"Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners." That's Christmas. The
message of Christmas is that God because of His love for mankind sent
His Son into the world to become a man, live a sinless life, die as a
substitute for sin, and provide the forgiveness for sin and entrance
into His presence forever.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." The God who cannot lie swears that that is so.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Success
We
live in a time when success is measured by visible results. If we can't
see God working--and measure it--we assume that He is not working and
that we are failures. Nothing could be further from the truth. God
does not measure success by results but by faithfulness. If you don't
believe that, look at the lives of the Old Testament prophets.
Christmas Every Day
We should
celebrate the birth of our Savior every day. "Christ Jesus came into
the world to save sinners." Is there any day when that truth doesn't
bring joy to your heart? Is there any day when your neighbors and
friends don't need to hear that message of love?
We should give out of our abundance every day: Is there any day when the hungry don't need food? Do they just need to eat during the Christmas holidays? Do you really think they won't be hungry on December 26th? Or June 25th?
We should always be giving gifts of love and appreciation to our friends and families. Do we only love them on December 25th? Do we only love them because they'll be giving us gifts on that day too? Does the great Giver of Good Gifts only give to us on holidays or is He a random giver of good gifts? And isn't the best way to give to give so that the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing? Isn't the best way to give to give anonymously--so that all the thanks goes to the One who provided the resources from which we give? Shouldn't every day be a potential Christmas?
We should always being sending cards and notes that say, "God loves you so much that He sent His Son into the world to redeem mankind. In fact, He sent His Son into the world to redeem you. The thought of spending eternity with you is the joy that empowered Him to endure the cross and despise its shame. And because "He first loved us, we love you.' " Is there any day when that message is not needed in the mailboxes of our friends, family, and neighbors?
The Christian life must be--not just should be--a daily celebration of the life of Christ who lives and works in us. And He lives and works in us every moment of our life. For the child of God every day is a feast day, every day is a holy day, every day is cause enough to tell the world that He loved, He came, He died, He arose, He conquered sin and death, He lives, and He's coming again.
Could it be that the world struggles with believing that Jesus is the Reason for the Season because just like Santa Claus His presence disappears from the world from December 26th to the next December?
We should give out of our abundance every day: Is there any day when the hungry don't need food? Do they just need to eat during the Christmas holidays? Do you really think they won't be hungry on December 26th? Or June 25th?
We should always be giving gifts of love and appreciation to our friends and families. Do we only love them on December 25th? Do we only love them because they'll be giving us gifts on that day too? Does the great Giver of Good Gifts only give to us on holidays or is He a random giver of good gifts? And isn't the best way to give to give so that the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing? Isn't the best way to give to give anonymously--so that all the thanks goes to the One who provided the resources from which we give? Shouldn't every day be a potential Christmas?
We should always being sending cards and notes that say, "God loves you so much that He sent His Son into the world to redeem mankind. In fact, He sent His Son into the world to redeem you. The thought of spending eternity with you is the joy that empowered Him to endure the cross and despise its shame. And because "He first loved us, we love you.' " Is there any day when that message is not needed in the mailboxes of our friends, family, and neighbors?
The Christian life must be--not just should be--a daily celebration of the life of Christ who lives and works in us. And He lives and works in us every moment of our life. For the child of God every day is a feast day, every day is a holy day, every day is cause enough to tell the world that He loved, He came, He died, He arose, He conquered sin and death, He lives, and He's coming again.
Could it be that the world struggles with believing that Jesus is the Reason for the Season because just like Santa Claus His presence disappears from the world from December 26th to the next December?
Naming
The
old hymn says "Count your many blessings, see what God has done. Count
your many blessings name them one by one. . . Count your blessings and
it will surprise you what the Lord has done." We should do a lot more
counting and a lot less complaining. Take some time today with a sheet
of paper and do some "naming."
Willful Sin
If
ever an era was filled with willful men, it is today. The philosophy of
humanism, the ethics of "I'll do as I please," and the pride of
"looking out for number one," have infiltrated the thought processes of
all of us. We are a selfish lot of external Christians conforming to
man's code for what is a Christian and not making the Word of God and
its truth a part of our inner being. We are not genuine.
