Month: March 2012

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. (Colossians 3:15)

The Greek word “peace” here refers to both the call of God to salvation and the consequent peace with Him, and the attitude of rest or security believers have because of that eternal peace. God’s Word to us should have a most profound reason of assurance than any other book of literature we read. The call of salvation is encased in the humbled act of obedience and love Christ demonstrated to His Father, in dying on a cross to purchase our salvation once and for all (Hebrews 9:28). We have nothing to do with this except to accept God’s offer of forgiveness by faith and believe in Him (Christ the Lord) as our Savior and Messiah. What peace we forfeit in simply not believing that God’s grace is so sufficient to meet all of my needs now, today, as His child. We have such the benefit of knowing the end of all of this earthly life, because God has detailed it for us in His written Word the Bible. For all of eternity we will be with the One, who loved us and gave Himself for us, so that we may escape the coming judgment to this world. We rely upon to0 much of our feelings and of our own wisdom to make us feel secure in life, putting the assurance on what I have to do to make it happen. The Scripture should permeate every aspect of the believer’s life and control every thought, word, and deed. We have examples from Israel’s history to be warned of how longsuffering God is with us.

They soon forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel, But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, but sent leaness to their soul (Psalm 106 :13-15). The Jews forgot what God had most recently done on their behalf, and focused only on the enslaved life of Egypt’s provision, and doubted that they would have water or food in their journey out of bondage and into their future’s freedom.

Dear friend, Let us be the most thankful people for what Jesus Christ has done for us at Calvary’s cross. We are to witness to the world around us of His great love and His grace and goodness so that others may too accept His offer of salvation.

May the Lord bless your walk today!

Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first (foremost) commandment of all?” Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-30)

The quote Jesus used is from Deuteronomy 6:5, part of the Shema, (Hebrew for “hear” Deut. 6:4)  The Jewish rabbis had determined that there were 613 commandments contained in the Pentateuch, one for each letter of the Ten Commandments. Heart…soul…mind…strength – The use of the various terms is not meant to delineate distinct human faculities, but to underscore the completeness of the kind of love that is called for. To say “I love God” when understood to be the greatest love of all, Is to say, “I love God with my whole being, my heart, my passions, my ambitions, with everything that is about me that it will show the love of God.” Love your neighbor as yourself – This is a quotation from Leviticus 19:18. Again, part of the the commands from the first five Books (Pentateuch) it is not a mandate for self-love. Rather, it contains in different words the very same idea as the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12). It prompts believers to measure their love for others by what they wish for themselves.  Jesus took the Pharisees’ question one step further by identifying the second greatest commandment because it was critical to an understanding of the complete duty of love.

Dear Christian friend, We have people in our lives every day who need to be not only loved this way, but see the courage it takes to live out our love for God, in a very practical way demonstrating the greatest commandment of God, and follow your steps of the second commandment, of loving others as yourself.

May the Lord bless your walk today!

But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. (Revelation 2:14)

Christians at Pergamum had remained strong in the face of powerful external threats. Jesus commended them for remaining true to Him and not renouncing their faith even when a faithful witness named Antipas was executed in their city, “where Satan has his throne” (Rev. 2:13). Their greatest threat was not external, however. It was a subtle system of thought within their own fellowship which Jesus identified as “the teaching of Balaam” (v.14). Most people remember Balaam as the frustrated Old Testament character who was reprimanded by his donkey (Numbers 22:21-35). But the story of Balaam goes on to chronicle an insidious deception that threatened to destroy God’s people even as they were poised to enter the Promised Land. Among the strong Christians at Pergamum were some who had embraced a doctrine that legitimized sexual behavior that had been previously prohibited. Under the guise of freedom, they were being enslaved. The doctrine of grace was given a twist that turned liberty into license. A people who had been strong in the face of persecution were unthinkingly caving in to the temptations of their culture. Resilient to external threats, they became careless with their own character.

