Friday, March 28, 2008
Post Resurrection Living
Millions filled churches across America this past Sunday to celebrate Christ's victory over sin, death, Satan and hell. Musicals, pageants, and simple sermons about this life transforming event sounded out across this nation. But Sunday wasn't merely for Sunday. Easter Sunday is for everyday. It's not merely that the Lamb has won, but are we living in that victory today? Because of the resurrection of Christ we are more than conquerors today. It doesn't matter how great the service was on Sunday, it's about today. So what the stone was rolled away. Am I allowing that same power to strengthen me to resist temptation and walk in holy obedience to Christ and live in holy love for others today? Paul prayed that the Ephesians would know this resurrection power in daily living (Ephesians 1:19). Paul was not merely speaking of a head knowledge, the word he uses speaks of an experiential knowledge. He was speaking about a power that was working in everyday life. He references this power multiples times in Ephesians. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is about everyday life. Christianity is about everyday life. Post resurrection living is about discovering this power for today. That's where I need it, I imagine you do too. Let's believe!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Great Salvation
On this day following the indescribable gift, let us meditate upon God's amazing grace, the Son's sacrificial obedience, and the high cost of this great salvation. This great love should motivate us to consecrate ourselves with great joy and without hesitation to the Father. Let us follow the path of the Son who was obedient to death, even death on the cross. Reflect upon the two quotes and the verse from God's Word.
"Knowing God without knowing our own wretchedness makes for pride. Knowing our own wretchedness without knowing God makes for despair. Knowing Jesus Christ strikes the balance because He shows us both God and our own wretchedness (Blaise Pascal)."
"What God asks is a will which will no longer be divided between him and any creature, a will pliant in his hands,which neither desires anything nor refuses anything, which wants without reservation everything which he wants, and which never, under any pretext, wants anything which he does not want (Fenelon)."
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sake He became poor that we through His poverty might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9)."
"Knowing God without knowing our own wretchedness makes for pride. Knowing our own wretchedness without knowing God makes for despair. Knowing Jesus Christ strikes the balance because He shows us both God and our own wretchedness (Blaise Pascal)."
"What God asks is a will which will no longer be divided between him and any creature, a will pliant in his hands,which neither desires anything nor refuses anything, which wants without reservation everything which he wants, and which never, under any pretext, wants anything which he does not want (Fenelon)."
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sake He became poor that we through His poverty might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9)."
Friday, March 21, 2008
Great Salvation/Good Friday
The consumer mindset rules the church in America. We have taken the cross of Christ and transformed it into something nice. There is nothing nice about the cross of Christ. As Paul said it, is foolishness to some, a stumbling block to others. Many will not embrace the cross because it will not take them where they want to go. How can we embrace the cross and find power, wealth, and the applause of man? Paul gloried in the cross. He counted everything else as rubbish, except to know Christ and Him crucified. The consumer mindset conflicts with the cross. The consumer mindset has my comfort, happiness and success at its core. The cross has the will of the Father and the glory of the Father at its core. The cross demands that I die to my selfish agenda and embrace the Father's will without hestitation or reservation. The cross is not a place to strike a bargain. The cross is not a place to make a deal. The cross of Christ is painful, embarrassing, confrontational, and revealing. The cross of Christ exposes our sins and sinfulness. The cross of Christ is life's major intersection. Here I choose life or death, sin or holiness, forgiveness or condemnation, Christ or self. Christ calls us to 'follow Him.' The destination of that path takes us to the cross. There we have the privilege of being crucified with Christ so that we are no longer living for self but for Christ. Then we discover the privilege of sharing in His redemptive purpose as the power of His resurrection flows through us to a broken world. Then by the grace of God, we transition from being a consumer to being Christian.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Great Salvation
