Prayer changes things. It also changes us and helps us to see our surroundings differently.

As Ignatius continued to encourage the church of Ephesus, he gave a great reason to go to church, which is to connect, give thanks together, to praise together, and to pray together.

Take heed, then, often to come together to give thanks to God, and show forth His praise. For when ye come frequently together in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed, and his “fiery darts” urging to sin fall back ineffectual. For your concord and harmonious faith prove his destruction, and the torment of his assistants. Nothing is better than that peace which is according to Christ, by which all war, both of aërial and terrestrial spirits [spirits of heavenly and earthly things*], is brought to an end. “For we wrestle not against blood and flesh, but against principalities and powers, and against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.” [Ephesians 6:12]

What can we learn from this passage?

1. He exhorts the people to come together often;
2. The purpose of their gathering is to give thanks to God and to show forth His praise;
3. What happens when we frequently meet together to give thanks and praise?
   • The powers of Satan are destroyed in our lives as we align ourselves with the Risen Savior,
   • His “fiery darts” that urge us to fall back into sin are rendered ineffectual,
   • Our unified and harmonious faith prove that he really has no power over us,
   • Our victory in Christ torments his assistants,
   • And the peace we have in Christ ends the war in our hearts, and eventually all war.
4. Paul’s verse from his letter to the Ephesians, one with which they would have been very familiar, Ephesians 6:12, puts everything into perspective. We wrestle through prayer.

When we begin to see the moral and spiritual forces, attitudes, concepts and perceptions that are behind our circumstances, we will realize that the physical world is symptomatic of the spiritual world. The things that happen in the physical world are the tip of the iceberg when compared to the spiritual world. We fight against our upbringing, our culture, our tendencies, our temperaments, and our own fleshly desires before that fight ever shows up in the physical world. Being able to discern the powers that war against the godly and seduce the unknowing give us compassion for those who struggle to “fight the good fight of faith,” and for those who are caught in traps laid for them by the evil one. Our prayers mean more than ever when we acknowledge our need for connection to the Father and to each other. We need the bracing up of each other in prayer; we need the armor that goes with prayer; we need the focus and attitude that comes through prayer; we need the love and loyalty that abound because of the vested interest we have in each other through prayer, and we need the saturation we receive from the Father of His love, joy and peace that flow from Him to us in prayer.

As God brings people to mind, lift them up to Him in prayer. Let’s see how often we an remember to do it!

Abba, I ask that You would call my attention to prayer with every person I think about today. Even if I think of the same person several times today, may I lift that person up each time in prayer to You. “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17) is actually something that we can achieve through practice and having the right heart attitude. Help us to learn that right heart attitude, Lord, and to practice, practice, practice. Amen.

*ANF01. The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus

Jesus’ motivation is always love. Even when we face dire consequences of our actions, Jesus is with us and wants to heal us.

Another way that Jesus’ interpretation of the law was a personal offense to the religious leaders of His day was His unabashed accusation of their manipulation of the law for their own benefit,

Some Pharisees and teachers of religious law now arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus. They asked him, ² “Why do your disciples disobey our age-old tradition? For they ignore our tradition of ceremonial hand washing before they eat.”
³ Jesus replied, “And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God? ⁴ For instance, God says, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.’ ⁵ But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’ ⁶ In this way, you say they don’t need to honor their parents. And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition. ⁷ You hypocrites! Matthew 15:1-7

The tradition of ceremonial hand washing was not in the law, but was in the tradition of the elders (Mark 7:3). Jesus didn’t even address the issue, but turned the conversation to a more important issue. The Pharisees were breaking the fourth commandment of honoring their parents! They were “giving” their future revenues to the temple instead of making that money available to help their aging parents. The loophole was that they got to use the money until they no longer needed it, and then it became temple property. The parents received no help from their sons when they did this. Jesus continued in Mark 7:9,

⁹Then he said, “You skillfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition.
¹³ And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others.”

For this exposure and many others, they plotted to kill Jesus. Oh, that they had listened to Him! Many did later, “So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too” (Acts 6:7).

May we heed the revelation of the Spirit in our own lives and repent of the things that are contrary to our Savior’s love.

Abba, when it comes to sin, You don’t mess around! Sin destroys everything it touches, especially us. Please reveal to us the areas in our lives that need to be cleaned out, swept, mopped, and then filled with Your love, mercy and grace. May You start today! Amen.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”

We complete our study of Ephesians 1:3-6. First, we looked at us being united with Christ. Yesterday, we looked at the spiritual blessings Paul stated in the subsequent verses. Today, we look at the rest of those spiritual blessings.

³ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. ⁴ Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. ⁵ God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:3-5

• “God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family”- Verse 4 tells us that we were chosen before God made the world, so “in advance” points to a “time” before the world was created! His own family is the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Their fellowship is complete, yet we have been invited to join them in that fellowship. What an honor!
• “By bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ.”- Jesus’ finished work on the cross (conquering death through His resurrection) is how God has brought us to Himself. Jesus is the Gate (Matthew 7:13-14), the Door (John 10:7-10), the only way to God (John 14:6).
• “This is what He wanted to do”- God does not merely tolerate us. God loves us and He wanted to bring us to Himself so that we could be united with Him. This is the whole point of His coming!
• “And it gave Him great pleasure.”- The great pleasure of God was to heal us and give us the righteousness of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). The concept of healing us was one Jesus used to describe His mission, “Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” (Luke 5:31). During His ministry Jesus healed everyone who came to Him for healing. Isaiah spoke of God healing through Jesus in Isaiah 53:10, but only the Septuagint has this particular version, “But it was the Lord’s will to heal through his suffering…” The word, “heal,” in the Greek is “KATHARISAI,” from which we get the word, “catharsis,” which means, “release or relief.” We see the word used twice in Matthew 8:3 when Jesus healed the leper, “Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean [katharisthēti]!” Immediately he was cleansed [ekatharisthē] of his leprosy.”

What is the take-away from this passage? We see a loving Father who loves His children, which is us! We have been saved (rescued), adopted, healed, and, evidently, are a great pleasure to God! Let’s praise Him today for His great love for us.

Abba, You love us so much! We just can’t get our “arms” around this reality. I doubt we ever will, but it’s sure fun trying! Keep revealing to us this great love today, tomorrow, and forever. Amen.

When is a good time for a person to get baptized? Good question!

I believe the private commitment must come first, and then the next step is to make it public. The Good Confession (1 Timothy 6:13-14) is a commitment to the Lord Jesus for all time. We acknowledge, with the encouragement and participation of the Holy Spirit, His lordship over all of creation, His kingship over our lives, and pledge to serve Him and obey Him only and completely from this day forward forever. The public portion of that confession is important for the family of faith and for the individual. Once made, we are accountable to each other as the body and Bride of Christ. 

Baptism is a natural step in our supernatural state. There is a confirmation that takes place in the heart and mind of the believer that is sealed by the Spirit, like marriage vows. We officially become disciples of Jesus Christ. Stirring the baptismal waters isn’t something to be taken lightly. Should a new convert be baptized right away or should he wait and be trained first? We have precedent for both quick baptism and for delayed baptism. The Ethiopian Eunuch was baptized immediately; John’s converts and Jesus’ converts were all baptized immediately whereas most confessors during the second and third centuries had a two-three year trial period before being baptized. I believe the difference is the background of the believer: 

• The Ethiopian Eunuch was traveling home; there was no time or way for him to be discipled. We trust that the Holy Spirit took care of him. 
• The Jews were already discipled in a sense. They simply started trusting Christ as their promised Messiah. 
• The Gentiles were coming out of severe idolatry and needed help understanding what following Christ meant and looked like. They needed time plus believable behavior. 

