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)
Friday, February 22, 2008
Time
Does anybody really know what time it is? This question sounded out from a popular song of the late 60's. In John 13 Jesus focuses the attention of his disciples upon a specific time. At critical points Christ has talked about 'his time.' Now this 'time' has come. As we move toward the passion week of Christ, let us understand that this great display of grace was not an accident. The concept of 'time' speaks of purpose, a plan and a path to follow. It was time for Christ to bring the picture into focus and finish the work for which He had been sent. It was time to bring glory to the Father and establish the new covenant. Today is our time to submit to His authority, believe in His person and follow in His steps. Today is the operative time for all mankind. Today is the 'time' of salvation, grace, and mercy. As we move toward Easter, it is time for us to deny self, take the cross and follow Christ. Delay is Satan's tool. "Now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Monday, February 4, 2008
Listen
John 10 radiates with encouragement and exhortation for those who would choose to follow the living Christ. A key word in the chapter is 'listen.' To the sheep who know the shepherds's voice, the words are life and peace (Jn.6:63). To those who have hardedned their hearts and rejected Jesus of Nazareth, his words are labeled demonic (10:19). The contrast is startling. What am I hearing as I follow the Good Shepherd? It should be good news of peace, joy and life. Christ's words bring confidence, contentment, security as life unfolds. The Psalmist said to 'be still & know God (46:10). It's about learning to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd. In a world of massive doses of noise, I must learn to cultivate the inner ear to hear the Good Shepherd. Too often I find myself afraid of the silence and content to be drowned by the noise. As the young man Samuel declared, 'speak Lord your servant is listening.' With the help of the Holy Spirit let us cultivate ears to hear the Word of God and listen to what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Opportunity
Paul in Ephesians exhorts Christ's people to 'make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil.' As another Christmas is upon me and a new year is staring me in the face, the proper expenditure of time is an ever challenging reality. How easy to trivialize life. How easy to waste days, months and years chasing after the wind. The big picture can be discouraging. I must learn to make the most of the minutes, hours and days. Christ packed so much in 33 years. I don't want my buzz word for 2008 to be 'busy.' I desire to be fruitful. By the help of the Spirit and the grace of God at work, to bear much fruit that will bring glory to the Father. Jesus wasn't busy. He was focused, purposeful, intelligent, discerning. Most of all I desire to use the hours and days of the new year to nurture the key relationships in life.
Thank you Christ for 2007 and your amazing grace each step of the way! Looking forward...
Thank you Christ for 2007 and your amazing grace each step of the way! Looking forward...
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
The believer's position of strength
A great tragedy (sin) in the church in America is our attempt to do God's work in man's wisdom and strength. The 'arm of flesh' will always fall short. God's delight is not in our strength, but in those who trust in His unfailing love (Ps. 147:10). The believer's position of strength is identified in Romans 12:1-3. It is to be a living and holy sacrifice. A sacrifice has no rights. A sacrifice is totally at the disposal of the one to whom it is offered. Our strength is found when God is consuming us for His purposes. When the sacrifice was consumed by the fire of God, the only thing left was a pleasing aroma to God and a pile of ashes to remind us that we are nothing and He is everything. The level of our spiritual strength is in direct relation to our level of consecration. Through the sanctifying work of the Spirit let us be living and holy sacrifices unto the Lord. In that position we will find strength and resource to fulfill His mission and bring glory to His name.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
True Success
As another year of my earthly journey comes to a close and I begin another, the success I continue to pursue can be summarized in the following.
"Success is allowing the Holy Spirit continuous and unrestricted access to every part of my person."
The challenge of this pursuit keeps me on my knees. The key to victory as a follower of Christ is to be filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit. My responsibility as I walk in covenant with Christ is to keep in step with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:12).
"Success is allowing the Holy Spirit continuous and unrestricted access to every part of my person."
The challenge of this pursuit keeps me on my knees. The key to victory as a follower of Christ is to be filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit. My responsibility as I walk in covenant with Christ is to keep in step with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:12).
Sunday, September 2, 2007
The believer's task
As followers of Christ, we have been exposed to all types of lists, requirements, and responsibilities. I'm discovering that we have added a lot of stuff that is not part of the kingdom. Let me suggest something from the life of Christ.
The believer's task is to relentlessly pursue the mind of Christ in order to fulfill the will of the Father.
Christ was all about the Father's will. He instructed us to pray for the Father's will to be done. Christ declared he came to do the Father's will. It will require a transformation in our focus, attitude and thought process. I'm in the process of learning to follow Christ and fulfill the Father's will.
The believer's task is to relentlessly pursue the mind of Christ in order to fulfill the will of the Father.
Christ was all about the Father's will. He instructed us to pray for the Father's will to be done. Christ declared he came to do the Father's will. It will require a transformation in our focus, attitude and thought process. I'm in the process of learning to follow Christ and fulfill the Father's will.