On this special Thursday as we move closer to the death and resurrection of Christ, let us be in awe at the provision of the new covenant. Through His death and resurrection, through Christ's eternal priesthood and the power of His endless life, we are privileged to a salvation that has no limits. Christ is able to save completely, to the uttermost those who come to God through Him (Hebrews 7:25). The key is 'through Him'. Christ is the source of this great salvation, for all practical purposes, Christ IS this salvation. Because He holds the keys of death and hell, because all authority and power on earth and in heaven are His, HE IS ABLE to save completely those who come to God THROUGH HIM! There is no plan B, we don't need a plan B, we need to fix our eyes on Jesus. He is able to save us completely so that we can throw off every weight that hinders, so that we can be free from every besetting sin and run with perseverance the race set before us (Hebrews 12). The Son has come to set us free. He has come to make us more than conquerors. He has come to enable us to reign in life (Romans 5:17,8:37, Jn.8:34). He is bringing many sons to glory and He is able to do that very thing. He is the Author and Finisher of this faith we know. He is interceding for us to connect our need to the Father's supply. Our task is to rest in His finished work. Our calling is to believe He is able. Our hope is this great salvation. Don't stop short pilgrim! He is able! Lay aside every weight and every sin, and with great joy and full confidence run the race.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Great Salvation
Hebrews 1 speaks loud and clear, "In these last days God has spoken to us in His Son." The indescribable gift as Pauls says. The Son is our salvation. He is God in the flesh, greater than angels, greater than Moses, the One who lives forever, whose kingdom is unshakable, whose provision is perfect, whose sacrifice complete. The Son is the Great High Priest of the New Covenant in His blood. He intercedes to execute that covenant in the human heart. He stands in the gap and becomes the bridge between man's mess and God's miracle. When God is the source of the salvation we need look no further. Fix your eyes on the Son. When God is the source of the salvation lame men walk, blind men see, dead men live. Are there other sources? Are there other salvations? Jesus is the Way, know Him. The exclusive nature of truth brings freedom and life to the one who fixes their attention upon the Son. How liberating! What hope we have! The Son demands our full attention, our joy filled worship. Because of the Son, I can be a new creation, I can walk in newness of life, and live in the full assurance of faith. During this passion week, let's focus our attention on the Son and open our heart to Him (Hebrews 2:1-4, 3:1-3)
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Friday, March 28, 2008
Post Resurrection Living
Millions filled churches across America this past Sunday to celebrate Christ's victory over sin, death, Satan and hell. Musicals, pageants, and simple sermons about this life transforming event sounded out across this nation. But Sunday wasn't merely for Sunday. Easter Sunday is for everyday. It's not merely that the Lamb has won, but are we living in that victory today? Because of the resurrection of Christ we are more than conquerors today. It doesn't matter how great the service was on Sunday, it's about today. So what the stone was rolled away. Am I allowing that same power to strengthen me to resist temptation and walk in holy obedience to Christ and live in holy love for others today? Paul prayed that the Ephesians would know this resurrection power in daily living (Ephesians 1:19). Paul was not merely speaking of a head knowledge, the word he uses speaks of an experiential knowledge. He was speaking about a power that was working in everyday life. He references this power multiples times in Ephesians. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is about everyday life. Christianity is about everyday life. Post resurrection living is about discovering this power for today. That's where I need it, I imagine you do too. Let's believe!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Great Salvation
On this day following the indescribable gift, let us meditate upon God's amazing grace, the Son's sacrificial obedience, and the high cost of this great salvation. This great love should motivate us to consecrate ourselves with great joy and without hesitation to the Father. Let us follow the path of the Son who was obedient to death, even death on the cross. Reflect upon the two quotes and the verse from God's Word.
"Knowing God without knowing our own wretchedness makes for pride. Knowing our own wretchedness without knowing God makes for despair. Knowing Jesus Christ strikes the balance because He shows us both God and our own wretchedness (Blaise Pascal)."
"What God asks is a will which will no longer be divided between him and any creature, a will pliant in his hands,which neither desires anything nor refuses anything, which wants without reservation everything which he wants, and which never, under any pretext, wants anything which he does not want (Fenelon)."
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sake He became poor that we through His poverty might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9)."
"Knowing God without knowing our own wretchedness makes for pride. Knowing our own wretchedness without knowing God makes for despair. Knowing Jesus Christ strikes the balance because He shows us both God and our own wretchedness (Blaise Pascal)."
