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What Could Happen…Today?

For July 5, 20201
Many years ago, a pastor challenged me to use my gifts, talents, and abilities constructively for the Kingdom, which ultimately beggs this question, “If we were to give ourselves to the Lord completely, living according to the Bible, and trusting Him to fulfill His wonderful promises—what could happen to us and to those around us for our good and His glory?“

Trying to answer this question brought about many life-changing experiences over the years; for it implies we no longer depend on our abilities and enterprises exclusively because Christ is the center of our existence, and we depend on Him exclusively.

But, isn’t this how we as Christians are supposed to live anyway? Proverbs 16:9 (NLT) tells us, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” Moreover, Psalm 37:23 tells us our steps are “ordered” by the Lord, who takes delight in every step we take.

Answering the question means our self-centered, self-glorifying plans, goals, and objectives are “out the window,” since they must be Christ-centered, God-honoring, and Bible-based at all times.

In addition, our thoughts, words, and actions are now filtered through a secondary question, “Will what I’m thinking, saying, or doing in at this moment help point someone to Christ?” Unfortunately, this second question has been answered both yes, and no. 

What could happen…even today?

As finite humans, we will ever experience spiritual and moral completion in this life. Yet, we have a wonderful example in Christ, who redeems and transforms us while providing His support and Spirit-power to sustain us.

The Lord is all-sufficient in supplying things beyond our control—especially, how He protects, provides, and guides us at the precise instant and in the precise way we need Him. The more I live, the more I see His divine truth,

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness (Isaiah 41:10 AKJV).

The Lord is with us; watching over us—even when we are not consciously aware of His presence and providence.

None of our “good” works engender boasting since they are merely what He expects of us,

“When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’? No, he says, ‘Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.’ And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty’” (Luke 17:7-10 NLT).

Yet, the Lord lavishly provides us with His forgiveness, freedom, and joy, even though we can never be “good enough” to earn His consideration.

Let us continue to do our best each day using our greatest effort to persevere toward the prize He has reserved for all those who love His appearing (Philippians 3:14, 2 Timothy 4:8). After all; this is all He requires from us.

What a Wonderful Savior!

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Our Christian Life Is Amazing Today!

For June 28, 2020
I beg to differ with those who characterize the Christian faith as merely a “pie-in-the-sky” religion. To them, all we have is eternal bliss in Heaven and nothing to look forward to on earth. This is not so. The Christian faith produces a life of abundance, which begins the moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and it continues for eternity.

Our peace of mind resulting from our peace with God alone, makes our Christian life more precious and fulfilling than anything on earth combined, and it certainly makes life worth living “in real-time” today. In addition, we who embrace the Christian journey have considerable treasures to gain in this life and the next,

The incentive to win is in the glorious perspective we have because we are “looking unto Jesus.” “Looking away from all else, looking at that which fills the heart.” We are going to run, not because of the prize at the end and not because so many illustrious saints have run the course in the past and have been gloriously crowned, but because the vision of Jesus thrills the soul.1

Moreover, as we continue to surrender to Jesus Christ, we experience many, many exciting and fulfilling moments that enhance our knowledge and strengthen our faith in the Lord. This is just as He promises in John 10:7-10 (NLT),

I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

Daily we experience how the Lord loves us, protects us, and provides us with everything we need. Over time, we grow confident that He directs our steps, and that He will never leave or forsake us. These experiences help to solidify our faith in God and in His Word so that we grow to rely on His eternal promises and providence instead of our subjective thoughts and feelings.

Some believe that a tragic past can heighten one’s Christian experience and/or validate one’s Christian witness. This could be based on a flawed notion that we are more effective in serving after having lived tragic lives of sin before coming to Christ. Although it is always proper to celebrate our new life in Christ, yet rating one’s overall effectiveness is up to God.

All of us can benefit from some form of support and accountability to help guard against moral and spiritual failure. However, those who have experienced years of compulsive and addictive behavior should complete some form of clinical treatment in conjunction with their Christian discipleship program before serving in Christian leadership. Such precautions will help us do “no harm” (i.e., not jeopardize the spiritual, physical, emotional, or psychological well-being) to those whom we serve.

Three critical indicators, our hearts, our motives, and God’s perfect will, are essential to our long-term spiritual growth and fulfillment. These indicators adhere to His perspective and purpose, for He knows whether our hearts and motives are vile or pure, and His will shall be revealed accordingly.

The Bible presents a pattern of fruitful relationships with the Lord that begin early and last through life. We who follow this pattern by coming to Christ early, learning God’s Word, attending church, submitting to spiritually mature mentors and pastors in discipleship, and using our gifts in Christian service are living demonstrations of His amazing miraculous power.

We grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18) to share God’s Word properly, so that He can attract, convict, convince, and inspire others unto right thinking and living through us. In this way, we can present His righteousness, grace, and love through our worship, service, and fellowship.

What a Wonderful Savior!

 

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As We Live for Christ, We Change the World!

For June 21, 20201
Christians are to make every effort to “lay aside” the continual practice of sin, particularly the ones we find extremely tantalizing and are within easy reach. Instead, we are to pursue earnestly and heartily His righteousness consistently.

The Lord Jesus Christ makes this observation  in Luke 11:35-36 NKJV (my emphasis):

Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light.

“No part dark” means our lives are faith-driven, Spirit-powered, Christ-centered, and God-honoring quests for spiritual and moral purity publicly and privately, with no “secret” sins.

We strive to be the same spiritual and moral person, whether we are alone or in the company of others. In other words, what we do, and how we act during our regular church services should be the same way we act on Monday at home, work, or school.

