For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
All those whom the Father beckons to him are made and conformed into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. We all were made to be perfect vessels of God, idols in which God dwells and images that reflect his glory. (Gen 1:27) But just as a cracked pot cannot hold water, a sinful person cannot hold God. That is why we are being formed and conformed to the image or likeness of the Son, the perfect human container of God, in order that we too might hold life and life in abundance. Without God, we are but empty shells. We were made to hold Him.
So how does one so large and so infinite as the Creator God fit inside a person? The answer is simply that He does not, but rather he fills and overflows in you so that you may be poured out again and again and yet always being filled. Our God is a never ending spring and whoever drinks of him shall never thirst again not because they will never again have need of water, but they will have water in abundance and will never go without.
There is not just a "God shaped void" in our lives, but our entire being is a void to be filled. We were born with nothing and will leave with nothing because we were meant to hold eternity within us. We were meant for God.
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Isaiah 1:24-26
"Therefore the Lord, the LORD Almighty,
the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
“Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes
and avenge myself on my enemies.
I will turn my hand against you;
I will thoroughly purge away your dross
and remove all your impurities.
I will restore your leaders as in days of old,
your rulers as at the beginning.
Afterward you will be called
the City of Righteousness,
the Faithful City."
God never ceases to amaze. God vents his wrath not for the sake of destroying sinners, but to restore his holy people. His turning of his hand against us is the same as his removing all unrighteousness. He wants to restore us back to what were were at the beginning so that afterward we would be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful city.
However, the restoration and purification of God's elect involves the removal of those who are not God's elect. All who have sinned and gone astray will be purged as dross so that only the faithful remain. But not one of us is elect. All have sinned and are unrighteous, only to be purged, had not God sent His Righteous One to intercede for us. Only one has been faithful and obedient, Jesus Christ, and it is only as we find ourselves in him that we take part in the life of the elect for only Christ is elect. For the sake of one righteous man, God spared the world.
the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
“Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes
and avenge myself on my enemies.
I will turn my hand against you;
I will thoroughly purge away your dross
and remove all your impurities.
I will restore your leaders as in days of old,
your rulers as at the beginning.
Afterward you will be called
the City of Righteousness,
the Faithful City."
God never ceases to amaze. God vents his wrath not for the sake of destroying sinners, but to restore his holy people. His turning of his hand against us is the same as his removing all unrighteousness. He wants to restore us back to what were were at the beginning so that afterward we would be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful city.
However, the restoration and purification of God's elect involves the removal of those who are not God's elect. All who have sinned and gone astray will be purged as dross so that only the faithful remain. But not one of us is elect. All have sinned and are unrighteous, only to be purged, had not God sent His Righteous One to intercede for us. Only one has been faithful and obedient, Jesus Christ, and it is only as we find ourselves in him that we take part in the life of the elect for only Christ is elect. For the sake of one righteous man, God spared the world.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Isaiah 35:4-6
"Say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert."
Are these not the things that happened when Christ came upon the Earth? When our LORD set foot upon this land, were not the eyes of the blind opened? Did not deaf people hear? Were cripples and paralytics not leaping and rejoicing? And were not the mute shouting with joy in praise of their savior? All these things and more happened when the LORD came with retribution and vengeance, and yet we were spared.
We, who sinned against God and against man, were not paid back an equal measure of divine justice for our wickedness. No, this God who is swift to bring justice instead exacted this wrath upon Satan by using himself as the bait. Our sins were placed on Christ as the worm is placed on the hook, and this time it was Satan who was tempted to take a bite. And so the serpent bit at his heel which in turn crushed his head (Gen 3:15).
So now we have everlasting water so that we may never thirst again. That even though we walk through the wilderness, our God has already been there. His path has been made straight as he leads us to Zion. And we are never alone. Never again will we be alone.
Are these not the things that happened when Christ came upon the Earth? When our LORD set foot upon this land, were not the eyes of the blind opened? Did not deaf people hear? Were cripples and paralytics not leaping and rejoicing? And were not the mute shouting with joy in praise of their savior? All these things and more happened when the LORD came with retribution and vengeance, and yet we were spared.
