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Thursday, October 6, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Facing Persecution
Remember that I told you, A servant is not greater than his master [is not superior to him]. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.
—John 15:20
People will reject you just as they rejected Jesus and Paul and the other apostles and disciples. It is especially difficult when you are persecuted by people who are living wrong and are saying wrong things about you. Psalm 118:22 says, "The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone." This passage is talking about David who was rejected by the Jewish rulers, but later was chosen by the Lord to be the ruler of Israel. In Matthew 21:42 Jesus quoted this verse to the chief priests and the Pharisees, referring to their rejection of Him as the Son of God.
Even though people may reject you, if you will hold steady and continue to do what God is telling you to do with a good attitude, God will promote you and place you where no man can put you.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Saints are people whom God’s light shines through.
It’s probably not a name we would use for ourselves, but the apostle Paul often called believers “saints” in the New Testament (Eph. 1:1; Col. 1:2). Did he call them saints because they were perfect? No. These people were human and therefore sinful. What then did he have in mind? The word saint in the New Testament means that one is set apart for God. It describes people who have a spiritual union with Christ (Eph. 1:3-6). The word is synonymous with individual believers in Jesus (Rom. 8:27) and those who make up the church (Acts 9:32).
Saints have a responsibility through the power of the Spirit to live lives worthy of their calling. This includes, but is not limited to, no longer being sexually immoral and using improper speech (Eph. 5:3-4). We are to put on the new character traits of service to one another (Rom. 16:2), humility, gentleness, patience, love, unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:1-3), obedience, and perseverance during hardship and suffering (Rev. 13:10; 14:12). In the Old Testament, the psalmist called saints “the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight” (Ps. 16:3).
Our union with Christ makes us saints, but our obedience to God’s Word through the power of the Holy Spirit makes us saintly.
Saints have a responsibility through the power of the Spirit to live lives worthy of their calling. This includes, but is not limited to, no longer being sexually immoral and using improper speech (Eph. 5:3-4). We are to put on the new character traits of service to one another (Rom. 16:2), humility, gentleness, patience, love, unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:1-3), obedience, and perseverance during hardship and suffering (Rev. 13:10; 14:12). In the Old Testament, the psalmist called saints “the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight” (Ps. 16:3).
Our union with Christ makes us saints, but our obedience to God’s Word through the power of the Holy Spirit makes us saintly.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
An Obstacle Inventory
Fault-finding is a popular pastime, and unfortunately a lot of us find it’s easy to join the fun. Concentrating on the warts of others is a great way to feel better about ourselves. And that’s just the problem. Avoiding the faults that need to be fixed in our own lives not only stunts our spiritual growth but also obstructs God’s work through us. God’s effectiveness through our lives is enhanced or hindered by the way we live.
It’s no wonder, then, that Paul made a concerted effort to “put no obstacle in anyone’s way” (2 Cor. 6:3 ESV). For him there was nothing more important than his usefulness for Christ in the lives of others. Anything that got in the way of that was dispensable.
If you want to be authentic and useful for God, take an obstacle inventory. Sometimes obstacles are things that in and of themselves may be legitimate, yet in certain contexts may be inappropriate. But sin is clearly obstructive to others. Gossip, slander, boasting, bitterness, greed, abuse, anger, selfishness, and revenge all close the hearts of those around us to the message of God through us.
So, replace your faults with the winsome ways of Jesus. That will enable others to see your “no-fault” Savior more clearly.
Wherever I am, whatever I do,
O God, please help me to live
In a way that makes me credible
As your representative. —Egner
It’s no wonder, then, that Paul made a concerted effort to “put no obstacle in anyone’s way” (2 Cor. 6:3 ESV). For him there was nothing more important than his usefulness for Christ in the lives of others. Anything that got in the way of that was dispensable.
If you want to be authentic and useful for God, take an obstacle inventory. Sometimes obstacles are things that in and of themselves may be legitimate, yet in certain contexts may be inappropriate. But sin is clearly obstructive to others. Gossip, slander, boasting, bitterness, greed, abuse, anger, selfishness, and revenge all close the hearts of those around us to the message of God through us.
So, replace your faults with the winsome ways of Jesus. That will enable others to see your “no-fault” Savior more clearly.
Wherever I am, whatever I do,
O God, please help me to live
In a way that makes me credible
As your representative. —Egner
Thursday, August 18, 2011
It seems that the closer I get to fulfilling the mission that God has planted in my heart the more the enemy attacks. He doesn't "Do" anything, but he suggests "Everything". Satan knows our areas of strength and our areas of weakness. He also hears our prayers just as God does. I have hypertension and I am supposed to take medication to keep my blood pressure in check. If I don't take my medication I most likely won't have a stroke today, tomorrow, or even next month. But eventually I will.
My health depends on a daily maintenance of my diet, drinking plenty of fluids, abstaining from salty foods, and etc. The same thing applies to my spiritual health. If I don't take my spiritual medicine i.e. a daily dose of the word, prayer, meditation, associating with other like minded Christians, and praising God then I will have a spiritual stroke. It usually manifests itself in the form of sin.
So in order to remain spiritually fit and in good spiritual health I must do the daily maintenance that's required.
My health depends on a daily maintenance of my diet, drinking plenty of fluids, abstaining from salty foods, and etc. The same thing applies to my spiritual health. If I don't take my spiritual medicine i.e. a daily dose of the word, prayer, meditation, associating with other like minded Christians, and praising God then I will have a spiritual stroke. It usually manifests itself in the form of sin.
So in order to remain spiritually fit and in good spiritual health I must do the daily maintenance that's required.
The mission is the same
“So how am I to respond? I've decided that I really don't care about their motives, whether mixed, bad, or indifferent. Every time one of them opens his mouth, Christ is proclaimed, so I just cheer them on! And I'm going to keep that celebration going because I know how it's going to turn out. Through your faithful prayers and the generous response of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, everything he wants to do in and through me will be done. I can hardly wait to continue on my course. I don't expect to be embarrassed in the least. On the contrary, everything happening to me in this jail only serves to make Christ more accurately known, regardless of whether I live or die. They didn't shut me up; they gave me a pulpit! Alive, I'm Christ's messenger; dead, I'm his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can't lose.” Philippians 1:21 MSG
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