Moreover, the “what I do in the privacy of my own home” should never be shameful or embarrassing if ever disclosed publically, since our lives reflect an integrated, consistent ethic that flows from our genuine conversion in Christ,

Sin is turning away from God. As someone has said, it is aversion from God and conversion to the world; and true repentance means conversion to God and aversion to the world. When there is true contrition, the heart is broken for sin; when there is true conversion, the heart is broken from sin. We leave the old life, we are translated out of the kingdom of darkness unto the kingdom of light.2

In Jesus’ Intercessory Prayer, He foretells how His followers live “in the world,” yet they will never become “of the world” (John 17:15-18). This remains true for us today.

Our “spiritual eyes” must remain focused on the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the source and consummation of our faith in God, as His Spirit actively works within us. Thus from the moment we meet Christ onward, ours is a life-long race where our His penetrating words ring true for us each day,

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me (Luke 9:23 NLT).

God commands us to be holy, just as He is holy (Leviticus 20:26). Jesus calls us to be perfect as God is perfect (Matthew 5:48). Jesus is the Vine, and as His branches, we can yield His fruit consistently, just as He states in John 15:5. Won’t we begin changing our world today?

What a Wonderful Savior!

 

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God’s Holy Spirit Abides With Us Today

For June 14, 20201
Before leaving the earth, the Lord promised His Spirit would abide with us and be inside us.

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for Him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because He lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you (John 14:16-18 NLT).

The Holy Spirit molds our thoughts, words, and actions into Christ’s likeness (Sanctification) just as He promises:

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:14–16 KJV).

When the good news of Jesus Christ reaches good soil, it produces good fruit. Having secured our being and position forever, the Lord empowers us to live lives that honor Him.

Forgiven and restored, God gives us the power to “grow up” morally and spiritually. Our works are never performed to achieve Salvation. We work because the Spirit inside us constrains us to make godly, moral choices and perform selfless, noble acts,

That in this conflict the Holy Spirit enables the Christian, through increasing faith, more fully and consciously to appropriate Christ, and thus progressively to make a conquest of the remaining sinfulness of his nature.2

Romans 12:2 (KJV) reads: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Thus with a renewed, willing mind, God gives us a progressive yearning for godly things like reading His Word, praying, worshipping, fellowshipping, and serving others. Simultaneously, He develops within us a growing disdain for worldly things that stunt our spiritual growth and hinder our fellowship with God.

Although we walk in the Spirit by trusting in, surrendering to, and serving our Lord, we will never achieve perfection in this life relying on our strength alone.

Yet, Jesus Christ makes intercession for us when we grieve the Holy Spirit by walking in sin and not in the Spirit. We can disobey or rebel against the Lord out of pride, selfishness, or spite like children having temper tantrums.

But like the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, we “come to ourselves” by turning from our sin and returning to the Lord, mindful of what He did for us at Calvary. Here, we rely on the Lord to strengthen us so that we do not repeat the same sins.

In essence, we grow to understand that although we are imperfect humans, we cannot please the Lord by pursuing sin and selfishness at the same time.

Imperfection does not signal defeat. It only reminds us how far from Christ’s perfection we are and of how we must rely on His Holy Spirit to help us grow stronger each day.

We read in James 4:6 that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Jesus Christ is both Lord and Savior, and those who choose not to acknowledge Him in this life will face Him as Eternal Judge in the next.

For those of us who love Him, and whose faith begins and ends with Him, He is our hope, peace, expectation, and great reward—now and forever.

What a Wonderful Savior!

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God’s Love For Us Today Is Majestic!

For June 7, 20201
Today, the word love has many meanings, although it names our emotional attraction toward someone or something. We can love our jobs, houses, cars, classical music, pizza, and that old pair of comfortable jeans.

The Greeks distinguished parental love (storge) from fraternal love (phileo) from the passion between lovers (eros). Yet, Jesus establishes a new form of love (agape) when He commands,

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:34-35, NKJV).

With His new commandment, the Lord gives His followers permission to love unselfishly and fervently, yet to the same degree that He loves us.

Through our consistent demonstration of His new unselfish love, those whom we encounter will notice the distinction and recognize that we belong to the Lord. His is the highest form of selfless, pure love, completely free from sin, which can only find its source in God.

In our strength alone, we are incapable of expressing such altruistic love, because we always want to know, “What’s in it for us?” before we respond. Although difficult, we can express this love as we yield to His Spirit, who instinctively responds to others through us in the ways that serve their best interests.

God is love, and He continues to express it in magnificent ways, just as He has from the beginning.

When there was nothing, He created the earth and all that is in it to make a perfect habitation for His imperfect humans. Even after we fell and sin contaminated this world, He extended mercy to Adam and Eve by promising the Redeemer who would restore our lost fellowship forever.

God’s love foretold of one who would sit on David’s throne and rule God’s people with justice and mercy. He would also express God’s love completely by nullifying the curse and dominion of sin and by redeeming sin-cursed humanity in righteousness forever.

Jesus loves us so much that He was willing to be stripped of His clothes and affixed to a wooden cross with metal spikes driven through His hands and feet. Instead of commanding legions of angels to come to His rescue, Jesus gave His life to pay the price for our sins.

Three days later, Jesus’ love moved Him to rise from the dead and later caused Him to ascend into Heaven to the right hand of God, where He intercedes for us. His love prompted Him to send the Holy Spirit to give us comfort and companionship while we await His glorious return.

Then we shall know His vast love and glory in full measure for all eternity. Hallelujah!

God’s love desires to provide what is best for us. With His unselfish love, our Lord came to earth and took on the form of a man to redeem even those who refuse to believe in Him. No longer are we without any hope for redemption. God’s love can lift us from the depths of despair to the summit of grace forever. Won’t you accept His majestic love today?

What a Wonderful Savior!

 

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