We, who sinned against God and against man, were not paid back an equal measure of divine justice for our wickedness. No, this God who is swift to bring justice instead exacted this wrath upon Satan by using himself as the bait. Our sins were placed on Christ as the worm is placed on the hook, and this time it was Satan who was tempted to take a bite. And so the serpent bit at his heel which in turn crushed his head (Gen 3:15).
So now we have everlasting water so that we may never thirst again. That even though we walk through the wilderness, our God has already been there. His path has been made straight as he leads us to Zion. And we are never alone. Never again will we be alone.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Romans 16:25-27
"Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen."
Jesus came into the world to bring about the obedience of faith. It is through this obedience of faith that the only wise God is glorified forevermore through Jesus Christ. God is no longer a secret, but plainly seen and beheld by all in the person of Jesus Christ through the obedience of faith, that is, the obedience that is faith.
To believe in the One God has sent is a work (John 6:29) of obedience. We are called to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ (that is the gospel which is Jesus Christ which he also proclaims) (Mark 1:15) and to trust the Lord God. Those who love the Lord then you trust him as well. If you trust God has your best interests in mind, why wouldn't you obey him?
And God has proven himself through Christ to be just and good for while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). He saw us kicking about in our blood and said to us "Live!" (Ezekiel 16:6) So to him who is able to strengthen us through the gospel be the glory forever and ever!
Jesus came into the world to bring about the obedience of faith. It is through this obedience of faith that the only wise God is glorified forevermore through Jesus Christ. God is no longer a secret, but plainly seen and beheld by all in the person of Jesus Christ through the obedience of faith, that is, the obedience that is faith.
To believe in the One God has sent is a work (John 6:29) of obedience. We are called to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ (that is the gospel which is Jesus Christ which he also proclaims) (Mark 1:15) and to trust the Lord God. Those who love the Lord then you trust him as well. If you trust God has your best interests in mind, why wouldn't you obey him?
And God has proven himself through Christ to be just and good for while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). He saw us kicking about in our blood and said to us "Live!" (Ezekiel 16:6) So to him who is able to strengthen us through the gospel be the glory forever and ever!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Mark 1:8
"I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
What does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit? The image here of baptism is one of full immersion. The Greek word baptizo means to submerge, dip, or immerse in water or the act of bathing or washing something by the same action. So then what does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit? If we assume the visual to be the same, it means to be completely submerged and overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit.
The implications of this are huge. We are not talking about some ethereal power filling us up or some sort of mystical inner force. The Holy Spirit is a person, not some mysterious energy. More than that, He is God. Jesus Christ has come to not only be God with us, but to so completely immerse us in God that we are saturated and fully penetrated by him into every fiber of our being. As a sponge soaks up water, so our bodies will fill with the Holy Spirit.
And it changes us. God's eternal presence itself is what changes us. We are no longer dry and lifeless, but saturated with life. It is God who cleanses us by his very being. Jesus has come to baptize us with the Holy Spirit so that we too might experience the life of God forever and ever! Amen!
What does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit? The image here of baptism is one of full immersion. The Greek word baptizo means to submerge, dip, or immerse in water or the act of bathing or washing something by the same action. So then what does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit? If we assume the visual to be the same, it means to be completely submerged and overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit.
The implications of this are huge. We are not talking about some ethereal power filling us up or some sort of mystical inner force. The Holy Spirit is a person, not some mysterious energy. More than that, He is God. Jesus Christ has come to not only be God with us, but to so completely immerse us in God that we are saturated and fully penetrated by him into every fiber of our being. As a sponge soaks up water, so our bodies will fill with the Holy Spirit.
And it changes us. God's eternal presence itself is what changes us. We are no longer dry and lifeless, but saturated with life. It is God who cleanses us by his very being. Jesus has come to baptize us with the Holy Spirit so that we too might experience the life of God forever and ever! Amen!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Psalms 30:14-15a
"But I trust in you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my God."
My times are in your hands;..."
We must not forget that God is not only the God of all there is and all that exists (namely the God of Space), but he is also the God of Time. He set into motion the cycle we call day and night. So important was time to him that he set apart an entire day for rest. Every moment of every hour was created for his glory. Every second of every minute has been ordained according to his purposes. So know God is there with you orchestrating every event to the good of those who love him.
God is in the midst of time to the point where Jesus was sent to us not as a fully grown man but as a tiny infant who grew up in time. When God created the world, he created all of it from start to finish. Everything that is happening now was actually set in motion at the beginning of time and creation. Our times is in His hands.
