Consecration

Matthew 7:11 contrasts the Father in heaven with earthly parents. Parents give good gifts to their children. If the child's need is for bread, a snake is not provided. A contrast that seems absurd; however, Jesus is attempting to raise our level of trust in the Father and our consecration to the Father. The 'how much more' of the Father is what should liberate us to consecrate ourselves to the Lord. We dabble around the edges worried that the Father may demand something of us that we don't desire. Jesus says the good gifts the Father gives make the actions of responsible, loving parents seem trivial. When we give our all to the Father, when our consecration is complete and we have placed our life in His hands and becomme His living sacrifice, we begin to taste the divine gifts that can't be found from a source on earth. We have a tendency to ask for good gifts from the Father without first making our consecration complete. The enemy causes us to view this consecration as hard, unfair, life threatening. But this consecration is the doorway to the abundant life, the Spirit filled life of victory over sin, world and Satan. We must be all His. To restrict or rebel against the Father in heaven only plays into Satan's schemes and robs me of the abundant life. Each morning to awaken and say, "Father in heaven, Your kingdom come and Your will be done" is the threshold to a day of victory. When I am all His, I can rest in the 'how much more' of my Father in heaven. When my Edler brother, Jesus, lived out his consecration to the last breath hanging on a cross, the Father did the 'how much more' of resurrection and exalted the Son above all. Father in heaven, 'take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee'.

Speaking Out

The recent statement by the CEO of Chic filet and the backlash from the liberal media and the folks who are calling wrong right is interesting. The agenda of the present administration is to grant the homosexual minority status (which has to be an affront to true minorities) and to silence those who are willing to say that such lifestyle is sin. Our culture has made the choice to abandon the foundation of moral and ethical guidelines that are from God's Word. We have cut the ship loose from shore, thrown away the anchor, sail, steering wheel and rudder and are being carried along by the whims of this culture. Shipwreck will happen sooner or later. A refresher of the rise and fall of the Roman empire brings to our attention that immorality, sin, selfishness, eventually brings its own destruction. The wrath of God is not needed, the law of sin and death will bring its own result. We reap what we sow-when we think we can sow seeds of sin, immorality, greed, hatred, prejudice and still live the good life, we have moved into the ultimate delusion. In the midst of the chaos, may the body of Christ step forward to speak His truth in love and to live a different life, one of true righteousness and holiness that brings glory to Christ. May we, the followers of Jesus Christ, get serious about shining like stars in this dark world.