But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9 New International Version
God has given those that follow Christ a new identity. He calls us the Chosen. He says we are royal, holy and that we belong to Him. And, to what purpose has God bestowed such wonderful gifts? I believe one of the answers is to declare! God has blessed us so that we have the right and the freedom to echo His love in a broken world. When you realize you have been served, go out and serve. When you learn compassion, go out and live kindness. When you have been forgiven, go out and do the same. For before you and I were in darkness, but now we are children of light. Go out and shine!
Friday, April 29, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Some Commercials Are More Biblical Than I Thought
Some Commercials Are More Biblical Than I Thought
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 New International Version
I saw an insurance commercial that presented an unusual idea. A lady stopped a man from walking into oncoming traffic. The recently rescued man then proceeded to help a person that unknowingly dropped her child's toy. The nearly toy-less woman then moved a cup of coffee to a safe distance from a man that was about to spill it on himself. In excellent film making style, the woman at the beginning of the commercial saw this kindness and stepped outside to stop a car accident.
This simple commercial presented the idea that when we receive something, we pay it forward. The people in the commercial were recipients of kindness so they repeated it to others. Paying it forward is a cool idea and I think it is more biblical than most people realize. Kindness is not a new idea. It isn't something new that some marketing agent thought of. Pay it forward is an idea that has its roots in scripture.
In this verse, we learn compassion and comfort not just for our own gain, but for the gain of others. With God, we are never recipients of His gifts for our own comfort and purposes, but we are recipients of His gifts so that we can pass them on. We undeservedly received forgiveness, so we pass it on the same way. We received grace, so we pay it forward. We have the gift of godly wisdom, so we teach it to others. We received the good news gift of Christ, so we pass it on.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 New International Version
I saw an insurance commercial that presented an unusual idea. A lady stopped a man from walking into oncoming traffic. The recently rescued man then proceeded to help a person that unknowingly dropped her child's toy. The nearly toy-less woman then moved a cup of coffee to a safe distance from a man that was about to spill it on himself. In excellent film making style, the woman at the beginning of the commercial saw this kindness and stepped outside to stop a car accident.
This simple commercial presented the idea that when we receive something, we pay it forward. The people in the commercial were recipients of kindness so they repeated it to others. Paying it forward is a cool idea and I think it is more biblical than most people realize. Kindness is not a new idea. It isn't something new that some marketing agent thought of. Pay it forward is an idea that has its roots in scripture.
In this verse, we learn compassion and comfort not just for our own gain, but for the gain of others. With God, we are never recipients of His gifts for our own comfort and purposes, but we are recipients of His gifts so that we can pass them on. We undeservedly received forgiveness, so we pass it on the same way. We received grace, so we pay it forward. We have the gift of godly wisdom, so we teach it to others. We received the good news gift of Christ, so we pass it on.
Friday, April 15, 2011
In Good Hands
In Good Hands
4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.
I Corinthians 15:4, 5 & 8 New Living Translation
Paul says that he has seen the risen Christ just like many others, only a little later, as if he had been born at the wrong time. The words in the New Living Translation say "born at the wrong time" but I think the words of the NIV may resonate with us just a bit differently. Instead of “the wrong time” it says “abnormally born".
Maybe your life seems the same – as if you were abnormally born? You may feel trapped and without choices. This life seems like your legacy has already been written and you need to fall into place. I guess that I should say that I am speaking from my own personal thoughts and experiences. I often think that my life is a series of poor choices and mistakes, and that this is the best God can do with me considering the circumstances. And, I think I have over inflated my state of affairs.
As cliché as it might sound, I think God is in control. The scripture says that God has predestined those that believe in Christ to be his sons and daughters (Ephesians 1:3-5 NIV). In plain English, that means that we believers are within the control, protection and the love of God. As wonderful, weird, and occasionally unpleasant that this life is, we who find our identity in Christ are in good hands. And, if life hurts so bad that you cannot see God's hands, trust His heart.
4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.
I Corinthians 15:4, 5 & 8 New Living Translation
Paul says that he has seen the risen Christ just like many others, only a little later, as if he had been born at the wrong time. The words in the New Living Translation say "born at the wrong time" but I think the words of the NIV may resonate with us just a bit differently. Instead of “the wrong time” it says “abnormally born".
Maybe your life seems the same – as if you were abnormally born? You may feel trapped and without choices. This life seems like your legacy has already been written and you need to fall into place. I guess that I should say that I am speaking from my own personal thoughts and experiences. I often think that my life is a series of poor choices and mistakes, and that this is the best God can do with me considering the circumstances. And, I think I have over inflated my state of affairs.