And we know God is good and just because he has been revealed in Jesus Christ to be so. So we trust in him that in every decision he makes is the right decision to bring the perfect outcome. Even though we have free will, the one who is truly free is the one who realizes he doesn't need it.
I say, "You are my God."
My times are in your hands;..."
We must not forget that God is not only the God of all there is and all that exists (namely the God of Space), but he is also the God of Time. He set into motion the cycle we call day and night. So important was time to him that he set apart an entire day for rest. Every moment of every hour was created for his glory. Every second of every minute has been ordained according to his purposes. So know God is there with you orchestrating every event to the good of those who love him.
God is in the midst of time to the point where Jesus was sent to us not as a fully grown man but as a tiny infant who grew up in time. When God created the world, he created all of it from start to finish. Everything that is happening now was actually set in motion at the beginning of time and creation. Our times is in His hands.
And we know God is good and just because he has been revealed in Jesus Christ to be so. So we trust in him that in every decision he makes is the right decision to bring the perfect outcome. Even though we have free will, the one who is truly free is the one who realizes he doesn't need it.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Mark 1:1-2
"The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet..."
The gospel according to Mark does not begin at Jesus's birth like in Matthew and Luke, but begins in Isaiah 40. Those familiar with the Old Testament (Mark and potentially his Jewish/Christian audience) know what Isaiah 40 is about from memory. It announces there will be comfort for God's people and that sin has been paid for. (Isaiah 40:1-2) It announces the coming of the LORD and the revelation of His glory and one who will prepare His way for Him. (Is 40:3-5) And though we are but temporary, the Lord is everlasting and his kingdom will have no end. (Is 40:6ff)
Mark is not only saying that the LORD is coming with power to rule with a mighty arm, but in the gentlest of ways as a shepherd tends his flock (Is 40:9-11), but that he is here and his name is Jesus Christ. This God in Christ, who created the world and whom none can fathom (Is 40:12-14) and is incomparable (Is 40:15-26) is now seen and touched and accessible by all. He is here to give strength to the weary and power to the weak so that all who trust in the LORD will renew their strength and soar on wings like eagles. (Isaiah 40:27-31)
And that, my friends, is only the beginning, the beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.
The gospel according to Mark does not begin at Jesus's birth like in Matthew and Luke, but begins in Isaiah 40. Those familiar with the Old Testament (Mark and potentially his Jewish/Christian audience) know what Isaiah 40 is about from memory. It announces there will be comfort for God's people and that sin has been paid for. (Isaiah 40:1-2) It announces the coming of the LORD and the revelation of His glory and one who will prepare His way for Him. (Is 40:3-5) And though we are but temporary, the Lord is everlasting and his kingdom will have no end. (Is 40:6ff)
Mark is not only saying that the LORD is coming with power to rule with a mighty arm, but in the gentlest of ways as a shepherd tends his flock (Is 40:9-11), but that he is here and his name is Jesus Christ. This God in Christ, who created the world and whom none can fathom (Is 40:12-14) and is incomparable (Is 40:15-26) is now seen and touched and accessible by all. He is here to give strength to the weary and power to the weak so that all who trust in the LORD will renew their strength and soar on wings like eagles. (Isaiah 40:27-31)
And that, my friends, is only the beginning, the beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Isaiah 55:1
"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."
What does it cost to get into heaven? What must I do and how should I worship? These are the most common questions people ask about heaven to which the most common answer is "be a good person". The answer is wrong simply because the questions are also wrong. Heaven is absolutely free to get into. It was bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ and you simply need to believe in the message of Jesus Christ. Simple right?
Actually, it absolutely is. God needs absolutely nothing from you. He's GOD, he doesn't need anything because everything is already his. Heaven is already yours if you believe what God has said. He has already done everything for you so you need not do anything.
However, if you truly believed in God, we can expect certain reactions: Thanksgiving and worship of God, faith in what he has done, living a full life according to God's word, and lastly testifying in love and truth to the graciousness of our God. None of these things buy salvation because salvation is free and because it is free, these things are sure to follow those who believe it.
So how do you get to heaven? Don't do anything but rather respond to what has already been done!
