"Now, therefore,you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit."
Ephesians 2:19-22
Immigration, and what to do about aliens (not the UFO kind) whether legal or illegal, is an important issue in the news and political arena today. Foreigners, strangers, aliens. All terms synonymous, all used at times in a negative context. This great country of ours, the United States of America, has opened its borders for years, so that anyone from another country can come and find freedom and jobs and reach for that "American Dream." People come here to be citizens, with all of the rights and privileges that comes with that citizenship. But as great as that may be, there is another land of which we are citizens. Not just the physical citizenship we enjoy on the earth, here in the United States, but heaven. As believers we are citizens of heaven. And as citizens, we can participate in all the rights and privileges that comes with that citizenship. Ever wonder why you feel out of place here and like you don't belong? The reason is because you are out of place here and you don't belong. You belong to heaven. I belong to heaven. We are citizens of heaven.
We are members of the household of God. We have lots of brothers and sisters, too! The household of God. Wrap your mind around that for a minute, and think about what that is like. To be a member of the household of God. And look at the foundation and the cornerstone of our lives upon which it has been built. The foundation is the teaching of the apostles, and the prophets, and the cornerstone, is Jesus Christ Himself! And as we grow and are being built up, we become a holy temple in the Lord. Not only us personally, but as the Church at large, as well. We are being built up and grown into a holy temple, a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
So today, beloved, go out there with the knowledge that He is building you up to be a dwelling place for the holy Spirit of God, and that we have a sure foundation in Jesus Christ. Nothing can bother us or harm us if we walk in the light as He is in the light, and know that our foundation is Him. Shalom.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Far Off
"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation...17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father."
Ephesians 2:13-14;17-18
Paul is talking about on the surface of these verses, the separation between the Gentiles and the Jews. But he is also, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, talking about something much deeper: our separation from God. In Biblical times, there was a "wall of separation" between the Court of the Gentiles, and the rest of the temple where Jews were allowed. It was in the Court of the Gentiles where the money changers would have set up their tables, and the goat and sheep merchants would be there to rip you off as well. The Gentiles were separated from the Jews, but more importantly to our Lord, they were separated from God. Paul here, is speaking of that separation being torn down through the blood of Jesus Christ. Beloved, through Jesus, there is no separation from God, no matter who you are. All who were far off have been brought near. It does not matter if you have been separated from God by religion, or by your failure to keep the rules, or some so-called "huge" sin in your life. Through the forgiveness found in the blood of Jesus Christ, we can be brought near to God.
The very fact that I was a "huge" sinner, running around in rebelliousness and disobedience, and that Jesus' blood can bring me near to God, blows my mind, because after all, I know me. But beloved, that is exactly what He has done for us. Through repentance for our sins, we find forgiveness in the blood of Jesus Christ. We were once "far off." We have been separated from God by our sins. But now we have been brought near, because the blood of Jesus Christ washes us clean, and removes our sin from us. I still, after so many years, shake my head in amazement at the love that God the Father has for you and me...especially me, because like I said, I know me, and my propensity for the flesh. But He loves me. And He loves you. So that we can be washed clean in the blood of Jesus. An old hymn says, "There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins. And sinners plunged beneath the flood lose all their guilty stains." Beloved, that is you and I. We who are sinners have been made clean. We have been washed in the blood. And now we are clean! What a liberating thing!
So today, as we walk out the door, on our way to who knows where, let us remember, that we were once so far away, and now have been brought so near to God, through the precious blood of Jesus Christ, which He shed for us on the cross of Calvary. Amen.
Ephesians 2:13-14;17-18
Paul is talking about on the surface of these verses, the separation between the Gentiles and the Jews. But he is also, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, talking about something much deeper: our separation from God. In Biblical times, there was a "wall of separation" between the Court of the Gentiles, and the rest of the temple where Jews were allowed. It was in the Court of the Gentiles where the money changers would have set up their tables, and the goat and sheep merchants would be there to rip you off as well. The Gentiles were separated from the Jews, but more importantly to our Lord, they were separated from God. Paul here, is speaking of that separation being torn down through the blood of Jesus Christ. Beloved, through Jesus, there is no separation from God, no matter who you are. All who were far off have been brought near. It does not matter if you have been separated from God by religion, or by your failure to keep the rules, or some so-called "huge" sin in your life. Through the forgiveness found in the blood of Jesus Christ, we can be brought near to God.
The very fact that I was a "huge" sinner, running around in rebelliousness and disobedience, and that Jesus' blood can bring me near to God, blows my mind, because after all, I know me. But beloved, that is exactly what He has done for us. Through repentance for our sins, we find forgiveness in the blood of Jesus Christ. We were once "far off." We have been separated from God by our sins. But now we have been brought near, because the blood of Jesus Christ washes us clean, and removes our sin from us. I still, after so many years, shake my head in amazement at the love that God the Father has for you and me...especially me, because like I said, I know me, and my propensity for the flesh. But He loves me. And He loves you. So that we can be washed clean in the blood of Jesus. An old hymn says, "There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins. And sinners plunged beneath the flood lose all their guilty stains." Beloved, that is you and I. We who are sinners have been made clean. We have been washed in the blood. And now we are clean! What a liberating thing!
So today, as we walk out the door, on our way to who knows where, let us remember, that we were once so far away, and now have been brought so near to God, through the precious blood of Jesus Christ, which He shed for us on the cross of Calvary. Amen.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The Gift
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."
