Thank you Lord for all you do in my life…I think about how much you love me and I can ‘scarcely’ take it in. My mind is two weak to fully understand the depth of your love for me. Yet there you are, everywhere I turn you’re there to remind me…O’ Lord forgive me where I come up short of such love…
Lord help me love as you love…let me have a glimpse this morning of your heart, touch me and move me to greater depths. Help me love the ‘unloveable’, help me see past hurt and pain, use me to heal and restore. Let my tongue be one that brings peace and joy. Lord make my desire your desire, empty me and fill me with your presence…
Lord I love you and I am yours…bend me, mold me, Lord into the child you want me to be...for apart from you I am ‘nothing’.
Amen
-ps
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Fools say in their hearts
'There is no God'
They are corrupt and their ways are vile
there is no one who does good.
God looks down from heaven
on the human race
to see if there are any who understand
any who seek God.
Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt
there is no who does good,
not even one.
Psalm 53:1-3
I read these verses and think the fool isn’t very smart. To say there is no God is a very arrogant statement. By saying such a thing you are claiming to know everything there is to know in the universe and are declaring there isn’t a possibility of God. But when I continue reading something starts to catch my eye and causes me to shift in my seat. “There is no on who does good’, ouch. God looks down on the human race…(what happened to the fool?) Everyone has turned away? No one does good? Not even one?
What does all this mean? First the “There is no God” statement probably isn’t a philosophical assertion that God does not exist, but rather a confident affirmation that God doesn’t care about the way man lives. The fool is saying God doesn’t care how we live morally or ethically.
The Bible makes no bones about it…the entire human race…as a whole lives as if God didn’t care. The human race is characterized by its sinful behavior. This ‘practical’ atheism—living as if there is no God who will hold them accountable for their actions—makes them fools. One of the identifying characteristics of a fool is failure to anticipate the long range consequences of one’s behavior.
We see the LORD looking down from heaven…He is sovereign over the world and the people…he is looking for someone who seeks to have a relationship with him, who will wholeheartedly obey and worship him and he can find no one…because there isn’t one person alive who can do this on their own.
Many of us struggle with sin or we just live as if God doesn’t care about ‘my’ little sin…by doing so we become the fool…living our lives as if God sits far away and doesn’t care about what 'I' do…sadly, nothing could be further from the truth. God cares a great deal…in fact he cared so much he sent his Son…to die for our sins and make it possible to have a ‘right’ relationship with Him. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift from God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
So are you a Christian or are you a fool…and if you’re a Christian are you living as the fool or as a Christ follower?
-ps
What does all this mean? First the “There is no God” statement probably isn’t a philosophical assertion that God does not exist, but rather a confident affirmation that God doesn’t care about the way man lives. The fool is saying God doesn’t care how we live morally or ethically.
The Bible makes no bones about it…the entire human race…as a whole lives as if God didn’t care. The human race is characterized by its sinful behavior. This ‘practical’ atheism—living as if there is no God who will hold them accountable for their actions—makes them fools. One of the identifying characteristics of a fool is failure to anticipate the long range consequences of one’s behavior.
We see the LORD looking down from heaven…He is sovereign over the world and the people…he is looking for someone who seeks to have a relationship with him, who will wholeheartedly obey and worship him and he can find no one…because there isn’t one person alive who can do this on their own.
Many of us struggle with sin or we just live as if God doesn’t care about ‘my’ little sin…by doing so we become the fool…living our lives as if God sits far away and doesn’t care about what 'I' do…sadly, nothing could be further from the truth. God cares a great deal…in fact he cared so much he sent his Son…to die for our sins and make it possible to have a ‘right’ relationship with Him. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift from God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
So are you a Christian or are you a fool…and if you’re a Christian are you living as the fool or as a Christ follower?
-ps
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Short time or Long Time….
Have you ever known someone who was driven…I mean their whole life was drive to accomplish what they wanted. In the Air Force I can remember guys set out to make Chief on day. Their entire military life was set on doing things that would make them stand out for future boards. Every step they took along the career path was another rung on the Chief ladder.
In the Bible you see people driven but for an entirely different reason. It isn’t for the fame or money…but something more. We see God working in a person’s life and they are ‘driven’ to accomplish the task God has given them. Paul was one these people. God had called him and commissioned him to take the gospel message of Jesus to the Gentiles. His life had become this mission.
