“For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin” (Romans 7:14 NKJV).
Last week I was at a bridal shower. One of the ladies read an “advice to the bride” item from the 1950's. The women were laughing at such things as, “Prepare yourself for your husband’s arrival home . . . put on a clean dress, tidy up the house . . . meet him at the door.”
Something inside me felt hurt. My husband loves to be met at the door, loves to come home to cleanliness, order, and a happy wife. I’m not always what I should be, but I know that expressing love to him in this way is good for our marriage. I don’t do those things because someone wrote a list of rules, but because I care about him and our relationship.
All of God’s law describes what people would act like if they kept the two major decrees: love Him and love their neighbors as themselves. These are not intended to be a ‘list of rules’ but a revelation of what God knows is important for our lives.
It was also His intention that we keep His law from the heart, not mere outward observance. When I drive the city freeway, do I keep the speed limit because I’m afraid of getting a ticket? Or do I do it because I am a law-abiding person who agrees that this is how fast I should go? Am I watching over my shoulder for a black-and-white? Or happy to drive safely?
The speaker on a recent radio sermon said that the Old Testament laws were about relationship. If a person loved God, they were happy to keep His laws, and did it without strain or resentment. If not, they would resist the law, or simply fake it, like the little boy who sat down as he was ordered, but told his father, “I’m standing up on the inside.”
Jesus said the law was good; our problem becomes clear when we try to obey it. We either cannot, or we make it an external observance. Without a love relationship with God, the law is a burden, an impossible set of rules that no human can keep.
God offers me grace, not so I can forget about law and do what I want, but so I can love Him as He loves me, purely and even sacrificially. Grace also makes it possible to love others, doing what is best for them, even if it costs some time and energy. The law says it, but without grace, I cannot do it.
March 31, 2006
March 30, 2006
Amazing Grace
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know — Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it” (Acts 2:22-24 NKJV).
God does not think like I think. First, He sent Jesus to die; planning it before the world began — yet His plan does not absolve the guilt of those who crucified Him! Human thinking can hardly make sense of that.
Second, Jesus was raised from the dead because He and death were totally incompatible. That doesn’t make much sense either, unless Jesus was more than mere man.
Most of us think human beings die because we get old, sick, run over by a train, or involved in wars or crime. But the Bible says, “The wages of sin is death.” Before Adam and Eve sinned, death was not an issue. It was introduced into existence by their disobedience to God. Now everyone dies because of sin, our own and just the fact of its permeation into everyone in the world.
I’m so aware of human sinfulness — my own! I was born with self-centered thinking, lived many years thinking I was the most important person, and if I had not accepted God’s offer of forgiveness and new life in Christ, I would die in my sins, regardless of what the doctor puts on my death certificate.
Scripture says Jesus died for sin, but not His own — He never sinned. When He was born He was not seeking attention from people, but seeking “His Father’s business.” He was tempted by Satan to show His power and take control of the world, but He refused. The religious leaders tried to trap Him in His words, but He never once said or did anything wrong. That is why they killed Him, and that is why death could not hold Him. Death is for sinners.
His promise to me is not that I won’t die physically, but that death will not hold me. He took my sin on Himself and died for it. As far as God is concerned, it is gone! I am set me free from the penalty of sin, which is not mere physical death but eternal separation from God, eternal death. Physical death will happen, but because He took away my sin, I will also rise with Him to live forever.
I'm so excited; this is utterly amazing. I’m filled with awe and gratitude. God’s plan is incredible — no human could have made it up. In fact, I cannot even make sense of it except that God opened my eyes — another amazing act of His love and grace!
God does not think like I think. First, He sent Jesus to die; planning it before the world began — yet His plan does not absolve the guilt of those who crucified Him! Human thinking can hardly make sense of that.
Second, Jesus was raised from the dead because He and death were totally incompatible. That doesn’t make much sense either, unless Jesus was more than mere man.
Most of us think human beings die because we get old, sick, run over by a train, or involved in wars or crime. But the Bible says, “The wages of sin is death.” Before Adam and Eve sinned, death was not an issue. It was introduced into existence by their disobedience to God. Now everyone dies because of sin, our own and just the fact of its permeation into everyone in the world.
I’m so aware of human sinfulness — my own! I was born with self-centered thinking, lived many years thinking I was the most important person, and if I had not accepted God’s offer of forgiveness and new life in Christ, I would die in my sins, regardless of what the doctor puts on my death certificate.
