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!

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Seeing a Sunburst of Light




Isaiah 8:16-17  16 Bind up this testimony of warning and seal up God’s instruction among my disciples.
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.