Isaiah 26:10 & 15 (The Message)
v. 10 If the wicked are shown grace they don't seem to get it. In the land of right living, they persist in wrong living, blind to the splendor of god
v. 15 but the living You make larger than life. The more life You give, the more glory You display, and stretch the borders to accommodate more living.
"Stretch the Borders of Life."
Lord, this is my prayer today - may I be willing to allow you to stretch my life that in the "living" of my day by day My life will display Your glory. That others, even Christians, who are living (or rather existing) in tiny, cramped prisons where they cannot see Your grace. And others who are truly wicked unbelievers would have You open their eyes to see Your grace - and get it.
I think again of stretching our capacity to receive Your love and grace. Oh God, we all need this stretching. We are so wrapped up tight in the struggles of everyday life that we don't even realize our need, let alone recognize the grace when it is offered.
Lord, I want to 'get it.' to recognize it - to believe it is for us, personally, and that it is attainable. Stretch me lord. As Bruce Wilkerson says, stretch - enlarge our borders - in every possible area where we are closed up and small - so we may see the Splendor of God and "get it!"
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Inhaling Unbelief and Exhaling Disobedience.
Thoughts prompted by Ephesians 2 in the Message translation of the Bible.
Eph 2 - The world doesn't know the first thing about living. Sometimes we fill our lungs with polluted unbelief and then we exhale disobedience. Oh, God. What a perfect description of what we do - I do!
Then You, in immense mercy and grace and incredible love, embrace us. You make us alive in Christ. Then You pick us up and set us down in the highest company with Jesus, Our Messiah.
v. 8 Now, God, you have us where You want us and You have all the time in this world, and the next one, to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ. WOW!
Eph 2 - The world doesn't know the first thing about living. Sometimes we fill our lungs with polluted unbelief and then we exhale disobedience. Oh, God. What a perfect description of what we do - I do!
Then You, in immense mercy and grace and incredible love, embrace us. You make us alive in Christ. Then You pick us up and set us down in the highest company with Jesus, Our Messiah.
v. 8 Now, God, you have us where You want us and You have all the time in this world, and the next one, to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ. WOW!
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Seeing a Sunburst of Light
17 I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in him.
Believers, followers of Christ must hold fast to God's teachings in a world that has gone to hell in a hand basket, we must wait and hope in our God. Stand your ground! The truth of Jesus Christ. Watch for the warning signs and the hope signs from God. Do not follow the masses to destruction.
Isaiah 9:2-7 " 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. 5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. 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. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this."
The people who walked in darkness has seen a great light - sunburst of light. gone away with, a deliverance as surprising and sudden as Gideon's victory over Midian. For a child has been born - the gift - a Son for use. He'll take over and rule the world. His names will be Amazing Counselor
Strong God
Eternal father
His ruling authority will grow and there will be no limits to the wholeness He brings.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Live Creatively, Stoop Down, and Reach Out
Galatians 6:1-3 (Message)
1-3 Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.
Live Creatively! Interesting choice of words. What does this mean? Don't settle for a dull "in-a-rut" life. Put your mind to work - look for creative, out-of-the-box ways and opportunities to serve the Lord and save the critical comments for yourself, not others.
Stoop down. Don't be too proud to do the lowly, dirty jobs.
Reach out. Share others' burdens and share what you have, especially the good news of the gospel.
4-5Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.
Explore and renew the truth of who you are in Christ. Keep close to Him so you can hear Him give the orders for the day, or the change in plans. Sink totally into the assignments you are given.
Do not compare yourself with others. Take responsibility for doing your creative best with your life.
7-8Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.
Sow the seeds where and when God says, then let God's Spirit do the growth works and you will harvest a crop of real life - eternal life! Don't follow some who just want to look good before others! Be courageous and walk by faith.
1-3 Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.
Stoop down. Don't be too proud to do the lowly, dirty jobs.
Reach out. Share others' burdens and share what you have, especially the good news of the gospel.
Explore and renew the truth of who you are in Christ. Keep close to Him so you can hear Him give the orders for the day, or the change in plans. Sink totally into the assignments you are given.
Do not compare yourself with others. Take responsibility for doing your creative best with your life.
7-8Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.
Sow the seeds where and when God says, then let God's Spirit do the growth works and you will harvest a crop of real life - eternal life! Don't follow some who just want to look good before others! Be courageous and walk by faith.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Free Indeed
Galatians 4
4) God sent his Son that He might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. We can be sure that we are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, "Papa, Father."
Does this privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child - and heir with complete access to the inheritance?
Rule-keepers want to shut us out of the free world of God grace so we will always depend on them for approval and direction, making them feel important. We are not children of the slave woman - but of the free woman (the promise of God).
