The Work of Grace…

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)

For it is by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one can boast.

The work of grace is God’s work in us! It is not of our own doing; rather, it is a gift through the working of God in our hearts. He designed it this way so that no human may boast in their own works or merit for the salvation of their soul…. Perhaps. the greatest threat to Christian theology in our generation is the idea that we can somehow measure up, be a good person, and merit through our own piety the goal of eternal life. Scripture is very clear that this is not and can never be the case:

Psalm 53:2-3 (NIV)

God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

Mark 10:17-18 (NIV)

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before Him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.”

Romans 3:22-24 (NIV)

Righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

If salvation and eternal life could be accomplished through human effort, then one could readily ask, “Why did God send His Son, Jesus, to save the world and atone for its sin; to redeem us from final death – which is the condemnation of all sin?

John 3:16-18 (NIV)

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

It is contrary to the mission and message of Christ Jesus to believe that you can do anything to achieve salvation or earn eternal life. God loved you before the creation of the world, and His love is everlasting. There is nothing that you have ever done or can ever do to gain or to maintain His love or favor. His love was never determined by you; rather, it is based upon Himself! Paul affirms: “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

His love is deeply relational and simply a gift to be received through His Beloved Son, Jesus! The only work that was ever required for our salvation was the work of atonement that Jesus accomplished through His death on the cross! Salvation is based on His work, and there is no other requirement! There is therefore, now, no condemnation for those who are IN Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1) Being IN Christ Jesus is not about your works; it is about believing in His finished work on the cross!

Dear reader, why is this important for us to understand? Because we live in a culture – within a world-view – that will deceive you and I into thinking that we can simply live “good” lives and be accepted into heaven. Indeed, it is my prayer that Christians will reject this false doctrine and believe the truth. “For the law (works) was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17) So, I ask you to consider what Jesus Himself taught in this regard:

John 6:27-29 (ESV)

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on Him God the Father has set His seal.” Then they said to Him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

This is the true message: Believe in the work of God … the One He sent … Jesus the Christ … and you will be saved. “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) Yes, faith in our resurrected Lord Jesus is itself the work of grace; and this truth has been the message of God foretold through all of His Word….

A Final Thought:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:3-5)

Have a Blessed Day!

Hear His Voice…

John 5:25 (NIV)

Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

There is a voice that we need to hear! There is a voice that we must obey! It was the first voice to ever resound … and creation took place. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3) In the formless emptiness and darkness, the command of His voice brought the universe into existence. Indeed, by His Word, God created all things! He made mankind in His own image … male and female He created them. And they became living beings each with a voice (will) of their own.

The Lord God called out to the man, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9) Yes, Yahweh spoke to the man and greeted him each morning. Adam heard His voice and responded. But his wife had listened to another voice in the garden … a crafty, deceptive voice. She heeded his voice and fell into rebellion. Indeed, Adam and Eve did not obey the voice of God or His command; and they brought forth the consequence of their rebellion (sin) … which is death! And so, the knowledge of good (obedience) and evil (disobedience) was imputed to all mankind….

But there is hope for us! God spoke to Abraham and said, “I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” (Genesis 22:17-18) Indeed, when we hear the voice of God and obey Him, there will surely be blessing that will overflow into our lives….

A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 40:3-5)

And John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, John saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:4, 9-11)

In Hebrews 1:1-3, the inspired writer informs us with this truth:

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the Prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

So, I believe it would be most wise for us to heed the voice of Jesus – His Son:

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. (John 5:24-25)

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. (John 7:37-38)

The One who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for Him, and the sheep listen to His voice. He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. When He has brought out all His own, He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:2-5; 27-28)

So, I would like to ask you: “Have you heard the voice of the God?” He calls to you through His Word, His Spirit, and His Son! As I shared last week, Jesus says to you: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:19) This is the message of the Gospel! Paul was so burdened that all people, especially his fellow Israelites, would come to faith and receive salvation through Christ Jesus.

