Philippians is one of my favorite sections of God's Word. The calling to be like Christ permeates the message Paul sent to these early pilgrims. The great promise in 1:6-He who began this good work in you will bring it to perfection / completion-all that HE wants it to be. Do I have that desire? Am I wide open to the Spirit's leading and sanctifying? Am I a selective learner, or is becoming all He desires me to be is my primary desire? He will carry on His work until we are conformed to the image of His Son. He is bringing many sons to glory (Heb 2:10) and I must desire to be one of His Sons. This theme of 'God working' is picked up again in 2:13.
His working is according to His purpose. Not according to my taste, or comfort. Not according to my wants and wishes that can easily become full of self interest and vain conceit (2:3). He wants me to shine like a star in this dark world (2:15). He wants me to be pure and blameless, to have the attitude of Christ, to be the humble servant who has one response, 'Father your will be done.'
God is looking for willing pieces of clay. The sanctified, Spirit filled life, if it is nothing else, must be the life that is totally consecrated to His purposes. A life that is a living sacrifice, wide open and full of desire to be absolutely His.
The old hymn/ poem speaks it well
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that thou art; Thou my best thought, by day or by night, waking or sleeping, thy presence my light." (E. Hull).
The confidence of allowing God to work is liberating, invigorating, joy filled.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
2013
Wow! Y2K was a long time ago. The Mayan calendar didn't mean a thing. The predictions of the May date a year ago came and went. We are slow learners. We can't figure God's story out at the end of a pencil or with a fancy calculator. We can't figure God's story out by checking the pulse of Israel every ten minutes. We can't figure it out by forecasting the place of Iran, Iraq, the USSR (that's dated) or any other earthly kingdom. There is a great difference between God's timetable and mine. Understanding that God is not slow, that He is patient and His patience always has a redemptive purpose, is a key to my own trust in His Almighty power (2 Pet 3:9). About a decade into pastoral ministry it was 88 reasons why the rapture is in 1988. The Christian bookstores couldn't keep the book in stock. Then it became 89 reasons why the rapture is in 89. Rapture what? Christ is coming again is our message. Live like you are dying, because we are. Live like Christ is coming again and we are accountable-He is and we are! Christ said to pray, watch, stay awake. When He comes He expects me to be about the Master's business. He expects me to be holy in my behavior. He expects me to be expecting Him! A popular book/movie some time ago was "eat, pray, love." Let's reframe the challenge. Let's commit ourselves to pray, watch, and love. I am grateful for a new year. There can be a freshness about another January 1...then I remember April 15 is just around the corner :). For His glory let us live. E. Stanley Jones states, "If my Redeemer is alive, then I, the redeemed, must live as though I were alive." We are! In Him! Forever!
-Let's make it count for Him...Have a blessed year!
-Let's make it count for Him...Have a blessed year!
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Sunday, January 20, 2013
The God Who Works
Philippians is one of my favorite sections of God's Word. The calling to be like Christ permeates the message Paul sent to these early pilgrims. The great promise in 1:6-He who began this good work in you will bring it to perfection / completion-all that HE wants it to be. Do I have that desire? Am I wide open to the Spirit's leading and sanctifying? Am I a selective learner, or is becoming all He desires me to be is my primary desire? He will carry on His work until we are conformed to the image of His Son. He is bringing many sons to glory (Heb 2:10) and I must desire to be one of His Sons. This theme of 'God working' is picked up again in 2:13.
His working is according to His purpose. Not according to my taste, or comfort. Not according to my wants and wishes that can easily become full of self interest and vain conceit (2:3). He wants me to shine like a star in this dark world (2:15). He wants me to be pure and blameless, to have the attitude of Christ, to be the humble servant who has one response, 'Father your will be done.'
God is looking for willing pieces of clay. The sanctified, Spirit filled life, if it is nothing else, must be the life that is totally consecrated to His purposes. A life that is a living sacrifice, wide open and full of desire to be absolutely His.
The old hymn/ poem speaks it well
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that thou art; Thou my best thought, by day or by night, waking or sleeping, thy presence my light." (E. Hull).
The confidence of allowing God to work is liberating, invigorating, joy filled.
His working is according to His purpose. Not according to my taste, or comfort. Not according to my wants and wishes that can easily become full of self interest and vain conceit (2:3). He wants me to shine like a star in this dark world (2:15). He wants me to be pure and blameless, to have the attitude of Christ, to be the humble servant who has one response, 'Father your will be done.'
God is looking for willing pieces of clay. The sanctified, Spirit filled life, if it is nothing else, must be the life that is totally consecrated to His purposes. A life that is a living sacrifice, wide open and full of desire to be absolutely His.
The old hymn/ poem speaks it well
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that thou art; Thou my best thought, by day or by night, waking or sleeping, thy presence my light." (E. Hull).
The confidence of allowing God to work is liberating, invigorating, joy filled.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
2013
Wow! Y2K was a long time ago. The Mayan calendar didn't mean a thing. The predictions of the May date a year ago came and went. We are slow learners. We can't figure God's story out at the end of a pencil or with a fancy calculator. We can't figure God's story out by checking the pulse of Israel every ten minutes. We can't figure it out by forecasting the place of Iran, Iraq, the USSR (that's dated) or any other earthly kingdom. There is a great difference between God's timetable and mine. Understanding that God is not slow, that He is patient and His patience always has a redemptive purpose, is a key to my own trust in His Almighty power (2 Pet 3:9). About a decade into pastoral ministry it was 88 reasons why the rapture is in 1988. The Christian bookstores couldn't keep the book in stock. Then it became 89 reasons why the rapture is in 89. Rapture what? Christ is coming again is our message. Live like you are dying, because we are. Live like Christ is coming again and we are accountable-He is and we are! Christ said to pray, watch, stay awake. When He comes He expects me to be about the Master's business. He expects me to be holy in my behavior. He expects me to be expecting Him! A popular book/movie some time ago was "eat, pray, love." Let's reframe the challenge. Let's commit ourselves to pray, watch, and love. I am grateful for a new year. There can be a freshness about another January 1...then I remember April 15 is just around the corner :). For His glory let us live. E. Stanley Jones states, "If my Redeemer is alive, then I, the redeemed, must live as though I were alive." We are! In Him! Forever!
-Let's make it count for Him...Have a blessed year!
-Let's make it count for Him...Have a blessed year!
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