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!

RESCUE…

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.” ~ Psalm 91:14-15

What does it mean to be rescued? What thoughts does this word conjure up in your mind? As I think about the condition of my heart before I encountered Jesus, I needed to be set free from its prison of darkness … from the dangers of its thoughts and inclinations … and from the spiritual forces of evil ever present to exert their dominion over my soul. Without question, I was a captive who desperately needed to be set free … to be rescued from my fallen state.

I like these definitions of rescue offered in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

a: to take (someone, such as a prisoner) forcibly from custody

b: to recover (something, such as a prize) by force

c: to deliver (a place under siege) by armed force

Notice that in each of these definitions, rescue is accomplished by “force”. In each instance, I think about the force God used to rescue us; and yet, there was no physical force exerted at all! Rather, in His lovingkindness and tender mercies, God drew us unto Himself through Jesus – His Beloved Son. How I can relate to King David in this blessed experience:

Psalm 18: 16-19 (NIV)

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my great help! He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.

Today, I am reminded of this declaration: “For 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) And this truth: “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14) Indeed, the freedom we have come to experience in Christ Jesus is due to an invisible force that cannot be withstood – the Holy Spirit revealing the power of His everlasting mercies and His unfailing covenant of love!

John 1:1-5 (NIV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

1 John 4:9-10 (NIV)

This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Dear reader, if you have been rescued, if you have been delivered, if you have been set free from the dominion of darkness through the spiritual power of the Word of God and through the blood of Jesus for your sin, then give joyful thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the Kingdom of Light! Yes, all praise, honor, and glory is due to the God of our Redemption … to God our Deliverer … and to our Lord Jesus Christ!

But if you have not yet experienced this grace of God in your life, I urge you to seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. (Isaiah 55:6) Indeed, if you will seek the Lord God, you will find him – if you seek Him with all your heart and will all your soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29) Yes, humble yourself because “in their pride the unrighteous do not seek God; in all their thoughts there is no room for God. (Psalm 10:4) And understand this: “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Oh, dear friend, if you will forsake your unrighteous thoughts and ways … if you will repent and turn to the Lord, He will have mercy on you and will freely pardon your sins. (Isaiah 55:7) Yes, come to Jesus and believe in Him, and you will be rescued from a life without hope….

Have a Blessed Day!

GLAD…

Glad…

I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. ~ Psalm 9:1-2

I needed a word today to express what my soul is feeling…. To be glad is to experience pleasure, joy, or delight. It expresses the feelings of being pleased, satisfied, and full. It connotes the emotions of elation, happiness, and gratitude. Indeed, to be glad should be the preeminent response of our hearts to the love and mercy of God our Savior … who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Yes, today and always, I will be glad and rejoice in the One who loved me and gave Himself for me!

If you need a word of encouragement today, I think you could revisit these thoughts of King David … a man after God’s own heart. Let each one remind you to be glad for the faithfulness and goodness of God in your life:

Psalm 5:11-12 (NIV)

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Psalm 16:8-10 (NIV)

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore, my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.

Psalm 31:7-8 (NIV)

I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.

Psalm 32:10-11 (NKJV)

Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in Him. Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Psalm 40:16-17 (NIV)

May all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who long go Your salvation say continually, “The Lord be exalted!” But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.

Psalm 68:3-4 (NKJV)

But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God; Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly.Sing to God, sing praises to His name; praise Him who rides upon the clouds, by His name YAH,
and rejoice before Him.

Psalm 92:4-5 (NIV)

For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done. How great are your works, Lord, how profound your thoughts!

Psalm 118:22-24 (NIV)

The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.

Lord, I am filled with gladness this morning. I am overflowing with a joy unspeakable and full of glory. For you are my Redeemer … you are my Deliverer … you are my Fortress and my Refuge. In you and you alone, I have placed my trust! My heart abounds with your lovingkindness … your tender mercies and your unfailing love. What can I offer You … O Lord my Rock … You who have anointed me with the oil of gladness? I will offer you the sacrifices of my lips. Yes, my lips shall praise you! My mouth shall praise You with joyful lips! Yes, Lord, receive the fruit of my lips as I offer boundless thanks to your wonderful, glorious name!

Have a Blessed Day!