In a court session before King Agrippa, Paul told his story. The story was so compelling that Agrippa thought was trying to convert him….”do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian” protested Agrippa….but listen to Paul’s reply…
“Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, exact for the chains.” Acts 26:29
I love Paul’s heart…I love what motivates him. He wants to see people come to Christ. Nothing else mattered…everything else in life was secondary to the ‘prime directive’. What if we where focused as Paul was…My prayer this morning is God would give us this same fire and focus…that we would be like Paul.
-ps
In the Bible you see people driven but for an entirely different reason. It isn’t for the fame or money…but something more. We see God working in a person’s life and they are ‘driven’ to accomplish the task God has given them. Paul was one these people. God had called him and commissioned him to take the gospel message of Jesus to the Gentiles. His life had become this mission.
In a court session before King Agrippa, Paul told his story. The story was so compelling that Agrippa thought was trying to convert him….”do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian” protested Agrippa….but listen to Paul’s reply…
“Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, exact for the chains.” Acts 26:29
I love Paul’s heart…I love what motivates him. He wants to see people come to Christ. Nothing else mattered…everything else in life was secondary to the ‘prime directive’. What if we where focused as Paul was…My prayer this morning is God would give us this same fire and focus…that we would be like Paul.
-ps
Monday, July 23, 2007
Big Weight…
Ever have to carry a big weight for any distance? Even a little weight can get heavy under the right circumstances. I remember being in the San Diego Zoo a few years ago (2003) and on the back side near the Polar bears, Joe hurt his foot. So I had to carry his 50+ pound to the gate. .JPG)
At first I put Joe on my shoulders and we looked at the animals, taking our time. But as time progressed in the heat Joe’s 50 pounds started to feel like several hundred pounds. By the time I got to front of the park I was worn out and didn’t care about any of the animals. I didn't want to carry Joe anymore .JPG)
and boy did it feel great when he got down.
Many times I think sin in our lives can get the same way. We carry around sin and it wares us down to the point nothing else matters. We just want some relief. My times people never find relief and carry their burden to an early grave. Sin can totally drain your life; it will rob you of any joy. The Psalmist said “Blessed are those who transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” Psalm 32:1. I love this verse because it tells us there is forgiveness; it proves God does forgive sin. He can and will take weight of our sin, through Jesus Christ. Jesus carried our sin and nailed it to the cross.
By accepting Christ’s forgiveness, he removes the burden of sin from our lives.
I don’t know about you…but knowing I am forgiven has changed my life…I am free from the slavery of sin and now I’m a slave to righteousness. Sin no longer has a grip on my life, I have been set free. It you are carrying a burden and need forgiveness asks Christ today to forgive you of your sins and ask him to be a part of your life. You’ll never regret it…I promise.
-ps
.JPG)
At first I put Joe on my shoulders and we looked at the animals, taking our time. But as time progressed in the heat Joe’s 50 pounds started to feel like several hundred pounds. By the time I got to front of the park I was worn out and didn’t care about any of the animals. I didn't want to carry Joe anymore .JPG)
and boy did it feel great when he got down.Many times I think sin in our lives can get the same way. We carry around sin and it wares us down to the point nothing else matters. We just want some relief. My times people never find relief and carry their burden to an early grave. Sin can totally drain your life; it will rob you of any joy. The Psalmist said “Blessed are those who transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” Psalm 32:1. I love this verse because it tells us there is forgiveness; it proves God does forgive sin. He can and will take weight of our sin, through Jesus Christ. Jesus carried our sin and nailed it to the cross.
By accepting Christ’s forgiveness, he removes the burden of sin from our lives.I don’t know about you…but knowing I am forgiven has changed my life…I am free from the slavery of sin and now I’m a slave to righteousness. Sin no longer has a grip on my life, I have been set free. It you are carrying a burden and need forgiveness asks Christ today to forgive you of your sins and ask him to be a part of your life. You’ll never regret it…I promise.