Ephesians 2:9-10
It is funny how it is, when you receive a gift from someone who surprises you, and says, "I saw this and thought of you," and then presents you with the gift, for no reason. For me, it makes me all smiley inside, and I take the gift, knowing that I did nothing to earn this gift, or deserve this gift, that the presenter is giving it because he or she thought of me. That is what God did when He saved you and me. It is a gift. Now, God sure knows what He is doing, because, if He had made it so that there was something that I could do to earn my salvation, I would get all puffed up and prideful and turn to people and say, "Did you see what I have done?" And I would try to convince the world around me how great I am. Don't shake your head at me, you would too. It's human nature. But God, in His infinite wisdom, took you and me out of the picture completely. It is a gift from Him to you, to me. All we have to do is receive it. We have been saved by grace: unmerited favor. And by faith we receive it and believe it, and then walk it out. Because if WE had anything to do with it, we would become prideful and boastful, and all puffed up. The Word says that no flesh should glory in His presence (1 Corinthians 1:29). So He takes care of that for us by taking us out of the picture. It's all Him.
And then, beloved, He tells us that we are His workmanship. The word used there, in the Greek language, the original language that most of the New Testament was written in, the word in the Greek used is the word from where we get our English word for poem. You and I were created the same way a poet creates a poem. Now, I write just a bit, and I have been known to craft a poem or two, so I can tell you first hand, that sometimes much time and effort is put in to finding just the right word, just the right phrase, to express the feeling of the heart. And that is what He did with you and I. We were created with just the right personality, just the right make up, to bring glory to God. When a poet finishes a poem, he wants someone to read it. When God is working on and in us, He wants someone to see us, so that He can smile over us and rejoice in us, and just pour out His love on us. God, the Creator of the Universe, is also the creator of you and me. And He loves us.
So beloved, today, as you hit the highways and byways, do not be discouraged. Do not be downhearted. Our God is a mighty God. And He loves you and me enough to make a way of reconciliation to Him, through His Son Jesus Christ. And it is a gift. All we have to do is receive it, and believe it, and walk it out in the flesh He has put us in temporarily. Amen? Amen.
Ephesians 2:9-10
It is funny how it is, when you receive a gift from someone who surprises you, and says, "I saw this and thought of you," and then presents you with the gift, for no reason. For me, it makes me all smiley inside, and I take the gift, knowing that I did nothing to earn this gift, or deserve this gift, that the presenter is giving it because he or she thought of me. That is what God did when He saved you and me. It is a gift. Now, God sure knows what He is doing, because, if He had made it so that there was something that I could do to earn my salvation, I would get all puffed up and prideful and turn to people and say, "Did you see what I have done?" And I would try to convince the world around me how great I am. Don't shake your head at me, you would too. It's human nature. But God, in His infinite wisdom, took you and me out of the picture completely. It is a gift from Him to you, to me. All we have to do is receive it. We have been saved by grace: unmerited favor. And by faith we receive it and believe it, and then walk it out. Because if WE had anything to do with it, we would become prideful and boastful, and all puffed up. The Word says that no flesh should glory in His presence (1 Corinthians 1:29). So He takes care of that for us by taking us out of the picture. It's all Him.
And then, beloved, He tells us that we are His workmanship. The word used there, in the Greek language, the original language that most of the New Testament was written in, the word in the Greek used is the word from where we get our English word for poem. You and I were created the same way a poet creates a poem. Now, I write just a bit, and I have been known to craft a poem or two, so I can tell you first hand, that sometimes much time and effort is put in to finding just the right word, just the right phrase, to express the feeling of the heart. And that is what He did with you and I. We were created with just the right personality, just the right make up, to bring glory to God. When a poet finishes a poem, he wants someone to read it. When God is working on and in us, He wants someone to see us, so that He can smile over us and rejoice in us, and just pour out His love on us. God, the Creator of the Universe, is also the creator of you and me. And He loves us.
So beloved, today, as you hit the highways and byways, do not be discouraged. Do not be downhearted. Our God is a mighty God. And He loves you and me enough to make a way of reconciliation to Him, through His Son Jesus Christ. And it is a gift. All we have to do is receive it, and believe it, and walk it out in the flesh He has put us in temporarily. Amen? Amen.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Some Kind of Zombie Revisited
"And you He made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and f the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."
Ephesians 2:1-7
Beloved, today is the day that the Lord has made. And the good news is this: He has made us alive. We who were once dead, spiritually speaking, have been made alive, through Jesus Christ. We who were so caught up in our sin that there seemed to be no hope for us spiritually, have been found and made alive through Jesus Christ the Son of God. We who were by nature children of wrath, are now children of the Light, made alive through the transforming blood of Jesus. That is very good news to me. I was pretty wild for a few years of my life, rebelling against my upbringing, rebelling against the church, rebelling against authority in my life. And during that time, I did some dastardly things of which I am not proud. And when I think of that time in my life, and it saddens me, I also think that during that time, Christ was loving me, pursuing me, longing for me. It blows my mind. And then to know that we sit together with Jesus Christ in the heavenly places, what a deal!
The course of this world is controlled by the prince of the power of the air, who is our enemy the devil. Not the guy in the red suit with the pointed tail and the pitch fork. That isn't the devil. That is who he wants you to believe is the devil, but he is much more dangerous than that, and much more insidious. He wants to destroy your soul. Not make friends with you, and say it's okay that you belong to Christ. No. He wants to destroy your very soul, and he never has a good day, and he never takes a day off, and he is always on mission. And until Jesus Christ comes back to set up His earthly kingdom, the world system is one of his allies that he will use against us to war against our soul. The other ally he uses is our own flesh. The tug and pull of our flesh to conform to this world at work every day. Ever feel it when those commercials come on television, or you see that ad in a magazine? Our flesh pulls toward power, prestige, position, and prosperity (money). While we walk in all of that beloved, know that we are loved with a perfect love that will not let us go: the love of Jesus Christ.
He loved us so much that while we were yet sinners, He died for us. We have an incredible inheritance. We have been given eternal life. We were dead and have been made alive. The concept of the dead coming to life has been around in horror films for a long time, and not that I partake of those things, I know what a zombie is. And you and I who were dead have been made alive in Christ. So to borrow from that song from Audio Adrenaline, we are some kind of zombie. Shalom.
