Remember His Faithfulness

Stop and take a few moments to remember God's faithfulness to you this past year...

Timing Is Everything

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 

Colossians 2:13

Timing is everything. This is especially awesome when we consider our salvation, our adoption into the family of God, and our acceptance into the kingdom. 

God didn't make us alive with Christ after we repented and performed several acts of contrition. The Holy Spirit, the Hound of Heaven, didn't wait for us to confess our sins and faith in Christ before he started drawing us to Christ. Our Heavenly Father didn't see us come bow our heads at some revival, camp, our church service and decide to let us into the family. 

Timing is everything. God choose us first. When we were dead in our sins and the uncircumcision of our flesh he made us alive with Christ. God's grace, his love, his amazing love is shown to us in that we didn't deserve his love yet when we were least deserving he was most gracious and merciful. He forgave us all our sins. 

In the kingdom of God, God's timing is everything. When we were dead in our sins He forgave us all our sins. That's grace, that's God,

that's amazing!

Preserved in Unfailing Love

Only God Can Fix It

When Moses reported this to all the Israelites, they mourned bitterly. Early the next morning they set out for the highest point in the hill country, saying, “Now we are ready to go up to the land the Lord promised. Surely we have sinned!”

Numbers 14:39-40

This is a bit of a warning to start of the work week. I want to point out two things  about their reaction to God dealing with their unbelief, which is sin and then remind us that God is still Sovereign and gracious.

First, notice that the Israelites didn't deal with their sin as he commanded. Yes, they admitted that they sinned, but, they didn't go to the tabernacle and offer the proper sacrifice. That's what God had commanded them to do with regards to their sin.

Second, they did what we do, tried to fix it by themselves. They just decided that they would go ahead and take the land. Well, no. They needed to deal with their sin. And just like us, if we don't deal with it God's way, we will face defeat.

Now, it isn't that God didn't want to forgive them, because he did. God always wants to restore us, to bring us back to himself. But, it must be on his terms. When I read the Old Testament it's easy to say they didn't have the Holy Spirit indwelling them like we do, or to just write off their stubborn refusal to trust God and obey his commandments as and Old Testament issue. But, quite frankly, what's my excuse? I have the Holy Spirit, the New Testament, access to great teaching, the Bible in a myriad of translations including the original, and yet... I sometimes still struggle to believe God is able and seek to do things my own way. 

What I have, what we have, is access to the throne of grace where Christ, our Lord and Savior, sits at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf. So, as we go into battle with the world around us and we fight the good fight within ourselves and around us, let us seek the Lord for his strength, grace, forgiveness and love. 

Thank You, Lord, for Your Compassion

The Most Humble Man

This is one of those verses that just flies right in the face of what I call "popular theology". Most people would have a hard time writing this about themselves. Because a humble person is not supposed to say they are a humble person. That's why (my opinion) that some have to say this was Joshua or some scribe writing this at a later date because Moses, if he was the most humble man would never write that about himself.

In a way, we often think of humility as not saying we are as humble or whatever (fill in the blank) as we think we are. Someone else can say it, just not us. Maybe that's one reason a lot of people have trouble with how some athletes celebrate a home run, touchdown, basket, goal or some success in one form or another. 

I just think Moses knew who he was before God. He knew that when he tried to save his people, the Israelites, in his own way, he ended up a murderer. Yet, God called him to deliver his people from bondage to the Egyptians and take them to the promised land. He knew it was God doing the miracles, not him. 

Now, when did Moses blow it? He blew it when he said, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?"(Numbers 20:10b, emphasis mine). Remember, God will not yield his glory to another (Isaiah 42:8). If anger keeps you from getting into the promised land, not many of us are getting in. Moses could of been angry, spoke to the rock as God instructed him, but no, he struck the rock and said, "must we", we being God, Aaron and himself. Moses forgot who he was and what his place was before God. He was only an instrument, a servant. 

So, I think it's important to realize who we are in Christ. Be confident in who God created us to be and what he chooses us to be at different times of our lives. Always remember that like Paul you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13).  In humility let God do whatever he wants to do. Rejoice in His work in and through your life.

Merry Christmas! Glory to God!

It's Time To Worship Christ

Have you ever heard the saying, "'Tis the season"? I'm pretty sure you have. Just like the Magi, who understood the times and knew it was time to worship Christ, we should remember that Christmas "'tis the season" to worship Christ, who came as a baby, lived like us, died for our sins, rose again conquering sin and death, and will come again to take us home someday. 

