Make it count
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
James 4:14 NIV
I have been thinking about this verse. It has occurred to me that life is so short that it can easily be missed. Maybe a person can overlook the idea of “living” when there are so many responsibilities pressing in for our attention. Or maybe we forget to live vibrant lives when the days seem so dull that they roll into each other. And at the end of this life, I wonder if I will have made time for the things that have real value? Or, will I have slept through the whole of it?
I have this recurring dream that I have to speak at a funeral. And I always start off by mentioning that life is like a book. I tell people that our lives are filled with highs and lows, but what is the constant theme that runs through the pages of our lives? Is the ongoing theme one of addiction, a constant reliving of the past or maybe is it Christ?
If you take stock of the pages of your life right now, what would come to the forefront? Would we the readers find adventure and excitement, would we find risk and danger? Think of it like this… Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith that God will have on display as evidence of his victory. Faith in Christ is the stuff that has Kingdom Value! Not just believing, but sharing your faith may be the one thing that really counts.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
True Identity
True Identity
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit. Romans 8:16 NIV
Ursula and I decided to stop at a local diner for breakfast. I told Urs that I had recently come to recognize a few realities about my life. There are several, but the most profound is that I have no purpose outside the family of Christ. She asked what that meant. I further explained that my thoughts on suicide would have been carried out twenty-five years ago if I had not become a follower of Jesus. I make no sense outside of Christianity. In my mind, I am an odd extra piece that doesn’t fit into the rest of the puzzle. But with Jesus, I fit in.
Just then, a strange man walked up to me and said, “I think I am supposed to tell you that the Spirit of the Lord testifies about you. His spirit testifies with our spirit… We are in union with His Spirit… Bless you.”
Is it a coincidence that as I am speaking of God, of my purpose in the family of God that an unknown person would come to me and point out that indeed, I am part of God’s family?
I admit that I am still trying to make sense of the meeting and the gentleman’s words. But at least I can glean the message that God has prepared works for me and that I am His… Maybe Eugene Peterson can say it better, “God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are.” Romans 8:16 The Message
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit. Romans 8:16 NIV
Ursula and I decided to stop at a local diner for breakfast. I told Urs that I had recently come to recognize a few realities about my life. There are several, but the most profound is that I have no purpose outside the family of Christ. She asked what that meant. I further explained that my thoughts on suicide would have been carried out twenty-five years ago if I had not become a follower of Jesus. I make no sense outside of Christianity. In my mind, I am an odd extra piece that doesn’t fit into the rest of the puzzle. But with Jesus, I fit in.
Just then, a strange man walked up to me and said, “I think I am supposed to tell you that the Spirit of the Lord testifies about you. His spirit testifies with our spirit… We are in union with His Spirit… Bless you.”
Is it a coincidence that as I am speaking of God, of my purpose in the family of God that an unknown person would come to me and point out that indeed, I am part of God’s family?
I admit that I am still trying to make sense of the meeting and the gentleman’s words. But at least I can glean the message that God has prepared works for me and that I am His… Maybe Eugene Peterson can say it better, “God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are.” Romans 8:16 The Message
Friday, April 13, 2012
Nothing like Them
Nothing like Them
All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.
Matthew 25:32-34 NLT
I recently went to a summer fair. There were a profusion of weavers, bee keepers and confectioners peddling their wears. I saw a peacock, some chicks, a sow and several other farm variety flora and fauna. I even saw sheepherders shear their sheep. We perused the other areas and at a quick glance I saw more of what at first looked like sheep to my untrained eyes. So I announced to my wife that there were more sheep, but she quickly corrected me that these were indeed goats. I compared the animal in front of me to the memory of the (Ursula referred to the recently shaven as naked) sheep. Their faces were of a similar shape and color, but the goats had longer ears, more sturdy legs and a taller and thinner body. Though they had a similar appearance at first glance, they were indeed very different creatures.
My friend Terry once quoted Matthew 25 and suggested that apparently, the goats and the sheep look about the same. And that Jesus will be able to tell the difference. Terry’s idea got me to wondering if sometimes Christians look like everyone else?