What does it cost to get into heaven? What must I do and how should I worship? These are the most common questions people ask about heaven to which the most common answer is "be a good person". The answer is wrong simply because the questions are also wrong. Heaven is absolutely free to get into. It was bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ and you simply need to believe in the message of Jesus Christ. Simple right?
Actually, it absolutely is. God needs absolutely nothing from you. He's GOD, he doesn't need anything because everything is already his. Heaven is already yours if you believe what God has said. He has already done everything for you so you need not do anything.
However, if you truly believed in God, we can expect certain reactions: Thanksgiving and worship of God, faith in what he has done, living a full life according to God's word, and lastly testifying in love and truth to the graciousness of our God. None of these things buy salvation because salvation is free and because it is free, these things are sure to follow those who believe it.
So how do you get to heaven? Don't do anything but rather respond to what has already been done!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Revelation 5:12
In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
Worthy is the lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world. Perhaps the image isn't striking immediately until you start to think about what a lamb looks like after being slaughtered (graphic link, click at own risk). Verse 6 describes this Lamb as "looking as if it had been slain" and since Revelation is a book of symbols, this lamb is none other than Christ. It is this mutilated and twisted Lamb who is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise.
But this lamb to us was worthy of only death. This is our God depicted in the most humble and gruesome of ways. This is our God who was nailed to a cross and was silent as a lamb before the slaughter is silent. (Isaiah 53:7). What blessed backwardsness is this? Why is man judging God instead of the other way around?
But the truth is, God did judge us by sending Jesus Christ not to condemn the world but to save it. (John 3:17) He sentenced us not to death, but to life and life abundant so that all who remain in Christ die to sin as Christ did but are born again into new and everlasting life. We esteemed him not, but God deemed him worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise.
Worthy is the lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world. Perhaps the image isn't striking immediately until you start to think about what a lamb looks like after being slaughtered (graphic link, click at own risk). Verse 6 describes this Lamb as "looking as if it had been slain" and since Revelation is a book of symbols, this lamb is none other than Christ. It is this mutilated and twisted Lamb who is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise.
But this lamb to us was worthy of only death. This is our God depicted in the most humble and gruesome of ways. This is our God who was nailed to a cross and was silent as a lamb before the slaughter is silent. (Isaiah 53:7). What blessed backwardsness is this? Why is man judging God instead of the other way around?
But the truth is, God did judge us by sending Jesus Christ not to condemn the world but to save it. (John 3:17) He sentenced us not to death, but to life and life abundant so that all who remain in Christ die to sin as Christ did but are born again into new and everlasting life. We esteemed him not, but God deemed him worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Isaiah 41:9-10
"I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
A passage originally intended for the chosen people of Israel is now extended to all believers by the power of atoning work of Jesus Christ. It is in this act that God has chosen to be for us that nothing may be against us. God is free to be any sort of God he likes to be, and in his freedom He has chosen to be our God. Because god is holy he has called out from the farthest corners a people for himself (what once was Israel and now is the Church) to be a nation of priests and servants.
And so it is that if God has chosen to be for you and your good, who can stop him? Who can stop the Almighty One from doing what he wants to do? No one, and that is good news indeed!
A passage originally intended for the chosen people of Israel is now extended to all believers by the power of atoning work of Jesus Christ. It is in this act that God has chosen to be for us that nothing may be against us. God is free to be any sort of God he likes to be, and in his freedom He has chosen to be our God. Because god is holy he has called out from the farthest corners a people for himself (what once was Israel and now is the Church) to be a nation of priests and servants.
And so it is that if God has chosen to be for you and your good, who can stop him? Who can stop the Almighty One from doing what he wants to do? No one, and that is good news indeed!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
1 John 3:2
"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."
It is when we look upon Christ "as he is" that "we shall be like him". God has created us to be in his image, that is the human image of Christ, so that we might always reflect God's glory. Like mirrors, we shine only that which we behold. So if our eyes are turned towards Christ, will they not reflect his glory as the risen Son of God exalted to the right hand of the Father?
We are children of God. We are mere children who have not yet grown into heavenly adults with all the rights and privileges of kingdom citizenship. We cannot yet vote in the Kingdom. Our adult bodies may fool us into thinking we are grown, they are but flesh and not spirit. But he who looks upon Christ shall be mature in spirit, perfect in every way and as verse 3 puts it, "pure as he is pure".