Scripture says Jesus died for sin, but not His own — He never sinned. When He was born He was not seeking attention from people, but seeking “His Father’s business.” He was tempted by Satan to show His power and take control of the world, but He refused. The religious leaders tried to trap Him in His words, but He never once said or did anything wrong. That is why they killed Him, and that is why death could not hold Him. Death is for sinners.
His promise to me is not that I won’t die physically, but that death will not hold me. He took my sin on Himself and died for it. As far as God is concerned, it is gone! I am set me free from the penalty of sin, which is not mere physical death but eternal separation from God, eternal death. Physical death will happen, but because He took away my sin, I will also rise with Him to live forever.
I'm so excited; this is utterly amazing. I’m filled with awe and gratitude. God’s plan is incredible — no human could have made it up. In fact, I cannot even make sense of it except that God opened my eyes — another amazing act of His love and grace!
March 29, 2006
Unflappable
“But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience (endurance), in tribulations, in needs, in distresses . . . .” (2 Corinthians 6:4 NKJV).
This is the first morning in weeks that I’ve not approached God with my hand out. No special problems to solve, no pressing burdens, nothing heavy on my mind. Maybe I’m not awake yet? Or the day is too young?
I’m such a pessimist. But the Apostle Paul was not. The rest of this section in 2 Corinthians offers a list of things he endured: beatings, imprisonments, hard work, sleeplessness. Yet in all of them he kept his life pure and his mind level. He was always learning, always kind, always loving others. He remained, sincere, righteous, and focused on his ministry. Although in constant danger, with lots to be sad about, and very little in regard to material possessions, Paul called himself one who “possessed all things,” “made many rich” and was “always rejoicing.”
I’m currently leading a Bible study in James. My conclusion from this book is that Christian maturity means being unflappable. Paul was an example of that kind of maturity. He was consistent, never riled. Like the pink battery bunny, he just kept on going, no matter what happened to him.
In Daily Thoughts for Disciples, author Oswald Chambers says, “One of the greatest proofs that you are drawing on the grace of God is that you can be humiliated with out manifesting the slightest trace of anything but His grace in you.” Unflappable.
God provided the grace to be fairly consistent through the multiple stresses of the past two weeks, but I’ve become so used to problems every day. I’m not sure what to do now that things have settled down. Prayers have been answered, and I’ve no deadlines or other pressures. Right now, I’ve that sense of ‘possessing all things’ — and must conclude this is a good day to be ‘always rejoicing’ — and who knows, He may give me opportunity to ‘make others rich.’
This is the first morning in weeks that I’ve not approached God with my hand out. No special problems to solve, no pressing burdens, nothing heavy on my mind. Maybe I’m not awake yet? Or the day is too young?
I’m such a pessimist. But the Apostle Paul was not. The rest of this section in 2 Corinthians offers a list of things he endured: beatings, imprisonments, hard work, sleeplessness. Yet in all of them he kept his life pure and his mind level. He was always learning, always kind, always loving others. He remained, sincere, righteous, and focused on his ministry. Although in constant danger, with lots to be sad about, and very little in regard to material possessions, Paul called himself one who “possessed all things,” “made many rich” and was “always rejoicing.”
I’m currently leading a Bible study in James. My conclusion from this book is that Christian maturity means being unflappable. Paul was an example of that kind of maturity. He was consistent, never riled. Like the pink battery bunny, he just kept on going, no matter what happened to him.
In Daily Thoughts for Disciples, author Oswald Chambers says, “One of the greatest proofs that you are drawing on the grace of God is that you can be humiliated with out manifesting the slightest trace of anything but His grace in you.” Unflappable.
God provided the grace to be fairly consistent through the multiple stresses of the past two weeks, but I’ve become so used to problems every day. I’m not sure what to do now that things have settled down. Prayers have been answered, and I’ve no deadlines or other pressures. Right now, I’ve that sense of ‘possessing all things’ — and must conclude this is a good day to be ‘always rejoicing’ — and who knows, He may give me opportunity to ‘make others rich.’
March 28, 2006
Blessed are the persecuted?
"“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. . . . Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"” (Matthew 5:6 & 10, NKJV).
This morning'’s newspaper tells of another new book that puts Jesus'’ death and resurrection in the category of myth. The same paper shows photos of two small children killed in a fire set by a man who was angry at one of their parents. On another page is the testimony of a man who was to have flown another jet on 9/11 into the white house. The city section is mostly rants against this province'’s current leader. Not a lot of good news, mostly stories of people sorely in need some of that righteousness that Jesus offers.