In our world today, most of America is Gentile, therefore I believe that a waiting period can be beneficial for most people. During that time, intensive training in Bible study, prayer, and discipleship would take place. Once a person finds out what all is involved in following Christ, he may turn away. On the other hand, he may develop a hunger for the word and for worship. When the candidate is ready, a ceremony is planned with witnesses to rejoice and celebrate the believer. Several candidates at one time make for a festive event. I think it would be fun to take a Sunday night and wrap the whole service around several baptisms with a reception following. The audience would likely be made up of family and many lost folks, which makes the baptisms evangelistic as well as ceremonial. 

What about a person who has been baptized before, but made a decision for Christ after that? We will discuss this question tomorrow. For today, let’s rejoice in our “marriage” to Christ and the fellowship of His Spirit.

Abba, I have to remind myself often that You are working with us as young nursery children. We all would do well to trust the Nursery Worker and quit bossing each other around. We can trust You to let us know what the next step is for each of us. We don’t all have to experience Christ the same way. Each of us has a different story about how we came to Christ, about our baptism, and about our walk with Him. Help us to celebrate each other’s victory over sin and death and our daily victories as we all walk with Him. Amen.

The Spirit is infusing us with the power to grasp how wide and tall and high and deep is His love for us! We can’t even begin to imagine!

Yesterday, we began a look at Zechariah’s song in Luke 1:67-79. Today, we will break it down and squeeze as much knowledge and information we can from verses 67-75. We’ll look at verses 76-79 tomorrow.

⁶⁷ Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
This filling of the Spirit is the same, and yet different than, the filling we have post-Pentecost. The in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers/followers of Jesus Christ was a new thing. Up until then, the Spirit would temporarily come upon a person like a cloak. Like Samson.

⁶⁸ “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people,
⁶⁹ And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
Zechariah speaks of the ministry and Passion of Christ, which hadn’t occurred yet, but was about to.

⁷⁰ As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began,
The first prophecy of a coming Redeemer is Genesis 3:15 by God Himself. The second is Genesis 12:3, again by God Himself. It progresses from there throughout the Old Testament.

⁷¹ That we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
Hate is the language of the world. In the competition for survival, it is essential to love oneself more than anyone else. It has never been God’s way, nor is it now. Jesus teaches us, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45).

⁷² To perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
⁷³ The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:
⁷⁴ To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear,
⁷⁵ In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
The prophecy of deliverance in Genesis 15:13-14 is both from Egypt and from the devil; the one is representative of the other. The “without fear” we looked at yesterday (see yesterday’s post). Our holiness and righteousness are the gifts that the Holy Spirit brings to us when He comes to abide in us. Now, when we turn to Him and obey Him, we are applying Ephesians 4:24, “and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” We are “new creations” (2 Corinthians 5:17) and have given ourselves over to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In Him, we are truly righteous and holy. For now, we simply need to learn from Him how to “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh” (Romans 13:12). It’s a daily thing.

Abba, Your Plan is so extensive that we cannot conceive the width and breadth of it. You love us so much that You have been planning since the Garden to redeem us from the clutches of our enemies, death, the devil, and our own worldly desires. May we take as seriously our every decision, passing it by You, and then doing according to Your answer. Your kingdom over ours. Amen.

While we wait for Jesus to return, let’s make sure that we are doing what He told us to do until He gets back.

Occasionally, we run across a passage that sums up the Christian life. Titus 2:11-14 is one of those:

¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. ¹² It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Let’s break it down:

• Jesus is the grace of God. His Spirit is our grace. He is our salvation. I love the “to all people” part. Jesus offers His grace to everyone.
• “It” being His grace, we know Him to be the Holy Spirit. He is the one who teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions. Why? Because these things destroy us, the people around us, and they break our fellowship with God.
• He teaches us to learn what upright and godly lives are to be in our present age, and then to use self-control to live that way.
• The “blessed hope” is the coming of the Lord Jesus. We don’t know how or when, but we do know that He Is Coming.
• We are to always keep in mind all that He has done for us. A good definition of “wickedness” is thinking and doing things without consulting or regarding God. Wickedness destroys us. It’s what ungodliness and worldly passions are.
• Instead, He is purifying us to be a people that are His very own!
• Yes, we are eager to do what is good. Goodness is one of the fruit that the Spirit grows in our lives, just like self-control.

It’s good to be reminded of why we do what we do as Christians.

Abba, thank You for the reminder that You love us and want us to have life to the fullest. Abundant life is in You, Lord, and in us by way of Your Spirit. May we continue to learn to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives, being eager to do what is good. Amen.

EGR- Extra Grace Required. We all know one (or a dozen). Let’s give it to them!

Romans 12:18 is basically personal accountability. In our Western culture, individualism is the norm, but in Eastern culture, family comes first. St. Paul was telling them that regardless of who did what to one of their family members, they were to follow this command:

¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Peace requires:

• Listening- We must hear what the other side is saying. We may not agree, but we need to acknowledge that they have a right to their opinion–even if it’s a wrong one.
• Talking- We must keep the lines of communication open; stay away from ultimatums; give them the benefit of the doubt; allow them to “save face.”
• Striving- 1 Corinthians 13:7 tells us that “love always perseveres,” which means that it never gives up. The only way we quit trying is when the other side demands it of us. Even then, we pray for them.

The term, “perseverance,” means to stand against the enemy, taking everything he can throw at us, and then keeping on standing. It also refers to continuing until victory is achieved, as in relationships. 1 Corinthians 13:8 says that, “Love never fails.” We are to never fail to keep trying to connect with people. It’s in our connection with them that we have the opportunity to show Christ to them.

There’s an old story about two frogs who fell into a butter churn filled with milk. They swam and swam until one of them gave up and croaked (died). The other kept swimming until he made butter; he climbed on top of the lump and jumped out. The first frog quit; the second frog persevered! Let’s be like the second frog.

Abba, You didn’t give up on us. In fact, in the fullness of time, You came and showed us how much You love us. Thank You, Jesus, for showing us the Father’s love through Your life, death, and resurrection. Please give us the desire to persevere and then the power to keep going. Give us victory, O Lord! Amen.

NCN2* When a person turns to Christ, his/her desires change. We want to be like our Lord, Jesus!

Yesterday, we began a look at what we might say to a new Christian so that he/she would have the foundational truths of our faith that we had been taught. What might we say in our second letter?

Good morning. I pray that you are doing well and that you are learning to walk with Jesus. I trust that the verses from our last letter are helping you to sense His presence in your life.

One of our greatest challenges is learning to think differently, replacing unhealthy, destructive thoughts with holy and righteous thoughts that benefit us as well as those around us. While we are learning, we must remember we are already categorically righteous and holy because these gifts have been bestowed on us by Christ Jesus,

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church [us!] and gave himself up for her [us] ²⁶ to make her [us] holy, having cleansed her [us] by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her [us] to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:25-27

²¹ God made him who had no sin to be a sin offering for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

These verses can be memory verses; you will at least want them stored somewhere.

