Colossians 2:13-14 — "And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross."
Living in sin is a condition known as spiritual death. Ephesians 2:1 says, "And you hath He quickened (caused to come alive) who were dead in trespasses and sins." If a person is dead, it is over for him and he is unable to help himself. So it is in spiritual death, but Christ, through His sacrificial death hath (already done) quickened us, or caused us to be become alive spiritually. According to the Word, He, Jesus, has obtained for us a legal pardon of all that would or could be held again us. ALL the charges against were nailed to the cross, according to Colossians 2:14b.
If there is any sin so filthy or so vile that it would make us unacceptable to God, then the cross of Christ is insufficient to meet our needs. Furthermore, if the cross isn't good enough to take care of the sin problem, then the Bible is wrong when it says God forgave all our sins. That means all past sins, the present sins and the future sins. When God did that, He took away all of Satan's power to condemn us (Romans 8:1). Too often, the enemy wants us to revisit and relive the sins of the past. When we do that, we begin to think that the things we did were so horrible, so inexcusable, so terrible, that we will begin to wonder, question or doubt that we will ever feel totally forgiven, totally accepted in the beloved, or have even become a new creature in Christ.
Look at this meaning of the word "reconciliation" from Webster's Dictionary. It means, "to make friendly again; to settle a quarrel; to bring into harmony; to make peace again."
So, reconciliation means those who were enemies have become friends. In Colossians 1:21-23a, Paul describes how a person goes from an enemy of God to being friends. "And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled us in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless and above reproach in His sight: if you continue in the faith grounded and steadfast."
So what have we thus far determined? We have determined that the free gift of salvation is not just a ticket into heaven or an escalator out of hell; it is the plan and purpose of God to bring us to Himself. In Ephesians 1:13-14 we are told that after we have believed we are also sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, Who is given to us as a down payment of all we shall inherit. Remember, the cross of Christ has made the believer acceptable to God; it was not our own goodness or works of righteousness.
When you give yourself to God through Jesus Christ our Lord, you are 100% loved, 100% forgiven, and 100% accepted by the Highest Ruler in the universe. A question we must constantly ask ourselves is, "Whose acceptance do I really value, God's or my fellow man?"
March 2012
It has been said, the accomplishment of any goal, whatever it is, requires at least two things:
discipline and determination. The scriptures teach us that love ought to be our aim. By this
one thing, Jesus said, people will know that you are My disciples. In the human arena, we
would probably look for something else. Remember the love chapter in the Bible, I Corinthians 13?
If everyone who claims the name of Christ would live that way, what an impact we would have on
the world around us!
To live that way requires a decision on our part. It certainly doesn't come naturally. Everything happening
around us is surely evidence of that. So we are faced with a choice, to live according to I Corinthians 13
or not. When we have to make a choice and fail to make it, that is in itself a choice.
Love is work! It demands both conscious and unconscious effort on our part. It isn't something that we
pick and choose like items in the grocery store. If we are filled with the love of God and determined to
live that way, God will be right there to help us. When it is God's love flowing in and through us, it is
color blind, shows no favoritism, and is a 24-hour-a-day commitment. He loves everybody, and
He wants to love everybody through you and me. Make that your choice and your determination
and watch what happens in your life as a result.
March 2012
I became very interested in a passage of scripture the other day. Let me tell you why.
The Bible says as Moses was tending his father-in-law's flocks he suddenly became
aware of the presence of God. A bush was on fire, but it was not consumed. Even fire itself
was subject to the sovereignty of God. Once again, God declared the certainty of His power
and the sureness of His being in charge, and the awareness of His nearness. He tells Moses, "I have seen the misery of my people, I have heard their cry because of
their slave drivers, and I have come to rescue them." Catch this now, "But I am going to send you
to do that for me." And naturally Moses replies with, "Why me?"
Isn't it just like God to reveal Himself to us, such as in the burning but not destroyed bush, and
then tell us He has something He wants us to do for Him. He never did answer Moses when he
asked, "Why me?" All He said was, "Don't worry about it, I will be with you." Neither did He explain to
Moses why he was found worthy for the task. Furthermore, God didn't spell out the steps Moses was
to take to accomplish the task. He simply answered with the promise of His presence. "I will be
with you."
Then God went one step further when He added, "And this will be a sign unto you that it is I who has
sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain."
(Exodus 3: 12) He doesn't speak of the task, only the end result. "When it's all over, Moses, you will
know beyond a shadow of a doubt it was me who sent you."