I wept reading the paper. Jesus changes hearts and lives, gives hope and deals with self-centeredness and all sorts of sinful attitudes and actions. How can someone slander His name in exchange for book royalties? How can people reject His forgiveness and offer of righteousness and instead burn children, blow up people and wrangle over everything?
These two verses from the Sermon on the Mount offer an interesting juxtaposition. They say that if a person hungers for the righteousness God offers, He will give it to them, but once they have it, other people will despise them for it.
The newspaper has articles about "‘persecution"’ or at least claims of it. People rant about everything from the government to coffee shop litter, as if they are being persecuted. But how many people are persecuted for righteousness? Far more people are attacked for bad behavior rather than godliness, at least according to the newspaper.
God says that if anyone lives a godly life in Christ Jesus, they will be persecuted, yet seldom do these stories reach the news. If a "“good"” person goes berserk and kills a "“bad"” person, that is newsworthy, or if "bad" people kill "“innocent"” people that will be in the paper (except it is now politically incorrect to call anyone "bad"). But when evil people kill godly people, it usually doesn'’t warrant even a short article on the back page.
I heard a story last night on a radio sermon of a man who loved Jesus, but lived in a country where the government forbid him to talk about Christ. He did anyway and was arrested. He told the officials who interrogated him that their weapons were torture and murder, but his weapon was dying. He said his sermons were published. If they killed him, the people would consider his words were even more important because his blood was on them. He would become widely read and have greater impact for Christ dead than he would alive. I can imagine the consternation of his tormentors.
Yes, in today'’s world people are killed for their faith and their righteousness. It seldom makes the news. But there are other ways to attack godly people. One way is to write books that say what we believe is bunk. Another is committing violent actions with clenched teeth and an attitude that says godliness is for the weak. Another is to simply complain about everything — a clear message that the God we love and serve is not here to answer prayers and provide needs, and even if He is, they say, "“No thanks, I'’ll do it myself."
When I ask the Lord for a greater godliness, am I really asking for attack from those who hate righteousness? Maybe, but I am also asking for His tremendous love and patience toward those who shake their fist in His face.
This morning'’s newspaper tells of another new book that puts Jesus'’ death and resurrection in the category of myth. The same paper shows photos of two small children killed in a fire set by a man who was angry at one of their parents. On another page is the testimony of a man who was to have flown another jet on 9/11 into the white house. The city section is mostly rants against this province'’s current leader. Not a lot of good news, mostly stories of people sorely in need some of that righteousness that Jesus offers.
I wept reading the paper. Jesus changes hearts and lives, gives hope and deals with self-centeredness and all sorts of sinful attitudes and actions. How can someone slander His name in exchange for book royalties? How can people reject His forgiveness and offer of righteousness and instead burn children, blow up people and wrangle over everything?
These two verses from the Sermon on the Mount offer an interesting juxtaposition. They say that if a person hungers for the righteousness God offers, He will give it to them, but once they have it, other people will despise them for it.
The newspaper has articles about "‘persecution"’ or at least claims of it. People rant about everything from the government to coffee shop litter, as if they are being persecuted. But how many people are persecuted for righteousness? Far more people are attacked for bad behavior rather than godliness, at least according to the newspaper.
God says that if anyone lives a godly life in Christ Jesus, they will be persecuted, yet seldom do these stories reach the news. If a "“good"” person goes berserk and kills a "“bad"” person, that is newsworthy, or if "bad" people kill "“innocent"” people that will be in the paper (except it is now politically incorrect to call anyone "bad"). But when evil people kill godly people, it usually doesn'’t warrant even a short article on the back page.
I heard a story last night on a radio sermon of a man who loved Jesus, but lived in a country where the government forbid him to talk about Christ. He did anyway and was arrested. He told the officials who interrogated him that their weapons were torture and murder, but his weapon was dying. He said his sermons were published. If they killed him, the people would consider his words were even more important because his blood was on them. He would become widely read and have greater impact for Christ dead than he would alive. I can imagine the consternation of his tormentors.
Yes, in today'’s world people are killed for their faith and their righteousness. It seldom makes the news. But there are other ways to attack godly people. One way is to write books that say what we believe is bunk. Another is committing violent actions with clenched teeth and an attitude that says godliness is for the weak. Another is to simply complain about everything — a clear message that the God we love and serve is not here to answer prayers and provide needs, and even if He is, they say, "“No thanks, I'’ll do it myself."