And consequently, we are constantly seeing more and more Christians who deliberately and willfully commit the worst of sins in our Christian homes, churches, and schools. There is a sobering warning to those who so act. God says that "there is a fearful looking for of judgment." Like Joseph's brothers there is a constant fear of God's justice that permeates one's life, a continual "looking over the shoulder" in dread. For, those who choose to willfully continue in--to practice--known sin are in the eyes of God trampling underfoot the precious blood of His Son, declaring by their lives that the gospel of Christ is a common unholy thing of no special value or effect, despising the Holy Spirit of grace Who has sealed their redemption from the curse and harshness of the law and the wrath it would condemn them to face without Jesus. It is to make a mockery of the Savior's loving sacrifice on the cross. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" is written to him who "was sanctified" by the blood. God abhors sin. God will not tolerate willful continual sin in the lives of those that are His children. Do not choose to callously live a life of disobedience to the commandments of God's Word. God is holy. He has chosen to set His children apart as His holy ones--as saints. Grace is not an excuse for, nor a reason to, live a life of rebellion against God. Do not doubt that God chastises His children--even to the point of physical death. "For this cause many are sickly among you, and many sleep." That is, at times, the only way God can demonstrate His love for His Son's willing sacrifice and to preserve His glory among men. That is much more important to God than a rebellious Christian's arrogance.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins."
And consequently, we are constantly seeing more and more Christians who deliberately and willfully commit the worst of sins in our Christian homes, churches, and schools. There is a sobering warning to those who so act. God says that "there is a fearful looking for of judgment." Like Joseph's brothers there is a constant fear of God's justice that permeates one's life, a continual "looking over the shoulder" in dread. For, those who choose to willfully continue in--to practice--known sin are in the eyes of God trampling underfoot the precious blood of His Son, declaring by their lives that the gospel of Christ is a common unholy thing of no special value or effect, despising the Holy Spirit of grace Who has sealed their redemption from the curse and harshness of the law and the wrath it would condemn them to face without Jesus. It is to make a mockery of the Savior's loving sacrifice on the cross. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" is written to him who "was sanctified" by the blood. God abhors sin. God will not tolerate willful continual sin in the lives of those that are His children. Do not choose to callously live a life of disobedience to the commandments of God's Word. God is holy. He has chosen to set His children apart as His holy ones--as saints. Grace is not an excuse for, nor a reason to, live a life of rebellion against God. Do not doubt that God chastises His children--even to the point of physical death. "For this cause many are sickly among you, and many sleep." That is, at times, the only way God can demonstrate His love for His Son's willing sacrifice and to preserve His glory among men. That is much more important to God than a rebellious Christian's arrogance.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins."
Goodness and Severity of God
"Behold, the goodness and severity of God."
Too often we look at what happens around us--or in history--and doubt God's goodness. The problem is: we don't look at the whole story. Take, for instance, God's dealing with Israel in the Old Testament. He used Assyria--a wicked nation--to judge His people. And the judgment was brutal. It didn't look as if God was being too good to His people. What we miss--if we casually look at the history of the ten tribes--is that God had been good to His people for hundreds of years. Hundreds. Even when they were being continually unfaithful, He had been faithful to them. The result: the more God showed them mercy and goodness, the more they took Him for granted and turned to idols, and heathen nations, and worldly methods for deliverance. The more patience He showed them, and the more prophets He sent to warn them, the more they shrugged their shoulders at His love, rebelled against His commandments, and lived unrighteous lives. The reason God had to withdraw His goodness and turn to severity was because continued goodness would only have sent them further away from Him. His grace and mercy, His goodness, had been horribly abused. Callously abused. They even went so far as to worship the good things God had given them while refusing to worship Him--the Giver.
The lesson for us: Always look beyond the good things you have to the One who is the Giver of Good Gifts. When we become satisfied, or, even worse, fall in love with--worship--what He has in His mercy and grace given us, He has to take away those good things in order to turn our attention back to Him. There is nothing more dangerous than a heart of ingratitude toward God. We then begin to think that what we have is our doing. And such arrogance--pride--always goes before a disastrous fall. When God can no longer use His goodness to draw us closer to Him, His only choice is to use severity. And He loves us too much to let us escape His love and fellowship.
Never forget that the goodness and severity of God are inseparable. They are both a testimony to His love for His children. Never forget to tell Him "thank you" as often as you can. How? Obey. Rejoice in the Lord. Bask in His goodness!
Too often we look at what happens around us--or in history--and doubt God's goodness. The problem is: we don't look at the whole story. Take, for instance, God's dealing with Israel in the Old Testament. He used Assyria--a wicked nation--to judge His people. And the judgment was brutal. It didn't look as if God was being too good to His people. What we miss--if we casually look at the history of the ten tribes--is that God had been good to His people for hundreds of years. Hundreds. Even when they were being continually unfaithful, He had been faithful to them. The result: the more God showed them mercy and goodness, the more they took Him for granted and turned to idols, and heathen nations, and worldly methods for deliverance. The more patience He showed them, and the more prophets He sent to warn them, the more they shrugged their shoulders at His love, rebelled against His commandments, and lived unrighteous lives. The reason God had to withdraw His goodness and turn to severity was because continued goodness would only have sent them further away from Him. His grace and mercy, His goodness, had been horribly abused. Callously abused. They even went so far as to worship the good things God had given them while refusing to worship Him--the Giver.