Hold on to the promise of His power and the certainty of His ever abiding presence and when your
task is done, when the trial is over, when the last mile has been run, when the pain is gone,
when your broken heart has been mended, you will know it was God who was there all the time. February 2012
It is amazing to me how many people say they are really not interested in Theology
and all that religious stuff. People think that Theology is an academic discipline or
something, but has little if any relevance to the needs of everyday life. Little do they
realize that every human being has a theology and whether they know it or acknowledge it or not,
that theology affects everything they do.
Theology is simply the study of God and the resulting beliefs. People may not set out
to intentionally do a study of God; nevertheless, they have come to some conclusions
about Him. We don't have to study gravity and come to some profound understanding
about the subject; all we need to do is fall out of bed. The beliefs we have about God,
whether they are true or not, have an effect on us that influences every decision we make.
All the things that seem important to us—our reputation, the way we spend our time,
our political views—all pale in comparison to the importance of what we believe about God
in our heart of hearts. Not only that, but how you handle all those other things depends
upon what you think about God. Is He good, or is He out to trick us? Is He merciful or
vindictive? Are His ways arbitrary and purposeless, or is He really able to bring goodness
and blessing out of our deepest hurts and pain?
Consider spending a little more time examining your personal "heart theology." What comes
into your mind when you think about God? Where did that come from? How has it trickled
down into your thoughts and actions?
He wrote a love letter to us called the Bible, and maybe you should get into it a little deeper
and find out where you stand with Him and whether or not your theology is what it should be. January 2012
Are You Willing To Take Risks? It has been suggested that you "try something so big that if God isn't in it, it will fail." That kind of courageous faith inspires vision, creates real enthusiasm among people, and motivates us all to pray for miracles. When our prayers are answered, we discover just how big and wonderful the God we serve really is!
What is your faith meter like? Do you have dreams and aspirations that God has placed in your heart? Share them with your brothers and sisters and begin to seek God's directions for their fulfillment together.
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not as yet see." Hebrews 11:1
Go For It! October 2011
Time is a precious thing! If you don't think so, ask the coach whose team is behind in the final seconds of the game. Ask the air traffic controller in charge of scheduling takeoffs and landings at a major airport. Ask a cancer patient who has recently learned they have only two months left to live.
There is no such things as time management! Time is beyond our control, and the clock keeps ticking regardless of how we live our lives. Priority management is the answer, so as to be able to maximize the time we have. Our days are identical – all the same size – but some can pack a whole lot more into a day than others. No one has a magical ability to make additional time, but if our lives have a sense of divine plan and direction, we can make the most of the moments we have been given.
Ask God to help you to spend your time wisely on activities that advance your purpose in life. Do not waste your time on things that are of little if any support to you. You can never reach peak performance without a peak purpose. Purpose enlivens all that we do. As a matter of fact, I believe the two greatest days in a person's life are the day they are born and the day they discover why. Ask yourself, "Where am I headed, what am I doing, and why am I going it?" September 2011
More valley than mountaintop? Lately I have been battered by circumstances, touched by death, heart surgery, by difficult changes and uncertainty that will not be silenced.
The truth is, even though we know God is near we don't always find ourselves on a spiritual mountaintop. There are times we just feel those cold winds of circumstances howling through our lives like a wintery blast. Job's response when he felt "no joy" was that he trusted anyway. He held onto God even when he felt nothing positive. God's grace shines brightest when we feel nothing. We don't have to feel God's presence to trust Him. He knows where you are, and what you are going through. He will never leave you or forsake you because of His great faithfulness. August 2011
One of the absolute favorite pictures I have is called "The Laughing Jesus." It has often been a real conversation piece. I have come to understand that many people never think of Him or picture Him
with a smile on His face. That is sad! I believe that when Jesus became one of us, taking a human
nature, He also became able to laugh, as well as to suffer and die.
When I think about the human side of Jesus as He mixed it up with His disciples on a daily basis,
and when He made a fire on the beach and had breakfast ready for some weary fishermen, I believe
He really enjoyed life and living. I see Him frolicking in the shallow water, and playing some sort of
sport on the sandy beach with His closest friends. He took life by the horns and lived it to the full.
Yes, there were a lot of serious times in His life. Yes, indeed, He faced challenges, and He tackled some
very hard issues with some of the learned and authoritative figures of His day. He was never afraid
of people or position. I picture Him enjoying Himself as a child debating and discussing religious
issues with the gray heads in the temple.
Just take a few minutes and recall how many times He talked about sharing His kind of joy with those
who would follow Him. He wanted His joy in them, He wanted them full of that joy, and He wanted it to
be permanent.
In the church, we make a distinction between "happiness" and joy. Happiness has everything to do with
what is happening in your life at the moment. If it is something that makes you happy, that is wonderful.