When I ask the Lord for a greater godliness, am I really asking for attack from those who hate righteousness? Maybe, but I am also asking for His tremendous love and patience toward those who shake their fist in His face.
March 27, 2006
Pass the salt
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses is flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men” (Matthew 5:13 NKJV).
Pure salt cannot lose its flavor, but the salt common in the Dead Sea area is mixed with other minerals and useful only for keeping a foot path free of weeds and plants.
I’m not a great user of salt; it makes me retain fluid. Therefore I am never quite sure how to interpret this verse. Is Jesus saying His people are supposed to make people thirsty for God? Or are we preservatives in a corrupt world? Or do we flavor life and make it more palatable?
Oswald Chambers takes another view. He says we dare not think we are the “sugar of the earth” — all sweetness and appealing. Instead we are like salt in a wound. He likens people who are not right with God to open sores, and our saltiness in that sore makes it sting. Hence we are irritants to some people and our presence “spells persecution” just as Jesus predicts in the previous verses.
I know how salt cleanses and purifies wounds, not pleasantly, but in the right solution it can be a powerful and safe disinfectant. That gives me something to think about. If I’m a weak saline solution, my presence goes unnoticed. If I’m too strong, I’m just a big pain. The only way to know how salty God wants me to be is by hearing and obeying Him in all situations.
The other point that Jesus makes is that I must not allow my ‘saltiness’ to become mixed with elements that make my life “good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” People might ignore a weak witness, or react to a strong one, but they most certainly will reject Christians who give a mixed message. Integrity not hypocrisy. Truth not fudging. Words and actions that match.
This means if I am salty I will admit my failures, behave in godly ways in private as well as in public, and be willing to say I don’t know all the answers. A crystal of pure salt is quite transparent.
Pure salt cannot lose its flavor, but the salt common in the Dead Sea area is mixed with other minerals and useful only for keeping a foot path free of weeds and plants.
I’m not a great user of salt; it makes me retain fluid. Therefore I am never quite sure how to interpret this verse. Is Jesus saying His people are supposed to make people thirsty for God? Or are we preservatives in a corrupt world? Or do we flavor life and make it more palatable?
Oswald Chambers takes another view. He says we dare not think we are the “sugar of the earth” — all sweetness and appealing. Instead we are like salt in a wound. He likens people who are not right with God to open sores, and our saltiness in that sore makes it sting. Hence we are irritants to some people and our presence “spells persecution” just as Jesus predicts in the previous verses.
I know how salt cleanses and purifies wounds, not pleasantly, but in the right solution it can be a powerful and safe disinfectant. That gives me something to think about. If I’m a weak saline solution, my presence goes unnoticed. If I’m too strong, I’m just a big pain. The only way to know how salty God wants me to be is by hearing and obeying Him in all situations.
The other point that Jesus makes is that I must not allow my ‘saltiness’ to become mixed with elements that make my life “good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” People might ignore a weak witness, or react to a strong one, but they most certainly will reject Christians who give a mixed message. Integrity not hypocrisy. Truth not fudging. Words and actions that match.
This means if I am salty I will admit my failures, behave in godly ways in private as well as in public, and be willing to say I don’t know all the answers. A crystal of pure salt is quite transparent.
March 26, 2006
Driven by fear? or faith?
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear . . . .” “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:1-10).
Fear can be a great source of strength, an emotion that drives action — fight or flight, defend myself or retreat into a crushed self-esteem, protest what people do or refuse to have anything to do with them, argue and push buttons, panic and run away.
The psalmist associates quietness and a lack of panic with God as our hiding place and source of strength. Just as James says that “the anger of man cannot accomplish the righteousness of God”, I’m convinced that the fear of man cannot do that either. As the psalmist says, when the source of strength is God, I will not fear, but be still.
A few years ago a great trial put me in a place where there was no other refuge but God. Fear, fighting, fleeing, talking, arguing, protesting, reasoning — none of that would get me out of the trouble that sent my life into a tailspin. I remember sitting on my living room floor and hearing God speak to me. “I am here. No matter where you go, I am with you. I am your refuge and strength. Hide in me.”
The trial was unbearable, but the experience was precious. I know now that God is my hiding place, my safety zone, the place I can go and be at peace. Eventually He resolved the problem, yet I remember and treasure even more the fact that God is my strong tower. I can be still and know that He is God, that He is in total control of my life. Nothing can happen to me that does not know about or that is beyond His concern and ability to handle. God can fix anything, yet just being still because I know He is God, whether He fixes it or not, is far more profound.
