April 11, 2014

Living a crucified life...

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the live which I now live int he flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Encouraging Words...

If we have given our lives to Christ, been baptized and chrismated unto Him, then we are no longer a part of this world. We have been crucified with Christ into His royal family and called to do His good works all the days of our lives through eternity. This can be accomplished because of Christ living within us and being filled by Him and His Holy Spirit. Glory be to God!

April 10, 2014

Moving forward...

Isaiah 43:18

"Do not remember the former things, nor reason about the things of old."

Encouraging Words...

Life with the Lord our god is always a forward looking life. The early Israelites looked forward to the promised land and their coming Messiah when Moses lead them out of Egypt. Those in captivity in Babylon looked forward to return to their home land as well as their coming Messiah. We, in the present day Church, look forward to the coming kingdom of our God and the return of our Messiah. Life is to be lived in a forward motion leaving behind the things of our past that come between us and God and bringing with us those things that glorify Him.

April 9, 2014

The power of the word, spoken or written...

Proverbs 12:18 (12:20 LXX)

There are those who wound with a sword as they speak,
But the tongues of the wise heal.

Personal Challenge...

The words that come out of my mouth can either offer up healing and comfort or strike down like a sword. This is even move true today with the advent of the Internet because I am removed from the presence of the one that I am speaking to or about. That removal often gives me a sense that I am doing nothing wrong to another and therefore emboldens me to speak even more harshly and abruptly. So, I must not only guard my tongue in today's age, but also my fingertips as well. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

April 8, 2014

Knowing where our home and possessions really are...

Job 1:21

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. As it seemed good to the Lord, so also it came to pass. Blessed be the name of the Lord."

Personal Challenge...

I often wonder if I could be as submissive to the Lord as Job was. He held on to his material possessions, even his health and his loved ones, lightly...knowing that his time here on earth was short and that his real home was where all that he held dear really was. He still grieved over his lose but he never gave up on His God. What a lesson for all of us to trust God completely and to always have our vision set on our true home and our true wealth. Glory be to God!

April 7, 2014

Avoiding temptations...

Matthew 26:41

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Personal Challenge...

There is no opportunity for us to claim, "The devil made me do it!" We are responsible for our choices to sin. If we want to avoid and/or defeat temptations in our lives we must be diligent and on the guard against them. Once again, the Christian life is not a lackadaisical life, but a life of diligence, waiting, and prayer.

April 6, 2014

Sharing the hope that is within...

1 Peter 3:13-17

And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

Personal Challenge...

As followers of Christ we will be asked what we are putting out hope in and why. Sometimes this will come from genuinely interested people who desire the same peace that we have. Sometimes it will come from those who want to drive us away from our Lord. In all cases we are to be prepared to give a response in meekness and fear, yet truthful and informed. In order to do this we must spend time with our Lord, studying His teachings and preparing ourselves to give a good answer. We will also encounter times when those around us will want to persecute us for our beliefs and our hope. We still must be prepared to give a good response from a position of meekness and fear so that our accusers will be ashamed because there is not wrong found in our lives. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

April 5, 2014

Loving others...

Luke 6:32-36

But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

Personal Challenge...

Living the Christian life is not for the faint of heart. We are called to be merciful and loving...to everyone. We are called to be giving...to everyone and expecting nothing in return. We are called to be merciful as our Father is merciful. There is no room for judgment and legalism in our Christian lives, just as our God is not judgmental and legalistic with us. This is part of the reason that we practice traditions like Great Lent and fasting...to develop the habit of giving up of ourselves so that we can give to others. It is a discipline to help us to become more like our Lord Jesus Christ. Lord have mercy! Lord have mercy! Lord have mercy!