But rest assured, my beloved, you will be men and women of God by the power of simply beholding the risen Christ slain from the foundation of the world. As you draw nearer to Christ your vision of him will only become clearer until the great and fearful day of his coming when you will see him as he truly is: The risen messiah, broken for you.
It is when we look upon Christ "as he is" that "we shall be like him". God has created us to be in his image, that is the human image of Christ, so that we might always reflect God's glory. Like mirrors, we shine only that which we behold. So if our eyes are turned towards Christ, will they not reflect his glory as the risen Son of God exalted to the right hand of the Father?
We are children of God. We are mere children who have not yet grown into heavenly adults with all the rights and privileges of kingdom citizenship. We cannot yet vote in the Kingdom. Our adult bodies may fool us into thinking we are grown, they are but flesh and not spirit. But he who looks upon Christ shall be mature in spirit, perfect in every way and as verse 3 puts it, "pure as he is pure".
But rest assured, my beloved, you will be men and women of God by the power of simply beholding the risen Christ slain from the foundation of the world. As you draw nearer to Christ your vision of him will only become clearer until the great and fearful day of his coming when you will see him as he truly is: The risen messiah, broken for you.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
1 John 5:10
"Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son."
God sent his Son into the world to bear witness on our behalf. The testimony of Jesus Christ is that though we are guilty, we shall be declared not guilty. We are justified and set free from punishment. This is the testimony God has concerning us, that though we have sinned, all is forgiven.
However those who do not believe this message and thus does not trust in the Son of God makes God out to be a liar.
When faced with this beautiful truth, it is unthinkable that anyone should respond by crucifying Christ. A messenger brings good news and he is insulted, beaten, and killed instead of welcomed. They do not believe the gospel of Jesus Christ and so accuse God of being a liar. How broken are we that beautiful truths bring pain when we hear them? Oh how far we've fallen!
As anyone who has gone through an abusive relationship can tell you, after being told lies and being put down all your life, you can hardly believe when people tell you the truth. You cannot believe someone loves you and moreover, it actually hurts when someone speaks to you words of affirmation. Believe in the good news and be patient with those enslaved by the world. God is not a liar.
God sent his Son into the world to bear witness on our behalf. The testimony of Jesus Christ is that though we are guilty, we shall be declared not guilty. We are justified and set free from punishment. This is the testimony God has concerning us, that though we have sinned, all is forgiven.
However those who do not believe this message and thus does not trust in the Son of God makes God out to be a liar.
When faced with this beautiful truth, it is unthinkable that anyone should respond by crucifying Christ. A messenger brings good news and he is insulted, beaten, and killed instead of welcomed. They do not believe the gospel of Jesus Christ and so accuse God of being a liar. How broken are we that beautiful truths bring pain when we hear them? Oh how far we've fallen!
As anyone who has gone through an abusive relationship can tell you, after being told lies and being put down all your life, you can hardly believe when people tell you the truth. You cannot believe someone loves you and moreover, it actually hurts when someone speaks to you words of affirmation. Believe in the good news and be patient with those enslaved by the world. God is not a liar.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
1 John 1:1
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life."
You really need to take a step back to enjoy the full enormity of this sentence.
That which is from the beginning is God. Not any god, but the Triune Creator God, the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit who was, is and is to come. He is the eternal one and the basis upon which all theing draw their being. He IS by definition and cannot NOT BE. He is the great "I AM", unchanging and unfathomable and untouched by time. However...
This creator God speaks to us so that we might hear him. Christ appears to us so that we might see him. But this is standard fare as religions go. They all have their own mystical experiences and visions and voices from the beyond. But what is unthinkable is that we have touched Him. We touched the fabric of all being. At one point , our God was made manifest on Earth and we could physically touch his hands and kiss his cheek and feel comforted by his embrace. We have touched the Word of life because he has reached out and touched us first so that we might live again and live eternally in fellowship with him and each other so that our joy may be complete. Who is like the LORD?
You really need to take a step back to enjoy the full enormity of this sentence.
That which is from the beginning is God. Not any god, but the Triune Creator God, the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit who was, is and is to come. He is the eternal one and the basis upon which all theing draw their being. He IS by definition and cannot NOT BE. He is the great "I AM", unchanging and unfathomable and untouched by time. However...