Ephesians 2:1-7
Beloved, today is the day that the Lord has made. And the good news is this: He has made us alive. We who were once dead, spiritually speaking, have been made alive, through Jesus Christ. We who were so caught up in our sin that there seemed to be no hope for us spiritually, have been found and made alive through Jesus Christ the Son of God. We who were by nature children of wrath, are now children of the Light, made alive through the transforming blood of Jesus. That is very good news to me. I was pretty wild for a few years of my life, rebelling against my upbringing, rebelling against the church, rebelling against authority in my life. And during that time, I did some dastardly things of which I am not proud. And when I think of that time in my life, and it saddens me, I also think that during that time, Christ was loving me, pursuing me, longing for me. It blows my mind. And then to know that we sit together with Jesus Christ in the heavenly places, what a deal!
The course of this world is controlled by the prince of the power of the air, who is our enemy the devil. Not the guy in the red suit with the pointed tail and the pitch fork. That isn't the devil. That is who he wants you to believe is the devil, but he is much more dangerous than that, and much more insidious. He wants to destroy your soul. Not make friends with you, and say it's okay that you belong to Christ. No. He wants to destroy your very soul, and he never has a good day, and he never takes a day off, and he is always on mission. And until Jesus Christ comes back to set up His earthly kingdom, the world system is one of his allies that he will use against us to war against our soul. The other ally he uses is our own flesh. The tug and pull of our flesh to conform to this world at work every day. Ever feel it when those commercials come on television, or you see that ad in a magazine? Our flesh pulls toward power, prestige, position, and prosperity (money). While we walk in all of that beloved, know that we are loved with a perfect love that will not let us go: the love of Jesus Christ.
He loved us so much that while we were yet sinners, He died for us. We have an incredible inheritance. We have been given eternal life. We were dead and have been made alive. The concept of the dead coming to life has been around in horror films for a long time, and not that I partake of those things, I know what a zombie is. And you and I who were dead have been made alive in Christ. So to borrow from that song from Audio Adrenaline, we are some kind of zombie. Shalom.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours
"In Him also, we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."
Ephesians 1:11-14
That old song comes to mind whenever I read these verses. Jesus signed His name in blood to our lives. He sealed us with His Holy Spirit as His, and then presented (delivered) us to His Father as righteous. We belong to Him. Now, while I am not usually searching for Biblical truth in Motown, it seems to me that it is apropos in this situation.
There are many promises for believers in these verses. Many realities that perhaps we as Christians take for granted. The fact that we have obtained an inheritance is astounding in and of itself. The inheritance that we have obtained is heaven itself, and eternal life there with Jesus Christ. It is a place where no one really knows what it is all about, other than that they treat gold like asphalt up there...because the streets are paved with it, and they use it as a construction material (Revelation 21)!
The theology of predestination can get you into trouble if you don't understand it. God did not predestine some people to hell and some to heaven, as some would have you believe. It is that God, whom time has no jurisdiction over, sees the beginning and the end of time, at the same time, and knows who will choose Him. God is not bound by time and space, like finite man. God is infinite. Not bound by our time or physical location. He is an eternal present. He sees the beginning and the end, at the same time.
And then, beloved, He seals us with His guarantee, His deposit if you will. His down-payment for us, of things to come. He has purchased us with His blood, and is one day soon coming to redeem that which He has purchased. In the meantime, we have the promise, the down-payment that He truly is coming for us, and that we belong to Him. The seal of His Holy Spirit has been placed upon our lives, so that as we walk with Him, His Holy Spirit teaches us all things. We can depend upon Him. He is there in our life.
Beloved, kind of disjointed thoughts today. But know this, that the Holy Spirit lives within us, as a guarantee that we belong to Jesus, and that the Holy Spirit of God will lead and guide us and teach us all things. Go out there this day and walk in the confidence and knowledge that you belong to Him! Amen.
Ephesians 1:11-14
That old song comes to mind whenever I read these verses. Jesus signed His name in blood to our lives. He sealed us with His Holy Spirit as His, and then presented (delivered) us to His Father as righteous. We belong to Him. Now, while I am not usually searching for Biblical truth in Motown, it seems to me that it is apropos in this situation.
There are many promises for believers in these verses. Many realities that perhaps we as Christians take for granted. The fact that we have obtained an inheritance is astounding in and of itself. The inheritance that we have obtained is heaven itself, and eternal life there with Jesus Christ. It is a place where no one really knows what it is all about, other than that they treat gold like asphalt up there...because the streets are paved with it, and they use it as a construction material (Revelation 21)!
The theology of predestination can get you into trouble if you don't understand it. God did not predestine some people to hell and some to heaven, as some would have you believe. It is that God, whom time has no jurisdiction over, sees the beginning and the end of time, at the same time, and knows who will choose Him. God is not bound by time and space, like finite man. God is infinite. Not bound by our time or physical location. He is an eternal present. He sees the beginning and the end, at the same time.
And then, beloved, He seals us with His guarantee, His deposit if you will. His down-payment for us, of things to come. He has purchased us with His blood, and is one day soon coming to redeem that which He has purchased. In the meantime, we have the promise, the down-payment that He truly is coming for us, and that we belong to Him. The seal of His Holy Spirit has been placed upon our lives, so that as we walk with Him, His Holy Spirit teaches us all things. We can depend upon Him. He is there in our life.
Beloved, kind of disjointed thoughts today. But know this, that the Holy Spirit lives within us, as a guarantee that we belong to Jesus, and that the Holy Spirit of God will lead and guide us and teach us all things. Go out there this day and walk in the confidence and knowledge that you belong to Him! Amen.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Redemption
"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace."
Ephesians 1:7
The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all unrighteousness. That is an amazing statement. It is only through His blood that we are cleansed. Did you notice that? Cleansed. Not covered over. Not cleaned up. Cleansed. Our sins are removed from us. We are clean. We are white as snow.
