Do You Remember?

For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 

1 Thessalonians 1:4-5

Do you remember when you gave your life to Christ? Do you remember when it first really hit you that Jesus died for you, for your sins? 

I remember because it was during a communion service and the Holy Spirit just open my understanding to the truth that Jesus' body was broken for me and his blood was shed to wash away my sins.

I remember that I got up and ran outside because I didn't want anyone to see me cry. Every excuse to not follow Christ paled next to the realization that Jesus died for me, to make me a child of God.

Do you remember?

What's Your Ambition?

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 NIV

The contrast between ambition and a quiet obvious. Often straight ambition makes you think about trying to succeed with glory. A quiet life makes you think about peace and stability. I think Paul is trying to get us to seek to live godly lives that glorify Christ, passionately, but, with humility and grace. 

Honestly, I think a lot of what I tried to do as a young Christian became more about me being known as a great Christian, rather than Christ showing himself great in me. The world glorifies the messenger. Christianity glorifies Christ. Christ in me, the hope of glory. 

Our genuine, humble service of others should gain their respect not their applause. We are not trying to look good as servants of Christ, we are trying to show Jesus' goodness to the world. 

Just Please God

On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 

1 Thessalonians 2:4 NIV

You can try to please yourself, you can try to please others, or you can try to please God. If you try to please yourself it's easy to rationalize the results. If you try to please others you end up at the mercy of peoples whims and emotions. But, if you try to please God you end up concerned with doing what is right. 

Please God and you will do what is best. You won't try to make yourself the center of attention because the gospel is about Jesus. You won't try to make the "felt needs" of others the complete focus of your outreach because the gospel is about our need to have sin and its' effects dealt with in us. You will try to please God and lift up Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life. That pleases God. 

God Uses You As You

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

Acts 26:28-29 NIV

Wow! What an incredible statement! Paul's passion and commitment are both inspiring and intimidating to me. Inspiring in that I want to have that kind of relationship with Christ that I can tell someone that I want them to become like me. Intimidating because I feel that I so often fall short of that ideal. Do you know what I mean?

The truth is that while we may not be Paul we are who God created us to be. Ourselves. We may not stand before kings but, we stand before our family, co-workers and friends and that is who God has called us to be a witness of his love and forgiveness in Christ. 

My father thought God could not use him when he first gave his life to Christ. He firmly believed he was not worthy and was not good at witnessing and didn't know the Bible well enough and didn't know how to pray and... You get the point. God thought differently. What was funny was there was this string of people who basically asked him, "What must I do to be saved?" I knew some of those men. They would of never listened to a pastor or preacher or set foot in a church. They saw a change in his life and wanted some of whatever had changed him. 

My point is that God calls each of us to be a witness to different people. He calls us first to who he puts before us. So, who is God placing before you? 

Bullseye

Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 

Acts 24:24-25 NIV

Sometimes you can get involved in a conversation with someone and it works it's way into being an opportunity to share the gospel. A few months ago the family had gotten together for a weekend and someone brought a friend. He was a nice guy who enjoyed talking about just about anything, including politics and religion. 

When I was talking to him we started talking about religions which of course led to Christianity. The thing about intellectual and skeptical people is they tend to assume they speak from the moral high ground. In other words they see themselves outside the argument and therefore above it. 

Christianity is about personally dealing with Jesus. Even discussing the historical accuracy, authority and validity of Christ and the Scripture will naturally become a direct encounter with Jesus Christ. So, the friend suddenly got a bit defensive because it was no longer just an idea we were talking about. When Christianity is seen as what it is, people are confronted with a life changing choice. That makes them afraid. 

Felix the governor had Paul leave when it got a bit real. The friend of the family wanted out of the conversation as soon as Christ was spoken of as real. Bullseye. 

Spread

May the word of God spread from me today. May my life be full of God's grace and power. And from all who read this...