This creator God speaks to us so that we might hear him. Christ appears to us so that we might see him. But this is standard fare as religions go. They all have their own mystical experiences and visions and voices from the beyond. But what is unthinkable is that we have touched Him. We touched the fabric of all being. At one point , our God was made manifest on Earth and we could physically touch his hands and kiss his cheek and feel comforted by his embrace. We have touched the Word of life because he has reached out and touched us first so that we might live again and live eternally in fellowship with him and each other so that our joy may be complete. Who is like the LORD?
Monday, July 11, 2011
Luke 9:13-14
"But Jesus said, “You feed them.”
“But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Or are you expecting us to go and buy enough food for this whole crowd?” For there were about 5,000 men there."
This was 5,000 men, not including women and children. The problem here is complex and not easily solved with money. To feed this multitude of people would cost 200 years worth of wages and all that was had was two fish and five loaves of bread. But when they shared all that they had, they still had extra to collect.
So if you care enough to ask as Jesus's disciples did, "Who will feed all these people?" You shouldn't be surprised to hear Jesus say, "You feed them." Jesus gives a very simple and practical solution to a very complex problem. So simple, in fact, that it seems he doesn't grasp the situation or is being inconsiderate and uncaring. But Jesus Christ is God and no one understands the situation better than He and still he says, "You feed them."
Jesus doesn't expect you to go out and spend your entire life savings feeding people. He knows you don't have that kind of money and one person alone cannot solve world hunger. However, as God has provided you with what little or what plenty you have, share it and God will make it enough.
“But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Or are you expecting us to go and buy enough food for this whole crowd?” For there were about 5,000 men there."
This was 5,000 men, not including women and children. The problem here is complex and not easily solved with money. To feed this multitude of people would cost 200 years worth of wages and all that was had was two fish and five loaves of bread. But when they shared all that they had, they still had extra to collect.
So if you care enough to ask as Jesus's disciples did, "Who will feed all these people?" You shouldn't be surprised to hear Jesus say, "You feed them." Jesus gives a very simple and practical solution to a very complex problem. So simple, in fact, that it seems he doesn't grasp the situation or is being inconsiderate and uncaring. But Jesus Christ is God and no one understands the situation better than He and still he says, "You feed them."
Jesus doesn't expect you to go out and spend your entire life savings feeding people. He knows you don't have that kind of money and one person alone cannot solve world hunger. However, as God has provided you with what little or what plenty you have, share it and God will make it enough.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
1 Corinthians 10:23
"“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up."
Paul in his letter to the Corinthians does not refute their statement but adds onto it. In Christ there is no condemnation for sin (Rom 8:1) and no eternal punishment for laws that are broken. How can there be if Christ died for all sin and was raised for all glory? For the Christian, all things are lawful and permissible. You can do anything you want with the freedom Christ gives you. Paul acknowledges this but asks a deeper question, "Why would you?"
Those who have been touched by grace and have been shown God's favor have no need to keep on sinning. God's love and kindness leads them to repentance (Rom 2:4), no longer his righteous judgments. In our new found freedom, we are free to pursue relationship with God without consequence. That is the gift of grace and of the cross of Christ. No longer must we fear stumbling, but we can boldly approach the throne of grace without fear of reproach. If you died with Christ, Sin has no hold on you and death has lost it's power. Don't you believe it?
Do not ask "If Jesus paid it all, why can't I go on sinning?" If you truly believed Jesus paid it all, you know why. Don't waste your time sinning when there is a harvest to gain and treasures to store up in heaven.
Paul in his letter to the Corinthians does not refute their statement but adds onto it. In Christ there is no condemnation for sin (Rom 8:1) and no eternal punishment for laws that are broken. How can there be if Christ died for all sin and was raised for all glory? For the Christian, all things are lawful and permissible. You can do anything you want with the freedom Christ gives you. Paul acknowledges this but asks a deeper question, "Why would you?"
Those who have been touched by grace and have been shown God's favor have no need to keep on sinning. God's love and kindness leads them to repentance (Rom 2:4), no longer his righteous judgments. In our new found freedom, we are free to pursue relationship with God without consequence. That is the gift of grace and of the cross of Christ. No longer must we fear stumbling, but we can boldly approach the throne of grace without fear of reproach. If you died with Christ, Sin has no hold on you and death has lost it's power. Don't you believe it?