Beloved friend, We can’t be lax in regards to Christian charcter. To say that we live in a culture that is saturated with compromise with ethical values is an understatement. For a Christian today, to be Biblically moral about sexual behavior, is to be politically incorrect, and untolerable with the values this world embraces. The more of our celebrity endorsements to these unbiblical values, the more power these compromised virtues take on, even from the members of the church from which you attend. Let us remember one thing, The Bible is always going to dispell the confusion. This is the counsel from which we take to be our own true moral compass and direction in life. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 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. (Galatians 6:7-8)

May the Lord bless your walk today!

A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is! (Proverbs 15:23)

Well chosen words can prove to be more valuable in life than earthly riches, when it comes in God’s timing, (literally in its time). After the shock of being told he had leukemia and then undergoing a week of treatments, 15-year-old Douglas Maurer sank into a deep depression. When one of his aunts ordered flowers for him, she asked the young florist to make the display especially nice, “It’s for my teenage nephew who has leukemia,” she told the clerk over the phone. When the flowers arrived in Douglas’ hospital room, he found a handwritten card in the basket: Douglas-I took your order. I work at Brix Florist. I had leukemia when I was 7 years old. I’m 22 years old now. Good luck. My heart goes out to you. Sinerely, Laura Bradley. Writing about this incident, Columnist Bob Greene said, “Douglas Maurer was in a hospital filled with millions of dollars of the most sophisticated equipment. He was being treated by expert  doctors and nurses with medical training totaling in the hundreds of years. But it was a salesclerk in a flower shop, a woman making $170 a week, who by taking the time to care- gave Douglas hope and the will to carry on.” Why? Because she had faced the same situation he was now facing and had overcome.

Dear Friend, Jesus tells us: “These things I have spoken to you, that you may have peace, In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome this world” (John 16:33). He speaks as One who has been there, and has overcome.

May the Lord bless your walk today!

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6-7)

“Walk” is the familiar NT term denoting the believer’s daily conduct. To walk in Christ is to live life patterened after His life, to love what He loves, and to hate what He hates. Our foundation is faith based on the solid ground of bibilical truth, sound doctrine from which we grow from by what life brings to us, and how we respond to it from a learned bibilical response. In other words, spiritual maturity develops upward from the foundation of bibilical truth as taught from Scripture; then put into practical application. Rooted and built up – Established in His Word, Christ followers are now identifying their lives with His words in their hearts, reaching decisions and finding direction from the unfolding truth from which we accept by faith as His will for our lives. One of the key elements in being rooted and grounded in Christ is His love for you. You are the apple of His eye. His love for you has no limits and is unconditional. In your walk of service to Him can’t make God love you any more than He already does, just like your sins you have commited can’t make Him love you any less!

Beloved friend, walk in victory today because of the great love that God has for you in His Son, Christ the Lord. Be rooted and grounded in His love and you will have confidence that is needed to be His witnesses of His grace and goodness.

May the Lord bless your walk today!

 

 

 

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. (Psalm 127:3)

Her writing career spanned three decades, from the mid-1960s through the mid-1990s. She wrote twelve books and received sixteen honorary doctorate degrees. But three years before she died of cancer in 1996, popular humorist Erma Bombeck told ABC TV interviewer that no matter how many columns she had written, her lagacy would be her three children. “If I did a bad job with them,” she said, “then everything else {I} do isn’t very important.” Bombeck had riches and fame and goodwill of millions of readers, but she realized that her top priority was taking care of her children.

Attention young parents: Don’t let the influence of this worlds temporary things, the deceitful riches, and earthly applause of men determine your destiny. Follow God’s plan for you that’s found in His written Word, and you will leave a godly legacy to your children and their children after them. For those who have already raised a family, but did not properly represent God to their children, it’s still not too late, humble yourselves before God, and let Him direct you into loving relationships with your grandchildren. God is faithful! It’s important to remember, “It’s not how we start out in life, but it’s how we finish, that matters most.”

Father, as Your servants and Christian parents, let our love for You and each other be like a “cemented footprint” as a reminder in our children’s home and family life. In Jesus name, Amen.

May the Lord bless your walk today!