Hallelujah! I am free - free indeed!
4) God sent his Son that He might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. We can be sure that we are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, "Papa, Father."
Does this privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child - and heir with complete access to the inheritance?
Rule-keepers want to shut us out of the free world of God grace so we will always depend on them for approval and direction, making them feel important. We are not children of the slave woman - but of the free woman (the promise of God).Hallelujah! I am free - free indeed!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
The Purpose of Old Testament Rule-Keeping.
Galatians 3
Our (my) new life in Jesus was not my doing. I was only responding to God's message to me. Since I was not smart, or strong, or clever enough to begin His work in me - How could I possibly perfect it?
Paul asks; does God, who lavishly provides me with His own Presence, His Holy Spirit, working things I could never do for myself - does he do these things because of my own strenuous moral striving or because I trust Him to do them in me?
Like Abraham - who believed God, and that act of belief was turned into a life that was right with God. So it is with me. I am a child of faith. I believe even by faith. So those who live by faith are blessed along with Abraham.
Remember, Jean, anyone who tries to live by his own effort, independent of God, is doomed to failure. No one can sustain a relationship with God that way. The person who lives in right relationship with God does it by embracing what God arranges for him.
Doing things for God is the opposite of entering into what God does for you. Rule-keeping does not naturally evolve into living by faith, but only perpetuates itself in more and more rule-keeping.
We are all (Jews and non-Jews) able to receive God's life, His Spirit, in and with us by believing. Just the way Abraham received it. Hallelujah!
So what is the purpose of the law of rule-keeping?
Galatians 3:19 "The purpose of the laws, the rules of the Old Testament, was to keep sinful people in the way of salvation until Christ (the descendant of Abraham) came, inheriting the promises and distributing them to us. Wow! The original promise is the direct blessing of God, received by faith.
The purpose of the law is to make obvious to everyone that we are, in ourselves, out of right relationship with god, and to show us the futility of making a religious system of getting by by our own efforts, what we can only get by waiting in faith for God to complete his promise.
If keeping rules had power to create life in us, we surely would have received it by now. Until we were mature and ready to respond freely by faith, God carefully surrounded and protected us by the law.
The law was like a school teacher who protected the children from danger and distraction, making sure the children would get to the place they set out for.
Now you, Jean, have arrived at your destination. By faith in Christ I am in direct relationship with God. We are all (Jews and non-Jews) in a common relationship with Jesus. Also, since you are Christ's family, then you are Abraham's famous "descendant," heirs according to the promises!
Our (my) new life in Jesus was not my doing. I was only responding to God's message to me. Since I was not smart, or strong, or clever enough to begin His work in me - How could I possibly perfect it?
Paul asks; does God, who lavishly provides me with His own Presence, His Holy Spirit, working things I could never do for myself - does he do these things because of my own strenuous moral striving or because I trust Him to do them in me?
Like Abraham - who believed God, and that act of belief was turned into a life that was right with God. So it is with me. I am a child of faith. I believe even by faith. So those who live by faith are blessed along with Abraham.
Remember, Jean, anyone who tries to live by his own effort, independent of God, is doomed to failure. No one can sustain a relationship with God that way. The person who lives in right relationship with God does it by embracing what God arranges for him.
Doing things for God is the opposite of entering into what God does for you. Rule-keeping does not naturally evolve into living by faith, but only perpetuates itself in more and more rule-keeping.
We are all (Jews and non-Jews) able to receive God's life, His Spirit, in and with us by believing. Just the way Abraham received it. Hallelujah!
So what is the purpose of the law of rule-keeping?
Galatians 3:19 "The purpose of the laws, the rules of the Old Testament, was to keep sinful people in the way of salvation until Christ (the descendant of Abraham) came, inheriting the promises and distributing them to us. Wow! The original promise is the direct blessing of God, received by faith.
The purpose of the law is to make obvious to everyone that we are, in ourselves, out of right relationship with god, and to show us the futility of making a religious system of getting by by our own efforts, what we can only get by waiting in faith for God to complete his promise.
If keeping rules had power to create life in us, we surely would have received it by now. Until we were mature and ready to respond freely by faith, God carefully surrounded and protected us by the law.
The law was like a school teacher who protected the children from danger and distraction, making sure the children would get to the place they set out for.
Now you, Jean, have arrived at your destination. By faith in Christ I am in direct relationship with God. We are all (Jews and non-Jews) in a common relationship with Jesus. Also, since you are Christ's family, then you are Abraham's famous "descendant," heirs according to the promises!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
The Purpose of Life
Galatians 1
Paul shares where his authority comes from - it is directly from Jesus and God the Father. Paul is commissioned by God. He greets with words of grace and peace. Galatians 1:3 (Amplified) "Grace and spiritual blessing be to you and (soul) peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)."