I think that we believers slip up and take on the appearance of non believers. And sometimes we slip up so often or so badly, that we may even forget our true identity in Christ. Like me, you may have come to the conclusion that no true follower of Christ could screw up so badly. But I ask you to take courage for God has not forgotten who you are and where you belong. God has placed you in the hands of Christ for safe keeping, and believe me, you can’t slip out (John 6:37). And at the appointed time, the Father will come for us, and relieve us of the failures and sin that seem to abound. If you have claimed Christ as savior, then you are one of God’s sheep. The thing we can’t see is that God has marked us as His Own. He has adopted us and no longer calls us servants, but calls us family. You are nothing like them; you are a child of the King! You might have made some mistakes, but you are nothing like them. You are in the family of the King!
All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.
Matthew 25:32-34 NLT
I recently went to a summer fair. There were a profusion of weavers, bee keepers and confectioners peddling their wears. I saw a peacock, some chicks, a sow and several other farm variety flora and fauna. I even saw sheepherders shear their sheep. We perused the other areas and at a quick glance I saw more of what at first looked like sheep to my untrained eyes. So I announced to my wife that there were more sheep, but she quickly corrected me that these were indeed goats. I compared the animal in front of me to the memory of the (Ursula referred to the recently shaven as naked) sheep. Their faces were of a similar shape and color, but the goats had longer ears, more sturdy legs and a taller and thinner body. Though they had a similar appearance at first glance, they were indeed very different creatures.
My friend Terry once quoted Matthew 25 and suggested that apparently, the goats and the sheep look about the same. And that Jesus will be able to tell the difference. Terry’s idea got me to wondering if sometimes Christians look like everyone else?
I think that we believers slip up and take on the appearance of non believers. And sometimes we slip up so often or so badly, that we may even forget our true identity in Christ. Like me, you may have come to the conclusion that no true follower of Christ could screw up so badly. But I ask you to take courage for God has not forgotten who you are and where you belong. God has placed you in the hands of Christ for safe keeping, and believe me, you can’t slip out (John 6:37). And at the appointed time, the Father will come for us, and relieve us of the failures and sin that seem to abound. If you have claimed Christ as savior, then you are one of God’s sheep. The thing we can’t see is that God has marked us as His Own. He has adopted us and no longer calls us servants, but calls us family. You are nothing like them; you are a child of the King! You might have made some mistakes, but you are nothing like them. You are in the family of the King!
Friday, April 6, 2012
An Incomplete Message
An Incomplete Message
We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV
"The Lord gave me a message, bro. I figured I should share it with you."
My brother Jerome had called. I told him to continue.
Jerome said that, "The Lord revealed to me that the statement "We live by faith" is an incomplete statement. We also live by the Word of God!" And my brother is right.
Consider that many people say that "We (believers) live by faith", but faith in what? Some people place their trust in their own abilities, in religious activities or the "goodness of mankind". But none of those things have the ability to do what only Christ can do. Scripture says that the only means of salvation is in Christ alone (Acts 4:12). So... what do you trust? Where does your faith lie? Is it a place of safety or of true trustworthiness?
If your faith has been placed upon anything other than the God, who has been revealed in Christ; than your faith is counterfeit. If you've placed your faith in anything other than God's Word, then you practice a Blind Faith indeed. Romans 10:17 says that, "faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." In other words, you can't have a sound faith-life without your mind being deeply rooted in the word of God. If you have faith that resides outside the word of God, then in my opinion, your faith betrays you.
We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV
"The Lord gave me a message, bro. I figured I should share it with you."
My brother Jerome had called. I told him to continue.
Jerome said that, "The Lord revealed to me that the statement "We live by faith" is an incomplete statement. We also live by the Word of God!" And my brother is right.
Consider that many people say that "We (believers) live by faith", but faith in what? Some people place their trust in their own abilities, in religious activities or the "goodness of mankind". But none of those things have the ability to do what only Christ can do. Scripture says that the only means of salvation is in Christ alone (Acts 4:12). So... what do you trust? Where does your faith lie? Is it a place of safety or of true trustworthiness?
If your faith has been placed upon anything other than the God, who has been revealed in Christ; than your faith is counterfeit. If you've placed your faith in anything other than God's Word, then you practice a Blind Faith indeed. Romans 10:17 says that, "faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." In other words, you can't have a sound faith-life without your mind being deeply rooted in the word of God. If you have faith that resides outside the word of God, then in my opinion, your faith betrays you.
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