This passage today talks to us of redemption. What does it mean to redeem something? Good question. When I was younger (and now I am going to date myself), my parents collected S & H Green Stamps. We got them every time we went grocery shopping. As a little boy, I wondered, "What's the big deal about those little green stamp things?" I would see my parents collect them and collect them, and then some evening, they would sit at the kitchen table, and put them all into these little books. Then they would gather all of the books, and take them to a store called, oddly enough, the "S & H Green Stamps" store. They would take them in, and redeem them for "stuff." Things that could be used around the house like kitchenware, dishes, things like that. My parents exchanged something they had, for something they didn't have. It is the same principle our monetary system is based on. You redeem currency for goods.
So what is the principle of redemption, as it pertains to our spiritual condition? Another good question; so glad you asked. Jesus gave what He had: His sinless, perfect life; His blood. He gave His blood, what He had, to exchange it for something He didn't have: you and me. He didn't have us because we were separated from God by the sin in our lives. You and I were separated from God when Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden. Through Adam we have in us a sin nature that keeps us separated from God, except for our redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ. When we are born again, which means we are born of the Spirit of God in our spirit (born of the flesh when we were born from our mother-born again when we are born of the Spirit), then we are redeemed unto God. Our sin has been cleansed from us, removed from us, and we are a new creation. Not an old one that has been cleaned up, but a NEW one (2 Corinthians 5:17). We have been redeemed! That is such good news for us!
Beloved, I am going to list some verses on the blood that you can look up on your own and read.
Ephesians 2:13
Hebrews 9:7, 12-14, 22, 25-28; 10:4-22
1 Peter 1:17-19
1 John 1:7 (1:9)
Beloved, have a great day today, and go with the grace of God. Amen.
Ephesians 1:7
The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all unrighteousness. That is an amazing statement. It is only through His blood that we are cleansed. Did you notice that? Cleansed. Not covered over. Not cleaned up. Cleansed. Our sins are removed from us. We are clean. We are white as snow.
This passage today talks to us of redemption. What does it mean to redeem something? Good question. When I was younger (and now I am going to date myself), my parents collected S & H Green Stamps. We got them every time we went grocery shopping. As a little boy, I wondered, "What's the big deal about those little green stamp things?" I would see my parents collect them and collect them, and then some evening, they would sit at the kitchen table, and put them all into these little books. Then they would gather all of the books, and take them to a store called, oddly enough, the "S & H Green Stamps" store. They would take them in, and redeem them for "stuff." Things that could be used around the house like kitchenware, dishes, things like that. My parents exchanged something they had, for something they didn't have. It is the same principle our monetary system is based on. You redeem currency for goods.
So what is the principle of redemption, as it pertains to our spiritual condition? Another good question; so glad you asked. Jesus gave what He had: His sinless, perfect life; His blood. He gave His blood, what He had, to exchange it for something He didn't have: you and me. He didn't have us because we were separated from God by the sin in our lives. You and I were separated from God when Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden. Through Adam we have in us a sin nature that keeps us separated from God, except for our redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ. When we are born again, which means we are born of the Spirit of God in our spirit (born of the flesh when we were born from our mother-born again when we are born of the Spirit), then we are redeemed unto God. Our sin has been cleansed from us, removed from us, and we are a new creation. Not an old one that has been cleaned up, but a NEW one (2 Corinthians 5:17). We have been redeemed! That is such good news for us!
Beloved, I am going to list some verses on the blood that you can look up on your own and read.
Ephesians 2:13
Hebrews 9:7, 12-14, 22, 25-28; 10:4-22
1 Peter 1:17-19
1 John 1:7 (1:9)
Beloved, have a great day today, and go with the grace of God. Amen.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Chosen
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love...."
Ephesians 1:3-4
I looked up today as I went for my morning walk, and there was my friend, the moon, full and bright, and smiling down on me in the darkness and quietness of the early morning darkness. As I looked at the moon, my mind thought about how big and how vast our God is. Sometimes I get so caught up in the circumstances of my life, that I forget about the fact that God, our God, the One True God, Jehovah, Elohim, Adonai, He spoke a word, and the worlds (including our moon) was made. Just pause and think about that for a moment....
Mankind goes through hundreds of struggles and difficulties in our lives here on earth every day. But you know what? Our God is big enough to handle taking care of you through whatever you are going through. I used to play a lot of ball. Whatever "ball" was in season, I would play it: basketball, football, or baseball. On the sandlot, there was always a selecting of teams. There was a choosing of sides. Two captains would be selected (usually the two best players) and we would take turns back and forth selecting teams. I have been both the one selecting and the one selected. I know how good it feels to make the right choice of a team mate, and I know what it feels like to be the one chosen.
Beloved, that is such a small thing, compared to what God has done for us. He has chosen us. You. Me. He chose us. All we have to do, is choose Him. You see, God is always the initiator. After Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, God put His redemptive plan in place, so that through the span of time, Jesus His Son would be born in the flesh, and grow up to go to that cross as a redemptive sacrifice for our sins. And all we have to do, is receive it and believe it in our hearts. Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of your life. God has blessed us in the heavenlies, with every spiritual blessing. He has prepared a home for us. He has made a way for us to live with Him. He has chosen us. The God of the universe has chosen you and me to live with Him, and all we have to do is choose Him. Repent of our sins and turn to Him. There is not room enough in this forum to fully explain the wonderful work that God has initiated on our behalf. But beloved, know this: He has chosen you! The greatest Captain of them all, if you will, has chosen you and me. We must decide in our heart of hearts to live our lives for Him.
Beloved, take care, out there on the highways and by-ways of life. "Life is tough. Pray hard" as the slogan goes. Don't forsake the meeting together with like-believers. Don't neglect the reading of God's Word in your life. Spend some time before Him in prayer, and in listening to Him. He will speak to you, in that still small voice that can only be heard in your heart of hearts. Shalom.
Ephesians 1:3-4
I looked up today as I went for my morning walk, and there was my friend, the moon, full and bright, and smiling down on me in the darkness and quietness of the early morning darkness. As I looked at the moon, my mind thought about how big and how vast our God is. Sometimes I get so caught up in the circumstances of my life, that I forget about the fact that God, our God, the One True God, Jehovah, Elohim, Adonai, He spoke a word, and the worlds (including our moon) was made. Just pause and think about that for a moment....