-ps
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Sermon: Why Church Part II
As you know Sharon and I was on vacation last week…
We where up in the mountains at 7000 ft in a beautiful cabin with 7 people. We no TV, internet, computers, radios, telephones nothing…and here are ten things I leaned…
10. A deck of cards can lead to some great conversation
9. Geese are a natural alarm clock
8. Goose would have been good for dinner
7. There is no air for walking at 7000 ft
6. You can get a sunburn in half the time
5. Using the bathroom is a coordinated effort
4. Matches are a necessity
3. Life does exist without electricity
2. The boys can walk and talk without the aid of an mp3 player
1. Smores are a food group
This morning we are going to continue in the letter to the Colossians…This is a rich letter…Paul is writing from a prison cell to a group of people he had never met.
The church in Colosse where struggling with religious relativism, some of the believers where trying to combine paganism and secular philosophies with the Christian faith. Some where questioning Christ…Paul confronts these views and affirms the sufficiency of Christ.
In fact I love this letter, because Paul always brings it back to Christ…Christ is the center of this letter and Christ is to be the center of our lives.
In Chapter one Paul talked of thanksgiving and prayer…He talked about the Supremacy of Christ…and how Paul labors for the church. In fact the last time I talked was ‘why church’…and we came up with three reasons…all of this taken from the end of chapter 1.
Firstly we exist to proclaim the gospel of Christ to the world…The fact that Jesus lived and died…that he was buried and resurrected…and that he defeated death…and by putting our faith in him we have an abundant life now…and we will live with Him in eternity.
We are to proclaim this good news to our neighbors, our family…to everyone…
Secondly we exist to present every believer ‘perfect in Christ’….we do this through discipleship, through serving and worship….
Thirdly we have to learn as Paul did…to rely on God. We have to allow God to work through us “Powerfully
In Chapter 2
We continue this same line of thought…So if you have your Bibles…we are going to read in Chapter 2:1-5…but before we do let’s pray.
In the first verse we see Paul is addressing not only the church in Colosse, but also the church in Laodicea. Both of these towns where close together and believed to have been started by the same person.
Paul mentions his struggle…remember how Paul in verse 29 of chapter 1 said “To this end I labor, struggling with all of his energy, which so powerfully works in me”…Paul understood it was Christ working through him, through the person of the Holy Spirit…it was the only way Paul could do things he did…by relying on the Spirit.
What are some of Paul’s struggles? Five times he received 40 lashes minus one from the Jews…three times he was beaten with rods, once he was stoned, three time he was shipped wrecked, he was consistently on the move, threatened from all sides, labored without sleep and many times without food…all the time worrying and concerned for all the churches…in now from a Roman prisons writes this letter…
Paul understood what it meant to suffer for his faith…he understood how to rely upon the Holy Spirit for strength and guidance.
We look at Paul and think we could never be like Paul, we could never do the things he did…but I challenge you this morning.
Does not the same Spirit that filled Paul and enabled him to do so many things for the church reside in you?
Upon putting your faith in Christ you where filled with the Holy Spirit…this Spirit is not one of fear or defeat…but it is the Spirit of victory in life…it’s the Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness...
One of the problems for Christians today is unrealized power of the Spirit in our lives. I think many time we relegate the Spirit to the sidelines of our lives…and only call on him when we really need him in our lives. We struggle with sin and life in general…never asking for help until it’s to late. It’s only when we find ourselves stuck in addiction or stuck in whatever rut do we call on the spirit to help us.
We need to live as Paul did, relying daily, moment by moment upon the Spirit in which God has given us.
Why was this so important to Paul
Paul’s purpose was “that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love”…v.2
Firstly Paul wanted to encourage the believers in their faith…Living the Christian faith is a challenge…it can be hard and at time seemly impossible. The Christians faith isn’t for the weak in spirit; it’s not the easy way out. The easy way is to live as the world around us lives…too go along with what feels good and what is ‘natural’. But the Christian faith calls you to be different, calls you live for Christ and to die to self. It fly’s in the face of our culture…
Secondly Paul wanted the believers to be ‘united’ in love…Paul is echoing Jesus’ command…John 13:34-35 says “A command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Paul understood the difficulty of living out the Christian faith, but he also understood it was impossible to do it alone. It is only when we are united in love, supporting one another…encouraging one another can we even begin to understand God…
Read the rest of the verse…”So that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, v.3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Paul knew we could not fully understand Christ without each other…You can only grow in Christ through cooperate worship, discipleship and service through the church.