But there are lots of things that happen in life that do not produce happiness. Lots of things happen in
life that cause a person to be sad.
But joy is different. It has nothing to do with what is happening in life, nothing to do with your circumstances
or your present situation. Joy is the result of a right relationship with God. We can know the joy of the Lord
smack dab in the middle of some terrible thing that is taking place and it is that joy that gives us strength
to carry on in spite of what is happening on the surface of our day to day life—and Jesus intended it to
be that way. When things have turned your world upside down, the joy that Jesus gives will keep you
strong and faithful. July 2011
As we contemplate the future in light of what is going on around us today, fear would grip our hearts and leave us void of faith and/or hope. In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus admonishes DO NOT WORRY about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Thinking about this passage of scripture, I thought I would share something I ran across in my reading.
- Well, I am done, my nerves were on the rack;
- I've laid them down today.
- It was the last straw that broke the camel's back;
- I've laid that down today.
- And I'll not fume, nor fret, nor fuss, nor fight;
- I'll walk by faith a bit, and not by sight;
- I think the universe will work alright;
- I've laid it down today.
- So here and now, the overweight, the worry;
- I'll lay it down today.
- The all-too-anxious heart, the tearing hurry;
- I'll lay these down today.
- O eager hands! O feet, so prone to run!
- I think that He, Who made the stars and sun,
- Can mind the things you've had to leave undone;
- Do lay them down today. July 2011
Perhaps you face a problem that seems to have no good answer. Don't lose heart.
John 5 tells of a man at the pool of Bethesda who had an infirmity for many years. As he looked for his answer in "natural" means (someone to help him into the healing pool), he found himself talking to the real healer — JESUS — Who simply said, "Take up your bed and walk." Ephesians 3:20 says "He is able to do far more abundantly beyond all we ask or think."
God knows options we can't even imagine. July 2011
God said he would supply our needs, not our wants! The background for this statement comes from the book of Acts, chapter three, when Peter and John were going to the temple to pray. It was 3:00 in the afternoon and there were a lot of people coming through the gate of the temple. It was called Beautiful and it was the most popular of all the gates. They encountered a man who had been crippled all his life. He had chosen this particular gate because of the crowds that came and went. The more people, the beggar thought, the more money he could collect.
Just as he had with everyone else, he asked Peter and John for a few pennies for food. Much to his surprise, instead of money he received a new lease on life, a strong body to work and provide for himself. Instead of giving the man what he thought he wanted, they gave him what he really needed.
It reminds me of a poem called "The Soldier's Prayer."
- I asked God for strength that I might achieve;
- I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
- I asked for health that I might do greater things;
- I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
- I asked for riches that I might be happy;
- I was given poverty that I might be wise.
- I asked for power that I might have the praise of men;
- I was given weakness that I might know my need of God.
- I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I had hoped for.
- I am among all men most richly blessed. June 2011
There are far too many people who think and believe that they are insignificant and of very little
importance to anyone else. The world has us duped into believing unless you do something
spectacular you don't count, or at least don't count for much. There is nothing further from the
truth than that. Read the 139th Psalm and you will discover that God was right there while
you were being formed in the secret place. The writer goes on to say, "Your eyes saw my substance,
being yet unformed. And in Your book they are written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet
there were none of them."
Sometimes we feel helpless in the face of what appears to be an overwhelming problem. Please
understand that the truth of the matter is, one person can make a world of difference. Some time ago a friend sent the following anonymous poem.
- One song can spark a moment,
- One flower can wake a dream.
- One tree can start a forest,
- One bird can herald spring.
- One smile begins a friendship,
- One handclasp lifts a soul.
- One star can guide a ship at sea,
- One word can frame a goal.
- One vote can change a nation,
- One sunbeam can light a room.
- One candle can wipe out darkness,
- One laugh will conquer gloom.
- One step must start each journey,
- One word must start each prayer.
- One hope will raise our spirits,
- One touch can show you care.
- One voice can speak with wisdom,
- One heart can know what's true.
- One life can make the difference,
- You see it's up to you!
All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of one small candle. Edward Everett Hale
said it so eloquently when he said, "I am only one, but still I am one. I can't do everything, but still
I can do something; and because I can't do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."
Don't ever forget how important you are, and remember, "One person is very important to God, also." Most of His work done on earth has been started by one person. God is always looking for people who will do His work. Will you be that one He is looking for today? June 2011
God and His truth cannot be encapsulated on a greeting card, much less a church sign or a bulletin. If God thought it necessary to use 66 books to communicate His truth to us, what makes us think that we can repeat it with one sentence? The Bible is a whole that is greater than the sum of all its individual verses. It is not what the one-liner says that really matters; it is what goes on inside the house of worship and inside the individual's heart and soul that really counts. May 2011
"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" John 11: 25-26
What did Jesus mean by that statement? He was saying, without Him there could be no resurrection, and without Him there could be no life.