God Is Mindful of You

And Mary said: 
“My soul glorifies the Lord 
   and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 
for he has been mindful 
   of the humble state of his servant. 
From now on all generations will call me blessed, 
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
   holy is his name. 
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
   from generation to generation.

Luke 1:46-50

As Christmas approaches it is time to remember that Jesus came as a child. As we read these verses of Mary's praise we are reminded of the awesome truth that God is and has been mindful of us. 

What state are you in? Maybe things are going well, or, maybe things are not going so well for you. God knows. Remember Jesus came to save us from our sins and to bring us back into right relationship with our Creator, our God, with our Father. He didn't come the easy way, he came as a child. 

Thank you, Father, for being mindful of us. Help us to praise you, trust you, and serve you today. 

Trust His Word

May your unfailing love come to me, Lord,

   your salvation, according to your promise;

then I can answer anyone who taunts me,

   for I trust in your word.

Psalms 119:41-42

This weekend at the Miss Universe Pageant the wrong contestant was named the winner. Apparently, Steve Harvey, the popular comedian, mistakingly announced Ms. Columbia the winner when in actuality is was Ms. Philippins. A very awkward moment indeed. We here politicians say things and then the pundits come out and rate the truth of what was said. I'm sure you have heard the old joke, "How can you tell when a politician is lying? When the lips are moving?" The point is that it is hard to trust most people's word. 

In contrast to that we have the Lord and his Word which we can trust. 

"They are not just idle words for you - they are you life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess." Deuteronomy 32:47

"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." Psalm 119:105

"Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him." Proverbs 30:5

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." II Timothy 3:16-17

May God's Face Shine On You

Enlighten Your Eyes

My Prayer for You...

Get the Word

Marvelous!

Are You Alive

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 

Colossians 2:13 NIV

I get what being made alive in Christ means, theoretically. But, what that means in how I am different from before I became a Christian, I struggle to put that in words.  

Here's what I do know: Within me, without God, I am completely unrighteous (Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:9-20). It is only by the Spirit I can say that Jesus is Lord (I Corinthians 12:3). This leads me to the conclusion that any thought I have about God is the Spirit working in me. If I feel convicted about something, that's the Holy Spirit because otherwise I just wouldn't care. That's being alive Spiritually, or, evidence of being made alive with Christ. It's not about a warm fuzzy feeling, because I often think about God without a lot of emotion. Don't get me wrong. I do often respond emotionally to the truth that in Christ God loves me. It just that faith often moves me when I feel the least like I'm spiritual.

And here is the bottom line for today: Any thought about God, about loving in his Name, about reading the Bible, doing the right (righteous) thing, praying or just remembering that God is Sovereign Lord and Jesus is your Savior, that is part of being alive with Christ. In a sense, just reading this is God being alive in you...

All Our Sins

Be Set Apart

You Are Full

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 

Colossians 2:9-10 NIV

We all have a God shaped whole within our inner being that only Christ can fill. We usually try to fill it with just about anyone and anything else. Some are good things, like a godly marriage, working hard or even serving others. Some things are not so good, like ungodly relationships and activities. Even as Christians we can look to good things to fill that void and they were not meant to so we end up frustrated and bitter. 

Christ is our righteousness, holiness and redemption; our wisdom from God (see I Corinthians 1:30). He completely forgives us, makes us completely holy, and completely redeems us, in Christ. Now, when Paul was writing to the Colossians they were being confronted with many other beliefs and faiths. One of those "philosophies" insisted that to really know God you had to be part of their sect because they held the secret knowledge one needed to fully know God. They were also being inundated with groups from the Jews that were teaching that they had to follow the law (as demonstrated by their legalistic actions) if they truly wanted to know God fully. Paul reminds them that they "have been brought to fullness" in Christ. 

This past July I was offered a new position and I accepted. I am and educator so we were off for the summer. I didn't speak with my supervisor until we went back to work about a month or so later. Now, I knew I was offered the position, but, not until I started moving my stuff from my room to my new office space did it really start to "feel" real. Even though I had been given the new position I didn't really physically change anything until I moved into my new office. But, I did do some research and planning in the meantime. How does that relate to theses verses? We may not be in our new resurrection bodies yet, but, we are still God's people, his children, his chosen and holy priests, called to serve him and each other. We may not always feel holy, righteous and redeemed, but according to God, we are. We just need to live according to the truth. 

David said, "What shall I return to the LORD for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD." (Psalm 116:12-13) We have what we fully need in Christ. We just need to take hold of it by faith. You have Christ. You have fullness. You are holy. You are righteous. You are redeemed. 