Now understand me…you can worship alone, you can study the Bible on your own and you can serve others alone…I would encourage you to do all these things…and you will grow in the knowledge of Christ. But it will only take you so far…
If I plant a tree in a pot…that tree will only grow to the height that pot can support…you will only grow so far alone…
But in the Church with other believers severing one another, exercising the gifts God has given you…is when you grow the most as a Christian….to fully realize Christ.
Another Reason
Is stated in v.4, Paul’s tells them this ‘so that no one may deceive you with fine-sounding arguments…How many Christians have been deceived and have fallen from their faith or joined cults like the Jehovah Witnesses and Mormon because they where not part of a church and properly trained in their faith.
Many cults purposely pray upon “Christians”…they use the same terms or language, they will use the Bible and sound and look very Christian…but they are way off. Many believers fall into these cults thinking they are
following the traditional Christian faith, without realizing they have been deceived.
Others like Dan Brown the writer of the “Da Vinci Code”, sold millions of books and even had a movie…challenged the deity of Christ…reducing him to a man. By doing so he was denying the very center of the Christian faith…Some ‘Christians’ bought into this ‘fiction’ and started to question their faith….
Lastly
Paul delighted in knowing the churches at Colosse and Laodcea were firm in their faith in Christ…
We are to be firm in our faith…but the only way we can is…the only way… is if we are surrendered to the Spirit which resides in us…through the Spirit we can do it together…Through the Spirit we encourage one another, through the Spirit we love one another…If we do this we this…you will grow as a Christian…we will grow as a church…I guarantee it…
We where up in the mountains at 7000 ft in a beautiful cabin with 7 people. We no TV, internet, computers, radios, telephones nothing…and here are ten things I leaned…
10. A deck of cards can lead to some great conversation
9. Geese are a natural alarm clock
8. Goose would have been good for dinner
7. There is no air for walking at 7000 ft
6. You can get a sunburn in half the time
5. Using the bathroom is a coordinated effort
4. Matches are a necessity
3. Life does exist without electricity
2. The boys can walk and talk without the aid of an mp3 player
1. Smores are a food group
This morning we are going to continue in the letter to the Colossians…This is a rich letter…Paul is writing from a prison cell to a group of people he had never met.
The church in Colosse where struggling with religious relativism, some of the believers where trying to combine paganism and secular philosophies with the Christian faith. Some where questioning Christ…Paul confronts these views and affirms the sufficiency of Christ.
In fact I love this letter, because Paul always brings it back to Christ…Christ is the center of this letter and Christ is to be the center of our lives.
In Chapter one Paul talked of thanksgiving and prayer…He talked about the Supremacy of Christ…and how Paul labors for the church. In fact the last time I talked was ‘why church’…and we came up with three reasons…all of this taken from the end of chapter 1.
Firstly we exist to proclaim the gospel of Christ to the world…The fact that Jesus lived and died…that he was buried and resurrected…and that he defeated death…and by putting our faith in him we have an abundant life now…and we will live with Him in eternity.
We are to proclaim this good news to our neighbors, our family…to everyone…
Secondly we exist to present every believer ‘perfect in Christ’….we do this through discipleship, through serving and worship….
Thirdly we have to learn as Paul did…to rely on God. We have to allow God to work through us “Powerfully
In Chapter 2
We continue this same line of thought…So if you have your Bibles…we are going to read in Chapter 2:1-5…but before we do let’s pray.
In the first verse we see Paul is addressing not only the church in Colosse, but also the church in Laodicea. Both of these towns where close together and believed to have been started by the same person.
Paul mentions his struggle…remember how Paul in verse 29 of chapter 1 said “To this end I labor, struggling with all of his energy, which so powerfully works in me”…Paul understood it was Christ working through him, through the person of the Holy Spirit…it was the only way Paul could do things he did…by relying on the Spirit.
What are some of Paul’s struggles? Five times he received 40 lashes minus one from the Jews…three times he was beaten with rods, once he was stoned, three time he was shipped wrecked, he was consistently on the move, threatened from all sides, labored without sleep and many times without food…all the time worrying and concerned for all the churches…in now from a Roman prisons writes this letter…
Paul understood what it meant to suffer for his faith…he understood how to rely upon the Holy Spirit for strength and guidance.
We look at Paul and think we could never be like Paul, we could never do the things he did…but I challenge you this morning.
Does not the same Spirit that filled Paul and enabled him to do so many things for the church reside in you?
Upon putting your faith in Christ you where filled with the Holy Spirit…this Spirit is not one of fear or defeat…but it is the Spirit of victory in life…it’s the Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness...