Living holy lives is not a natural thing for us. In fact, learning to change the way we think in order to think like Christ is where we work the hardest – and the longest (our lifetimes). You will find that Jesus is a most patient and loving Teacher. You will recognize His voice, through the Spirit, always with a loving purpose, communicating with His beloved – you! The Spirit helps us identify our “unholiness” and shows us how to begin to correct our thoughts and behavior. You might be surprised at what He reveals as your first step to “thinking and living differently.” He will never shame or condemn, and will certainly never just tell you “do better, or else!” but He will reveal what is hurting you and will always reveal the steps you need to gain victory, and the best part is He will be right there to help you and continue to teach you! Here are some passages that help us know what the Spirit is doing in our lives. I call them, “Mastering the Mind:”

¹⁹ My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, Galatians 4:19

²⁹ For those God knew beforehand He also set things up so that we can be conformed to the likeness of his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:29

¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Formed, conformed, and transformed–this process is what the Spirit is doing in us. It takes time. We will be tempted to get discouraged and even believe the lie that we are a failure at the end of each day, but that is never how our Father see us or speaks to us. He wants more than anything for us to stay close, learn from our choices, and keep walking with Him. Let’s be willing children as Jesus walks with us today.

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for forming, conforming and transforming us into the image of Christ. Obviously, we are not talking physical traits here, but mental and spiritual ones. When people look at our lives, may they see evidence of You all through us! Amen.

*NCN2 stands for New Christian Note #2

God has made things simple (I think He knows us) when it comes to knowing Him and His will for us. Let’s ask Him!

We have so much to be thankful for. As Christians, we thank Jesus Christ for His sacrifice on the cross, and with good reason. Thank You, Jesus! But, let’s not forget the love of the Father for us,

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

“For God loved the world, which is us, that He gave…” The sacrifice of the Father WAS His Son! It is in the “spirit” of this verse that we look at another passage about the Father,

²⁰ Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, ²¹ equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21

What can we learn from this passage about God?

• He is a God of peace.
• Jesus’s blood is an eternal covenant.
• God the Father brought His Son, Jesus, back from the dead!
• Jesus is Lord.
• Jesus is the Good Shepherd (see John 10:11).
• God equips us with everything we need for doing His will.
• In Him, we live a god-like life doing the things that He asks us to do.
• He is working in us what is pleasing to Him.
• All of this comes through Jesus Christ who is in us.
• To Him be all the glory forever and ever. Amen.

My take from this passage is that our striving to be like Christ pleases the Father. All I have to do is try; He does the actual work. This way, He receives the glory for my life and I receive the benefits of obedience. It’s a win/win situation! Isn’t the love of the Father wonderful?!

Abba, You have made it so simple for us to be like You. All we have to do is come. I believe it’s what Jesus had in mind when He said, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). As we learn of You, may we continue to strive to be like You. You are our God of peace and You love us dearly. Thank You, Abba. Amen.

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

When we read God’s Word, it’s like the Lord Jesus pulling up a chair beside us and asking, “What are we reading together today?” He then helps us understand and apply what we are reading, if not right away, then later on when we have all the parts to start assembling the concept He is having us learn.

This pattern pretty much describes our daily Bible studies all of our lives. Even though God’s Word never changes, our perception and application of it may change in different seasons of our lives as we grow and mature in Christ because we are ever-changing, our environment is ever-changing, our experience is ever-changing, and our knowledge base is ever-growing. We are not the same people we were when we last read the passage. The longer we study, the higher, deeper and richer God’s Word becomes!

Paul tells us, “¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Just be aware that God is more interested in our faithfulness than He is our knowledge. We know from the five loaves and two fish that God can make much out of little. What can be more important than spending a few minutes in communion with the Lord Jesus in Bible study and prayer? Let’s get to it.

Abba, Your Word is like an amplifier that helps me to hear what the Spirit wants to say to me. May I always take it seriously and never flippantly. Amen.

This lesson is a banner lesson. It reveals the basis for being able to succeed in all the other lessons.

On 5-22-23 (click to go there), I listed ten things I want graduating seniors to know. Here are the first three:

1. What we do with our bodies matters.
2. What we put in our bodies matters.
3. What we put in our minds matters.

Today, we look at number 4,

Daily prayer and Scripture reading are ultra important
to keep your relationship with the Lord fresh.

Because our relationship is based upon faith, there are things that we can do to build our faith and give Him avenues to communicate with us. We can’t see Him, but we know He’s there because He has placed His love in our hearts. Here are some verses to help us:

It’s not what we have done, but what He has done- God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:5

More than a feeling, it’s an experience- ⁸ You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. ⁹ The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 8-9

Conversation with the Lord never has to stop- Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

We can know truth because God has given us His Word–literally! Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. ¹² As a result, many of them believed. Acts 17:11-12

The Spirit energizes us to serve the Lord Jesus- For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing {desire} and the ability {power} to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 AMP

Even our zeal comes from Him, and He works through us for His glory– never lagging behind in diligence; aglow in the Spirit, enthusiastically serving the Lord; Romans 12:11 AMP

Followers of Christ make these things a priority in their lives. If you have lost some of your spiritual zeal, it may be because there is something in your life that has distracted you and you no longer have your eyes fixed on Jesus. Remember that His conviction is always specific and encouraging, never shaming or condemning, and make time to pray, asking God to reveal the distraction to you, and then give it to Him, trusting His promise that He will empower you to remove the distraction from your life. I know: Easy to say, hard to do. It takes effort and practice, but it’s the effort and practice that builds your relationship with Jesus! The more we go to Him and the harder we lean on Him, the more He shows Himself mighty in our lives. Our fellowship is sweet, and we are filled with “a glorious, inexpressible joy.”

Never give up. When we feel we are at our end, we are exactly where we need to be learn how to trust Jesus. He’s been waiting!

Abba, I know this routine very well! You have allowed me to go my own way, only to find that my way doesn’t work. I lose the closeness of our fellowship, I can’t feel Your love as well, my peace disappears, and my joy is tainted by worldly pleasures. I want to walk close to You, enjoying the waterfall of Your grace, and experiencing once again Your love, peace, joy, and the closeness that I know is available when I keep my eyes trained on You. One day at a time, Lord. Amen.

If you ever doubted the Father’s love, Jesus told us a story that describes God as a loving Father–even to runaways.

Yesterday, I was the entertainment at a Senior Adult function for a fellow minister. As I put together my song list, I was pondering what I would like to tell them that would encourage them in their walk with Jesus. Another one of the songs on the list is an original called, “A Man and His Sons.” Click on the title and it will play.

A Man and His Sons

Well, a man had two sons, they both had a lot to learn.
The older one stayed with his father,
The young one left and away he did run.

Oh, my son, my son, won’t you please come home?
There’s so much to share, everything I own;
I love you, boy, no matter where you roam,
Oh, my son, my son, won’t you please come home?

Well, the younger one came to the city,
He was caught up in the sights and sounds;
He didn’t see ‘til it was too late:
That kind of life will soon have you bound.

And all the while, his father
Stood on the porch looking down the road
Praying his son would remember
The words he spoke as he picked up his load:

Oh, my son, my son, won’t you please come home?
There’s so much to share, everything I own;
I love you, boy, no matter where you roam,
Oh, my son, my son, won’t you please come home?

Well, the boy came to his senses,
He headed for home and his father’s arms;
They held each other for the longest
While his father whispered to him soft and warm:

Oh, my son, my son, you did come home!
We’ve so much to share, everything I own.
I love you, boy, never more to roam;
Oh, my son, my son, welcome home!

And all the while, his brother
Couldn’t understand his father’s love:
“How could he forgive him?”
He was on a trip of his own, though he never left home!

Hear the father say:
My son, my son, won’t you please come home?
There’s so much to share, everything I own;
I love you, boy, no matter where you roam,
Oh, my son, my son, won’t you please come home?
Oh, my son, my son, come home!