Mankind goes through hundreds of struggles and difficulties in our lives here on earth every day. But you know what? Our God is big enough to handle taking care of you through whatever you are going through. I used to play a lot of ball. Whatever "ball" was in season, I would play it: basketball, football, or baseball. On the sandlot, there was always a selecting of teams. There was a choosing of sides. Two captains would be selected (usually the two best players) and we would take turns back and forth selecting teams. I have been both the one selecting and the one selected. I know how good it feels to make the right choice of a team mate, and I know what it feels like to be the one chosen.
Beloved, that is such a small thing, compared to what God has done for us. He has chosen us. You. Me. He chose us. All we have to do, is choose Him. You see, God is always the initiator. After Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, God put His redemptive plan in place, so that through the span of time, Jesus His Son would be born in the flesh, and grow up to go to that cross as a redemptive sacrifice for our sins. And all we have to do, is receive it and believe it in our hearts. Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of your life. God has blessed us in the heavenlies, with every spiritual blessing. He has prepared a home for us. He has made a way for us to live with Him. He has chosen us. The God of the universe has chosen you and me to live with Him, and all we have to do is choose Him. Repent of our sins and turn to Him. There is not room enough in this forum to fully explain the wonderful work that God has initiated on our behalf. But beloved, know this: He has chosen you! The greatest Captain of them all, if you will, has chosen you and me. We must decide in our heart of hearts to live our lives for Him.
Beloved, take care, out there on the highways and by-ways of life. "Life is tough. Pray hard" as the slogan goes. Don't forsake the meeting together with like-believers. Don't neglect the reading of God's Word in your life. Spend some time before Him in prayer, and in listening to Him. He will speak to you, in that still small voice that can only be heard in your heart of hearts. Shalom.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Sowing and Reaping
"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 6 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."
Galatians 6:7-9
Beloved, today's passage is a sober reminder to walk circumspectly; to walk in the way of righteousness. Whatever you do, whether right or wrong, in this life, you will also reap accordingly. If you sow righteousness, you will reap righteousness. If you sow wickedness and worldly things, then you will reap according to those seeds you have sown. We have a choice. That is what makes God so awesome! He gives us a choice. He could just zap! us, or He could just program us like robots, to serve Him, but instead, He gives us a choice. We get to choose how we are going to live, or rather, sow. And then, because He is a just and true God, He allows us to reap that which we have sown.
I believe this Biblical principle applies to even the smallest things in our daily life. If we are in traffic and someone needs to be let in, let them in. I believe that God sees even the smallest acts of kindness done in secret. Even just smiling at someone may make their day. We never know what people are going through. But the Biblical principle is still in place, and we will reap back what we have sown.
Now there are some out there, who take this verse and pervert it into something it is not. They falsely use it for their own monetary gain, by telling sincere yet misguided people that this verse applies to money. These false teachers tell people that if they will just "sow into the ministry" by sending their money to them, then they will reap what they have sown, and more! How absurd! This verse, beloved, is talking about how we live our lives, and the things we do in our life. All one has to do is look at the contextual verses around them. The verses before and the verses after, are all talking about living our lives and walking in righteousness. The problem with false teachers, is that they love to take one verse and lift it out of context and then make a theology out of it. That is so unBiblical.
Anyway, beloved, today, as you go through your life, walk in righteousness. Sow seeds of righteousness. And you will reap an eternal reward. Amen? Amen.
Galatians 6:7-9
Beloved, today's passage is a sober reminder to walk circumspectly; to walk in the way of righteousness. Whatever you do, whether right or wrong, in this life, you will also reap accordingly. If you sow righteousness, you will reap righteousness. If you sow wickedness and worldly things, then you will reap according to those seeds you have sown. We have a choice. That is what makes God so awesome! He gives us a choice. He could just zap! us, or He could just program us like robots, to serve Him, but instead, He gives us a choice. We get to choose how we are going to live, or rather, sow. And then, because He is a just and true God, He allows us to reap that which we have sown.
I believe this Biblical principle applies to even the smallest things in our daily life. If we are in traffic and someone needs to be let in, let them in. I believe that God sees even the smallest acts of kindness done in secret. Even just smiling at someone may make their day. We never know what people are going through. But the Biblical principle is still in place, and we will reap back what we have sown.
Now there are some out there, who take this verse and pervert it into something it is not. They falsely use it for their own monetary gain, by telling sincere yet misguided people that this verse applies to money. These false teachers tell people that if they will just "sow into the ministry" by sending their money to them, then they will reap what they have sown, and more! How absurd! This verse, beloved, is talking about how we live our lives, and the things we do in our life. All one has to do is look at the contextual verses around them. The verses before and the verses after, are all talking about living our lives and walking in righteousness. The problem with false teachers, is that they love to take one verse and lift it out of context and then make a theology out of it. That is so unBiblical.
Anyway, beloved, today, as you go through your life, walk in righteousness. Sow seeds of righteousness. And you will reap an eternal reward. Amen? Amen.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Brotherly Love
"Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself let you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothign, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load."
Galatians 6:1-5
There is a lot of "stuff" going around out there in the Church. There are the latest "fads" that blow through the church. The "fads" could be called "winds of doctrine" which come in and lead people away from the Biblical truth. There is the seeker-sensitive movement, or "gospel lite" as I call it. There are those churches which are driven by purpose, rather than led by the Spirit. Recently, there has "emerged" a movement that is deadly to the church. Oddly enough, it is called the Emerging Church. For more on the Emerging or Emergent Church, see Roger Oakland's book, Faith Undone. But there has been something that has been around in the church for as long as I have been a believer, and even before that when I was merely a church attender, before I gave my life to Christ. That thing is the cruel way we Christians treat each other. Not everyone across the board, mind you. That would make us unlike Christ. But there are certain ones, who come into our sights, and for some reason, we justify as okay what we do to them and how we treat them. I cannot explain it, nor understand, how some so-called Christians can treat their brothers and sisters which such disregard and disdain, and still call themselves Christians. It is beyond anything I can figure out. The only thing I can think of, is that they themselves are deceived. The enemy doesn't care how you treat your brothers and sisters, as long as he can destroy YOU. And he never lets up, and he never takes a day off, and he is always on mission. And in your ignorance and state of being deceived, he may even use you to destroy another. This is a very seroius thing for a believer, as we will have to stand before Jesus Himself and give an account for what we have done. I don't envy the one who is responsible for tearing down what the Holy Spirit has built up.