God Makes You Holy

See To It

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

Colossians 2:8

I can remember when I first gave my life to Christ and the pastor would emphasis the need to look to the Bible to decide the validity and truth of any teaching. They would exhort us to compare what they or any other teacher said with Scripture and if it didn't match up we should first of all forget it and then call them out about it. 

A few years past and one of my pastors (who I love and still respect) was teaching about the end times and made a statement that I had a little trouble with. He said, "You don't want to be at a Stone's concert when, pa-da-ta-da (the sound of a trumpet?), then you are". The context of his teaching that sermon led you to understand that as you would be left behind because you were "sinning", according to him. Well, there's a lot of things I've done and I don't want to be doing when the Lord comes to take us home, but, the idea that if you just happen to be sinning at that precise moment when Jesus comes again because then you'll be left behind, is not a teaching I find in the Bible. 

My issue with that is not so much that it is not what the Bible teaches because it's not in Scripture but that it depends on human effort rather than God's grace. It's really just a form of sinless perfectionism, which is legalism. Sometimes what we have to  concern ourselves with is not full on heresy but things that depend upon "human traditions" or "the basic principles of this world". If it depends upon me rather than on the righteousness of Christ and his death upon the cross, then it's wrong. For example, my issue with the whole name-it-and-claim-it teaching is that it depends upon the individuals faith rather than on Christ. 

Here's the deal: we should all press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of us (Philippians 3:12), but that is not to earn your salvation, it's to ensure salvations purpose in our lives. We depend upon Christ, abiding in him as he so powerfully works in us. If you have walked with the Lord for any length of time you realize your own frailty and Christ's faithfulness. That encourages us to continue in Christ. So, guard yourselves. Watch that you don't start looking to your own righteousness rather than to Christ's. Christ is the Cornerstone. 

How did you?

Just one question? How did you receive Jesus?

Are You Firm?

For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

Colossians 2:5 NIV

When I worked in construction we would occasionally help other crews raise a few walls. When you build a house in the mountains you build the walls lying down with the windows and siding all ready on. You place metal straps on the bottom near the edge to keep the wall from sliding off the building. Then everyone takes a place near the top of the wall (that is lying down) and on the word of the foreman everyone lifts the wall and pushes it up to its plumb position. The foreman would always yell, "If a strap breaks you better not run! Hold on and keep pushing!" One time not only did one of the straps break, but the crew had only placed three straps on a pretty big wall, so, many choice words were offered, but we held firm and kept pushing to get the wall up and in place. 

As Christians we need to hold firm together, each one doing his own part. When something goes wrong, you persevere and press on. We must stay disciplined even when we don't feel like it. Too often we look to our emotions to decide if we should do something. Do you decide if you should do something (anything from reading the Bible to serving others, from telling the truth to remaining faithful to your spouse) based upon how it makes you feel or upon what you know is true according the to Bible? Being firm in your faith is all about doing what is right, because God says it is, even if you don't get an immediate reward out of it. Being firm in your faith is doing what is right by faith and trusting Christ with the results. 

 Christ is faithful and he will bring you through whatever you are going through. Trust him and do what you know is right in Christ and leave the results up to him. 

Delivered to Live

The Goal

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

Colossians 2:2-3 NIV

Here we have the bottom line, don't we? If I'm not posting to encourage you and unite us in Christ, then I'm missing the point of serving Christ. If you're not seeking to find hope and maturity in Christ then you're going to find yourself frustrated. 

If you have been walking with the Lord for a while you probably find yourself seeking to know Christ on a deeper level. I remember when I first became a Christian and after a few years I kind of thought I was getting close to full maturity. I soon discovered how immature I was. But, I was sincerely seeking to know Christ on a deeper level. I have seen many schemes that depend upon a lot of things but not really on Christ. Most are legalistic are partial truths packaged as the end all of spiritual quests. 

In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Not my faith. Not my obedience. Not my knowledge. Not my service. All those are good things, they are means but not ends. It's not about my faith, rather it's Christ's faithfulness. My obedience will falter at some point, but, Christ will never fail. My knowledge is foolishness if I don't base it upon the truth that Christ is the Creator of all things and in him all things hold together by the power of his word. My service is just a show if I am not serving Christ, seeking his glory, not mine. The goal is that we may know Christ and be found in him. 

My prayer is that anyone who reads this may grow in Christ with all wisdom and complete understanding and serve him with joy being encouraged in heart and united in love.