God Stands You Firm

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV

One of the many things that God does that assures me of my faith is that behind everything I do, he is there leading me. Yes, I do my best to stand firm, to love as he loved me, and to be holy as he is holy. Sometimes I'm a bit like the t-shirt I saw a few months ago that read, "I'm a Christian, but I cuss a little." But, if I wasn't a Christian, if his Spirit wasn't in my heart, I wouldn't care. Just that I am convicted shows that the Spirit of God is living in me.

Now, it is God who makes us stand firm. Not our own passion, his faithfulness. We are holy in Christ. We are declared righteous by the work of Christ on the cross. The Spirit of God anoints us, sets his seal of ownership on us, puts his Spirit in our hearts which gives us that assurance guaranteeing what is to come.

God is faithful. He will make you stand firm.

In Love

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be

strong. Do everything in love.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV

Four things to be, one motive. Guard your heart, your marriage and your reputation (and...). Stand firm in what you know is true to the faith and how God who have you act. In what you do in Christ, in how you live daily for him, be courageous. Do what is right even if it hurts. May the Spirit give you the strength you need to act by faith in love.

Let Grace Have Its Effect

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 

1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV

What is the effect of God's grace on you? Paul was who he was, zealous, obvious type A personality before he was saved and after he was saved. But, the direction of his life was completed changed. He went from persecuting the church to building it up. From denying Christ to defending him. 

You are who you are, by the grace of God. But, now you are redeemed. If you are a driven person, be driven for Christ. If you are a quite but thoughtful person, be quite but thoughtful for Christ. Be who you are, by the grace of God, but let God's grace effect you as you seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.  

I Found What is Good

He who finds a wife finds what is good 
   and receives favor from the LORD.
Proverbs 18:22

Today I thank God for my wife and my wife for marrying me. It's our anniversary. 

God's Merciful Faithfulness

What are you thankful for today?

I am thankful for God's merciful faithfulness to me. 

Grace: We Serve, He Blesses

There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 

1 Corinthians 12:5-7 NIV

As far as our egos go, God doesn't need us to build his church. He always has his seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal (I Kings 19:18). But, his grace gives us a place and a purpose in the body of Christ. The divine beauty of it all is that we serve and up getting blessed. God created us to enjoy a measure of fulfillment from serving others. 

The bottom line is: just serve God, he will take care of you.

Word of the Day: Redeemed, Christ redeemed you.

With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,

the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

Psalms 77:15 NIV

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 

1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV

As you head into Friday remember that you are redeemed. Christ bought you, paid off your debts of sin (past, present and future). He redeemed you. He is your righteousness. He is your holiness. 

Christ did not come to give us a second chance at being righteous. We weren't saved to seek holiness by our own efforts. No, he redeemed us to live by faith in his righteousness, holiness. 

Choose to Build

"Everything is permissible"- but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"- but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good but the good of others. 

I Corinthians 10:23-24

As a teacher, I know what actually helps students learn. You can do a lot of things to temporarily get their attention, but, that does not mean the students are actually learning the content. Everything I do in the classroom is to help the students learn, to build them up. The funny thing is, kids don't realize that. Now, as Christians, everything the Word of God tells us is to build us up in Christ. Yet, often we don't realize that truth. 

My purpose and your purpose in the body of Christ is to build each other up, to seek their good. It does not matter what your gifts are, your purpose is to seek the good of others. I have been built up by someone telling me, "Good job, keep it up!" and "Get it together man, your wife needs you to stand strong and encourage her." One was kind of a pat on the back and the other was sort of a slap in the face. Both really built me up. 

So, there are a lot of things you can say and do in the Body of Christ, choose what will build other up in Christ.

Word of the Day: Great, God is Great

Your ways, God, are holy.

   What god is as great as our God?

You are the God who performs miracles;

   you display your power among the peoples.

With your mighty arm 
   you redeemed your people,

   the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

Psalms 77:13-15 NIV

What is a great thing God has done in your life?  I praise him for his greatness in protecting me from harm at work.