But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Romans 10:16-18)

Dear reader, it is my deepest hope that you will hear the voice of our Heavenly Father! For He created you with eyes to see and ears to hear and a heart to understand. How I pray you will hear the voice of our Lord Jesus and not the voice of the deceiver … or even your own rebellious voice (will). Yes, my prayer is that you will heed the voice of the Great Shepherd of the sheep. He is the One who calls you by name! Indeed, be still and you will hear His gentle voice! Jesus admonished, “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 11:15) And Jesus affirmed, “Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. (Matthew 13:16-17)

A Final Thought:

And though the Lord has sent all His servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention. They said, “Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices, and you can stay in the land the Lord gave to you and your ancestors for ever and ever. (Jeremiah 25:4-5)

Have a Blessed Day!

Time of Visitation…

Luke 19:41-44

Now as Jesus drew near Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, and said, “If you, even you, had known, especially in this your day, the things that would bring you peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side. They will level you, and your children within you, to the ground. They will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

What solemn words our Lord Jesus spoke against Jerusalem – the place where the temple of God was established to be the sanctuary of His Holiness … the dwelling place of His Presence on earth. Indeed, Jesus lamented: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate.” (Luke 13:37-38)

I have pondered the anguished words Jesus expressed; and I’ve contemplated their relevance for those living in the world now who resist His call upon their hearts to believe in Him. The Prophet Isaiah once asked: “Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1) And later he affirms: “I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’ (Isaiah 65:1)

The call of God for His creation to know Him is an eternal one. And the longing for God has been emplaced into each and every human heart. Indeed, the Scriptures inform us that God passionately desires fellowship with His people; however, to have a personal, intimate relationship with Him requires sincere faith in Him. As Jesus affirmed to the woman at the well, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)

The inspired writer of the Book of Hebrews asserted, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6) The Apostle Paul explained: “Faith comes by hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Romans 10:17) And Jesus declared, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

So, I would like to ask you, “Have you responded to the Holy Spirit who is prompting you to believe in Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God?” He knocks on the door of every human heart … looking to come into your house … desiring to dwell within your heart … so that you might have the light and life of God. Indeed, Jesus says to you today: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:19)

Dear reader, it is my deepest hope that you will recognize the time of His visitation! I pray you will hear the voice of Jesus today and welcome Him into your soul! As Paul confirmed to those in Rome: “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that is being proclaimed to you: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Romans 10:8-10)

My prayer is that you will not delay to open the door to your heart. Yes, recognize the time of visitation is now … even today! As Paul urged in 2 Corinthians 6:1-2, “Working together with God, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says (in Isaiah 49:8), “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Friend, do not let your house become desolate as happened to Jerusalem; rather, let your body become a temple for the Holy Spirit! Yes, let Jesus be your dwelling place. Abide in Him and He will abide in you! (John 15:4)

A Final Thought:

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12)

Have a Blessed Day!

Power…

Power…

For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me His prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the Gospel, by the power of God. (2 Timothy 1:6-8)

There is a power that we have been given by God … the power of His Holy Spirit! What Paul shared with Timothy, is the same power that Jesus promised His earliest disciples. He told them: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. (Acts 1:8-9)

From the context of both passages, we can readily discern the power we receive is given for a purpose … to be witnesses … to testify about the Lord Jesus Christ! Moreover, Paul indicates that we are empowered to “suffer for the Gospel.” As Paul asserted to believers in Corinth: “The Kingdom of God is not in word but in power!” (1 Corinthians 4:20) Indeed, the Holy Spirit is given to activate us … to energize us for service and ministry … to advance the Kingdom of God! For these reasons, He gives us power, love, and self-discipline!

Notice the power we receive is not for our own use. When Jesus had called the Twelve together, He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases; and He sent them out to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (Luke 9:1-2) On another occasion, Jesus sent seventy-two others to evangelize. The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And Jesus said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:1-3; 17-20)

My friends, the power we have been given through the Holy Spirit is solely to glorify our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! And God has deemed us worthy of this calling! For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10) Indeed, God works in us to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. (Philippians 2:13) Thus, it is through His power that we are able to serve Him….