Lessons are easily forgotten, even lessons as deep as that. Today I am going to keep a watch on my motives and take note if any speech or actions are rooted in fear. This could be a good day to practice being still.
Fear can be a great source of strength, an emotion that drives action — fight or flight, defend myself or retreat into a crushed self-esteem, protest what people do or refuse to have anything to do with them, argue and push buttons, panic and run away.
The psalmist associates quietness and a lack of panic with God as our hiding place and source of strength. Just as James says that “the anger of man cannot accomplish the righteousness of God”, I’m convinced that the fear of man cannot do that either. As the psalmist says, when the source of strength is God, I will not fear, but be still.
A few years ago a great trial put me in a place where there was no other refuge but God. Fear, fighting, fleeing, talking, arguing, protesting, reasoning — none of that would get me out of the trouble that sent my life into a tailspin. I remember sitting on my living room floor and hearing God speak to me. “I am here. No matter where you go, I am with you. I am your refuge and strength. Hide in me.”
The trial was unbearable, but the experience was precious. I know now that God is my hiding place, my safety zone, the place I can go and be at peace. Eventually He resolved the problem, yet I remember and treasure even more the fact that God is my strong tower. I can be still and know that He is God, that He is in total control of my life. Nothing can happen to me that does not know about or that is beyond His concern and ability to handle. God can fix anything, yet just being still because I know He is God, whether He fixes it or not, is far more profound.
Lessons are easily forgotten, even lessons as deep as that. Today I am going to keep a watch on my motives and take note if any speech or actions are rooted in fear. This could be a good day to practice being still.
March 25, 2006
Deep in my heart!
“In Him (Christ) you also trusted, after 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 1:13-14 NKJV).
After several verses of the wonders of what God has done for us, Paul says that because I trust in Christ, I have been sealed with the Holy Spirit.
Personal seals are not used much anymore, but I do have a seal with my initials on it. Sometimes I melt some red wax and press the seal into the wax to secure a letter and show that it came from me. Seals were once used to indicate authority, authenticity or ownership, and occasionally still are.
God doesn’t use wax and a brass stamp, but He does mark me as His very own child. The Holy Spirit stamps me with His divine character and an inner assurance of His presence. He convicts me of sin, comforts me when I’m in need, reminds me of God’s Word, assures me when I doubt. He fills me with character traits that I otherwise don’t have, gives me wisdom in tough situations, helps me pray, and keeps pointing me toward Jesus Christ. In a multitude of ways, He affirms to me that I belong to God, not just right now but for ever.
I know and appreciate God’s ‘red wax’ — but today what I love the most is His joy. No matter how difficult life can sometimes be, His joy is inside me like a bubbling artesian spring. And I know it is from God because the flow is the strongest when I least expect it. How can a person be joyful during sickness, pain, deep sorrow, grief and loss? Joy in the tough times makes no sense, but the joy of the Lord is like a tune that gets stuck in your head. No matter what, He keeps singing — and filling me with assurance that God loves me, is in control, and I can relax and anticipate His best for my life.
Of all the delights God offers, His joy has to be near the top of my ten best list!
After several verses of the wonders of what God has done for us, Paul says that because I trust in Christ, I have been sealed with the Holy Spirit.
Personal seals are not used much anymore, but I do have a seal with my initials on it. Sometimes I melt some red wax and press the seal into the wax to secure a letter and show that it came from me. Seals were once used to indicate authority, authenticity or ownership, and occasionally still are.
God doesn’t use wax and a brass stamp, but He does mark me as His very own child. The Holy Spirit stamps me with His divine character and an inner assurance of His presence. He convicts me of sin, comforts me when I’m in need, reminds me of God’s Word, assures me when I doubt. He fills me with character traits that I otherwise don’t have, gives me wisdom in tough situations, helps me pray, and keeps pointing me toward Jesus Christ. In a multitude of ways, He affirms to me that I belong to God, not just right now but for ever.
I know and appreciate God’s ‘red wax’ — but today what I love the most is His joy. No matter how difficult life can sometimes be, His joy is inside me like a bubbling artesian spring. And I know it is from God because the flow is the strongest when I least expect it. How can a person be joyful during sickness, pain, deep sorrow, grief and loss? Joy in the tough times makes no sense, but the joy of the Lord is like a tune that gets stuck in your head. No matter what, He keeps singing — and filling me with assurance that God loves me, is in control, and I can relax and anticipate His best for my life.
Of all the delights God offers, His joy has to be near the top of my ten best list!
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