Do not ask "If Jesus paid it all, why can't I go on sinning?" If you truly believed Jesus paid it all, you know why. Don't waste your time sinning when there is a harvest to gain and treasures to store up in heaven.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Romans 9:22-23
"What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath--prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory?"
Who are the objects of divine wrath that God bore with great patience? Who are the ones prepared for destruction that God did endure with long suffering and steadfastness? Ephesians 2:3 says this, "Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath." All of us together are objects of God's divine wrath. God has put up with us for so long, with great patience and understanding. We begin to see just how slow to anger this God is. (Ex 34:6)
And what is the miracle? That we were prepared for destruction but we were not destroyed. Those who were once dead are now alive. Those who were not God's people are called God's people. Those who were not God's beloved have become loved. Ephesians 2:4 says, "But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- It is by grace you have been saved."
So then who are the objects of Mercy? All who are made alive in Christ. God has carried each and every single one of us. He has carried the weight of our sin in Christ his Son and has poured out his wrath on him so that all might not perish but a remnant would remain. He did this so that no one may boast but in Christ alone to the glory of his eternal name. Amen!
Who are the objects of divine wrath that God bore with great patience? Who are the ones prepared for destruction that God did endure with long suffering and steadfastness? Ephesians 2:3 says this, "Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath." All of us together are objects of God's divine wrath. God has put up with us for so long, with great patience and understanding. We begin to see just how slow to anger this God is. (Ex 34:6)
And what is the miracle? That we were prepared for destruction but we were not destroyed. Those who were once dead are now alive. Those who were not God's people are called God's people. Those who were not God's beloved have become loved. Ephesians 2:4 says, "But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- It is by grace you have been saved."
So then who are the objects of Mercy? All who are made alive in Christ. God has carried each and every single one of us. He has carried the weight of our sin in Christ his Son and has poured out his wrath on him so that all might not perish but a remnant would remain. He did this so that no one may boast but in Christ alone to the glory of his eternal name. Amen!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
John 15:13
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
Someone once asked me what it means that I loved them. I thought about it for a second and this was my reply:
"It means that I would do anything for you, even if it hurt me."
Indeed the deepest and truest love is self-sacrificial in nature. It gives of itself and never expects return. It is crazy love, the kind of thing that makes you do all sorts of things you otherwise would never dream of doing. What's crazier is that when Jesus says this, he is only foreshadowing his own death for his friends. And while we were still enemies (Rom 5:10), he called us friends! (John 15:15)
God would do anything for us, even if it hurt him, even if it cost him his one and only beloved Son. He paid the price anyway because of his love, he knew it would all be worth it in the end. Oh how he loves us! It's a love that overlooks all of our faults and failures and sees only us. God is crazy to love us because he is crazy in love with us.
Someone once asked me what it means that I loved them. I thought about it for a second and this was my reply:
"It means that I would do anything for you, even if it hurt me."
Indeed the deepest and truest love is self-sacrificial in nature. It gives of itself and never expects return. It is crazy love, the kind of thing that makes you do all sorts of things you otherwise would never dream of doing. What's crazier is that when Jesus says this, he is only foreshadowing his own death for his friends. And while we were still enemies (Rom 5:10), he called us friends! (John 15:15)
God would do anything for us, even if it hurt him, even if it cost him his one and only beloved Son. He paid the price anyway because of his love, he knew it would all be worth it in the end. Oh how he loves us! It's a love that overlooks all of our faults and failures and sees only us. God is crazy to love us because he is crazy in love with us.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Acts 10:15
"Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.""
Are you holy? Have you been washed by the blood of Jesus Christ? Has the cross taken away all of your sins?
Truly if you are in Christ by faith in his blood then you are holy. God has pardoned you. Because you believed God has done what he has promised, it has been credited to you as righteousness.(Gen 15:6) So what God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy. You are a new creation (2Cor 5:17) not because of anything you did, but because God cleansed you. You are holy because God is holy and is the one who makes you holy. (Lev 21:7,15,23;22:9,16,32)
So do not blaspheme God by calling what is holy unholy. If you have believed in Christ, do not dare to deny what Christ has done through confessing your sinful nature. You are no longer sinners, but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1Cor 6:11) You have died to it,(Rom 6:2) how can you still confess to be in it? Profess that "Though I was once a sinner, Christ took away my sin, and by his Power I am kept holy, pure, and blameless" lest you deny the reality of that which justifies you, Christ Jesus and him crucified.