Well, the heavenly Father has sons, too;
Which one of His sons are you?

The parable is obviously the Prodigal Son from Luke 15:11-32. It teaches us about the love of the Father for both boys. We should never doubt the Father’s love for us. Each time we look at a cross, we can remember the lengths He went to get us back.

Abba, thank You for loving us so much! I believe that You were with the boy in the pigpen. In fact, I think You were the one who prompted him to “come to his senses” and return home. In the story, I can see You dancing around him as he came over that last hill. Oh, to know that loving embrace! I look forward to it, Abba. Amen.

Many of us are heading to church today. What is your main motivation for going? Is it routine? Mandatory? Expected? or Love?

⁷ But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. Philippians 3:7

As we look forward to Easter, let us consider the ramifications of the cross. Today, we will look at our main motivation for living as Christ would have us live. Paul says it plainly in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15,

¹⁴ For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

First of all, Christ’s love is our main motivation for living for Him. “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). His death on the cross proved His love for us. How? Because He is God and He could do whatever He wanted, but instead of annihilating his antagonists, He allowed them to torture Him and kill Him. Why would God allow such a thing?! It’s insane–unless there is a higher reason, a “deeper magic” as C.S. Lewis called it. That reason is the death of death.

On April 16, we are having a celebration of the impending Consummation of Christ when He returns to earth to establish His reign forever. In that service, we will sing, “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing.” The fourth stanza goes like this:

He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean–
His blood availed for me.

Do you see it? Our debt was canceled. When? In the grave. Jesus took our sin, our debt, and the power of death that the devil held over us to the grave with Him…and left it there. Jesus is even now breaking the power of this canceled sin in people’s lives and setting them free! There is no one beyond the cleansing power of His blood and it’s available for all who will come to Him. WOW! Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Tomorrow, we will look at more ramifications of 2 Corinthians 5:14-15. Have a great day in worship.

Abba, one of the other verses says, “Jesus, the name that calms my fears, that bids my sorrows cease…” That is what You do for me. I take great comfort in all that You have done for us, and for me personally. I no longer have to worry about death and dying, the past or the future, or even my next breath because You are with me guiding me and walking each step toward eternity with me. Bless You, Abba! Praise You, Jesus! Let’s worship, Holy Spirit! Amen.

The power of PRAISE. It’s in the music and the lyrics. It involves the whole person: Body, Soul and Spirit.

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

The peace of Christ comes when we submit to His Lordship. We know that He knows what is best for us, and He knows what needs to be done for His kingdom. We simply need to trust Him.

I like Paul’s command, “and be thankful.” For what? For everything! For life, for breath, for family, for friends, for brothers and sisters in Christ, for His Word, for prayer, for forgiveness, for adoption, for His Presence and Participation in our lives, for His promise to return, and for the security of knowing that when we die, we get to go be with Him. The list could go on and on…

The message of Christ is wrapped up in our songs and hymns. Throughout history, most people either didn’t read or did not have availability to reading materials, so they learned their theology by singing it. Just this morning, I was trying to remember the second line to a refrain from a song that I sang consistently in concert for seven years when we traveled in college. Since I couldn’t remember, I “phoned a friend.” He bounced back pretty quickly with the words. How did we remember a song from nearly 40 years ago? Because music sinks deep into our long-term memory. The more parts a thought has, the more handles the mind has for remembering: The words, the notes, the rhythms, the harmonies, the memories, the feelings that are associated with the song…they all help us remember those songs.

Another thing that music does is trigger emotions. It’s a type of confession every time I sing “He is Lord.” When we turn it around and sing, “You are Lord,” the Spirit in me confirms my confession with, “That’s right!” Many songs move me when I open my mouth and sing the words. Other songs call me to praise Him. Again, the Spirit in me urges me to do just that, so I do!

I pray that you do, too, every time you get a chance. It’s why we sing in church. Today, SING!

Abba, thank You for the gift of music. May we use it to its fullest advantage today as we meet together for praise and worship, fellowship and learning. “Come, thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace.” Amen.

Jesus proclaimed He was the divine Son of God. He was either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord of heaven and earth.

¹¹ Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. ¹² But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³ and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.
¹⁸ And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary. Hebrews 10:11-13, 18

If Jesus was a liar or a lunatic, then “we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15:19b). But, if Jesus is Lord, then what we read above is true and we have a great high priest in the heavens, and His name is Jesus Christ!

From, “A Grand Illusion,” pages 90-91

John explains it to us: “This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own father, making himself equal with God” (John 5:18). Jesus was not killed as a mere human martyr for social causes. He was killed as part of a divine plan: he came as God among us to take upon himself the price of our sins.
Thus, even though the Scriptures don’t work out all the implications for calling Jesus God, there are biblical texts that make it clear that both Jesus and the first Christians understood Jesus to be divine. Consider a few:

• Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
• John 8:58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
• John 10:33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
• John 1:1, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
• Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
• Hebrews 1:3-10 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. ⁴ So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. ⁵ For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”? ⁶ And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” ⁷ In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire. ⁸ But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. ⁹ You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. ¹⁰ He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands...”
• Colossians 1:15-17 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
• 2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:
• Titus 2:11-13 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. ¹² It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
• Romans 9:5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

The doctrine of the divinity of Jesus is non-negotiable for the Christian faith. To deny that Jesus is divine is to deny that he is the Son of God.

Some things we can leave open to interpretation; this is not one of them. The doctrine of the divinity of Jesus is fact; it is reality. Jesus Himself said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). So, is He a liar? Everything He promised He would do He did: He healed the sick, raised the dead–and even rose from the dead Himself! Is He a lunatic? His speeches clearly indicate that He was in His right mind. Is He Lord? You bet He is! If someone is still doubting, consider what Jesus told the doubters in His day,

³⁷ Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. ³⁸ But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” John 10:37-38

Is that the talk of a crazy person? I think not!

Abba, it never ceases to amaze me that You would want to come down here to earth and be one of us in order to make us one of Yours. We have always been Your creations, but we wandered off, believed lies, deceived ourselves, and allowed the enemy to put chains on our hands and feet, blinders on our eyes, and mufflers on our ears. You came to strip us of our encumbrances so we can respond to You. May we trust You as our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Amen.

The same God who spoke the universe into being also has the power to raise the dead and give them life. it’s His promise to us.

¹⁷ As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He [Abraham] is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. Romans 4:17

Yesterday, we looked at the Incarnation. Today, we continue our look at “WHEN life beyond death begins for us.” There is a key passage in John 5. The first part sets up the second part, in which we find our key.

¹⁹ Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. ²¹ For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. ²² Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, ²³ that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

• The Son (Jesus) mirrored the Father (God), which is another indication of Jesus’ divinity. In fact, the nature of the Trinity is described in verse 20, “The Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.” They share everything in an atmosphere of love.
• In the Philippians 2 passage we studied yesterday, we learned that Jesus humbled Himself and emptied Himself of His glory in order to become human. He and His Father’s relationship was dynamic. And, everyone was amazed at what Jesus did as He saw His Father working.
• Death is not a barrier for God; He raises whom He desires. This ability is innately Jesus’; He gives life to whom He is pleased to give it. To whom does He please to give it? To whoever believes in Him (John 3:16).
• The Father has left all judgment to the Son–but Jesus chose NOT to judge, but to forgive and to have mercy on everyone. Now, the only way people are judged is by not choosing Christ (John 3:17-18), exchanging the truth about God for a lie (Romans 1:25).
• The goal is for all to honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Those who do not honor the Son do not honor the Father, who sent Him. They cast themselves out of the Father and the Son’s manifest presence.

