Presenting without fault...you.

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Jude 1:24-25  (NIV)

The good news is that our Savior is able to keep us saved. Our Savior doesn't just forgive our sins of the past. He also deals with our struggles in the present. I think sometimes when we sincerely seek to follow Christ we forget that a closer view of Christ reveals his righteousness and holiness, not ours. He is our righteousness, holiness and redemption (I Corinthians 1:30). We may feel less righteous as we struggle with trials and temptations, but he is able to not only keep us from falling but he is able to present us before his presence without fault! That is good news! 

Imagine yourself being present before God's glorious presence. Without fault...that's amazing grace.

Who Might Have Joy Because of You?

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

3 John 1:2-4 (NIV)

Last week we had a Back To School night and a couple of my former students stopped by to say hello and gave me an update on how they are doing. It was great to hear that they are doing well. I told them both it was great to see them and that I was proud of them. 

When I first started teaching there was a group of guys who questioned my faith quite extensively. A few of them became Christians. Whenever I talk to one of them I am always happy to hear that they are doing well. It really is a great feeling. I believe it's joy.

Think about this: who are the leaders who shepherded you when you first came to Christ? I think of Jim and Jim, my youth pastors and Pastor Don who all encouraged me to seek God with all that I have. I think of Billy, the head of a Bible school I attended, who taught me what love and humility was (yes, I'm still working on both) by how he treated me and everyone else.  I think they would be joyfully happy to know that I and my family are walking with the Lord.

Who would it give great joy to know that you are doing well in your faith?

JOYFUL, THANKFUL,PRAYERFUL= GOD'S WILL: I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Well, I have been pretty sick these last few days. This strain of the flu is awful. Up until today just reading the Bible was all I could manage. It feels good to be able to write again. What does the Apostle Paul have for us in his closing remarks?

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I Thessalonians 5:16-18 

Many moons ago I was blessed to be able attend Capernwray Bible School in Carnforth, England (http://www.capernwray.org.uk/).  There was this fellow student  whose name was Ivanhoe. He loved to greet you first thing in the morning with a hearty, "This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it!" Now, although I am an early morning person, I am also a cup of coffee before we talk early morning guy. I don't think Ivanhoe had read Proverbs 27:14, "If a man loudly blesses his neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse." Ivanhoe meant well.* But, being joyful isn't just about putting on a smiley face and spouting spiritual catch phrases. We are joyful because we are in Christ. 

We are also to pray continually. One of the most amazing truths about God's love for us is that he wants to talk with us. Prayer is part of that conversation. Keep the channel open all day long. 

Paul shoots out another little blast to give thanks in all circumstances. Give thanks for what? for the circumstance? No. We give thanks that God works out all things for out good (Romans 8:28).

Finding our joy in Christ, seeking to live continually in prayer, and being thankful that God is working is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 

Father, help us to be joyful, prayerful and thankful. Praise be to you in us today!

*Ivanhoe eased up after I "greeted" him early one morning while he was attending to his personal business.