Or do you not believe the gospel of grace so generously poured out on your behalf?
Are you holy? Have you been washed by the blood of Jesus Christ? Has the cross taken away all of your sins?
Truly if you are in Christ by faith in his blood then you are holy. God has pardoned you. Because you believed God has done what he has promised, it has been credited to you as righteousness.(Gen 15:6) So what God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy. You are a new creation (2Cor 5:17) not because of anything you did, but because God cleansed you. You are holy because God is holy and is the one who makes you holy. (Lev 21:7,15,23;22:9,16,32)
So do not blaspheme God by calling what is holy unholy. If you have believed in Christ, do not dare to deny what Christ has done through confessing your sinful nature. You are no longer sinners, but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1Cor 6:11) You have died to it,(Rom 6:2) how can you still confess to be in it? Profess that "Though I was once a sinner, Christ took away my sin, and by his Power I am kept holy, pure, and blameless" lest you deny the reality of that which justifies you, Christ Jesus and him crucified.
Or do you not believe the gospel of grace so generously poured out on your behalf?
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Philippians 1:27
"Whatever happens, above all else conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel"
No matter what, we are in this together. That is the message Paul is giving us in Philippians. This is the first command he gives and it is also the most important. Above all else, do this. It is a call to unity and to endure together no matter what comes of him, whether he lives or dies in prison. But why is it so important that the church be unified?
In John 17, Jesus Christ prays for all believers to be one just as He and the Father are one in order that the world would know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
It is through our unity that Christ proves his divinity.
It is our unity that shows the world that there exists a God in heaven who loves them.
It is our unity that brings about saving faith that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
It not only saves others, but it saves us as well.
And so not only our salvation but the salvation of the entire world depends on the church standing firm together.
No matter what, we are in this together. That is the message Paul is giving us in Philippians. This is the first command he gives and it is also the most important. Above all else, do this. It is a call to unity and to endure together no matter what comes of him, whether he lives or dies in prison. But why is it so important that the church be unified?
In John 17, Jesus Christ prays for all believers to be one just as He and the Father are one in order that the world would know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
It is through our unity that Christ proves his divinity.
It is our unity that shows the world that there exists a God in heaven who loves them.
It is our unity that brings about saving faith that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
It not only saves others, but it saves us as well.
And so not only our salvation but the salvation of the entire world depends on the church standing firm together.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Jeremiah 16:4
"They shall die of deadly diseases. They shall not be lamented, nor shall they be buried. They shall be as dung on the surface of the ground. They shall perish by the sword and by famine, and their dead bodies shall be food for the birds of the air and for the beasts of the earth."
God warns Israel not to have children.This verse is why. During the hardship brought on by the onslaught of war, children are the first to suffer and die. The LORD, the God of Hosts, is going to do the most horrific thing imaginable, that is, give us exactly what we want.
Because we have forsaken the LORD to follow other gods, he has given us over to them. He will no longer seek after us and his divine favor and protection will no more follow us. He lets us chase after the false gods of money, lust, fame, and power. He lets us reap the destruction we have wrought.
But blessed is the man who returns to God! Blessed is he who God disciplines so that he does not pay the price of his own transgression! The LORD says, "Return to me and I will return to you" no questions asked. Once you've tasted the destruction false gods bring you will know that He is the LORD and there is none like him. As surely as you have gotten yourself into this mess, the LORD has given you a way out.
God warns Israel not to have children.This verse is why. During the hardship brought on by the onslaught of war, children are the first to suffer and die. The LORD, the God of Hosts, is going to do the most horrific thing imaginable, that is, give us exactly what we want.
Because we have forsaken the LORD to follow other gods, he has given us over to them. He will no longer seek after us and his divine favor and protection will no more follow us. He lets us chase after the false gods of money, lust, fame, and power. He lets us reap the destruction we have wrought.
But blessed is the man who returns to God! Blessed is he who God disciplines so that he does not pay the price of his own transgression! The LORD says, "Return to me and I will return to you" no questions asked. Once you've tasted the destruction false gods bring you will know that He is the LORD and there is none like him. As surely as you have gotten yourself into this mess, the LORD has given you a way out.
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