The lesson for us: Always look beyond the good things you have to the One who is the Giver of Good Gifts. When we become satisfied, or, even worse, fall in love with--worship--what He has in His mercy and grace given us, He has to take away those good things in order to turn our attention back to Him. There is nothing more dangerous than a heart of ingratitude toward God. We then begin to think that what we have is our doing. And such arrogance--pride--always goes before a disastrous fall. When God can no longer use His goodness to draw us closer to Him, His only choice is to use severity. And He loves us too much to let us escape His love and fellowship.
Never forget that the goodness and severity of God are inseparable. They are both a testimony to His love for His children. Never forget to tell Him "thank you" as often as you can. How? Obey. Rejoice in the Lord. Bask in His goodness!
The World, the Flesh, and the Devil
The disciple--the dedicated follower of Christ--must get his values and base his behavior on the Word of God. He or she must be a student of the Word--and of the whole counsel of God. It is the Word that God uses to sanctify His people, to empower us to take every thought captive to obedience. It is the light that guides us for each step that we take; the lamp for our feet on the path ahead. As we saturate our life with the Word, the Spirit fills us and takes control of our lives. Whenever our thinking becomes distracted and drawn away from reliance on the sword of the Spirit, we are in trouble. The battle is fought in the mind. We are either being transformed by the renewing of our mind through the Word, or we are being conformed to the culture in which we live. Conformity is the evidence that we have taken our lives off the altar of sacrifice and are following something other than Christ. Worshiping something other than Christ.
What are the enemies of the Word-focused, Spirit-relying mindset? There are three: the world, the flesh, and the Devil.
The world wants us to embrace the thinking of our culture. It encourages us to make decisions based on what the culture believes is right, what our neighbors think, what our friends think. It asks, "Do you really want those around you to criticize and reject you? Do you really want to be standing alone in what you believe? Do you really want to be called a fool, laughed at, left out of things?" The world seeks to undermine our courage. It tries to dilute our love and allow fear to creep in. The approval of men becomes preeminent in our thinking and the approval of God--the reverence for the Lord that is the beginning of wisdom--is set aside.
The flesh wants us to embrace self. It encourages us to make decisions based on our own desires for our life. It often changes good desires into idols. We have to have them above embracing God's will for our lives. We become Christian pragmatists living as if "the end justifies the means." It asks, "What do you want? What would please you? You know you have to have that in order to be somebody, to be fulfilled. You have a right to such things. Anyone who stands in your way is obviously wrong and being unfair--even if it's God. The flesh wants us to believe that everything revolves around us. We and what we want--what we deserve--is the only thing that matters. It undermines our servant's heart. It enslaves us to the unattainable--having the peace and joy of God without having God as the center of our lives. We become appetite driven. And when has an appetite ever been satisfied?
The Devil is a great proponent of the mindset of the world and the flesh. He's a master at encouraging such thinking. He's so masterful that he even uses at times the idea of non-conformity to conform us to his thinking and the way of living he wants us to embrace. His strategy, of course, has been the same since the beginning. He always attacks God's Word. He is always asking, "Is that what God really said? Do you actually believe that that's what He meant? Do you really think submitting to Him and obeying His Word is the best thing? Is He really good? Maybe God's afraid that you can control your life and make it a success without Him and His guidance and without obedience to His commands? Really--those who are reviled for His sake will be blessed? Really--being a servant to others brings joy and contentment?" Don't get me wrong. The Devil is into servanthood. But he's the one who wants to be the Master. He wants you to follow his texts--the mindset of the world and the flesh, not the mind of God. And he is content to let you think that you are your own master--because he knows better.
Are you being conformed or transformed? There is no middle ground. There is no "best of both worlds." You are either daily relying on God's Word to guide your behavior and to establish your values or you are serving the wrong master. As Jesus said, "the wise man obeys; the foolish man knows God's truth but does not obey. But it's the wise man's life that can withstand the inevitable storms." As the psalmist says, "the wise man is like a tree planted by the rivers of water; the foolish man is like the chaff that the wind blows away."
"Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee."
"Father, sanctify them through Thy truth. Thy Word is the truth."
"With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give your bodies as a living sacrifice, consecrated to Him and acceptable by Him. Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its mold, but let God remold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all His demands, and moves toward the goal of true maturity."
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