I read once that the Christian army is the only army in the world that shoots it's own soldiers. What baffles me is that this is in total contradiction to Scripture. As we read today, if a brother or sister sins, we are to restore them, not kick them while they are down. Not ostracize them from the fellowship. Not write them off from our lives. I saw a friend of mine, who slipped up and sinned, being treated so poorly from his fellowship, his friends, and his family. I wanted to cry, "Where is the spirit of gentleness? Where is the consideration of yourself?" But there was none. And sadly, he left the church, his family, and just moved away, probably never to darken the door of a church for along time, if ever again. Why? Why? Why do things like this happen in church, when the Holy Spirit tells us not to cast out (unless the person is blatant and unrepentent), but to restore. Jesus Himself was denied by one of His closest friends. He was betrayed by another one. Jesus restored Peter, and was giving Judas one last chance there in the Garden, when He called him "Friend" (Matthew 26:50).
Beloved,I believe that there is no examining of ourselves, truly. But there needs to be. We compare ourselves to others and say to ourselves, "I'm not as bad as so-and-so, I am okay." We glance at ourselves, and think more highly of ourselves than we ought, and then run out there door, rolling over and smashing anyone who gets in our way. All I can say, is it isn't the Jesus way. Other people are not our standard: Jesus is. We have been duped into thinking that as long as I read my Bible, and pray to the Lord, and listen to Christian radio, then I am alright. But verse 4 in the above text tells us, "Let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another." In other words, what the Holy Spirit is saying to us is, "You take care of yourself, and don't look around at what others are doing. Taking care of yourself is a full time job. I will worry about what everyone else is doing." Man, if we believers did that, the whole face of the church would be changed. We might actually make a difference in the world around us. Beloved, don't be deceived. Don't buy into the world system and the world's way of thinking, putting ourselves above all others. Let us bear our own load.
So beloved, today, first of all, know that we are all nothing without Jesus Christ in our lives. Let us first examine ourselves and not think more highly of ourselves than we ought, because without Jesus, we are nothing. Secondly, let us walk in grace and truth, and restore our brethren, not tear down. Jesus was in the "business" of restoration. Let us follow His example. Let us not take delight in the downfall or discouragement or the "payback" of others. Let us pray for our brothers and sisters. Let us come along side our brothers and sisters. Let us enourage each other, and spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not deceive ourselves. We belong to Jesus Christ the Son of God. Let us follow His example of restoration today. Amen.
Galatians 6:1-5
There is a lot of "stuff" going around out there in the Church. There are the latest "fads" that blow through the church. The "fads" could be called "winds of doctrine" which come in and lead people away from the Biblical truth. There is the seeker-sensitive movement, or "gospel lite" as I call it. There are those churches which are driven by purpose, rather than led by the Spirit. Recently, there has "emerged" a movement that is deadly to the church. Oddly enough, it is called the Emerging Church. For more on the Emerging or Emergent Church, see Roger Oakland's book, Faith Undone. But there has been something that has been around in the church for as long as I have been a believer, and even before that when I was merely a church attender, before I gave my life to Christ. That thing is the cruel way we Christians treat each other. Not everyone across the board, mind you. That would make us unlike Christ. But there are certain ones, who come into our sights, and for some reason, we justify as okay what we do to them and how we treat them. I cannot explain it, nor understand, how some so-called Christians can treat their brothers and sisters which such disregard and disdain, and still call themselves Christians. It is beyond anything I can figure out. The only thing I can think of, is that they themselves are deceived. The enemy doesn't care how you treat your brothers and sisters, as long as he can destroy YOU. And he never lets up, and he never takes a day off, and he is always on mission. And in your ignorance and state of being deceived, he may even use you to destroy another. This is a very seroius thing for a believer, as we will have to stand before Jesus Himself and give an account for what we have done. I don't envy the one who is responsible for tearing down what the Holy Spirit has built up.
I read once that the Christian army is the only army in the world that shoots it's own soldiers. What baffles me is that this is in total contradiction to Scripture. As we read today, if a brother or sister sins, we are to restore them, not kick them while they are down. Not ostracize them from the fellowship. Not write them off from our lives. I saw a friend of mine, who slipped up and sinned, being treated so poorly from his fellowship, his friends, and his family. I wanted to cry, "Where is the spirit of gentleness? Where is the consideration of yourself?" But there was none. And sadly, he left the church, his family, and just moved away, probably never to darken the door of a church for along time, if ever again. Why? Why? Why do things like this happen in church, when the Holy Spirit tells us not to cast out (unless the person is blatant and unrepentent), but to restore. Jesus Himself was denied by one of His closest friends. He was betrayed by another one. Jesus restored Peter, and was giving Judas one last chance there in the Garden, when He called him "Friend" (Matthew 26:50).
Beloved,I believe that there is no examining of ourselves, truly. But there needs to be. We compare ourselves to others and say to ourselves, "I'm not as bad as so-and-so, I am okay." We glance at ourselves, and think more highly of ourselves than we ought, and then run out there door, rolling over and smashing anyone who gets in our way. All I can say, is it isn't the Jesus way. Other people are not our standard: Jesus is. We have been duped into thinking that as long as I read my Bible, and pray to the Lord, and listen to Christian radio, then I am alright. But verse 4 in the above text tells us, "Let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another." In other words, what the Holy Spirit is saying to us is, "You take care of yourself, and don't look around at what others are doing. Taking care of yourself is a full time job. I will worry about what everyone else is doing." Man, if we believers did that, the whole face of the church would be changed. We might actually make a difference in the world around us. Beloved, don't be deceived. Don't buy into the world system and the world's way of thinking, putting ourselves above all others. Let us bear our own load.