God has rescued him from the evil world through His sacrifice for his sins. God's plan is that all of us experience that rescue. He goes on to proclaim that if anyone, no matter who, preaches anything contrary to God's Word he should be cursed. We must get our message straight from God (through his Word). No other word will do.
Paul goes on to say that when he was still in his mother's womb he was chosen and called by God's generosity. Because God intervened and revealed Jesus, His Son, to Paul, so Paul could joyfully tell the non-Jews about Jesus.
v12 Paul received the gospel as a direct revelation given by Jesus.
v17 Paul immediately went away into Arabia for three years alone with God. What was that like? How special and wonderful of God to take that one-on-one time to love on and prepare Paul for the work ahead of him. We are, even now, reaping the benefits of Paul's time with God.
Will people down the road of time reap any benefit from my time with Him? Am I of any use to God's overall plans? I have to trust and believe that it is of value to Him, let alone myself. It is good that we can't see ahead or even correctly judge what we know and have seen or done.
God put us all here for a purpose and the main purpose of my life is to glorify Him. I can't even judge that properly - it is a trust issue.
Live an obedient and honorable life day by day and allow God to be the judge of the effect of my life here on earth. March 27, 2007.
Paul shares where his authority comes from - it is directly from Jesus and God the Father. Paul is commissioned by God. He greets with words of grace and peace. Galatians 1:3 (Amplified) "Grace and spiritual blessing be to you and (soul) peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)."
God has rescued him from the evil world through His sacrifice for his sins. God's plan is that all of us experience that rescue. He goes on to proclaim that if anyone, no matter who, preaches anything contrary to God's Word he should be cursed. We must get our message straight from God (through his Word). No other word will do.
Paul goes on to say that when he was still in his mother's womb he was chosen and called by God's generosity. Because God intervened and revealed Jesus, His Son, to Paul, so Paul could joyfully tell the non-Jews about Jesus.
v12 Paul received the gospel as a direct revelation given by Jesus.
v17 Paul immediately went away into Arabia for three years alone with God. What was that like? How special and wonderful of God to take that one-on-one time to love on and prepare Paul for the work ahead of him. We are, even now, reaping the benefits of Paul's time with God.
Will people down the road of time reap any benefit from my time with Him? Am I of any use to God's overall plans? I have to trust and believe that it is of value to Him, let alone myself. It is good that we can't see ahead or even correctly judge what we know and have seen or done.
God put us all here for a purpose and the main purpose of my life is to glorify Him. I can't even judge that properly - it is a trust issue.
Live an obedient and honorable life day by day and allow God to be the judge of the effect of my life here on earth. March 27, 2007.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Christ Lives in Me
Galatians 2:
Paul relates why he went to Jerusalem - he wanted to clarify with the church leaders what God had revealed to him and what he had been teaching to the non-Jews. Some of the Jews did not like him preaching freedom from the law. They wanted all to keep the traditional laws, even after coming to Christ - that is mainly circumcision.
v. 13 "We (Jews) know that we have no advantage of birth over 'non-Jewish' sinners. We know very well that we are not set right with God by rule-keeping, but only through personal faith in Jesus Christ. Paul asks "how do we know?" Because they tried it. The Jews had the best system of rules the world has ever seen!
He is convinced that no human being can ever please God by self-improvement. He believed in Jesus as the Messiah, so he could be set right before God by trusting in the Messiah, not by trying to be good.
v. 20 Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not mine, but it is lived by faith in the Son of God who lived me and gave himself for me. I refuse to repudiate God's grace.
Paul relates why he went to Jerusalem - he wanted to clarify with the church leaders what God had revealed to him and what he had been teaching to the non-Jews. Some of the Jews did not like him preaching freedom from the law. They wanted all to keep the traditional laws, even after coming to Christ - that is mainly circumcision.
v. 13 "We (Jews) know that we have no advantage of birth over 'non-Jewish' sinners. We know very well that we are not set right with God by rule-keeping, but only through personal faith in Jesus Christ. Paul asks "how do we know?" Because they tried it. The Jews had the best system of rules the world has ever seen!
He is convinced that no human being can ever please God by self-improvement. He believed in Jesus as the Messiah, so he could be set right before God by trusting in the Messiah, not by trying to be good.
v. 20 Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not mine, but it is lived by faith in the Son of God who lived me and gave himself for me. I refuse to repudiate God's grace.
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