"I have become its (the church's) servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness."
Colossians 1:25
At first, I pondered in awe the fact that Paul was directly commissioned by God to bring the Good News to the Gentiles, but then I remembered the Great Commission that Jesus gave to all believers:
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:18-20)
God and I have a mission to accomplish: to teach others the Good News. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. No one is pure, not one, but God loves the world so much that he gave his only Son to die on the cross and pay for our sins. He does not want anyone to perish! How will folks know unless they are told?
Teach me, O Lord, to be a blabbermouth of the Gospel.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Sunday, May 5, 2013
How Much Do You Weigh?
"But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways...You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting."
Daniel 5: 23 and 27
Belshazzar, a king during Daniel's time, had thousands of nobles, many wives and concubines with whom he enjoyed royal prestige wth a banquet of rich foods and flowing wine. He had it all! Yet, when he was weighed by God, he was found to be wanting. He misused the temple goblets as beverage glasses, which "set himself up against the Lord of heaven." (verse 23) On the surface, it appeared Belshazzar had it made, yet his life was snuffed out that very night and someone else took his place the next day.
Jesus said in Matthew 23:13 "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." It is God who holds your life in his hand. Honor him in all you do, and your weight will be just right.
Daniel 5: 23 and 27
Belshazzar, a king during Daniel's time, had thousands of nobles, many wives and concubines with whom he enjoyed royal prestige wth a banquet of rich foods and flowing wine. He had it all! Yet, when he was weighed by God, he was found to be wanting. He misused the temple goblets as beverage glasses, which "set himself up against the Lord of heaven." (verse 23) On the surface, it appeared Belshazzar had it made, yet his life was snuffed out that very night and someone else took his place the next day.
Jesus said in Matthew 23:13 "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." It is God who holds your life in his hand. Honor him in all you do, and your weight will be just right.
Eat Your Vegetables
"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature...But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law...Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."
Galatians 5: 16,22,23,25
The fruits of the Spirit are like the vegetables in one's diet. Eat as many as you like, there's no law against it, they are good for you. But gratifying the sinful nature is like indulging in too much cheesecake. Tastes excellent at first, then it sits like a leaden ball in your stomach, wreaking havoc on your system.
Don't let the rich foods of the world bog you down. Partake in the best, most nutritious things and you'll be able to keep in step with the Spirit, leading an abundant life.
Galatians 5: 16,22,23,25
The fruits of the Spirit are like the vegetables in one's diet. Eat as many as you like, there's no law against it, they are good for you. But gratifying the sinful nature is like indulging in too much cheesecake. Tastes excellent at first, then it sits like a leaden ball in your stomach, wreaking havoc on your system.
Don't let the rich foods of the world bog you down. Partake in the best, most nutritious things and you'll be able to keep in step with the Spirit, leading an abundant life.
Everlasting Gobstopper
"Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations."
Psalm 145:13
Don't you hate it when your favorite shirt wears out? Your soap opera with all its nebulous characters goes off the air? Your own body betrays you by not performing feats it once did. Maybelline quits making your favorite shade of lipstick. Your strong, viable parents, who once worked all day and raised a family, now shuffle slowly across the room. Even the Everlasting Gobstopper doesn't last forever.
Rest assured. If you put your faith in the Faithful One and build your life on the Rock of Christ, you are investing in a never-ending corporation. God rules! Always has, always will, no matter what. He won't age, he doesn't sleep, won't quit and never runs out of ideas.
Psalm 145:13
Don't you hate it when your favorite shirt wears out? Your soap opera with all its nebulous characters goes off the air? Your own body betrays you by not performing feats it once did. Maybelline quits making your favorite shade of lipstick. Your strong, viable parents, who once worked all day and raised a family, now shuffle slowly across the room. Even the Everlasting Gobstopper doesn't last forever.
Rest assured. If you put your faith in the Faithful One and build your life on the Rock of Christ, you are investing in a never-ending corporation. God rules! Always has, always will, no matter what. He won't age, he doesn't sleep, won't quit and never runs out of ideas.
The Value of Sacrifice
"Anyone who disobeys some law of God without realizing it is guilty anyway and must bring his sacrifice of a value determined by Moses..."