"What God asks is a will which will no longer be divided between him and any creature, a will pliant in his hands,which neither desires anything nor refuses anything, which wants without reservation everything which he wants, and which never, under any pretext, wants anything which he does not want (Fenelon)."
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sake He became poor that we through His poverty might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9)."
Friday, March 21, 2008
Great Salvation/Good Friday
The consumer mindset rules the church in America. We have taken the cross of Christ and transformed it into something nice. There is nothing nice about the cross of Christ. As Paul said it, is foolishness to some, a stumbling block to others. Many will not embrace the cross because it will not take them where they want to go. How can we embrace the cross and find power, wealth, and the applause of man? Paul gloried in the cross. He counted everything else as rubbish, except to know Christ and Him crucified. The consumer mindset conflicts with the cross. The consumer mindset has my comfort, happiness and success at its core. The cross has the will of the Father and the glory of the Father at its core. The cross demands that I die to my selfish agenda and embrace the Father's will without hestitation or reservation. The cross is not a place to strike a bargain. The cross is not a place to make a deal. The cross of Christ is painful, embarrassing, confrontational, and revealing. The cross of Christ exposes our sins and sinfulness. The cross of Christ is life's major intersection. Here I choose life or death, sin or holiness, forgiveness or condemnation, Christ or self. Christ calls us to 'follow Him.' The destination of that path takes us to the cross. There we have the privilege of being crucified with Christ so that we are no longer living for self but for Christ. Then we discover the privilege of sharing in His redemptive purpose as the power of His resurrection flows through us to a broken world. Then by the grace of God, we transition from being a consumer to being Christian.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Great Salvation
On this special Thursday as we move closer to the death and resurrection of Christ, let us be in awe at the provision of the new covenant. Through His death and resurrection, through Christ's eternal priesthood and the power of His endless life, we are privileged to a salvation that has no limits. Christ is able to save completely, to the uttermost those who come to God through Him (Hebrews 7:25). The key is 'through Him'. Christ is the source of this great salvation, for all practical purposes, Christ IS this salvation. Because He holds the keys of death and hell, because all authority and power on earth and in heaven are His, HE IS ABLE to save completely those who come to God THROUGH HIM! There is no plan B, we don't need a plan B, we need to fix our eyes on Jesus. He is able to save us completely so that we can throw off every weight that hinders, so that we can be free from every besetting sin and run with perseverance the race set before us (Hebrews 12). The Son has come to set us free. He has come to make us more than conquerors. He has come to enable us to reign in life (Romans 5:17,8:37, Jn.8:34). He is bringing many sons to glory and He is able to do that very thing. He is the Author and Finisher of this faith we know. He is interceding for us to connect our need to the Father's supply. Our task is to rest in His finished work. Our calling is to believe He is able. Our hope is this great salvation. Don't stop short pilgrim! He is able! Lay aside every weight and every sin, and with great joy and full confidence run the race.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Great Salvation
Hebrews 1 speaks loud and clear, "In these last days God has spoken to us in His Son." The indescribable gift as Pauls says. The Son is our salvation. He is God in the flesh, greater than angels, greater than Moses, the One who lives forever, whose kingdom is unshakable, whose provision is perfect, whose sacrifice complete. The Son is the Great High Priest of the New Covenant in His blood. He intercedes to execute that covenant in the human heart. He stands in the gap and becomes the bridge between man's mess and God's miracle. When God is the source of the salvation we need look no further. Fix your eyes on the Son. When God is the source of the salvation lame men walk, blind men see, dead men live. Are there other sources? Are there other salvations? Jesus is the Way, know Him. The exclusive nature of truth brings freedom and life to the one who fixes their attention upon the Son. How liberating! What hope we have! The Son demands our full attention, our joy filled worship. Because of the Son, I can be a new creation, I can walk in newness of life, and live in the full assurance of faith. During this passion week, let's focus our attention on the Son and open our heart to Him (Hebrews 2:1-4, 3:1-3)
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