So beloved, today, first of all, know that we are all nothing without Jesus Christ in our lives. Let us first examine ourselves and not think more highly of ourselves than we ought, because without Jesus, we are nothing. Secondly, let us walk in grace and truth, and restore our brethren, not tear down. Jesus was in the "business" of restoration. Let us follow His example. Let us not take delight in the downfall or discouragement or the "payback" of others. Let us pray for our brothers and sisters. Let us come along side our brothers and sisters. Let us enourage each other, and spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not deceive ourselves. We belong to Jesus Christ the Son of God. Let us follow His example of restoration today. Amen.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Led By The Spirit
"For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law."
Galatians 5:17-18
Beloved, there is so much talk these days about being driven by purpose, that it is almost surreal. Being driven by purpose is not scriptural. We are led by the Spirit, who leads and guides us gently, according to His Word. In this world, there is a system that pulls on our flesh, that wants to seduce our flesh into "buying into" its own ways. This is of the devil. The sheep who belong to the Shepherd, know His voice, and are led by that voice, not driven along by some corporate, world of business, purpose. The Word today tells us that our flesh lusts against the Spirit. Our flesh is so pulled by this world, and the systems of this world, that it is in opposition of being led by the Spirit. The ways of this world, this pulling against our flesh, is in direct conflict with what the Spirit of God wants to do in our lives. He wants to bring about a change in us, where we don't pursue or follow after the things of this world, or even hang on to the life we knew before Him. In the next few verses, Paul will talk about the things that are in the life of those who will not inherit the kingdom of God. But right after that, he will tell us about the fruit of the Spirit. There is so much comfort in that. I used to think that it was a list of things that I could never attain, and to a point, I am correct. I can never produce those things in my own life. It has to be the Spirit. The Spirit produces the change in us. It is the Spirit who produces the fruit in our lives. There is so much comfort in that.
Beloved, this day, allow the Holy Spirit of God to lead you and guide you. The Word says He will guide you into all truth. Allow Him to do that today, and follow Him. Don't worry about the world and its values and systems. It will not last. Only the things of God will last for eternity. Beloved, don't be driven by purpose, which is not Biblical, but be led by the Holy Spirit of God, which is what God wants for your life. Shalom.
Galatians 5:17-18
Beloved, there is so much talk these days about being driven by purpose, that it is almost surreal. Being driven by purpose is not scriptural. We are led by the Spirit, who leads and guides us gently, according to His Word. In this world, there is a system that pulls on our flesh, that wants to seduce our flesh into "buying into" its own ways. This is of the devil. The sheep who belong to the Shepherd, know His voice, and are led by that voice, not driven along by some corporate, world of business, purpose. The Word today tells us that our flesh lusts against the Spirit. Our flesh is so pulled by this world, and the systems of this world, that it is in opposition of being led by the Spirit. The ways of this world, this pulling against our flesh, is in direct conflict with what the Spirit of God wants to do in our lives. He wants to bring about a change in us, where we don't pursue or follow after the things of this world, or even hang on to the life we knew before Him. In the next few verses, Paul will talk about the things that are in the life of those who will not inherit the kingdom of God. But right after that, he will tell us about the fruit of the Spirit. There is so much comfort in that. I used to think that it was a list of things that I could never attain, and to a point, I am correct. I can never produce those things in my own life. It has to be the Spirit. The Spirit produces the change in us. It is the Spirit who produces the fruit in our lives. There is so much comfort in that.
Beloved, this day, allow the Holy Spirit of God to lead you and guide you. The Word says He will guide you into all truth. Allow Him to do that today, and follow Him. Don't worry about the world and its values and systems. It will not last. Only the things of God will last for eternity. Beloved, don't be driven by purpose, which is not Biblical, but be led by the Holy Spirit of God, which is what God wants for your life. Shalom.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Entangled Again
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."
Galatians 5:1
Beloved, as we start this day, Paul is urging the Galatians, and us, to stand fast in the liberty that we have in Christ Jesus. We have so much liberty in our daily walk. The thing is, Christians don't realize it much. We are like the Galatians. We become set free in Christ Jesus when we are born again, then because of the traditions of man, we place ourselves back under the yoke of bondage that is called legalism. Perhaps it is because we don't realize the liberty that is in Christ. Perhaps it is because your family has gone to this particular church all of your life. Whatever the reason, Jesus does not want us to put ourselves back under the bondage of trying to keep all the rules. You know the ones. They say that a Christian is "supposed" to behavior. We are to live according to the Bible, not according to the church traditions. It was church traditions that crucified Christ, not the liberty that is found in Him.
Stand fast means to stand and not move, or not be moved. So, we are to not be moved from the liberty that is in Christ. Beloved, you and I are free from the bondage of trying to keep the rules. That is a lot of pressure, because no one can keep the rules. Even though they want you to believe you can if you try hard enough, the legalists know you just can't keep the rules. But in getting you to keep trying, they are keeping you in bondage to it. Break free. Christ never intended for life with Him to be bondage. There is freedom in Christ. Gone are the "got to's" and now we live in the "get to's." We get to read our Bible. We get to pray. We get to fellowship with other believers. We get to walk and live with Christ every day. Beyond that, let the Word of God be your guide.
Beloved, today is the day of opportunity. Live and walk and breathe in the liberty that is found in the freedom that comes from Christ Jesus. Don't allow the rules to drag you down. To put you in bondage after you have been set free. Do not become entangled again with those things that only lead to bondage. Amen? Amen.