In a Nutshell

Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Acts 5:29-32 NIV

Peter tells it like it is and quite succinctly too. The bottom line is we must obey God first. Jesus was raised from the dead by God. We killed him. God exalted Christ as Prince and Savior so that we might repent and be forgiven of our sins. If we obey him we will be given the Holy Spirit. 

That's the gospel in a nutshell and if you're questioned about your faith it's good to start.  

Is There a Way Prepared in You?

The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
It is written in Isaiah the prophet:
"I will send my messenger ahead of you,
   who will prepare your way"-
"a voice of one calling in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
   make straight paths for him.'"
Mark 1:1-3

Tomorrow is the last day of 2014. Wow, 2015. Honestly, there has been times in my life when I never thought I would make it to 2015. So I am thankful for God's faithfulness in my life. 

In the Gospel of Mark we read about the beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We are told about the way being prepared for Jesus. Prepare the way and make straight paths for him. 

We have a new year coming up. I am not good with New Year's resolutions, but I do believe in redirecting myself from time to time. This is a good time to think about what is directing me and what is motivating me to make decisions. If it is not what God would have me do, then I should change what I'm doing and/or what is motivating me. 

Here's the questions I think these verses ask me. First, am I prepared for the Lord to work in my life? Second, I am making straight paths for the Spirit of the Lord to work in me? 

What can I, what can we do? Here are a few things I think we can do:

• Give God time. Remember, a few minutes are better than none. A simple honest prayer is better than a long repetitious prayer meant only to say you did it. 
• Be honest with God. He already knows. You're still alive. So, there must be something he wants for you. 
• Do good where you are at. Let's get real here. For me today, doing good was (to start) putting the clean dishes away before my wife got up so she didn't have to. 
• Serve. This kind of goes with the last one. Specifically, do something to serve at your church. Just ask, they'll put you to work. Frankly, I have never truly felt a part of a church unless I was serving. 
• If the Spirit moves, move. About a month ago I felt compelled to email a note to a missionary couple I pray for. They needed to get in touch with someone we mutually know. I was the needed link (one they didn't have if I had not of heeded the Spirit's moving), though I was unaware of the urgency of the situation. 

If you have more ideas, please post them in the comments section. 

Face It, You Sin

   If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

   My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 1:8-2:2 (NIV)

Facing up to our own sinfulness can be very humbling. The question is not if we are going to sin or even when will we sin. The issue is what do we do when we sin. We confess. Jesus in his perfect faithfulness forgives us and purifies us. Just like a baby in diapers can't clean him/herself, we can't purify our own sin. we confess, Christ cleans. That is God's grace. 

The truth is that Jesus did not die just for our sins, he was the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. I have this friend at work. He needs to know God's grace. I can see it. I know he loves his wife and daughter, but he still needs Jesus. Jesus died for him too and I have been able to tell him, in normal conversations of God's love and forgiveness. 

That is the two sided beauty of the gospel. We are forgiven and we get to share that forgiveness with others. 

Father, forgive our sins. Share you love through us. Praise be to you in us today!

DOES YOUR ANSWER OPEN A DOOR?

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 

I Peter 3:15-16

Up against the fear of suffering for doing what is right Peter tells us to set apart Christ as Lord. That means trusting him with the outcome of our faith. If you chose to act in accordance with the love of Christ, you will find yourself on a different path than those around you. Some people will be really bothered by that. Be ready to gently explain why your faith in Christ leads you to chose to do some things and not others. 

I have been asked to go places and do things that I know would not honor God or my wife. So, I have to say no. Sometimes people want to know why. There is a difference between answering with gentleness and respect while telling the truth (calling sin sin) and condemning people without the offer of hope. If I respond in gentleness and respect a door is opened that the Holy Spirit uses. I guess you might say it leads to a redemptive conversation and there is nothing like seeing someone open up to Christ. The opportunity to see someone come to Christ is truly awesome. 

Father, help us to live by faith and respond in gentleness and respect to those who need you. Provide a redemptive conversation today! Praise be to you in us today!