One of the problems for Christians today is unrealized power of the Spirit in our lives. I think many time we relegate the Spirit to the sidelines of our lives…and only call on him when we really need him in our lives. We struggle with sin and life in general…never asking for help until it’s to late. It’s only when we find ourselves stuck in addiction or stuck in whatever rut do we call on the spirit to help us.
We need to live as Paul did, relying daily, moment by moment upon the Spirit in which God has given us.
Why was this so important to Paul
Paul’s purpose was “that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love”…v.2
Firstly Paul wanted to encourage the believers in their faith…Living the Christian faith is a challenge…it can be hard and at time seemly impossible. The Christians faith isn’t for the weak in spirit; it’s not the easy way out. The easy way is to live as the world around us lives…too go along with what feels good and what is ‘natural’. But the Christian faith calls you to be different, calls you live for Christ and to die to self. It fly’s in the face of our culture…
Secondly Paul wanted the believers to be ‘united’ in love…Paul is echoing Jesus’ command…John 13:34-35 says “A command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Paul understood the difficulty of living out the Christian faith, but he also understood it was impossible to do it alone. It is only when we are united in love, supporting one another…encouraging one another can we even begin to understand God…
Read the rest of the verse…”So that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, v.3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Paul knew we could not fully understand Christ without each other…You can only grow in Christ through cooperate worship, discipleship and service through the church.
Now understand me…you can worship alone, you can study the Bible on your own and you can serve others alone…I would encourage you to do all these things…and you will grow in the knowledge of Christ. But it will only take you so far…
If I plant a tree in a pot…that tree will only grow to the height that pot can support…you will only grow so far alone…
But in the Church with other believers severing one another, exercising the gifts God has given you…is when you grow the most as a Christian….to fully realize Christ.
Another Reason
Is stated in v.4, Paul’s tells them this ‘so that no one may deceive you with fine-sounding arguments…How many Christians have been deceived and have fallen from their faith or joined cults like the Jehovah Witnesses and Mormon because they where not part of a church and properly trained in their faith.
Many cults purposely pray upon “Christians”…they use the same terms or language, they will use the Bible and sound and look very Christian…but they are way off. Many believers fall into these cults thinking they are
following the traditional Christian faith, without realizing they have been deceived.
Others like Dan Brown the writer of the “Da Vinci Code”, sold millions of books and even had a movie…challenged the deity of Christ…reducing him to a man. By doing so he was denying the very center of the Christian faith…Some ‘Christians’ bought into this ‘fiction’ and started to question their faith….
Lastly
Paul delighted in knowing the churches at Colosse and Laodcea were firm in their faith in Christ…
We are to be firm in our faith…but the only way we can is…the only way… is if we are surrendered to the Spirit which resides in us…through the Spirit we can do it together…Through the Spirit we encourage one another, through the Spirit we love one another…If we do this we this…you will grow as a Christian…we will grow as a church…I guarantee it…
Friday, July 20, 2007
Giving…
I like t read ‘The Message’…I enjoy the way Eugene Peterson words things…You know what I don’t like? Infomercials on at night that entices people to get rich fast…You even see this creeping into the church. People think Jesus is a money dispenser, you just need enough faith.
Jesus says in Mark Chapter 4:24-25
"Listen carefully to what I am saying—and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes."
Let’s look at this for just a moment. Giving and not getting is the way…Is this true for all things? I think it is…Giving comes from the heart; you have to be willing to give, before you can give. You have to be willing to give up something ‘of value’ to another. So many of us give something away…because it is no longer of any use to us and we call this giving…but the giving Jesus is talking about is sacrificial. This is the kind of giving that changes us, changes our heart. Giving to your church should be done because you truly want to give…from your heart. I would rather you hang onto your money if your heart isn’t in it.
Giving shows we trust…by giving to your church…or because God has laid a need upon your heart to give to someone…shows you trust God. What that person does with the money, isn’t your concern….your concern is to do what God has told you to do, and this is trusting God and not yourself. How many of us give something away to a needy person and worry that they will use the money for something else?
Jesus also said in Luke Chapter 6:35
“I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it.