Guard…

Guard…

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. ~ Proverbs 4:23

Guard is an informative word for us. Used here as a verb, it means to keep safe from harm or danger; to protect; to watch over; to keep under control or restraint as a matter of caution or prudence. King Solomon, in his wisdom, saw the preeminence of safeguarding our hearts in order to protect us and others from everything that flows from it. Indeed, if we look at the assessment of Scripture regarding our hearts – our innermost beings – we find the following:

Genesis 6:5 (NIV)

The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.

Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV)

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Our Lord Jesus admonished His disciples and followers to guard their hearts as well:

Luke 12:1-2 (NIV)

Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to His disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.

Luke 12:15 (NIV)

Then Jesus said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

Indeed, Jesus taught that the pure in heart would see God. (Matthew 5:8) He advised that we should store up for ourselves treasures in heaven … for where your treasure is, there your heart will be. (Matthew 6:20-21) He, too, warned that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34) Yes, the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. (Matthew 15:18-19)

Likewise, the Apostles spoke of the necessity for us to guard our hearts and salvation we have received by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. In 2 Timothy 1:13-14, Paul urged his protege: “What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Peter, affirming the inspired writings of Paul, concluded: “Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:17-18)

Dear believer, in these last days, it is imperative that we stay alert and on guard because our enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) Yes, like Paul, I encourage you: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14) Set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming! (1 Peter 1:13)

Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV)

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Have a Blessed Day!

Content

Content…

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ~ Philippians 4:11

In his letter to the believers at Philippi, Paul shares profound insight into the self-discipline necessary for a mature faith in Christ Jesus to persevere. He describes what it takes to attain a faith that will surmount and endure the challenges we will experience in life – contentment. Paul had gone through unimaginable hardship and suffering during his missionary journeys; and yet, his faith seemed to abound all the more through the afflictions he suffered. As he indicates in the text, there is a deep lesson to be “learned” as we walk with Christ and participate in his sufferings. (Cf. Philippians 3:10, 1 Peter 4:13)

Contentment. What does it mean to be content? The word connotes a state of being filled or satisfied. To be content means to be happy, pleased, gratified, or blessed … to the point of complete delight or enjoyment. Being content … feeling full and satisfied is rather easy when you have plenty and the circumstances of life seem in your favor. But Paul indicates that he had cultivated the ability to be content even when he had been unjustly locked in a stock and thrown into the utter darkness of an inner prison dungeon. (Cf. Acts 16:16-40)

Philippians 4:10-13 (NIV)

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.

In reading the text, we readily understand that contentment is not our natural tendency. When Paul states, “I have learned,” it indicates that at one time he did not know how to be content. Through the difficulties that he suffered in life, Paul learned how to be content in any situation or circumstance. It was a mindset that he attained after many years of experiencing the grace of God in times of trouble. And so, there is a wonderful lesson Paul affords us for our walks as Christians.

Here are some other scriptures to focus on as we pursue the virtue of contentment:

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory. Romans 8:17

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death. Philippians 3:10

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:12-13

I believe the secret to contentment is to possess an unwavering focus on the inheritance that is kept in heaven for you. (Cf. 1 Peter 1:3-5) Yes, keep your eyes upon the goal and press onward to attain it. (Cf. Philippians 3:14) Indeed, Christ Jesus is our example – who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Cf. Hebrews 12:2) For “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ Jesus should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:11-14)

Yes, dear reader, keep your eyes upon Jesus and His redemption! He is the One who provides you with the strength needed to attain contentment in this life. Only in Him will you find true contentment or real delight in any circumstance. Keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5) For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. (1 Timothy 6:7-8)

Have a Blessed Day!

Righteousness

Righteousness…

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of Righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. ~ Jeremiah 23:5-6

In Genesis 15:6 we read that Abraham believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. In Deuteronomy 6:25, Moses conveyed that the righteousness of God revealed in His Law would be conferred upon those who are careful to observe it (obey it). In Psalm 7:17, David exclaimed: “I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.” Yes, “The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.” Psalm 98:2

Throughout the sacred writings of the Old Testament, we are informed of the righteousness of God through His creation, His commandments and ordinances, and His Prophets:

“The Heavens declare His righteousness, and all the peoples see His glory.” Psalm 97:6 “Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your Law is truth.” Psalm 119:142 “My tongue shall speak of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteousness.” Psalm 119:172

And, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord.” Isaiah 54:17

Righteousness, that state or status of being in a right relationship with God, is a gracious gift of mercy granted by Him to those who believe. It was his faith that positioned Abraham to be credited with righteousness by God. When he believed God at His Word, Abraham received the righteousness that comes through faith … as Paul greatly expounds in Romans 4:1-8. In revealing His Commandments through Moses, believers were afforded the wisdom of how to live in a right relationship with God … and with one another. (Galatians 3:21) And yet, grace upon grace, the righteousness of God has been made known to us; indeed, demonstrated to us in Christ Jesus!