YES YOU ARE

"And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."

Hebrews 10:10, 12-13

Sometimes I don't feel too holy. I don't think I ever feel perfect. But, in God's eyes, seen through the holiness and perfection of Christ, I am being made holy! 

Isn't that the good news, the gospel? We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all! That is good news! Right now, in God's eyes, if you are in Christ, you are holy! 

And we are being made holy. You see, part of salvation is the end of it all. We are saved and we are going to heaven. The other part is in the here and now, the "being made holy" part which is often called sanctification. Salvation is not just from the overall effect of sin which is death, but, salvation is also from the rule of sin in the here and now, in our daily lives. We are being made holy. 

Christ's sacrifice is complete and our salvation is a complete salvation. The trials we go through are vehicles that the Holy Spirit uses to mold us into the image of Jesus Christ. That is the plan. Don't be surprised, God's not. 

Are you holy? Yes, you are. You are holy and you are being made holy.

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on us. Make us, mold us, and use us. Praise be to you in us today!

GET YOUR CONSCIENCE CLEAN

"How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences  from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God." Hebrews 9:14 

You know when you have been sick and you take a shower, you feel a little better, at least for a little while? You're still sick, though, because you need to heal from the inside out. 

Christ's death on the cross deals with sin from the inside out. The author of Hebrews is hammering home the message that offerings before Christ were not complete and only a hint of what was to come in Christ. Under the law the offering of a goat or bull would deal with sin outwardly, never able to reach the heart. The sacrifice of Christ deals with sin from the inner man out. 

The point is that Christ's sacrifice changes our hearts to desire to serve God, not sin.  Sin wants to keep us captive under guilt, Christ has freed us with grace. We sinned, yes, but he died in our place. His blood covers our sins eternally in the Most Holy place in heaven. Christ's continuing work cleanses our consciences that we may serve him! That is good news! That is the gospel!

Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ for cleansing our consciences that we may serve you! Praise be to you in us today! 

THE GOSPEL ON TWITTER/ Titus 2:11

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men." Titus 2:11

I was engaged with someone on Twitter the other day concerning God and why there is evil in the world. The guy was sort of arguing that evil in the world is really God, if you believe in God, so therefore how can one believe in a God who allows or commits evil. I just think that if a person is an atheist, who by definition doesn't believe in God, can't bring up something they don't believe exists. So, if someone ia an atheist and God is out of the equation, how do they explain evil, or good for that matter? 

Here's the deal: to this atheist, whom I do pray God reveals himself to, the grace of God is revealed to him, even on Twitter. I also Tweeted to him that my belief in God leads me to value him, even if he disagrees with me, because he (in my world view as a Christian) is created in the image of God, and was worth dying for. 

He of course avoided that and wanted to dialogue about why someone would believe in such a "fantastical" book. 

The grace of God that brings salvation appears to all men. Sometimes through some odd ways, but, God ordained nonetheless. I just pray that my interactions, however they may appear, will bring grace and salvation to all men.

Father, help us to always be ready to give a reason for the hope within us and give us wisdom at the moment we need it to know what to say and how to say it with grace. Praise be to you in us today!

REPRESENT!/Titus 2:10

"and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive." 

Titus 2:10

I have always been pretty upfront about my Christianity. Some people don't like that. But, whether they like it or not I don't want them using my life as an excuse not to believe in God. Only one or two of the people I have worked under have been Christians. I am sure that for most people it is the same. Since there is a spiritual battle always gone on, whether or see it or not, we need to remember that we represent Christ.

It is up to God to deal with peoples' hearts. There will be people who will find fault in you no matter what you do. But, that is because within themselves they are fighting against the Spirit of God and they can't admit God works in anyone in any way or else they will have to consider Christ. Every faithful moment of working as unto Christ is a testimony to those who don't believe. 

Father, make our lives attractive advertisements of your gospel to those who don't believe. Use us to build your kingdom. Praise be to you in us today!