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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)
Friday, February 22, 2008
Time
Does anybody really know what time it is? This question sounded out from a popular song of the late 60's. In John 13 Jesus focuses the attention of his disciples upon a specific time. At critical points Christ has talked about 'his time.' Now this 'time' has come. As we move toward the passion week of Christ, let us understand that this great display of grace was not an accident. The concept of 'time' speaks of purpose, a plan and a path to follow. It was time for Christ to bring the picture into focus and finish the work for which He had been sent. It was time to bring glory to the Father and establish the new covenant. Today is our time to submit to His authority, believe in His person and follow in His steps. Today is the operative time for all mankind. Today is the 'time' of salvation, grace, and mercy. As we move toward Easter, it is time for us to deny self, take the cross and follow Christ. Delay is Satan's tool. "Now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Monday, February 4, 2008
Listen
John 10 radiates with encouragement and exhortation for those who would choose to follow the living Christ. A key word in the chapter is 'listen.' To the sheep who know the shepherds's voice, the words are life and peace (Jn.6:63). To those who have hardedned their hearts and rejected Jesus of Nazareth, his words are labeled demonic (10:19). The contrast is startling. What am I hearing as I follow the Good Shepherd? It should be good news of peace, joy and life. Christ's words bring confidence, contentment, security as life unfolds. The Psalmist said to 'be still & know God (46:10). It's about learning to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd. In a world of massive doses of noise, I must learn to cultivate the inner ear to hear the Good Shepherd. Too often I find myself afraid of the silence and content to be drowned by the noise. As the young man Samuel declared, 'speak Lord your servant is listening.' With the help of the Holy Spirit let us cultivate ears to hear the Word of God and listen to what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Opportunity
Paul in Ephesians exhorts Christ's people to 'make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil.' As another Christmas is upon me and a new year is staring me in the face, the proper expenditure of time is an ever challenging reality. How easy to trivialize life. How easy to waste days, months and years chasing after the wind. The big picture can be discouraging. I must learn to make the most of the minutes, hours and days. Christ packed so much in 33 years. I don't want my buzz word for 2008 to be 'busy.' I desire to be fruitful. By the help of the Spirit and the grace of God at work, to bear much fruit that will bring glory to the Father. Jesus wasn't busy. He was focused, purposeful, intelligent, discerning. Most of all I desire to use the hours and days of the new year to nurture the key relationships in life.
Thank you Christ for 2007 and your amazing grace each step of the way! Looking forward...
Thank you Christ for 2007 and your amazing grace each step of the way! Looking forward...
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
The believer's position of strength
A great tragedy (sin) in the church in America is our attempt to do God's work in man's wisdom and strength. The 'arm of flesh' will always fall short. God's delight is not in our strength, but in those who trust in His unfailing love (Ps. 147:10). The believer's position of strength is identified in Romans 12:1-3. It is to be a living and holy sacrifice. A sacrifice has no rights. A sacrifice is totally at the disposal of the one to whom it is offered. Our strength is found when God is consuming us for His purposes. When the sacrifice was consumed by the fire of God, the only thing left was a pleasing aroma to God and a pile of ashes to remind us that we are nothing and He is everything. The level of our spiritual strength is in direct relation to our level of consecration. Through the sanctifying work of the Spirit let us be living and holy sacrifices unto the Lord. In that position we will find strength and resource to fulfill His mission and bring glory to His name.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
True Success
As another year of my earthly journey comes to a close and I begin another, the success I continue to pursue can be summarized in the following.
"Success is allowing the Holy Spirit continuous and unrestricted access to every part of my person."
The challenge of this pursuit keeps me on my knees. The key to victory as a follower of Christ is to be filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit. My responsibility as I walk in covenant with Christ is to keep in step with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:12).
"Success is allowing the Holy Spirit continuous and unrestricted access to every part of my person."
The challenge of this pursuit keeps me on my knees. The key to victory as a follower of Christ is to be filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit. My responsibility as I walk in covenant with Christ is to keep in step with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:12).
Sunday, September 2, 2007
The believer's task
As followers of Christ, we have been exposed to all types of lists, requirements, and responsibilities. I'm discovering that we have added a lot of stuff that is not part of the kingdom. Let me suggest something from the life of Christ.
The believer's task is to relentlessly pursue the mind of Christ in order to fulfill the will of the Father.
Christ was all about the Father's will. He instructed us to pray for the Father's will to be done. Christ declared he came to do the Father's will. It will require a transformation in our focus, attitude and thought process. I'm in the process of learning to follow Christ and fulfill the Father's will.
The believer's task is to relentlessly pursue the mind of Christ in order to fulfill the will of the Father.
Christ was all about the Father's will. He instructed us to pray for the Father's will to be done. Christ declared he came to do the Father's will. It will require a transformation in our focus, attitude and thought process. I'm in the process of learning to follow Christ and fulfill the Father's will.
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