The second part of this passage is the subject of tomorrow’s Proverbs. In it lies the key to knowing when life for us truly begins.

Abba, I receive by faith what You have said through John to us in this passage. I believe You are telling the truth because of the works of miracles that You performed as evidence of that truth. I did not see or experience those miracles, but I believe through the testimony of those who wrote about them, those who passed those documents on to other believers, and those who translated them so that I would believe, too. Thank You. Amen.

The sure sign of salvation is the presence of the Holy Spirit. Everything else is secondary.

¹² Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:12

You may be saying to yourself, “But that’s Jesus. Where does the Spirit fit into this picture?” To answer that question, we go to 2 Corinthians 3:17, which says,

¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Freedom from what? From bondage, from sin, from deception, from self, from death, to name a few. Jesus made a bold claim in John 5:24,

²⁴ Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

1. Jesus’ words hold life.
2. Believing that God sent Jesus to us is necessary in believing Jesus’ words.
3. The person who believes (trusts in, relies on) Jesus bypasses judgment.
4. Passing from death to life is the ultimate “fix.” It includes setting the bound free, cutting the sin-entangled loose, clearing the mind of the deceived, turning the selfish outward, and of course, giving life to the dead.

The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the Gospel. His truth sets us free (John 8:32, 36). If we could live right here in this truth, we would do great, but that’s not the way of humanity. People add all kinds of things to the truth and weigh it down. They conjure up all kinds of beliefs and pass them off as absolute truth. Even sincere people interpret Scripture differently, differently enough to cause a breach in fellowship.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Instead, let’s do as Paul commanded in Ephesians 4:2-3,

² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

We all have the Holy Spirit, so we can trust Him to patiently, gently, slowly, and eventually make all things clear to us (Philippians 3:15-16). If we make it all about Jesus, we don’t have to worry about someone’s salvation when they believe differently about peripherals. Jesus will help us “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and help us to run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

We can do this. Are you ready?

Abba, You have called us to love one another as You have loved us. Help us to see each other as Your beloved children and as fellow siblings. May we stop looking for the things that separate us and start looking for the things that unite us, namely Christ. What a different world it would be if we started loving each other as You love us. Count me in, Lord. Amen.

Speaking the name of Jesus takes us straight to the throne. May we be careful how we use it!

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

From the past three days:
When Peter made his great statement in Acts 4:12, he gave us a unique definition of salvation from God’s perspective,

¹² Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

There are several questions that arise from this verse.

1. Must a person be saved?
2. From what is he lost?
3. Is he not capable of saving himself?
4. Why Jesus’ name?
5. What makes His name special?
6. Everyone?
7. What is required?
8. What shall we gain/avoid?

Jesus is the Greek rendering of the Hebrew name, “Yeshua,” which is also known as, “Joshua,” which means “the LORD saves,” or “Savior.” And you wondered why the angel told Joseph to name Him that! “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

We also know that because of Jesus’ obedience, “God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

The Bible has descriptive names for Jesus–135 to be exact! You can read them at onfireforgod with their references. The song, “Isn’t the Name,” has as its refrain these words,

There is Freedom in the Name
Healing in the Name
There is Power in the Name
Salvation in the Name
There is Life in the Name
There is no other Name
Like Jesus, Jesus

We also like to sing, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there’s just something about that name.” Speaking the name of Jesus takes us straight to the throne:

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

Let’s speak the name of Jesus often during our day and fellowship with the Father through Him.

Abba, You are great. Your Son is great. We speak the name of Jesus–not as an incantation, but as a confession: You are God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit, three-in-one. May You be praised! Amen.

When it comes to family, a decision must be made to love and honor others above ourselves. It is the high road.

¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10

Our last installment in the Baptist Faith & Message is about:

XVIII. The Family

God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption.

Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race.

The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God’s image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation.

Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God’s pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them, through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents.

Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Psalms 51:5; 78:1-8; 127; 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7.

In any society, the individual must give up certain individual rights in order to be compatible with the collective. The family is a mini-society, a picture and example of how a society should work. Being God-designed, families work when each member submits to the whole, but excels in his own forte or strength. The real trial comes in reminding each other of our responsibilities without using force, harsh words, or manipulation. We are to encourage and exhort each other in the love of Christ.

Allowing God to establish the rules for relationships (boundaries) is where most people get hung up. They just can’t see the whole picture and they don’t trust God to tell them the truth. Eve bought the lie of the Enemy to doubt God, Adam followed suit, and we have, too, in every subsequent generation. Only a relationship with Jesus Christ (God in the flesh and His Spirit in us) can help us to see that not only does God know what He is talking about, but He is trustworthy to tell us the truth.

When it comes to other people, we are not their Holy Spirit, so we set an example by the way we live and only answer their questions when we sense (via the Spirit) that they are ready to listen.

Abba, there’s a lot packed into today’s article that goes against the tide of popular opinion. May we stick to the truth of Your Word in these matters. We don’t have to accuse anyone of wrong thinking or wrong doing, but we know that we will be accused of being accusatory–just by the way we live. May our acts of faith honor You, O Lord. We trust You. We know that we will eventually wind up on Your side of life, and we know that you are walking with us all the way, so we will not fear. Your rod and Your staff comfort us. Amen.

What is the greatest miracle of the human body? BIRTH! From a logic standpoint, NO ONE should ever make it!

4 Do not answer a fool [a mocker] according to his folly, or you will be just like him.
5 Answer a fool [simpleton] according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.

The last chapter in, “A Pocket Guide to the Human Body,” (pages 89-90), is about a self-less servant, the PLACENTA.

Of all the body’s organs, perhaps the one that best exemplifies selfless service is the placenta. Most people give little thought to the placenta, and few appreciate the marvelous complexity and profound importance of this organ that is discarded and forgotten after birth. While parents and loved ones lift joyful prayers of thanks for the safe arrival of their newborn, few think of thanking God for the essential services rendered by His marvelously designed creation–the placenta.

Here comes the bombshell:

After the egg is fertilized, the placenta is the very first organ to develop. Recent studies show that when the fertilized egg [the zygote] divides to form the first two cells, one is already destined to form the placenta, while the other becomes the baby.

Now, folks, I don’t know about you, but that’s amazing! Read on…

As soon as three days after fertilization–weeks before the mother normally suspects she is pregnant–cells of the developing placenta, called trophoblasts, begin to produce hormones. These hormones ensure that the lining of the uterus–the endometrium–will be ready to receive the embryo’s implantation. Over the next few weeks, the developing placenta begins to make hormones that control the mother’s physiology in a way that ensures the proper supply of nutrients and oxygen, which are essential to the baby’s growth [and will make the mother nauseous].

By about five days after fertilization the trophoblast cells, surrounding the developing embryo, begin to fuse together to form one giant cell with many nuclei [be sure to read the caption with the pictures].

This cell is called the syncytial trophoblast. One of the first functions of this placental giant cell is to invade the uterine wall of the mother in an amazing process called implantation.

THE BABY IS INSIDE THE BIG CELL! Only God could think this one up. If you think that’s cool, wait until tomorrow when we talk about–ah ha. You almost had me there; you’ll have to wait. In the meantime, let’s give God glory for His imagination and cleverness. You know, He is where we got ours.