Think about it. If Jesus Christ had never come, died on the cross, risen from the dead and promised life to all who believe in Him, none of us would have the right to expect to be raised from the dead and go to heaven.
Not only is He the resurrection, but He went on to say, "And the life." Jesus Christ is the source of life. That is why He can promise us new life now, abundant life in Him, and eternal life! That is also why you can expect to be resurrected, as well.
Before you believed in Him you were dead in trespasses and sins. The Bible says, "The wages or payment for sin is death." That word "is" makes it present tense. That means he is living, but is spiritually dead! Non-responsive to God!
Physical death is when the soul leaves the body. Spiritual death occurs when the soul is separated from God, the Author and Giver of life. You must believe in Jesus Christ, Who is the resurrection and the life! In Him, you can have both!
Have A Great Easter – Do It Today! Apr. 2011
Finish the course that is set before you! For so many believers, the Christian life seems like a grueling marathon rather than a walk. If you are tempted to give up or quit before you reach the finish line, here are a few things to remember.
Remember you are to keep looking up! The Bible says, "I will look unto the hills from where my help comes." To live as you should and do what you must, turn often to God for wisdom and direction.
Remember to look into His Word! You must not ignore the directions found in the believer's Operating Manual, which is the Word of God. Avoid the false starts and wrong steps by paying close attention to, and following, His guidance.
Remember to look for danger signs! Stay alert and watchful for the potholes and pitfalls of life. You must stay away from anything and everything that looks like or sounds negative or discouraging. Continue to stay in faith and believe that God will enable you to finish the course He has called you to fulfill. Apr. 2011
I sincerely hope that all of us remember that God has designed things so that we would carry the load of this day and this day only. Too many are still carrying the burdens, sins, bad memories, poor judgements of the past and will not set them aside. Some are all distressed about the possibility of future problems. They live expecting them. We need to learn to live "One Day At A Time." Apr. 2011
There is an interesting and profound portion of scripture in the Old Testament.
It is the story of a man called Naaman, and it is found in II Kings 5.
Look at this for a moment. Naaman was a commander in the army. He was
a great and honorable man. Because of him, the Lord had given victory to
Syria. Naaman was also a mighty man of valor,
and Naaman also was a leper!
In spite of his physical problems and handicap, Naaman became a great
military commander. He didn't allow his personal problem to keep him from
becoming a great man, highly respected and honored. He excelled in his
chosen field and became a mighty man of valor.
I cannot help but wonder how many people have become victims of their personal
problems, regardless of what they may be, and have allowed those problems to keep
them from pursuing their God given rights and privileges. A lot of them have
given up on their dreams, they have kissed their potential good-bye, and
have settled for a mediocre and almost meaningless life.
Let's contrast the life of Naaman by turning it around. Just think of some of the
wonderful people in your circle of influence. Great achievers, abounding with
charisma and enthusiasm, good listeners with equally as good conversational
skills, well dressed, mannerly and gracious....but they don't know Jesus!
There is a quality addition to one's life that only Jesus can bring. Adding virtue
and spiritual content to what he or she already has would be a beautiful thing.
In the case of Naaman, adding the fact that he was a leper was a negative.
When we add Jesus to what we already are, it is always positive. Mar. 2011
We only succeed when we are willing to fail. We can only score points when we're willing to be tackled. We only hit home runs when we're also willing to strike out; and we only win at life when we're willing to risk failure! Consider the high jumper, who only discovers how high he can jump after he reaches his failure point. Think about Babe Ruth; the year he broke the world record for hitting home runs, he also broke the world record for the most strike-outs!
To be successful at what we do may be exhilarating, but it doesn't teach us how to be a winner. In fact, failure is the greatest teacher to help one win in the game of life. There are many who have reveled in winning, but did not know how to handle defeat. We are winners when we are able to rejoice in another person's victory and celebrate with others in the midst of our personal loss. That kind of winning attitude will endear you to those around you, while turning sour and refusing to join in the celebrations of another's accomplishments will turn people against you.
So, if you want to hit home runs, stand up to the plate and start swinging. Be willing to strike out. Only then will you begin winning! Mar. 2011
Talking with someone this week who has had a very bad experience with their church, I was reminded once again of the right reasons why we are to attend the church of our choice. Too many people attend church services to get out of it everything they can get. They also enjoy the fellowship of those of like precious faith. There is really nothing wrong with either of those, except that they fall in the wrong order of things.