Leviticus 5: 17
In reading of the various types of sacrifices described in the beginning of Leviticus, I got to pondering the levels of values mentioned. Imagine the level of value of the sacrifice of God himself in Christ Jesus? How can a value even be placed on that? He is priceless, top-of-the-line, nothing is above him. And yet, that's what was needed to pay for the sins of the world. When I think of the atrocious sins i.e. abuse of another, greed, arson, murder, Holocaust - I see nothing less could ever be accepted. No ram, however perfect, could make justification.
Thank you, God, for providing this Lamb without blemish to make atonement for sinners like me.
Leviticus 5: 17
In reading of the various types of sacrifices described in the beginning of Leviticus, I got to pondering the levels of values mentioned. Imagine the level of value of the sacrifice of God himself in Christ Jesus? How can a value even be placed on that? He is priceless, top-of-the-line, nothing is above him. And yet, that's what was needed to pay for the sins of the world. When I think of the atrocious sins i.e. abuse of another, greed, arson, murder, Holocaust - I see nothing less could ever be accepted. No ram, however perfect, could make justification.
Thank you, God, for providing this Lamb without blemish to make atonement for sinners like me.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Give Thanks for Dementia?
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
Seems easy enough when I read it, but when life is rolling along and I'm riding a wave of stress, responsibility and strife, how can I always be joyful?
One of the things I am struggling with currently is my father's state of dementia. It makes me incredibly sad to be losing him in increments, to witness his confusion, to have him not recognize his wife of 61 years. Yet, I feel the Lord gently leading me along this road I do not want to travel. He reminds me that my father is a child of His and, hand in hand, He will lead him home where there will be no old age, no more sorrow, no fragmented minds. With joy and thanksgiving, I remember my dad's faith in God as he said grace at the head of the table. How it was his personal mission to make people laugh with silly jokes or by wearing his glasses upside down. I recall the halloween costumes he created or the science fair projects he helped us with. With joy, I thank the Lord that my dad has been of sound mind his entire life, making godly judgments, leading our family with a kind heart and a soft voice.
As my family experiences this disease together, we are meeting others along the way who are going through the same thing. This brings an opportunity to share our faith, to offer to pray for them, to show them that we truly can be thankful in all circumstances. Life is not easy for anyone, but we really do have so much that brings us joy.
1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
Seems easy enough when I read it, but when life is rolling along and I'm riding a wave of stress, responsibility and strife, how can I always be joyful?
One of the things I am struggling with currently is my father's state of dementia. It makes me incredibly sad to be losing him in increments, to witness his confusion, to have him not recognize his wife of 61 years. Yet, I feel the Lord gently leading me along this road I do not want to travel. He reminds me that my father is a child of His and, hand in hand, He will lead him home where there will be no old age, no more sorrow, no fragmented minds. With joy and thanksgiving, I remember my dad's faith in God as he said grace at the head of the table. How it was his personal mission to make people laugh with silly jokes or by wearing his glasses upside down. I recall the halloween costumes he created or the science fair projects he helped us with. With joy, I thank the Lord that my dad has been of sound mind his entire life, making godly judgments, leading our family with a kind heart and a soft voice.
As my family experiences this disease together, we are meeting others along the way who are going through the same thing. This brings an opportunity to share our faith, to offer to pray for them, to show them that we truly can be thankful in all circumstances. Life is not easy for anyone, but we really do have so much that brings us joy.
True Freedom
"I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free."
Psalm 119: 32
Jesus' death in payment of my sins sets my heart free from the burdens of guilt and regret. Only then can I, unencumbered, run in the path of his commands. If I didn't have the freedom of his loving redemption and restoration, then following the Ten Commandments would be a chore, a seeming impossibility.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:17: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." I need the Law, as does all of society; it is the barometer of abundant life. I also need Jesus to help me fulfill this Law in my heart. My love for him makes me want to do the right thing.
Psalm 119: 32
Jesus' death in payment of my sins sets my heart free from the burdens of guilt and regret. Only then can I, unencumbered, run in the path of his commands. If I didn't have the freedom of his loving redemption and restoration, then following the Ten Commandments would be a chore, a seeming impossibility.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:17: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." I need the Law, as does all of society; it is the barometer of abundant life. I also need Jesus to help me fulfill this Law in my heart. My love for him makes me want to do the right thing.
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