more days, I would DESIRE to get up and be with God.
After 30 more days, getting up early to read the Word would become my DELIGHT.
Oh, how I want to DELIGHT in reading the word and doing what God wants me to do!
So, I have done it now for two days in a row. The hard part hasn't really come yet; I know this. But the first day (yesterday) was amazing! My entire day was different because I had a different perspective, and I had gotten to drink my coffee with Jesus that morning. How incredibly special and intimate it was! That was the best coffee date I've ever had, and I make sure to have coffee with friends regularly.
So why the title, PSALM 1 WALK? Well, I didn't know where else to start reading but in Psalm 1 (and I decided to read through Philippians, too). And here is what I read first:
"Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. They leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper. (And later in verse 6) For the LORD watches over the path of the godly."
This is my desire, Lord. I desire to absolutely delight in doing everything you want because I know that your ways do not lead to destruction. I want to be planted along Your riverbed, drawing up your Truth as I walk through this life and not the lies of the culture and of satan. Help me to find my strength in you, so that I do not wither in this life, Lord. I want to prosper in whatever plans You have for me to do. Thank you for watching over me now and tomorrow. I give You my life.
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