 

A certain centurion’s servant who was very dear to him, was sick and ready to die. So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. Then Jesus went with them, and when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick. (Luke 7:2-10)

The certurion’s concern for a lowly servant was contrary to the reputation Roman army officers held in Israel. Yet, this is one of three certurion soldiers in the NT who gave evidence of genuine faith. It was out a measure of respect that the Jewish elders would be willing to bring this cause to Jesus. Like all men under conviction, the centurion felt his unworthiness to come to the Lord, but also had enough faith to believe that Christ could heal by merely speaking a word. This centurion also seen and understood Jesus’ absolute authority so that He marveled that even some of His own disciples did not see things so clearly.

Dear friend, one thing to remember even today, like it was when Jesus walked the earth: But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). A person must believe not only that the true God exists, but also He will reward men’s faith in Him with forgiveness and righteousness, because He has promised to. Not believing that God exists is equivalent to calling Him a liar (1 John 5:10).

May the Lord bless your walk today!

 

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. (Philippians 3:20-21,4:1)

Waiting patiently, but with great expectation Paul here is encouraging his readers to remain steady and faithful in their walk knowing what lies ahead. Our citizenship in heaven is where God dwells and Christ after His resurrection is present. Where our names are registered in a book, where no one who’s name is not registered can enter in. A place where the Bible describes as “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God, And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4) The Greek word for “transform” gives us the word “schematic” which is an internal design of something. Those who are already dead in Christ from history past, but alive with the Lord in spirit in heaven (2Cor.5:8), will receive new bodies at the resurrection and rapture of the church. When those who are alive at that time of Christ’s coming, will have their bodies transformed (1 Corinthians 15:51-57).

In either camp, Paul here writes with great anticipation and reveals his deep affection for the Philippian believers calling them my joy and crown, Paul did not derive his joy from circumstances, but from his fellow believers.

Friend in Christ, Others in your and my life need to be loved this way. The supernatural love of a Spirit-filled believer is contageous, and trustworthy, and will make a difference in our world today.

May the Lord bless your walk today!

 

 

Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice , and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” (John 10:24-30)

From this text, we can clearly see the picture of how God the Father in complete harmony with His Son, Christ the Lord, have a united purpose in the way we are chosen as believers, and because we are a part of His kingdom, we have a security that is second to none. For no one can steal anything from God. What constitutes as a disqualifying factor in a person’s life is unbelief. Note the way they phrased their question to Jesus, “If You are the Christ” No doubt this is Satan talking through them, because this is exactly how he questioned Jesus when He was led by the Spirit in the desert to be tested after fasting fourty days and was hungry. This was right before Jesus would start His public ministry. The Third Person involved to give us ultimate victory is the Holy Spirit who draws us to Him. Few things are more important for a follower of Christ to consider than the attitude of the Lord Christ to the written Word of God. Jesus saw the events of His life as the fufillment of Scripture. {And the Scripture cannot be be broken v.35}

Beloved friend, stay steadfast in your walk with Lord, for no one metaphorically robbers or wolf, can steal us away from God. For you are in His grip!

May the Lord bless your walk today!

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 5:10-11)

In strong contrast to the disobedient who are appointed to God’s wrath, Christians are chosen by God to salvation. An effectual saving call by God to the world, yet not everyone will respond to His invitation to inherit eternal life. Christians are to live with the understanding that God’s purposes relating to the future glory often require some endurance to pain in the present. While the believer is being personally attacked by the enemy, he is being personally perfected by the Lord. Perfect,establish, strengthen, and settle – These four words all speak of strength and resoluteness. God is working through the Christian’s struggles to produce strength of character. These attributes that brings us this character building strength are found in this chapter 5, of 1 Peter. These include submission (v.5), humility (vv. 5,6), trust  (v.7), sobermindedness (v.8) a vigilant defense (vv.8,9), hope (v.10), and worship (v.11).

Beloved friend, stay encouraged in your walk with the Lord, in times of trial and suffering you are not alone. The Lord walks with those who are remaining faithful and confident during these difficult times, but He also is only a quiet prayer away from anyone who will call upon His name. Our time on earth is short compared to all of eternity in His presence, and only what we do with our faith, our hope, and our love, and work of the Lord will last.

May God bless your walk with Him!