Just a Little Test

Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 

1 Corinthians 8:1 NIV

Just one little test. Does it build up? Is what I am about to say going to build the other person up or just puff me up? Did you ever notice that often when we put someone else down, it's really just to make us look better?

I can think of at least two situations yesterday alone where if I am honest with myself, I was not really trying to build someone else up. 

OK. So, no condemnation. What do I do? Well, for me, I have to find a way to build up those people. Sometimes, for me, it is hard because dealing with belligerent, uncontrolled teen agers who probably just need a good old fashion wood shed experience, is very challenging. Telling the truth in love is not always just a warm fuzzy exchange. But, the bottom line, the test is always: does it build up? 

Appeal to Answered Prayer

Do you remember an answered prayer? 

I like to pray that God would give me at least one redemptive conversation or moment (something I can do for others in his Name). Last Thursday, as I was walking back to my classroom from the office (it's just under a half mile from my room to the main office) I ran into one of our Building & Ground workers. I have known him for several years and it's always nice to hear how his family is doing. When I asked him how he was doing he told me that he honestly wasn't doing to well because his younger brother, a heart transplant recipient, went into the hospital the day before and was told he had two months to live. I listened and then asked if I could pray for him and he said yes. So, I did.  If you can, say a prayer for his brother.

The thing is, I normally don't walk that way back to my room, but because another worker was doing something I went through that wing. That's what is called a God-incidence. 

Tell us and answered prayer or God-incidence from your life.

You Were

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 6:11  NIV

Do you know what the first rule of Italian driving is? The answer: What's behind you doesn't matter. (If you know the movie that's one trivia point for you.) 

In one way, Christianity is like that; what happened in your past does not determine who you are in Christ. We were all enemies of God some way. But, in Christ, we were washed, sanctified and justified by the Spirit of our God. 

When I was in High School there was this one guy who everybody knew was the guy who pretty much did more drugs and partied more than anyone else. He became a Christian and at one of youth groups he gave his testimony. Everyone thought he was going to talk about his past. He simply said, "I was lost, but now I'm found. I was living in the dark, but now I'm in the light..." It was one of the shortest, most profound and moving testimonies I ever heard. We all knew what he was, and the beauty was that he just wanted to talk about and enjoy how God had made him a new person in Christ. 

Remember, it's not about who we were, it's about who we are in Christ. 

Remember the Power of His Presence

When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present..." 

I Corinthians 5:4

Sometimes I do things on my own and sometimes I forget to wait on the Lord. I think it's important to recognize what Paul is getting at here. He is dealing with the Corinthians who were not handling a situation with an immoral brother properly. I am struck with the idea that he instructs them to get together in the name of the Lord Jesus, to remember him (I think how he does things), and to be aware of the power of the presence of the Lord Jesus. 

How I think this applies to me (and you) is when I know something is wrong and/or that something needs to be dealt with, I need to approach it in a godly manner. I need to seek the Lord's will, remember how godly people have dealt with similar situations (Biblical examples and people I know), and wait upon the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm not talking warm fuzzy stuff, I am talking the peace of Christ. 

Before I get off on a tangent, I just want to get back to the idea of being in the presence of the Lord Jesus. I think this is all about acknowledging his Lordship, resting his Sovereignty and praising him for his mercy, grace and forgiveness. 

The Answer Is No

“Will the Lord reject forever?
   Will he never show his favor again? 
Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
   Has his promise failed for all time? 
Has God forgotten to be merciful?
   Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

Psalms 77:7-9 NIV

Praise be to God alone, the answer is no! In Christ he will not reject us. He will show his favor. His unfailing love will appear again and again. His promises are yes in Christ to us. His mercy is everlasting and his compassion is new every day! Praise be to God alone!

Word of the Day: Help, God is my Help

I cried out to God for help;
   I cried out to God to hear me.