It has been said, and rightly so, that the main reason for any power failure in the church is the lack of ministry to the Lord. Our ministry to the Lord must come before our ministry to men. He must never take second place to anyone or anything.
We remember also the words of the Lord Jesus when He said, "I came not to be ministered unto, but to minister." Even in the prayer He encouraged his disciples to pray, it was God first and foremost. "Our Father...hallowed be Thy name...Thy kingdom come, They will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Then and only then came the words, "...and give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us..." To be effective in anything we do as ministry to others we must dig down into the springs of God's life within us, bury ourselves there, realizing that He is our Source of everything.
In Ephesians 1 we read that God has been made rich because we who are Christ's have been given to Him. He wants you for yourself, not for something you can do. He wants your love and devotion to Him, not what He can get out of you. The enemy tried to convince God that Job loved Him for what He could get out of Him. We are not saved to serve God, as many have been taught. Good works will follow our ministry unto the Lord. Give unto the Lord the honor and praise He is worthy to receive and everything else will fall into place. Feb. 2011
As the Middle East continues to churn and burn we must all remember the promise made to us, "I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye shall be also."
While on a South Pole expedition, British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton left a few men on Elephant Island, promising that he would return. Later, when he tried to go back, a huge iceberg blocked the way. But suddenly, as if by a miracle, an avenue opened in the ice and Shackleton was able to get through. His men, ready and waiting, quickly scrambled aboard. No sooner had the ship cleared the island than the ice crashed behind them. Contemplating their narrow escape, the explorer said to his men, "It was very fortunate you were all packed and ready to go!"
Jesus Christ's first coming to earth is an indisputable fact of history. His death, burial and resurrection are also facts of history, as all were verified by many reliable witnesses. At His ascension back into heaven, two angels appeared to His disciples and followers saying, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, Who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go." Jesus also told us, "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye shall be also."
We need to make sure our bags are packed and we are ready to go at any time. Jan. 2011
Your mental diet is very important because your mind controls your behavior. You must avoid negative input as much as possible. Stay away from people, places and things that bring out the worst in you. Remember what the scriptures have taught you: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
People who have either nibbled or feasted on negativism over the years cannot expect to transform their thought patterns and their behavior overnight, but the fact is, they can commit to working on them. Criticism, put downs and pessimism can be replaced with common courtesy, praise, encouragement and words of comfort. This takes working at just like anything else you want to change. It may also involve trial and error. Starting to do things differently (for a change) requires time and effort, but it is a worthwhile undertaking.
Focus on positive things! Think about what you are and how you got that way. Spend more time with people who care about you and give you positive support. The Apostle Paul tells us that we can literally change our lives by seizing control of our thoughts and concentrating on "Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report. If there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things." Philippians 4:8 Jan. 2011
I love this story. One Sunday morning a note was given to D. L. Moody just before he preached. On the note was written one word — Fool.
Moody announced to the audience, "I have a most unusual note this morning. Many times I have received letters from people
who forgot to sign their names. But this is the first time a man ever signed his name and forgot to write the note."
"The fool has said in his heart, There is no God." Psalm 14:1
— Submitted by L. M. from Michigan Jan. 2011
We must be diligent as believers and totally aware of the fact that there are false
prophets (preachers, pastors, evangelists) all around us deceiving many. There is
nothing worse than a half truth or insinuation as to what the Bible is saying. Day
after day I hear speculation and opinion rather than "Thus saith the Lord."
Some time ago I overheard a gentleman telling another person what the Bible
says about a certain issue. He was totally and entirely wrong. The Bible says nothing
about what he said. I'm not sure what his motivation was, but it sure made me aware
again of the words of caution found in the Word of God.
As believers we have available to us at all times "a spirit of discernment." If we lack
wisdom or insight, we are to ask, and the Spirit of God will prompt us as to what is
right and what is error. Remember, we are being led. We are watched over and we
are protected.
God takes no pleasure whatsoever in one being deceived or deceiving himself.
He is saddened and disappointed when we fall for something that is not true, because
we are followers of Jesus, Who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Keep your eyes
on Him and tune your heart to hear His voice. Walk in the way He has chosen for
you. "You shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
Think on these things. Jan. 2011
Years ago Gertrude Behanna wrote, "I have a problem with Christian people who have a problem with Christian people."
No one should have to live up to my expectations in order to be accepted. No one should have to worship or attend service in a church like mine to have my approval. There is absolutely too much spiritual arrogance in the body of Christ today. Remember, "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." Jan. 2011