Abba, You are amazing. The whole process from fertilization to birth is fascinating. Thank You for this booklet and for opening our eyes to the wonder of our human bodies. One of my favorite verses is Philippians 3:20-21, which talks about our “new kingdom” bodies,

²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

We’ve been born into Your kingdom spiritually, Lord; we are simply waiting to catch up with our spirits. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Does this world have you down? Do you need a higher perspective? Keep reading!

27:9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.

Colossians 1:27 teaches us that Christ is in us and speaks of the mystery of this truth. Verses 28-29 speak of His power at work within us as we serve our Lord . Another favorite passage of mine in Colossians is 3:1-4,

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³ For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Our goal on this earth is to give up this earth, its pleasantries, and its seeming permanence for what Christ holds in store for us. Another correlating passage is 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” By focusing on what is to come, we can keep ourselves–or better, Christ keeps us–from buying the lies that this world offers concerning health, wealth, and the pursuit of happiness.

The phrasing of “dead in our sins” and “made alive in Christ” (2:13) has always intrigued me, especially now that we have “died, and our life is now hidden with Christ in God (v.4).” We can only assume that these phrases are metaphorical in nature and are being used for us to be able to grasp on a human level the intensity and grand scope of what Christ has done for us. I have no problem with this sort of thinking because I am fully aware that what Christ did for us on a spiritual level is far above anything that I can get my mind around this side of heaven. Even there, I suspect that we will delve the depths of His love for us for eternity.

The passage ends with a promise: We will appear with Him in glory. This promise goes back to Jesus’ desire expressed in His priestly prayer in John 17:24,

²⁴ “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

My highest goal is to be with Him in His glory. Until then, He walks with us daily, but the Spirit inside us is merely our deposit, our guarantee of a new and better future,

²¹ Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, ²² set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Cor. 1:21

Let us give thanks to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for so great a salvation and future!

Abba, I thank You for such specific plans You have laid out for us–without explaining in detail. I trust Your Word on the matter, that my eyes have not seen nor my ear heard, nor has it entered into my heart what You have prepared for me because I love You (1 Corinthians 2:9). I love You, Lord. I’m ready when You are. Amen.

“How can a good God allow suffering?” Part 3: He has better things in store for us.

12 Do you see a person wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Jesus came to earth and healed everyone who came to Him. So, now that He is back on His throne in heaven, why doesn’t He just heal everyone now? Why does He allow war and famine and disease? We discussed the fact that sin adversely affected this world, and the things that happen in it, such as natural disasters, are not God’s punishment for sin, but the natural consequences of a fallen world. We also discussed that mankind has the privilege of being able to make choices, and those choices carry either blessings or consequences both for the one making the decision and those who are affected by that decision. Today, let’s talk about those who die at the hands of evil men–or, men making poor choices.

From the beginning, God ordained the birth of human souls by the coming together of the male sperm and the female egg. As soon as they form a zygote, a human soul is born. This soul is eternal. God’s plan for humanity took a detour when sin and death entered the world. Now, all things die in this natural universe. So, what happens when they die? We are not entirely sure, but we know this: Jesus brought His kingdom, the kingdom of heaven, with Him when He came to earth, and it is still progressing today. We are now living in two kingdoms at the same time! Let’s look at some verses:

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17

¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:18-19

²⁸ Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:28

From these Scriptures, we can derive that:

1. Jesus brought the kingdom with Him.
2. The kingdom was active in the disciples’ lives.
3. There will be a coming renewal–unless this verse is progressive in nature and has to do with Jesus’ resurrection and ascension where He took His place at the Father’s right hand, and then continues by adding people to the kingdom as they die on this earth, first the disciples, and then everyone else up to this very moment. Either way, we are included, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life in the coming age” (Matthew 19:29).

These bodies belong to an old covenant, one that is perishing. Jesus has glorious, new, heavenly bodies awaiting us upon death,

We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8

⁴² So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; ⁴³ it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; ⁴⁴ it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

The last point to make is that in Jesus, we have already moved from death to life, “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life“ (John 5:24). Death has lost its grip on us! We now look forward to all that Christ has in store for us beyond life in these bodies.

Sound crazy? It sure does–unless you’ve met the Savior. Then, it all makes sense!

Let’s conclude today with a wonderful passage, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18,

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Abba, You have given us a hope that goes beyond this life. You said that we would be with You, and wherever You are is where we want to be. Open our eyes to these spiritual truths, Lord. It’s important that we know Your truths and that we share with others that they do not need to be afraid of death anymore, for You have conquered the grave! Amen.

Jesus is the most well-known Person on earth, yet everyone does not know His name or who He is. Don’t worry; they will.

^15:16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.

Darius III claimed to be king of the world. He carried the titles of Darius the Great, King of kings, King of Persia, Pharaoh of Egypt, and King of Countries. Even with all his titles, though, he ran from Alexander the Great and died at his hand. Alex, in turn, died of a mysterious death, at age 32, and his kingdom was divided among his generals.

Before Darius III was Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, but only Bible scholars know his name and who he was. Also, the Caesars of Rome were builders of one of the strongest empires the world has ever known (the largest was the English empire followed by the Mongol empire). Most people might know Julius Caesar because of Shakespeare’s famous play; they might know the infamous Nero because of the caricature of him playing the violin while Rome burned; Caesar Augustus, the greatest of the Caesars, was only a footnote in Luke’s Gospel, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We all come to the same question that Jesus asked His disciples at Caesarea Philippi in Matthew 16,

¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

May we all answer as Peter answered.

Jesus, I profess You as Messiah, the Son of the living God. You are who You claim You are. You are Lord God, King of the universe, yet here You are in my heart and life communing with me! May I never take our relationship for granted, O Lord. Amen.

Jesus took Jews and Gentiles and fused them into one Body–His–thus forming a new assembly, the Church.

8:1 Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
Isaiah 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

Yesterday, we discussed the two miraculous feedings in Matthew 14 and 15; these two events announced the process of fusion through expansion of the Assembly, better known as the Church. It all began around 3500 years ago. the LORD was about to deliver the Israelites out of bondage to Egypt. He said,

¹⁶ On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat; that is all you may do.
¹⁷ “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. Exodus 12:16-17

From that point on, the assembly referred to the gathering of Israel for worship of the LORD God. This assembly was built upon the Passover Lamb representing what Jesus Christ would do for them–and us–1500 years later.

Fast-forward to Jesus when He had led His disciples to Caesarea Philippi and asked them who they say He was:

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church*/gathering/assembly, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matthew 16:16-18

Jesus was expanding the assembly; this time, it is on the declaration of Simon Peter. Jesus is the foundation, and all who declare Jesus as Messiah, the Son of the living God, are members of the assembly. Stephen even spoke of the assembly in his famous sermon for which he was stoned (Acts 7:38).

Fast-forward again to Pentecost. In Peter’s famous sermon at which 3000 Jewish men believed, he made this statement,

³⁶ “Therefore let all Israel [the assembly] be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” Acts 2:36

This assembly, the Church, is still growing this very day. Daniel said that through the Church, Jesus would fill the entire earth (Daniel 2:34-35). We are members of this assembly and every time we gather in Jesus’ name, we join Christians all around the earth, even those who stand before the throne, in worship of our great and loving Savior and our heavenly Father. May we praise His name together in gratefulness for including us in His Assembly, the Church.

Abba, You are great and You are loving. You love us, Your Church, Your Bride. May we join our brothers and sisters around the globe and around the throne in worship of Your greatness. Amen.

*Church=Assembly. Greek, “Ekklesia,” is translated, “Gathering,” but was interpreted from, “kirche,” which is German for, “congregation,” by Tyndale.