When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; 
   at night I stretched out untiring hands,
   and I would not be comforted.

Psalms 77:1-2 NIV

We cry out to you for help. Thank you that in Christ, you hear us. You see and know our distress, struggles and trials. Use each one to make us more like Jesus. Comfort us with your Presence today. Praise be to you in us today!

Because of Him

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 

1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV

This is, for me, one of my go to verses. When I'm feeling condemned, I remember that Christ Jesus is my righteousness, holiness and redemption. Where is my righteousness? How am I holy? Who redeems me? In Christ Jesus. 

So, I encourage you to remember this verse and when you read about righteousness, holiness and redemption, remember that God in his wisdom gave all that to us in Christ.  

He Will Keep You

Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:7-9 NIV

The amazing truth that God himself will keep us firm to the end encourages us to keep pressing on in Christ. 

In one way it's like the Spirit is our personal spiritual trainer. He uses others to exhort us to know Christ more. He uses our consciences to direct us from harm and to the truth. In his Word we are reminded of the hope we have that motivates us to love, forgive and serve even in the darkest hours. 

In another way, God keeping us firm so that we will be blameless on the day of out Lord Jesus Christ, is the bedrock of our Christian lives. His blood, shed for us, keeps our consciences clear as we remember his death and resurrection. We are his workmanship. Get it? He decided before the foundation of the world to die for us, to save us, to make us his children. He will keep us strong to the end. 

Word of the Day: Resplendent

You are resplendent with light,

   more majestic than mountains rich with game.

Psalms 76:4 NIV

May God shine upon you with the glorious light of his presence.

What are you thankful for today?

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in

him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13 NIV

Lord, thank you that we have hope.

Lord, Live Through Me Today

For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Romans 14:7-8 NIV

Lord, use me today however you want. Open my eyes to see each moment of grace you want to come through me to others. Love through me today. 

What to Wear

When I worked in restaurants I wore whatever the uniform they gave us to wear.  As a teacher I have a bit more freedom to choose what I want to wear, so I have to think about it. Mondays we are supposed to wear college shirts. I do try to look professional. 

Spiritually speaking we need to put on the armor of light and clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. Earlier in the chapter Paul taught about loving your neighbor as yourself. Today, how can we love our neighbors?

Possible Peace

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 

Romans 12:18 NIV

A few years ago I worked with a guy who was challenging, to say the least, to work with. He was an argument waiting to happen. He was a teacher on the same grade level as I was so, we were often in meetings together. That guy could go from "How are you?" to "I can't believe you guys are not teaching (fill in the blank)!" in about ten seconds. Then he'd start yelling and getting red in the face, blaming everyone else for anything and everything. (No one wondered why he was divorced.) Most of the time I could kind of direct the conversation away from volatility. But, not always. 

I tried to talk to him. We tried to talk to him. The administrators tried to talk to him. He just could not grasp that the issue was the way he spoke with other people. During one grade level meeting he started self-righteously declaring that no-one else took their job seriously, cared, or had a clue. Each teacher tried to calm him down but, he was just getting hotter and hotter. Finally, I just had to say, "Do we need to call the police again?" (The police were once called to the school because he was verbally accosting one of the other teachers and refused to stop.) He, looked at me in shock, and stopped. 

A few verses later Paul says, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (verse 21). By faith (that God will work things out) do what is right, do what is loving. If peace is possible, God will work it out. 

Word of the Day: Near

We praise you, God,
   we praise you, for your Name is near;
   people tell of your wonderful deeds.

Psalms 75:1 NIV

God is near. Even when we stray, he is near. Jesus came and died in our place so that we can be near God. Isn't it amazing that his goal is not to punish us, he sent Jesus so that we might be near him. 

Where are you? God is near.

A Prayer for Good Feet

And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is

written:“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Romans 10:15 NIV

Lord, wherever you send me today, whoever you put in front of me today, use me to bring the good news. Open a door, open a heart, open my mouth at the appointed time for someone to hear of your great love in Jesus Christ the risen Savior. Praise be to you in us today!