Romans 3:21-26 (NIV)

²¹But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²²This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, ²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶He did it to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

I believe it is important for us to understand that righteousness is a gift of God … imputed to us on the basis of faith in Him through faith in Jesus Christ – because we have no inherent righteousness within ourselves. (Cf. Titus 3:4-6) As the Prophet testified:

Isaiah 64:5-6 (NIV)

You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways.
But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved? All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

Yes, and consider what King David affirmed: “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit, there is no deceit.” (Psalm 32:1-2)

As a believer, you are in Christ Jesus and have received the righteousness of God through Him. Yes, Jesus became for us wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30) “For the Father made Jesus who knew no sin to be a sin offering for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) So, awake to righteousness, and do not sin! (1 Corinthians 15:34) “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds;and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24)

My friend, living in obedience to Christ Jesus and His commandments should be our grateful response to His merciful gift of imputed righteousness! Yes, to offer ourselves as living sacrifices is our reasonable service – our spiritual act of worship. (Cf. Romans 12:1) So I pray that we will pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace along with one another. (Cf. 2 Timothy 2:22)

Have a Blessed Day!

Grow

Grow…

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. ~ 1 Peter 2:2

A new believer … an infant disciple and follower of Jesus … has an unfamiliar and challenging journey of faith ahead of them. Like newborn babies, we must learn to sit up and crawl before we can walk. We are first nourished with milk before we have teeth strong enough to eat solid food. (Cf. Hebrews 5:13-14) The born-again experience is simply the beginning of a new life in Christ Jesus; and from there, we are admonished to grow in every aspect of grace that faith brings us as we progress in maturity. Indeed, Peter admonishes us to live holy and godly lives in light of the soon return of our Lord Jesus! (2 Peter 3) And we can do so as we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18)

Now, more than ever, we need to be growing in grace. It is only through the Gospel that we truly understand the manifold graces of God. For in Jesus, we receive and experience the incomparable riches of God’s grace. In Him we have redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of sins. (Ephesians 1:7) Through Him we receive peace with God and receive eternal life! (John 3:36) Yes, these are just some of the expressions of God’s unmerited lovingkindness toward us in His Son. (Cf. 1 John 4:9-10; Ephesians 2:6-7) So, let us grow in full understanding of His grace in order to grow up in our salvation.

Likewise, in this generation of the Church, we need to be growing in knowledge of our Lord Jesus; increasing in all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives; and abounding in the grace that produced our faith through the Word of God, so that we can live lives worthy of the callings we have received. (Cf. Colossians 1:9-14) Each one of us needs to find our spiritual giftings and take our place of service in the Body of Christ, so that corporately we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Cf. Ephesians 4:1-16)

My friends, growth is a natural process both physically and spiritually. It is readily seen in our human maturation process; and we can certainly ascertain if our spiritual growth is keeping in step. Our Lord Jesus has called us all to flourish in body, soul, and spirit! We are fashioned for growth through the exercising of our Holy Spirit appointed roles within the Church … fulfilling the good works that God ordained in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

So, today I pray that we will always be diligent and passionate in our pursuit of spiritual growth! Let us persevere in every act produced by faith, every effort prompted by love, and every hope inspired by our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:3) Yes, let us stay connected to the glorious Head so that the whole Body will grow has God causes it to grow. (Colossians 2:19) Amen.

Have a Blessed Day!

New

New…

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Happy New Year!

Today is the day we mark as the beginning of a new course around the sun. It is a day for new aspirations and dreams; a day of resolutions and setting of goals for ourselves; a day to make plans for our futures. It is a day when we tend to reflect on the year gone by as we resolve and forge expectations for a better year ahead. But I am prayerful that today will be a day when believers are reminded of the miraculous newness we have received in Christ Jesus since our new birth.

The Cambridge English Dictionary defines the word NEWNESS as the quality of having been recently created; not existing before or having started to exist recently; the quality of being different from other similar things; the fact of not yet being familiar or experienced with something.