Galatians 5:1
Beloved, as we start this day, Paul is urging the Galatians, and us, to stand fast in the liberty that we have in Christ Jesus. We have so much liberty in our daily walk. The thing is, Christians don't realize it much. We are like the Galatians. We become set free in Christ Jesus when we are born again, then because of the traditions of man, we place ourselves back under the yoke of bondage that is called legalism. Perhaps it is because we don't realize the liberty that is in Christ. Perhaps it is because your family has gone to this particular church all of your life. Whatever the reason, Jesus does not want us to put ourselves back under the bondage of trying to keep all the rules. You know the ones. They say that a Christian is "supposed" to behavior. We are to live according to the Bible, not according to the church traditions. It was church traditions that crucified Christ, not the liberty that is found in Him.
Stand fast means to stand and not move, or not be moved. So, we are to not be moved from the liberty that is in Christ. Beloved, you and I are free from the bondage of trying to keep the rules. That is a lot of pressure, because no one can keep the rules. Even though they want you to believe you can if you try hard enough, the legalists know you just can't keep the rules. But in getting you to keep trying, they are keeping you in bondage to it. Break free. Christ never intended for life with Him to be bondage. There is freedom in Christ. Gone are the "got to's" and now we live in the "get to's." We get to read our Bible. We get to pray. We get to fellowship with other believers. We get to walk and live with Christ every day. Beyond that, let the Word of God be your guide.
Beloved, today is the day of opportunity. Live and walk and breathe in the liberty that is found in the freedom that comes from Christ Jesus. Don't allow the rules to drag you down. To put you in bondage after you have been set free. Do not become entangled again with those things that only lead to bondage. Amen? Amen.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Known By God
"But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to whidh you desire again to be in bondage?"
Galatians 4:8-9
Beloved, did you know that when we did not know God, we served things that we thought would fulfill us: money, power, prestige, position. All the things the enemy would have you serve. And that is what we did, even if we didn't know we were. We were serving the things of the world. There is a form of this in the Christian world too. We impose man-made rules upon people, saying "This is the way to heaven." But it isn't. Even just trying to keep the rules is a form of serving. But these things are not gods. There is only One True God. And guess what? He knows us. We are known by God. Psalm 139:13-17 says, "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!" Did you get that? God knew us before we were even formed in our mother's womb! How great and marvelous is our God! He knew us when we didn't know Him. He knew us from before the beginning of our lives, and He loves us. He loved us then, and He loves us now. He loved us when we were far from Him, running after the things of this world, the power, the prestige, the position, the prosperity. He knew us then, and loved us. So much so that He sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth as a baby, to grow up, and become the substitutionary atonement for our sins. Sometimes that blows my mind, how great the Father's love for us.
So today, in this passage of Scripture, Paul is talking to the Galatians, who started out by faith alone, but had placed themselves back under the bondage of rule-keeping. Paul calls it the "weak and beggarly elements." Beloved, know that you cannot keep the rules. You just can't. No matter how hard you try, no matter how hard you strive to do so, you won't be able to. I don't say that to discourage you. I say that because it is true. In and of yourself, you cannot keep the rules. But that isn't what it is about anyway. It's not about reading a certain amount in your Bible everyday, although reading your Bible is a necessity in the Christian walk. It isn't about how long you spend in prayer, although prayer is a vital part of your daily walk. It isn't about the clothes you wear, your hairstyle, anything like that. That is all external. God doesn't want your hair, He wants your heart. All those external attributes are just things that man has imposed - rules - to try and put you under bondage again. You don't need the Jesus and the rules. You just need Jesus.
Beloved, today as you go about your busyness, don't be too busy to remember the Father's love for us. He loves you and me so much, and cares deeply about your life. Let us live our lives as an act of worship unto Him. WE are the living sacrifice. WE are loved by God. WE have been loved by God since before we were made in our mother's womb. WE are known by God! Amen.
Galatians 4:8-9
Beloved, did you know that when we did not know God, we served things that we thought would fulfill us: money, power, prestige, position. All the things the enemy would have you serve. And that is what we did, even if we didn't know we were. We were serving the things of the world. There is a form of this in the Christian world too. We impose man-made rules upon people, saying "This is the way to heaven." But it isn't. Even just trying to keep the rules is a form of serving. But these things are not gods. There is only One True God. And guess what? He knows us. We are known by God. Psalm 139:13-17 says, "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!" Did you get that? God knew us before we were even formed in our mother's womb! How great and marvelous is our God! He knew us when we didn't know Him. He knew us from before the beginning of our lives, and He loves us. He loved us then, and He loves us now. He loved us when we were far from Him, running after the things of this world, the power, the prestige, the position, the prosperity. He knew us then, and loved us. So much so that He sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth as a baby, to grow up, and become the substitutionary atonement for our sins. Sometimes that blows my mind, how great the Father's love for us.
So today, in this passage of Scripture, Paul is talking to the Galatians, who started out by faith alone, but had placed themselves back under the bondage of rule-keeping. Paul calls it the "weak and beggarly elements." Beloved, know that you cannot keep the rules. You just can't. No matter how hard you try, no matter how hard you strive to do so, you won't be able to. I don't say that to discourage you. I say that because it is true. In and of yourself, you cannot keep the rules. But that isn't what it is about anyway. It's not about reading a certain amount in your Bible everyday, although reading your Bible is a necessity in the Christian walk. It isn't about how long you spend in prayer, although prayer is a vital part of your daily walk. It isn't about the clothes you wear, your hairstyle, anything like that. That is all external. God doesn't want your hair, He wants your heart. All those external attributes are just things that man has imposed - rules - to try and put you under bondage again. You don't need the Jesus and the rules. You just need Jesus.
Beloved, today as you go about your busyness, don't be too busy to remember the Father's love for us. He loves you and me so much, and cares deeply about your life. Let us live our lives as an act of worship unto Him. WE are the living sacrifice. WE are loved by God. WE have been loved by God since before we were made in our mother's womb. WE are known by God! Amen.
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