Have a Blessed Day!

Ashamed…

Ashamed…

When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:20-23)

Embarrassment. Humiliation. These words describe our inner feelings when we are ashamed of our actions, character, or relationships. Think of the last time you felt ashamed. Recount what you did or said that caused you embarrassment or humiliation. Did it afflict your conscience with regret or remorse or fill you with inner turmoil? Do you remember the occasion and being ashamed? This is what sin does to us. This is what rebellion and disobedience to the Word of God causes within us. It is the conviction of the Holy Spirit within believers that is meant to bring us to confession and repentance.

When we fail because of our sinful human nature, a believer will feel ashamed. We have displeased God and we know it! A chasm, a separation has occurred and we want restoration. Like King David, we plead with God: “Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” (Psalm 51:9-12) We do all this because we have disgraced God and feel ashamed of ourselves.

Yet, there is another aspect to the word “Ashamed”. It has to do with our reluctance or unwillingness to do something because we fear shame, embarrassment, or humiliation. Consider what Jesus said in Luke 9:23-26 in this regard: “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (See Mark 8:34-38) Perhaps, this is why Paul admonished Timothy: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me His prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the Gospel, by the power of God. (2 Timothy 1:7-8)

As Peter encouraged: “If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.” So, let us join with Paul and declare: “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16)

Have a Blessed Day!

Ambition…

Ambition…

It has always been my ambition to preach the Gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. Rather, as it is written: “Those who were not told about Him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.” (Romans 15:20-21)

When I ponder the word ambition, I often think of the Apostle Paul and his strong desire to preach the Gospel under all conditions and in all circumstances. His accomplishments through the anointing and power of Jesus Christ leave no question as to his devout determination to fulfill his calling and to achieve an enduring impact on the development and growth of the Church. His initiative and hard work for the Kingdom of God are evident and attested in his inspired writings. (Cf. 2 Corinthians 6:3-10) Truly, Paul is an ideal model for all of us who aspire to fulfill their assignment in the Great Commission. (Cf. Matthew 28:18-20)

I am reminded of principles Paul instructed believers to follow with regard to their walk of faith and their eagerness to love one another. He urged them to do so more and more and taught: “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we instructed you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” (1 Thessalonians 4:9-12) Indeed, it should be our ambition to live worthy of the Lord Jesus in all things so that our lives are witness as to the power of the Gospel within us.

There is, however, a form of ambition that we must avoid if we intend to be effective witnesses. We are admonished to renounce selfish ambition. It is one of the acts of the flesh. (Galatians 5:20) And Paul was adamant: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4) Yes, our sole aspiration in life should be to love one another as Jesus has loved us. This was His command! But if we harbor selfish ambition in our heart, it is clear such a desire does not come from the wisdom of heaven….

Have a Blessed Day!

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ~ James 3:13-17

Path…

Path…

You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11 NIV)

How wonderful it is the know that our Heavenly Father has made known to us the path of life! I find it inspiring that He used “path” as a metaphor. It is trodden along the ground by the feet of people; and it forms a familiar route between one place and another. And a path typically becomes worn and hardened by repeated travel over time as it becomes a distinct and narrow way….

There is a path that has been well traveled by many souls over the millennia; and I weep in my heart as I think about the direction some have taken. I am reminded when Jesus told the parable about a farmer, who as he was scattering his seed, some fell along the path and the birds came and ate it up. Jesus would later explain: “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the Word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the Word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. (Luke 8:11-12)

Yes, far too many people have left the narrow path of life and find themselves on a broad road – not understanding that it leads to destruction. Their hearts have become hardened and their ears have become dull. They cannot hear the Word of God, the seed of faith, to cultivate and produce a new life within them. Jesus told those who would follow Him: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

My friends, let us pray for the one whose path lies in the rut of life. Let us share with them the message about Christ Jesus. For He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Jesus. (John 14:6) Indeed, Jesus is only path that leads to life! In His presence there is fullness of joy! And God has made Him known!