As cliché as it might sound, I think God is in control. The scripture says that God has predestined those that believe in Christ to be his sons and daughters (Ephesians 1:3-5 NIV). In plain English, that means that we believers are within the control, protection and the love of God. As wonderful, weird, and occasionally unpleasant that this life is, we who find our identity in Christ are in good hands. And, if life hurts so bad that you cannot see God's hands, trust His heart.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Trust in the Lord
Trust in the Lord "I have spent years trying to reconcile the belief that Jesus Christ's death on the cross redeemed the entire world with the idea that millions of people - including millions who had never even heard of Jesus - were suffering forever in hell." -Chad Holz (Former Pastor) Chad’s comments are based on the Rob Bell book “Love Wins”. Rob’s book attempts to answer the question “Who’s in Hell?” And by Rob Bell’s account, the answer is everybody. Reverend Bell and Chad are grappling (ineffectively I might add) with the same theological questions we all have. I think Reverend Holz and Pastor Bell have a lot of problems, but I will stick with what might be the most urgent... they do not trust God. Consider this saying, "When you cannot see God's hand, you can trust His heart." We don't need to understand (and can't possible begin to fully grasp) God's decisions on such things. If you are filling in the blanks, you have forgotten to trust God's heart. Rob Bell suggests that all people, no matter what you’ve done, go to Heaven. Now if I could talk to either person I would ask one question; "If everyone goes to Heaven, then why do we need Jesus?" There isn't one Bible verse that says we can be with God because we ascribe to some preconceived idea of good (today’s standard of good is to be non-judgmental, polite and amenable). Scripture never suggests that God’s love outweighs his righteousness. We get near to God by Christ. "No one comes to the Father except by me", says Jesus (John 14:6). We all know the verse, John 3:16. The word "believe" in that verse isn't as simple as "just believing". I think the word implies belief, action, internal change and tenacity. All of the aforementioned are God-inspired, God-led and God-fulfilled. Ultimately all of these things are always (and only) accomplished by God, in Christ, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This whole discussion is proof that a college education does not make you impervious to foolishness. You can never depend on your intellect or success as a measure of faith and spirituality, it is by faith that we live in this world (2 Corinthians 5:7). You have to start and end with Christ. Everything else is foolishness. Consider this quote: "Reason is a whore, the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but more frequently than not struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God." - Martin Luther Sometimes... probably more times than not, Faith will overrule anything else. And these types of people are showing tell-tale signs of losing their faith. But I would like to remind you that God can be trusted with the things we don’t understand. We can’t reason our way to God, we have always had to trust our way to Him by the shed blood of Christ.
Friday, April 1, 2011
What is Believer's Freedom?
What is Believer's Freedom?
"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive.
1 Corinthians 10:23 New International Version
I know what it is like to be stripped of freedom. I know what it is like to be handcuffed. I know what it is like to be incarcerated. Well, I know what it is like to be locked up for approximately forty minutes. I can say that will be the last time I will ever drive my car with an expired tag! Though I was only behind bars for less than an hour, I had a brand new appreciation for my freedom once released.
With my newfound freedom I wanted to shout to everyone that I was “free”! I wanted to celebrate my liberty, without limits or borders. But with my freedom came restrictions. Well, sort of. I was indeed free. I could do what I wanted, when I wanted. I was free to break more laws and land myself right back in jail. I was also free to respect the rights and freedoms of others.
When I became a believer in Christ, I gained spiritual freedom. I gained inalienable spiritual rights that only God can provide. With freedom comes the right to sin, frequently. I have the ability to ignore the freedom of other believers in favor of my own. I have the right to create turmoil in my spiritual life. I have the right to live against any and every spiritual law that has been carefully laid out in scripture, but not everything is beneficial or constructive.
I believe there is more to freedom than liberty from oppression. One type of freedom is Grace. When we are followers of Christ, we live in a state of grace. For God has not given us what we deserve. Grace is an aspect of God's generosity and His character. And God’s grace gives us freedom to live in peace and with joy. True godly freedom is our freedom to serve each other. True freedom is our willingness to give up a few personal rights in order to celebrate freedom with others. When is that last time you were free?
"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive.
1 Corinthians 10:23 New International Version
I know what it is like to be stripped of freedom. I know what it is like to be handcuffed. I know what it is like to be incarcerated. Well, I know what it is like to be locked up for approximately forty minutes. I can say that will be the last time I will ever drive my car with an expired tag! Though I was only behind bars for less than an hour, I had a brand new appreciation for my freedom once released.
With my newfound freedom I wanted to shout to everyone that I was “free”! I wanted to celebrate my liberty, without limits or borders. But with my freedom came restrictions. Well, sort of. I was indeed free. I could do what I wanted, when I wanted. I was free to break more laws and land myself right back in jail. I was also free to respect the rights and freedoms of others.
When I became a believer in Christ, I gained spiritual freedom. I gained inalienable spiritual rights that only God can provide. With freedom comes the right to sin, frequently. I have the ability to ignore the freedom of other believers in favor of my own. I have the right to create turmoil in my spiritual life. I have the right to live against any and every spiritual law that has been carefully laid out in scripture, but not everything is beneficial or constructive.
I believe there is more to freedom than liberty from oppression. One type of freedom is Grace. When we are followers of Christ, we live in a state of grace. For God has not given us what we deserve. Grace is an aspect of God's generosity and His character. And God’s grace gives us freedom to live in peace and with joy. True godly freedom is our freedom to serve each other. True freedom is our willingness to give up a few personal rights in order to celebrate freedom with others. When is that last time you were free?
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