Give without expecting a return…this is the key to sacrificial living. The giving that keeps giving…it is when you reach this point God will flow through you to bless more and more people. Because keeping it will not be the issue…giving it away will be the need. Along the way God will bless and meet your needs…I promise, because God promises. I have never met a sour-faced, mean, gracious person, have you? The words just don’t blend together.
Give, give, give…give of your time, give of your money…give….and why do we give? Because God first gave to us….remember everything starts with God…He gave his Son…He gives you health…He gives you life and everything you have…So give back…
-ps
Jesus says in Mark Chapter 4:24-25
"Listen carefully to what I am saying—and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes."
Let’s look at this for just a moment. Giving and not getting is the way…Is this true for all things? I think it is…Giving comes from the heart; you have to be willing to give, before you can give. You have to be willing to give up something ‘of value’ to another. So many of us give something away…because it is no longer of any use to us and we call this giving…but the giving Jesus is talking about is sacrificial. This is the kind of giving that changes us, changes our heart. Giving to your church should be done because you truly want to give…from your heart. I would rather you hang onto your money if your heart isn’t in it.
Giving shows we trust…by giving to your church…or because God has laid a need upon your heart to give to someone…shows you trust God. What that person does with the money, isn’t your concern….your concern is to do what God has told you to do, and this is trusting God and not yourself. How many of us give something away to a needy person and worry that they will use the money for something else?
Jesus also said in Luke Chapter 6:35
“I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it.
Give without expecting a return…this is the key to sacrificial living. The giving that keeps giving…it is when you reach this point God will flow through you to bless more and more people. Because keeping it will not be the issue…giving it away will be the need. Along the way God will bless and meet your needs…I promise, because God promises. I have never met a sour-faced, mean, gracious person, have you? The words just don’t blend together.
Give, give, give…give of your time, give of your money…give….and why do we give? Because God first gave to us….remember everything starts with God…He gave his Son…He gives you health…He gives you life and everything you have…So give back…
-ps
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Apart From You…
I was reading in the Psalms (catching up on my yearly reading), when I came across this verse “I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing”. –Psalm 16:2
I long ago realized “apart from God I have no good thing”. Many people in our culture would argue with me about this. They would say I have a beautiful wife and children, you have everything you need. The same people would say I’m a good person, I live in the greatest country on earth…etc…etc…etc.
Without God I wouldn’t have any of these things…left on my own my wife would have been gone long ago….left on my own I wouldn’t have kids....they would get in the way of my own life…left on my own I would be a ‘wrenched man’….
I had a professor say ‘your Messiah will be as big as our concept of sin’…think about that for just a moment. Your understanding of sin and its effect on your life will determine how big of a Messiah you need to save you…How big is your Messiah?
Think further about this…I forgive because I was forgiven, I love because He first loved me…I give grace because grace was given to me. There is nothing good I do that wasn’t first done to me through Christ. I have no good thing on my own….
But ‘in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” Romans 8:37
Through Christ we are made complete, through Christ we become son’s and daughters to the most high….”The creation waits in eager expectation for the son’s of God to be revealed” Romans 8:19…through Christ, God’s glory shines through your life from now and into eternity…In Christ you are everything…apart from Christ we are nothing…
-ps
In case this hasn't sunk in, here is what Jesus said...
5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
I long ago realized “apart from God I have no good thing”. Many people in our culture would argue with me about this. They would say I have a beautiful wife and children, you have everything you need. The same people would say I’m a good person, I live in the greatest country on earth…etc…etc…etc.
Without God I wouldn’t have any of these things…left on my own my wife would have been gone long ago….left on my own I wouldn’t have kids....they would get in the way of my own life…left on my own I would be a ‘wrenched man’….
I had a professor say ‘your Messiah will be as big as our concept of sin’…think about that for just a moment. Your understanding of sin and its effect on your life will determine how big of a Messiah you need to save you…How big is your Messiah?
Think further about this…I forgive because I was forgiven, I love because He first loved me…I give grace because grace was given to me. There is nothing good I do that wasn’t first done to me through Christ. I have no good thing on my own….
But ‘in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” Romans 8:37
Through Christ we are made complete, through Christ we become son’s and daughters to the most high….”The creation waits in eager expectation for the son’s of God to be revealed” Romans 8:19…through Christ, God’s glory shines through your life from now and into eternity…In Christ you are everything…apart from Christ we are nothing…
-ps
In case this hasn't sunk in, here is what Jesus said...
5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)