Have a Blessed Day!

We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which He has given about His Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about His Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. ~ 1 John 5:9-12

Be a Doer of the Word…

James 1:22 (NIV)

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says!

Our Verse of the Day has been read and heard many times. The Holy Spirit has been encouraging us to be in the Word and studying it; and I believe this is His call to “do what it says”. All the reading and studying in the world is not going to replace action and putting the Word into practice. I am reminded (and convicted) by what Jesus said as He concluded His “Sermon on the Mount” recorded in the Gospel of Matthew:

Matthew 7:21-29 (NIV)

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons, and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does NOT put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

In the context, it is those who do the will of the Father that will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And the words of Jesus have taught us the will of the Father. When asked, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.” (Cf. John 6:28-29) Indeed, this is the teaching we are to put into practice – the exercise of putting our complete trust and faith in Jesus. But then, in order to grow in our faith, there are disciplines that we will follow to bring us to maturity in Christ. We should take root in a local assembly in order to be equipped for ministry. We should exercise our spiritual gifts through good works so that we are putting His teachings into practice. This is how faith becomes effective and productive! (Cf. 2 Peter 1:8) As the Apostle James reminds us:

James 2:14-18 (NIV)

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

It is important for us to be active in our faith and engaged with those around us. Jesus made it clear that when we serve others, we are serving Him. For Jesus said, “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” (Cf. John 12:26) Remember, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Cf. Ephesians 2:8-10) Yes, we have been saved to serve; and we need to be where Jesus is and serving as Jesus would. For we are His Body in the world! We serve with the same grace that was shown to us as we proclaim the light of truth through the Gospel. This is what I believe it means when James tells us to get busy and serve! If our faith does not activate us to be serving others, it is essentially no faith at all and we deceive ourselves if we think otherwise.

My friends, let us be about the Father’s business! There is a world around us that is broken and hurting … searching for the same answer that we have received by grace through faith. The opportunities are not hard to find. The question is whether we are looking for them. Maybe it is time for us to be more intentional. To be sure, we should always share Jesus with our words; but as we all know, our actions will always speak louder than our words. So, I pray we will “be” Jesus to all those who need Him more than ever before. Yes, Lord, challenge us each day to be where you are….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. ~ Hebrews 4:12-13

My Refuge and My Shield

Psalm 119:114 (NIV)

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your Word.

In our Verse of the Day, the truth that God is our refuge and our strength is declared in His Word! Yes, we hope in His Word because that is how we KNOW through faith that He is with us … He surrounds us … He protects us! I want us to look at this section of Psalm 119 for the immediate context:

Psalm 119:113-120 (NIV)

ס Samekh

¹¹³ I hate double-minded people, but I love your law.
¹¹⁴ You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.
¹¹⁵Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God!
¹¹⁶ Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed.
¹¹⁷Uphold me, and I will be delivered; I will always have regard for your decrees.
¹¹⁸You reject all who stray from your decrees, for their delusions come to nothing.
¹¹⁹All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross; therefore I love your statutes.
¹²⁰My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.

In a world where we feel surrounded by chaos and confusion and conflict and coercion and cancel, there is a place of refuge and strength for believers. His name is Jesus! I did not say there is a place of hiding because we are not called to hide from the world; rather, we are to be His light in the world. We are to be that city on a hill where it cannot be hidden. (Cf. Matthew 5:14-16) We need to remember the intercessory prayer of Jesus when He prayed for all believers:

John 17:13-21 (NIV)

I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Jesus wants us IN the world, but He prayed for God to protect us … to be our refuge from the evil one. So, we do not ignore what is happening in the world or stick our heads in the proverbial sand. Believers have been called … we are sent into the world to testify to the truth! That truth is God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” (Cf. John 3:16-19) Yes, we are to engage the world with the light of the Gospel … with the truth of the Word.

Thus, we need to know the Word of God. We need to know the Truth. And through the Holy Spirit who comes to indwell us, we receive wisdom and discernment. The Apostle John has elaborated this for us:

1 John 4:1-6 (NIV)

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of falsehood.