Having trouble trusting God? How we see Him determines whether or not we trust Him.

28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin [Satan comes to kill our relationship with God, steal our joy, and destroy our trust in God; don’t believe him, especially what he says about God!].

We’ve been discussing hearing God these past two days. Today, we will use 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 as a guide to God’s characteristics. Let’s look at the text,

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸ Love never fails.

The reason we can attribute these characteristics to God is because John does in 1 John 4:8 and 16,

⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 
¹⁶ …God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 

If God is love and love is patient and kind, then God is patient and kind, and so on. God will always speak to you out of these characteristics. It is when we have a wrong perception of God and a wrong perception of who we are in Him that we “buy the lie” that the enemy whispers in our ear.

Let’s look at the contrast between the approaches: God vs. the enemy.

• Patient vs. Impatient- “God is taking too long. You can’t trust His timing.”
• Kind vs. Merciless- “They don’t deserve kindness.” “You don’t deserve kindness.”
• Not envious vs. Creates envy- Focuses thoughts on comparisons with others.
• Not boastful or proud vs. Self-importance- Arrogant, thoughts that belittle others.
• Not rude vs. Rude- Uses damaging words/thoughts towards others and/or towards ourselves.
• Not demanding of his own way vs. Self-centered- uncaring and apathetic to the needs of others.
• Not irritable vs. Easily irritated- Short-tempered, having unrealistic expectations.
• Keeps no record of wrongs vs. Rehearses wrongs – of past hurts and mistakes (our own and others).
• Rejoices in truth vs. Distorts truth- “You can’t believe ___________ because of_________.”
• Never gives up vs. Easily gives up- rationalizes why things will never work. “What’s the use?”
• Never loses faith vs. Doubts- “Did God really say…?”
• Always hopeful vs. Hopeless- “Things always turn out wrong.” “You’ll never get it right.” “You are hopeless, why do I put up with you?”
• Endures through every circumstance vs. Complains and looks for an easy escape- “Why keep trying?” “This is too hard.”

The enemy speaks in general terms and in lies: “You’re no good.” “God doesn’t love you.”
The Spirit speaks the truth specifically and lovingly.

Is the Holy Spirit creating a desire in you to change how you think about Him and spend time with Him? Remember, He won’t just tell you to “do better.” He will be drawing you and encouraging you with specific instructions that He will then equip you to do!

Abba, I love the way You love me. To think of You as loving and kind, and of keeping no record of wrongs changes the way I feel about You. I can trust You! Knowing that you are always faithful, hopeful, and that You never give up on me makes me want to follow You. Together, I know we can endure every circumstance, and that we will never fail because, “love never fails!” Amen.

“Too big for our own britches” is a phrase that is used to describe an arrogant attitude. Does it describe us?

1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.

Anytime we think we have the market cornered on knowledge, we’d better use that way of thinking as a warning to take a step back mentally–and maybe literally–and look around. It could be that the point of God’s exercise in holiness may not be understanding the passage or concept, but in accepting those who don’t think like us. Jesus’ prayer for us was that we would be one as He and the Father are one (John 17:20-23).

Take, for instance, trans-substantiation of the Eucharist. Many Christians believe that the bread and wine when they take the Lord’s Supper become the literal body and blood of Christ. Many others believe that they are both literal and figurative (con-substantiation), and then many believe that it is only figurative (impanation), which is that Christ’s presence is in the bread and wine, but they are still bread and wine. Many of us take the bread and (new) wine as a commemoration of His life and sacrifice, and pledge anew our devotion to Him. Actual, figurative or symbolic–who is right?

Another example of an exercise in unity is baptism, which we won’t get into today. Really, any point of controversy is an opportunity to take a step back and unify in Christ. If Christ is leading them as He leads us, but does not give enlightenment in these areas, then the point must be our unity in Christ rather than in being right.

The real question is, do we all love Jesus? Are we committed to following Him wherever He goes? Are we following Jesus’ command to love each other as He has loved us? Then we all should be able to come together in unity and bless the Lord. Let’s try it, shall we?

Abba, we commit ourselves once again to Your sovereignty and omniscience. You alone know absolute truth; we are subject to what the Spirit shows us. May we be about unity rather than rightness. May we focus on what we have in common, which is You, and rejoice together in You, Jesus. As in the parable of the wheat and the tares, You will sort out the truth for us in the new age. Unify us, O Lord. We need it! Amen.

Jesus asked us to be him to others. That’s all. He will do the rest.

17 Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears [keep the main thing the main thing].

What was it that Jesus wants us to do for Him?

• Keep his commandments. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15
• Love one another as He has loved us. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:11

We don’t really have to completely understand creation, salvation, justification, sanctification, and especially glorification. Instead, all we have to do is be obedient. So, how do we go about doing that?

It’s actually pretty simple. We look at the people around us and see where they need help and then go help them. See a yard to be mowed or raked? Get after it. Someone needs a ride somewhere? Inconvenience yourself and do it (I’m preaching to myself here). How about blessing a server at a restaurant with an extra big tip whether he/she deserves it or not–especially if he/she doesn’t?

Family is really the hardest to serve. We have leftovers from our childhood days: Keeping things even, saving face, competition about everything, getting historical and hysterical, entitlement, etc. Let’s set Christ’s command above our petty feelings and differences and love one another. Call it carrying your cross, or the Christ-like way, or dying to self; whatever word pictures we like, let’s just do it!

Abba, I’m the first one on this bandwagon. I’m as guilty as the next person (maybe more). Help me to stop being childish and start being childlike in my faith. Show me the Jesus Way; I want to run on it! “I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.” Psalm 119:32. Amen.

Being a disciple is being a follower, a close follower. Jesus asks us to follow Him–closely!

14 As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer discreetly.

Jesus had more than 12 disciples. Luke 10:1 tells us that He sent out 70+ ahead of Him; in Matthew 8:22, He called a would-be disciple to follow Him; In Matthew 19:21, Jesus asked a young ruler to follow him. There is evidence that many women were disciples, too. Mark 15:41 speaks of them. In John 6:66, many would-be disciples turned away from Him because of His “extreme” requirements. In the end, Judas betrayed Him, and the other 11 ran away.

Jesus loved them all. Even when they didn’t follow, He loved them. He knew something that they didn’t, which was that He was going to die for their sin so that they would become holy vessels prepared and ready to receive the Holy Spirit of Christ! Then, at Pentecost, He filled them up. The best part is that as soon as we believe Him, He fills us up, too! The cross was our purification; it’s one of the things His sacrifice did. One of my favorite verses is 2 Corinthians 5:18,

¹⁸ Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,

We have much for which to be grateful today. May we bless His name and enjoy sweet fellowship with the Father/Son/Spirit.

Abba, thank You for making me a clean vessel to hold Your Spirit. Having You in my life has given me new life, real life, eternal life! May I experience the Fellowship of the Trinity with every breath I take. Today, I sing Your praises and worship You, Almighty God; there is none like You. Amen.

Having trouble seeing Jesus? That’s okay. We all do. The Spirit wants to reveal Him to us. Listen closely!

7 Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools [who do not ask the Lord for wisdom].

We all begin spiritually blind. In fact, we all have scales like Paul that keep us from seeing Jesus as He really is. The illness of wrong-thinking that leads to wrong-doing has blinded us to the truth. The salve of Jesus (Revelation 3:18) cleanses our eyes and we see light. That light is Him, and He reveals the truth about Himself to us. Let’s read Paul’s account in Acts 9,

Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. ² He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.

³ As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

⁵ “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked.

