...and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then... ~ Ephesians 6:13b-14a
We are at war. I'm not talking about a war fought with physical weapons on an open battlefield or in a deep jungle in some remote location in the world. The war rages in ourselves. We are the battle ground.
God knows we don't have what it takes to win this war. We are weak, we are afraid, and we don't always want the victory. This is the beauty in this passage in Ephesians. God is supplying everything we need to win the battle. Jesus won the war on the cross and He will win the battle that rages in you. All we have to do is let Him win.
Paul told the Ephesians, "After you have done everything, to stand." After you have done everything in your power, and you can't stand anymore, "Stand firm then..." Now stand in God's power. In His armor. In His might.
In Psalm 46:10 we read these words, " “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
May God give you victory today.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Time to let it go
Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? ~Matthew 9:5
So often the church is focused on meeting the physical needs of people that we forget the true message of Jesus Christ. Jesus didn't heal people physically just to heal people. He performed miracles to show that He had the ability to forgive sin.
As Christ followers we are called to forgive others. Jesus didn't just give us the ability to forgive but He commanded us to do so.
I don't know what burden you are carrying today, but it is time to set it down. It is time to let it go. It is a time for Forgiveness.
So often the church is focused on meeting the physical needs of people that we forget the true message of Jesus Christ. Jesus didn't heal people physically just to heal people. He performed miracles to show that He had the ability to forgive sin.
As Christ followers we are called to forgive others. Jesus didn't just give us the ability to forgive but He commanded us to do so.
I don't know what burden you are carrying today, but it is time to set it down. It is time to let it go. It is a time for Forgiveness.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
You Can Do It
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. ~Philippians 4:13
Sometimes in life we come across people who push our every nerve. We want do whatever it takes to get away from these people. Sometimes we just want to be mean to them.
BUT God tells us to love these people.
One time, early in His earthly ministry, Jesus came upon a man named Levi. Levi was a tax collector. In those days it was the tax collector himself that decided the fees that they would charge. Most tax collectors at the time charged people 100% increase or more on their taxes, sometimes as much as a 400% increase.
To say the least, this didn't endear them to the people. Yet, when Jesus sees Levi, He doesn't yell out rude comments, He doesn't ignore Levi, He simply calls out, "Follow Me." Jesus saw the man Levi could be in Christ and not just the man sitting at the table.
Later that day we find Jesus at Levi's home having a meal. The religious leaders are complaining because a good and godly man wouldn't be around 'these kind' of people.
"On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” ~Mark 2:17
How can I have this kind of attitude toward those that society calls unlovable? What if we could learn to love the worst that mankind has to offer? I'm not saying we should accept sin or say sin is okay, but rather embrace the sinner as a fellow image bearer of God who desperately needs the grace and mercy of the cross. (Just like you and me.)
I can do this. And so can you. Through Jesus we can have the strength to love the unlovable, touch the untouchable, reach the unreachable. I can do ALL THINGS through HIM. Will you give Jesus control today?
Sometimes in life we come across people who push our every nerve. We want do whatever it takes to get away from these people. Sometimes we just want to be mean to them.
BUT God tells us to love these people.
One time, early in His earthly ministry, Jesus came upon a man named Levi. Levi was a tax collector. In those days it was the tax collector himself that decided the fees that they would charge. Most tax collectors at the time charged people 100% increase or more on their taxes, sometimes as much as a 400% increase.
To say the least, this didn't endear them to the people. Yet, when Jesus sees Levi, He doesn't yell out rude comments, He doesn't ignore Levi, He simply calls out, "Follow Me." Jesus saw the man Levi could be in Christ and not just the man sitting at the table.
Later that day we find Jesus at Levi's home having a meal. The religious leaders are complaining because a good and godly man wouldn't be around 'these kind' of people.
"On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” ~Mark 2:17
How can I have this kind of attitude toward those that society calls unlovable? What if we could learn to love the worst that mankind has to offer? I'm not saying we should accept sin or say sin is okay, but rather embrace the sinner as a fellow image bearer of God who desperately needs the grace and mercy of the cross. (Just like you and me.)