Newness certainly describes our rebirth, does it not? (Cf. John 1:10-13; John 3:1-5) We have become a new creation in Christ! “For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.” (Romans 6:6-7) Indeed, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

So, let us reflect on our experience of newness in Christ. Since beginning a new life in Christ, have we continued to grow into the likeness of Him? Have we been further conformed to His image? (Romans 8:29) Or has familiarity settled in over time? Has your spiritual life been overtaken by the mundane practice of religious ceremonies and rituals? Has your zeal and spiritual fervor begun to wan? (Cf. Romans 12:11) Jesus maintained that true worshippers would worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth. (Cf. John 4:21-24) And this implicates the necessity of continually abiding in Jesus. (Cf. John 15:4-8)

My friends, our new lives found in Christ Jesus should be perpetual and unwavering! We have been taught, with regard to our former way of life, to put off the old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of our minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24) So, I pray that as we begin this New Year, each of us will have a fresh, urgent desire to walk in the newness of life received in Christ Jesus. (Cf. Romans 6-4) Yes, let us put new wine into new wineskins during this coming year so that both are preserved. (Cf. Matthew 9:17) Let us cleanse out the old leaven that we may become a new lump. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 5:7) Intentionally rekindle your new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator. (Colossians 3:10)

Have a Blessed Day!

Chosen…

Chosen…

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession. ~ Deuteronomy 7:6

What does it mean to be “chosen”? The Oxford Dictionary defines the verb this way: “Having been selected as the best or most appropriate.” Notice that the word indicates past tense. Chosen is an action that has already taken place. The Collins Dictionary states the adjective means: “Picked out by preference.” Further, Vocabulary.com defines the noun as “One who is the object of choice; who is given preference.” I especially like the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition: “One who is the object of choice or divine favor – an elect person; one who selected or marked for favor or special privilege.”

From the beginning, Scripture informs us of this theological concept of divine election:

Genesis 6:7-8 (NIV)

So, the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” But Noah found favor (grace) in the eyes of the Lord.

Genesis 18:18-19 (NIV)

Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what He has promised him.

Throughout the Old and New Testaments, we see that God chose certain individuals to accomplish His purposes for His creation. And because God is omniscient, knowing the end from the beginning, His elect were ordained before the creation of the world. As Paul affirmed: “For He (God) chose us in Him (Christ Jesus) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will— to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. (Ephesians 1:4-6)

In this biblical context, I ask again, “Do we as believers truly understand the implications and significance of being chosen by God?” Is not the thought of being chosen by God for redemption and eternal salvation one of miraculous wonder? As I mediated on this reality this morning, I became overwhelmed in my heart. To understand that we are “chosen” by the Creator brought a deep, reverential fear to my soul. While I felt immense gratitude and praised the Lord for His unmerited kindness and grace; I realized the gravity of responsibility that election brings with it….

When I was a child and played outdoors with my neighborhood friends, we would gather to play a game of baseball, basketball, or football. The best players would be team leaders, and they would choose other players for their teams. I would be anxious because I was not usually selected first, second, or even third round. Still, I would be chosen for a team. I can remember how desperately I wanted to make a big play, score points, or otherwise prove my ability to contribute to our success … to demonstrate worthiness for my selection … to be the winner at the end of the game.

This morning, I was confronted with the same conviction during my prayer time. The God of the Universe had chosen me to be on His team … to bring and use the talents that He sovereignly gifted me for this life, and to contribute those talents in such a way as to do His will on earth as it is done in heaven. Indeed, “For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” (Romans 8:29) Needless to say, I was filled with tears of regret and remorse. Father God often wanted to put me in the game, but too often I was content to sit on the bench. Lord Jesus, I pray you would forgive me this wrong….

1 Peter 1:1-2 (NIV)

To God’s elect … who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

1 Peter 2:9-10 (NIV)

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

My friends, I pray that we will reflect deeper on our election. We were chosen for an ordained purpose – to commit our lives to His service and to fulfill our individual roles in the Kingdom of God. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10) Therefore, let us be even more diligent to make our calling and election sure. (2 Peter 1:10) Yes, we have graciously been chosen for eternal redemption; and our Father has ordained that we should serve Him with our whole being. Amen.

1 John 4:9-11 (NKJV)

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atonement for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Have a Blessed Day!