And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! ⁶ Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

⁷ The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! ⁸ Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. ⁹ He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.

¹⁰ Now there was a believer/disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord!” he replied.

¹¹ The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. ¹² I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”

¹³ “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers/disciples in Jerusalem! ¹⁴ And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”

¹⁵ But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. ¹⁶ And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

¹⁷ So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. ¹⁹ Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength.

Literal- Saul later becomes known as Paul (His Greek name). He who was a great persecutor of the church became the greatest evangelist known in Christianity. What changed? His perspective! We know that Paul had trouble with his eyes (Galatians 4:13-15, 6:11). He learned to live with his infirmity. It is ventured that he was referencing his eye problems in 2 Corinthians 12:7-8; his conclusion certainly applies,

⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Moral- Saul couldn’t see clearly even though he had studied the Scriptures (all OT at the time). Why? Because he needed the Father’s perspective. Once he met Jesus, Saul, who became Paul, immediately understood the truth. The filling of the Holy Spirit gave him the understanding to interpret the Scriptures correctly concerning Jesus Christ and His vision of the Father. The Spirit will do the same for us.

Spiritual- Only those who have seen Jesus Christ in His resurrected form see Him clearly (Paul and John, whose accounts we have); even then, they know only what He has revealed to them. Paul says,

¹² For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12

And John says,

² Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2

We spend our whole lives struggling to see Christ clearly. We have the Scriptures, but we need the Spirit to help us interpret. Let’s keep everything on the table and allow the Spirit of Christ to guide us into all truth.

Abba, once we were blinded by the evil one, the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4), but now we are children of light (1 Thessalonians 5:5). May we see You with new eyes of the Spirit, O Lord. Our heart’s desire is to seek Your face (Psalm 27:8). Amen.

Submit, Resist, Draw Near, Wash, Purify, Grieve, Mourn and Wail, Change, Humble Yourselves. That’s a TALL order…

28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin. We must be honest with ourselves.

We have discussed before James 4:7, which says,

⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

What we haven’t discussed are the next three verses,

⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

James invites us to encounter God as we may never have before: Seeing ourselves in truth. Notice that I didn’t say, “As God sees us.” Yes, He sees us in truth, but He chooses to see us as His little children (Matthew 18:12-14; “little ones” is a term of endearment, as in “you of little faith”, which actually means, “my little faithless ones”; the same goes for Mark 9:42). We tend to be strong-willed, independent, entitled, and proud. James says, “Look in the mirror! Compare yourselves to Christ and change” (James 1:23-25). Let’s break down the passage:

1. Come or draw near- the word picture suggests that we have wandered away from His side. It’s bigger than that; He is facing us, but we won’t respond to His love. As with salvation, we must relent to His love and respond by submitting to that love. All of this action happens in our minds.
2. Wash your hands- let go of what we are doing that keeps us from turning and drawing near to God.
3. Purify your hearts- quit entertaining other gods in our hearts. We are to be one-God people. To think that we can love and serve God adequately while also serving ourselves is double-minded. We’ve seen that word before in 1:8, where James tells us that we must ask with the intention of using the wisdom given us; to ask with no intention of using that wisdom, or waiting to hear it before making our decision (playing god), is being double-minded.
4. Grieve, mourn and wail- this is what little children do when they are separated from their parents. It is what we should do when we realize that we are separated–not by His choice–from the Father in fellowship.
5. Laughter to mourning, joy to gloom- When we realize that we are out of fellowship with the Father, we lose our joy, which causes us to lose our laughter, which causes us to mourn.
6. Humble yourselves- realize that we are little children spiritually (we never get out of the nursery). By remembering who is God and who is not (us), we are finally in a position to move to the Father’s side again.
7. He will lift you up- our PROMISE! Abba will pick us up and hold us close. Fellowship is restored! Everything reverses: gloom is gone and joy is back; we get our laughter back! I think we laugh with the Father as He rejoices over us (Zephaniah 3:17).

A friend of mine told me that when walking in the dark, stay close to the person carrying the lantern. Jesus is our Light. Let’s draw near and stay close to Him.

Abba, I am not offended by the term, “dear little children.” In fact, I take great solace in it! The fact that I am Your child is enough to send me into orbit. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You for redeeming me. You ransomed* me from the pit and brought me into a wide, stable place: by Your side. May I stay there–and with Your assistance, I will. Amen.

*Old French/English-it does mean to buy back, but it also means “to take back.” Its origins are “to undo, to redeem, to restore.” We find this picture in the Scriptures when God took back the people of Israel from Pharaoh, the strong man binding the owner of the house in Matthew 12:29, and Jesus on the cross.

We are new creations in Christ. So, what were we and what are we now?

12 Do you see a person wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool [one who knows what is wrong, but does it anyway] than for him [he can’t see his folly].

So, what were we like? We were egocentric, self-absorbed, and wise in our own eyes. We were entitled, proud, vain, impatient, selfish, angry, arrogant, spiteful, full of rage, gluttonous (these were pulled from Romans 13:13, Galatians 5:19-21, Titus 3:3]. We lived to serve ourselves or we focused on someone who we thought could give us what we needed. Either way, it was about us.

What happens when we receive the Spirit of Christ? He begins to transform us into selfless, abandoned, humble, kind, self-denying, compassionate, diligent, pure-thinking, forgiving, gentle, loving, and even-tempered Christ followers (see Ephesians 4-5 and Galatians 5:22-23).

Which list do we find ourselves seeking to be and do? It lets us know where we need work. In fact, right now you are thinking, “I really want to be the second list, but it looks impossible.” True, but the fact that you want that list shows that you have the Spirit of Christ in you! Also, we were never meant to do the list by ourselves. HE gives us first the desire and then the power to do it–He wants to do it with us. We are partners with Christ (He’s the senior partner).

If, by chance, you don’t have the pull to be the second list and some of the first list hits you between the eyes, let’s go over the basics:

1. Has there ever come a time in your life that the Spirit revealed to you that you were dead in your sins, that there was nothing good in you, and that you needed Him? If we were to go to the morgue and pull out one of the drawers, we would find a dead body. There is not a cell left in that body with any life in it, and therefore, there is no way it can help itself come back to life. That body needs the spark of life put back into it. Spiritually, we all start the same way, dead. Jesus wants to put the spark of eternal life into us.
2. Have you asked God to give you new life with Jesus at the controls? He wants to be “senior partner” in a partnership with you.
3. Has the Holy Spirit come into your life and made His home in your heart? This is how we are made into new creations where the old life with its sinful habits passes away and the new life in Christ comes! The change that has begun in us may be slow in revealing itself, but it’s sure.

The nice thing about following Christ is that He really just expects us to do the next right thing. That’s all. He will direct us in that right thing. All we have to do is obey Him. He will even empower us to do it as He does it with us. All of the changes in that second list come by walking in step with the Savior (Galatians 5:25). He rubs off on us! By focusing on Jesus and His character, we begin to emulate Him in character. Pleasing Him pleases us. He is always pleased with us, but we find peace and joy when we are obedient to Him. The camaraderie we share with Him is out of this world!

As we worship in our respective houses of worship, may we align ourselves with Him. May we praise Him and worship Him and pledge our lives to Him. May we do the next right thing according to His direction and His participation in our lives. THAT’S how new creations live!

Abba, thank You for making me a new creation. Having You in my life is worth everything to me. And Your promises–WOW! You will never leave me nor forsake me, and You will be coming back for me real soon to take me to where You are. It doesn’t get any better than that! Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Amen.