I can do this. And so can you. Through Jesus we can have the strength to love the unlovable, touch the untouchable, reach the unreachable. I can do ALL THINGS through HIM. Will you give Jesus control today?
Monday, September 17, 2012
While you still have today
Why,
you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You
are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ~James 4:14
One day while Jesus is teaching He tells this story about this farmer. This farmers crops are growing with great abundance. When the harvest comes he quickly realizes that his barn isn't big enough to store all his crops.
This farmer comes up with a plan to build a new and bigger barn so he can store up all his stuff and then he plans on taking it easy for a few years. God then shows up and tells this farmer that he is a fool, because God is demanding the man's life that very night.
In our lives we tend to live like we have an everlasting string of tomorrows, but the truth is all we have is now. This moment. God can call our lives to account at this very moment.
The problem is we want to put things off till another day. We say things like, "I'll get right with God when I am older." "One of these I'll start giving to help those in need."
When we procrastinate about spiritual things, we become fools. God told James that our lives are but a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. We have right now, this moment to get right with God through Jesus Christ. Today is the day of your salvation. You may not have another chance.
Thomas Jefferson once said, " Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today."
This is never more true than accepting the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. So act now while you still have today, because no one is promised tomorrow.
One day while Jesus is teaching He tells this story about this farmer. This farmers crops are growing with great abundance. When the harvest comes he quickly realizes that his barn isn't big enough to store all his crops.
This farmer comes up with a plan to build a new and bigger barn so he can store up all his stuff and then he plans on taking it easy for a few years. God then shows up and tells this farmer that he is a fool, because God is demanding the man's life that very night.
In our lives we tend to live like we have an everlasting string of tomorrows, but the truth is all we have is now. This moment. God can call our lives to account at this very moment.
The problem is we want to put things off till another day. We say things like, "I'll get right with God when I am older." "One of these I'll start giving to help those in need."
When we procrastinate about spiritual things, we become fools. God told James that our lives are but a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. We have right now, this moment to get right with God through Jesus Christ. Today is the day of your salvation. You may not have another chance.
Thomas Jefferson once said, " Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today."
This is never more true than accepting the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. So act now while you still have today, because no one is promised tomorrow.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Help in our time of need
"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." ~Hebrews 4:16
When battling with sin I often feel isolated and alone. I want so desperately to win this battle. Yet at the same time there is this part of me that wants to give in. There is this beast that rages within. It wants to drag me as far away from God as it can.
It is at these times that I find myself burdened with shame and despair. I find myself trying to hide from God. It is like Adam in the Garden, I don't want God to see the nakedness of my soul.
According to Hebrews, this is the moment when God tells us to come to His throne with confidence because we have this High Priest, Jesus, who stands before God, interceding on our behalf. Jesus can sympathize with our struggles because He experienced being tempted in every way. He knows the weight of our battle, so He says come. Come and receive Mercy and Grace and help in your time of need.
Don't allow any thought, fear, or emotion keep you from His throne today.
When battling with sin I often feel isolated and alone. I want so desperately to win this battle. Yet at the same time there is this part of me that wants to give in. There is this beast that rages within. It wants to drag me as far away from God as it can.
It is at these times that I find myself burdened with shame and despair. I find myself trying to hide from God. It is like Adam in the Garden, I don't want God to see the nakedness of my soul.
According to Hebrews, this is the moment when God tells us to come to His throne with confidence because we have this High Priest, Jesus, who stands before God, interceding on our behalf. Jesus can sympathize with our struggles because He experienced being tempted in every way. He knows the weight of our battle, so He says come. Come and receive Mercy and Grace and help in your time of need.
Don't allow any thought, fear, or emotion keep you from His throne today.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Grace and peace to you
"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
~1 Corinthians 1:3
As we open the pages of the New Testament we might notice that most of the epistles have a verse similar to 1 Corinthians 1:3. It is a concept that repeats itself. "Grace and peace to you...."
Can you imagine a life full of Grace and Peace. A life where our day to day struggles don't get us down; where our insecurities don't paralyze us. I need this kind of grace. I need this kind of peace. I am guessing you do too.
Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." ~Matthew 11:28
The Creator and Savior of the Universe says, "come to me." He is calling, beckoning us to come and experience what He has to offer. He has shown us power and grace at the cross and promises a peace that surpasses all understanding. Will you come?
~1 Corinthians 1:3
As we open the pages of the New Testament we might notice that most of the epistles have a verse similar to 1 Corinthians 1:3. It is a concept that repeats itself. "Grace and peace to you...."
Can you imagine a life full of Grace and Peace. A life where our day to day struggles don't get us down; where our insecurities don't paralyze us. I need this kind of grace. I need this kind of peace. I am guessing you do too.
Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." ~Matthew 11:28
The Creator and Savior of the Universe says, "come to me." He is calling, beckoning us to come and experience what He has to offer. He has shown us power and grace at the cross and promises a peace that surpasses all understanding. Will you come?
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
The unfaithful
The Lord said to me, “Faithless Israel is more righteous than unfaithful Judah." ~Jeremiah 3:11
I believe in God. I believe that the Bible is true. I believe that Jesus died for me. I believe that He conquered sin and death and rose again. I believe! So why don't I always live like I believe.
It is so easy to focus on the wickedness in the world and ignore the darkness in my own soul. We hear messages and read books about the unrighteous state of the unbeliever, but God told Jeremiah, "Faithless Israel is more righteous than unfaithful Judah." To put that in modern terms, "Faithless unbelievers are more righteous than unfaithful Christians."
This should be a wake up call for believers. We need to live what we believe. I am not talking about being perfect but about living a life like there is an empty tomb in Israel. Do we live expecting the return of Christ at any moment? Is our life guided by self our by the very Spirit of God living in us?
James 1:22 says, " Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
It is time to stand up and be true to what we believe. We need to repent and ask God to forgive our unfaithful attitudes, and be the men and women Jesus died for us to be.
I believe in God. I believe that the Bible is true. I believe that Jesus died for me. I believe that He conquered sin and death and rose again. I believe! So why don't I always live like I believe.
It is so easy to focus on the wickedness in the world and ignore the darkness in my own soul. We hear messages and read books about the unrighteous state of the unbeliever, but God told Jeremiah, "Faithless Israel is more righteous than unfaithful Judah." To put that in modern terms, "Faithless unbelievers are more righteous than unfaithful Christians."
This should be a wake up call for believers. We need to live what we believe. I am not talking about being perfect but about living a life like there is an empty tomb in Israel. Do we live expecting the return of Christ at any moment? Is our life guided by self our by the very Spirit of God living in us?
James 1:22 says, " Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
It is time to stand up and be true to what we believe. We need to repent and ask God to forgive our unfaithful attitudes, and be the men and women Jesus died for us to be.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Be Still
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” ~Psalm 46:10
If you are anything like me then you want to be the person with the answers to life's problems. I want to stop the pain of the people around me, kind of like a handy man for life. However, in all reality, I am as much part of the problem as anyone else. I am sinful, broken, and ugly to my inner most parts.
This is why I need Jesus!
It is through His death on the cross that God deals with all the ugliness in my life. It is through the cross of Jesus that God dealt with my sinful rebellious attitude. It is at the cross that God fixed the brokenness in me (even when I live as though I am still broken), and it is at that cross that God made me into something beautiful to Him.
I don't know all your circumstances. I don't know your hurts or your pain. What I do know is that God loves you so much that Jesus died for you, and if we would accept His free gift of salvation then we too will find our hearts crying out to us, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
If you are anything like me then you want to be the person with the answers to life's problems. I want to stop the pain of the people around me, kind of like a handy man for life. However, in all reality, I am as much part of the problem as anyone else. I am sinful, broken, and ugly to my inner most parts.
This is why I need Jesus!
It is through His death on the cross that God deals with all the ugliness in my life. It is through the cross of Jesus that God dealt with my sinful rebellious attitude. It is at the cross that God fixed the brokenness in me (even when I live as though I am still broken), and it is at that cross that God made me into something beautiful to Him.
I don't know all your circumstances. I don't know your hurts or your pain. What I do know is that God loves you so much that Jesus died for you, and if we would accept His free gift of salvation then we too will find our hearts crying out to us, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
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