The Most Important Word: Relationships

“For God so loved the world that He gave…” (John 3:16a).
There are many people who can be reached with the gospel if we are ready before God. Broken relationships hinder the work of God. When you and I set ourselves upright with God by meeting God’s conditions, then the Lord will weigh us with a burden to pray.
Something happens which is inexplicable, humanly impossible, that only God can engineer when we decide God’s purpose is more important in our lives than our own  feelings or bitter feelings we have toward someone.
God can bring more people into our lives to have their needs met when we are ready. We become fulfilled as we see the fruit of God’s Spirit impacting lives of those around us. Nothing ever becomes dynamic until we become specific in our doings before the All-Seeing God that we love. Love is meeting needs. God wants to reach others through us.

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  • On the Shoulders of Others

    “And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him [Moses] in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.”  (Exodus 3:2).

    John Newton, Anglican Pastor from the 1700s who gave us “Amazing Grace”, had a favorite image in the Bible. It was the unconsumed burning bush which Moses saw and from the bush heard the voice of God. To Newton, the bush was a metaphor for Christians who undergo severe suffering.

    He wrote, “Some Christians are called to endure a disproportionate amount of suffering. Such Christians are a spectacle of grace to the church, like flaming bushes unconsumed,  and cause us to ask, like Moses, ‘Why is this bush not burned?’ The strength and stability of these believers can be explained only by the miracle of God’s sustaining grace.”

    There are stalwart saints, like John Newton, William Law, Bishop J.C. Ryle, Elisabeth Elliot, Joni Eareckson Tada, Stephen Davey,  and more who have battled but not burned. Their tough take on suffering has helped deepen my walk with Christ and given me something rich to pass on to others. A spectacle of grace for others to see Jesus in us!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Accountability

    “Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all” (I Tim. 4:15).

    Over the years, our understanding of discipleship has changed — and not always in a good direction.  Discipleship has shifted — from an ongoing process over the course of one’s life to a class you sign up and hopefully complete.  Usually after some time the class that started with twenty dwindles to eight or ten.

    I grew up on the tail end of the “training union” of the late 1960s and early 70s.  But even in this the shortcomings were felt.  Again, it was based upon this premise…you come and sit, I’ll teach.  You and I ought to be dissatisfied with mediocrity.  God has placed in each of us the desire to minister and develop through others.

    Discipleship should not be left to chance.  The Lord Jesus was intentional and calculative from the beginning.  In fact, as Jesus discipled the twelve men who would change the world, He gradually released them into ministry through a definitive four-step process.

    First, Jesus ministered while the disciples watched.
    Second, Jesus allowed the disciples to assist Him in ministry.
    Third, the disciples ministered with Jesus’ assistance.
    Finally, Jesus observed as the disciples ministered to others.

    If Jesus had a model and a plan, shouldn’t we have one?  If discipleship was then, should it not be for today?

  • The Dark Day of Redemption

    “And they shall scourge him, and put him to death. And the third day he shall rise again” (Luke 18:33).

    Three pronouns, one scourging, one death, and One to rise again. Who is this person? Who is Dr. Luke describing? Or better yet, Who is this who is describing himself?

    It is none other than the Son of man. He came to save and to seek those who are lost. What does it mean to be lost? It means to understand that God loved you, satisfied His own righteousness by judging His own Son to death upon a rugged tree for you and for me. He went to the desk of Calvary and paid the bill for you with His own blood, the payment of sin which leads to death.

    To be found means to know that God’s love (His Son) was given to die as you. His mercy will forgive you if you recognize that you are THE Sinner and ask Him. It is His mercy you and I need today. Are you willing to understand that Jesus was scourged in your place, put to death in your place, and rising again proving He died for all your sin and mine.

  • Today Matters

    “And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord today” (2 Chronicles 18:4).

     

    In a day of rush and hurry up, with a mindset to have plenty of leisure so that we may do what we desire, it is good to learn a great lesson. That reminder from the Lord Himself is to “Inquire at the word of the Lord today.”

     

    The Lord Jesus said that we are to learn to lean heavily upon Him. And we lean hard upon Him by relying upon His Word so that we may learn to pray His heart and will. Today is the day of salvation. We need Him to save us and dismantle us from our sin and ourselves.

     

    “The glory of the Father must be the aim and end, the very soul and life of our prayer”, said Andrew Murray. God wants us to be in on what He is up to. Prayer becomes transformational when we embrace the enduring context for all praying.

     

    As we fix our eyes upon Him we will be transformed by the majesty of our great God, the person of Christ, the purity of His Word – and will excite within us an appetite for Him. Oh may we be renewed with a longing for His glory! Inquire of Him.

     

  • How To Give Gifts This Christmas

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    “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

     

    Why do we give? Is it because it is traditional, seasonal, or even promotional? God gave because He loves us and He desires to meet a need. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves–He forgave us and washed away our sin and guilt. We should give to others because we love and we desire to meet a need.

     

    How do we give? We give according to our means. We don’t break the bank. Also, we should plan what we give ahead of time. It should be thoughtfully and joyfully given. Your presentation of the gift reflects a part of you and your love for them.

     

    What do we give? When we give we do according to how well we know the recipient. What are their likes, needs, and experiences? Will the gift match them? It takes thought and contemplation to find the right gift for the right person.

     

    How do we receive a gift? Remember that our relationship to the giver is more important than the gift. We should be thankful and appreciative for the thoughtfulness, effort, and cost of the gift. We should receive the gift with a humble attitude. After the gift is opened expressing gratitude sincerely is appropriate and right.

     

    There are some gifts that cost little in monetary value. It could be to keep the children for an evening, helping a neighbor clean their house, taking someone to the doctor, helping to fix a dripping sink, etc. God blesses those who give and He enables all to give.

     

  • Power in Death

    “And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry” (Matthew 17:23).

    The Lord Jesus left heaven to come to “the cross” and die. Why would he die? One reason was to break the back of Satan and to crush his head. Satan deals mischief to humanity with his lies and murders and God sent his only son to break him and to banish him to eternal hell.

    You and I are a part of this great ministry. Malachi tells us “And you shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts” (Mal. 4.3). There is a coming day where we will rule with Christ and God will put down all rebellion against His Son. He will use us to occupy for Him.

    There is coming “a” day and there is “this” day in which He invites us to do His bidding. Through discipline, prayer, the study of His Word we are cultivated and nurtured daily so as to defeat Satan and his tactics in the lives of others.

    Remember the reason our Lord died. He was raised again to prove our sins are forgiven and He reigns on high to put all enemies under His feet and He has come to indwell us as to live through us so that we may be co-laborers so with Him.

    Today are we living in the power of the third day? Have we taken time to be with Jesus? Are we sharp and focused now on the power of Christ in you? Don’t grow self-indulgent, or neglect prayer, for your faith will be weakened. Stay spiritually healthy and strong in the Lord.