Not a Warm Fuzzy Post

A little while ago I saw this article on line about a guy who thought he was pretty tough, apparently, so he called out a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter online, repeatedly. After a while the fighter offered to meet the guy and fight. They met and off course the MMA fighter easily beat the living snot out of the online big mouth. I have no idea why this normal guy thought he could take on a real MMA fighter, but, arrogance can get you into a lot of trouble. 

I think many people today want to set themselves up as equal with God and sort of call him out on the basis of how they see reality. Atheists love to set up their version of what they think the Bible teaches or how they choose to view reality as the obvious way to see things. I find the fact that atheists want to blame the God they don't believe in and choose not to obey, for all the results of those choices. 

God is Sovereign and he does what he wants. He is also just and merciful.  Romans 9 reminds us that God has his plan and he will do what is right because he is Sovereign Lord. I don't fully understand God's will or his ways, but, I do understand that he is Sovereign Lord over everything and I am not. He does what he wants, not what I want. He is not a cosmic Santa Claus giving me everything I want just because I say a magic prayer. He has given all people a choice to believe in him and recognize him as Sovereign Lord. Some think they will stand before him and list their grievances and all that they perceive as unjust and God will be unable to answer. Remember the online bigmouth. 

This is not a warm fuzzy post. This is a check. Check myself. Check yourself. God sent his One and Only Son to die on our place, for our sins. Then, with his power, raised Christ from the dead. No other so-called god, messiah, savior or religious leader has an empty tomb. To be blunt: if you can't die and raise yourself from the grave, your not God Almighty, Sovereign Lord. 

Christ's Life in You, Now That's Good News!

But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to

death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Romans 8:10-11 NIV

The Battle Was Won on the Cross

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Romans 7:24-25 NIV

Tomorrow we will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Every day a battle is waged within us. But every battle has been won on the cross. Today we remember that Christ paid the price so that we might live by faith in him. 

I think we all feel the battle that Paul shares with us in Romans chapter 7. We wish that we could claim the victory and never have to fight the battle again, but, that is just not the way it is. We are called to fight the good fight and remember, every day, that Jesus rescues us from this body of death. Everyday we are reminded of his grace and his mercy, his forgiveness and faithfulness. 

Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Why is Good Friday Good?

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were

raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

Matthew 27:50-53 NIV

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Hebrews 12:2 NIV

Good Friday is good because we remember that Christ died for us. The resurrection has meaning because of the crucifixion. The work of the crucifixion is validated in the resurrection. Today we remember and thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for dying for our sins. He died so that we may live...thank you, Jesus.  

Grace: Access Granted

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 

Romans 5:1-2 NIV

Grace is never an access denied message. The grace of God we have access to is because we are justified through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that gives us hope. The grace of God does not wipe us clean and then give us a chance to try to be good enough again. We stand, we live in the grace of God. It's a life of grace. Grace to us, grace through us. 

So, we don't need to spend out time and effort on trying to be good enough or "spiritual" enough. We just need to live by faith in the grace of God. Think about how you treat others. Treating them through grace means remembering that Jesus died for them and acting accordingly. If they know Christ they are in and under his grace. If they don't know Christ they need his grace and you are the instrument that will bring them grace. 

Lord, thank you for the granting us access to your grace and that we can stand in it. Use us as instruments of you grace. May be boast in this hope we have. Praise be to you in us today!

Word of the Day: Strength

My flesh and my heart may fail,
   but God is the strength of my heart
   and my portion forever.

Psalms 73:26 NIV

Let's be real. Sometimes we fail. That's not an excuse or an alibi, that just a reality. We may be surprised by it, but God is not. Like David, we can look to God to be the strength of our heart. You may be failing physically and you may be getting down. Remember, God is the strength of your heart. 

"if we are faithless,

   he will remain faithful,

   for he cannot disown himself." II Timothy 2:13

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God is with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6