Lord Jesus, you are our refuge and strength because You have given us your Spirit … the Spirit of Truth who indwells us and fills us with Your abiding presence and love. Only in You is the wisdom and knowledge of God made known to us. Only in You is the great love of the Father fully expressed and experienced in our hearts. You are the true light that gives light to everyone. Oh, that the light you have given to us might be received in every heart. You are the Living Word in which we hope and find shelter. You are the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through you. (Cf. John 14:6) And so, I pray that we your children would be your image in this world just as you are the image of the Father. You have sent us into the world just as the Father sent You into the world. Yes, I pray that through our lives and testimonies of redemption, more people will see your kindness and repent. I pray that your great love, which is rich in mercy, will bring life to those who are dead in transgressions. Oh, that your grace, Lord Jesus, would abound as your people proclaim the light and hope, the joy and peace, the truth and love of the Gospel … so that no one would perish but come to a knowledge of the truth and receive eternal life in you. This is my prayer, Lord, and I ask in Your Name. Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

As for God, His way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. ~ Psalm 18:30-32

Hasten To Obey…

Psalm 119:60 (NIV)

I will hasten and not delay to obey Your commands.

Have you ever hesitated to follow through on a prompting of the Holy Spirit that you know was aligned with the Word of God? Regretfully, I know that I have done so. I suspect it happens to all of us…. We hear His voice in our spirit to say or do something that is intended to advance the Kingdom of God; but then we fumble the ball, we doubt the impulse, we make excuses, or we act like we did not hear the voice of God. We might begin to question, “Was that really you speaking to me, God?” How can I know? Show me a sign! Yet, in our inner being, we knew God wanted us to respond to Him and to act upon His command in that moment…. It was another opportunity to be light … to be salt … to show grace … to plant a word from God … to lead someone to the truth … but we did not follow through. I hold my own head down in shame at the opportunities … given and forsaken. I hear Jesus ask me, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Cf. Luke 6:46)

Our Verse of the Day filled me with fresh conviction! Faith asks me to be bold … to be courageous. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” (Cf. 2 Timothy 1:7) Oh, how I need to remember these scriptures when I find myself in a “divine appointment” … when I find myself “asked of God” to do a good work – one that He prepared in advance for me to do. (Cf. Ephesians 2:10) I should say in my heart, “Lord, I will hasten and not delay to obey you!”

When God directs us to act … we need to listen and align with His Word and His timing. And, yes, I believe it is fine to ask God for “the right time” to accomplish His assignment. We should ask for wisdom or discernment regarding the circumstances, if needed. But these types of requests are different than simply procrastinating out of our own doubts or insecurities or just plain slothfulness. If it matters to God to prompt us through His Spirit … it matters for us to be obedient.

And while it is important for us to listen to God and to obey Him as He guides and direct us to be His hands and feet in this world, I think there might be another application much closer to home that we should consider … something that might be overlooked. I want to encourage us to look inward for a moment. What if the “divine appointment” is with yourself? What if the good work God asks of you is to change something within you? Perhaps we should be still and listen for His still small voice a moment. What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you in your inner being? What commands have you heard that you have dismissed or delayed to obey? Is there a conviction from the Word of God challenging your pursuit of sanctification? Consider this passage from 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.” Or is there a conviction from the Word of God challenging your character? Consider this passage from Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

My friends, there is plenty we can hear from God and apply to our lives from His Word. We just need to read it and study it. “For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Cf. Hebrews 4:12) Indeed, the indwelling Holy Spirit guides us into ALL truth … including the truth about ourselves. And sometimes when we want to impact the world around us for Christ, we often need to begin with changes within ourselves. Whether God calls us to divine encounters with those around us, or He calls us to submit to His prompts within our own hearts, we would be wise to listen to Him! Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice, and they follow me.” (Cf. John 10:27) And so, as we hear His voice, let us hasten and not delay to obey His commands. This is my prayer for each of us. Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly, I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. ~ Matthew 21:28-32