RADIALLY CHANGED LIVES
2 Corinthians 5:14-16 (MSG) One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.
16-20 Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life emerges! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. 21 How? you ask. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.
2 Corinthians 5:14-21 (KJV) 14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Sometimes when we have lived a very long time and we have been Christians almost as long as we have been alive, I fear we can become enured to the wonderful workings of God. The truth is, if we do not continue to grow in our faith, then our faith becomes small and this is not part of God’s design. Remember, God did not send Jesus to sacrifice His life only to pay the price for our salvation, but so that we can live both reconciled with God and man.
Years ago, I remember saying, “It’s easy to love God, but hard to love people.” Those words had barely escaped my lips when the Holy Spirit nudged me not only to repent, but to ask God to change my heart. I asked Him to allow me to see people through his eyes, and He did.
You see, God not only desires a relationship with each of us, but He requires that we have a relationship with others. When the connection we have with others is modeled after the one we have with our Heavenly Father then we will be more fulfilled. When Paul said old things are passed away, all things are new, he was not just referring to old habits, he was pointing out the change that occurs once we surrender to Jesus.
May we, and all we meet,notice that we now have radically changed lives, not through our efforts, but through the amazing life-giving power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Keeping the spirit of the Covenant
2 Corinthians 3:1-11 Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4 Such confidence we have through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant —not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
The Greater Glory of the New Covenant
7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
When was the last time you thought about covenants? A covenant, very simply, is an agreement, sometimes between two people, or perhaps between two nations, or in theology it is generally between God and man.
One of the primary problems with the Pharisees was their insistence on performing to the letter of the law, but Jesus, the ultimate teacher, often explained the godly meaning of a covenant by saying, “You have heard it said…but I say…”. Jesus was trying to teach these learned men that there was more to the law than the letter of the law. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, said, 2 Cor 3:9 said, “If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness”.
As a pastor, I would never officiate a marriage if a couple insisted the vows be changed from, “…as long as we both shall live,” to “…as long as we both shall love.” Such a vow would negate the intimate, transformative, replicative nature of Jesus’ covenant to His bride to one that is temporary in nature and thus not holy at all.
Likewise, I would not even attempt to influence a couple to continue a marriage where the husband Insisted that his rights superseded those of his wife, mistakenly believing that submission is blind compliance to unreasonable expectations instead of a spirit led and spirit shaped agreement to live according to God’s design. Instead, I would counsel the couple to spend time in prayer and Bible reading, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal His plan for a godly marriage.
May we, as we consider the difference between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law, ensure that our motives are pure and Christlike.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Not Wanting any to Perish
2 Peter 3:9-12 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.
Promises, promises. We normally think of promises as something good where we wait with eager anticipation for a soon coming event.
But Peter’s take on a promise isn’t one of birthdays or kittens. Instead, Peter references God’s promises of a new kingdom and earth, carried with it the implicit destruction of this present age.
What has slowed the coming of this new kingdom? I am convinced we are living in God’s grace, for it is not His wish that any should perish. So if we long to see the face of our Lord and Savior, the best thing to do is spread the gospel far and wide, living holy and godly lives until Jests returns again.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Singing Praises
Psalms 104:33-35 (NIV) 33 I will sing to the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the LORD.
35 But may sinners vanish from the earth
and the wicked be no more.
Praise the LORD, my soul.
Praise the LORD.
As I write today’s devotional, I am listening in the background to singers Nicole Mullins and CeCe Wynans. Our instruction for today is to praise the Lord as long as we live. It may not always be easy to praise our Savior, oh, but it is always necessary.
Psalm 134 is the final hymn in the song of ascents as the pilgrims reach the temple. The lyrics begin with a commitment to sing praises to the Lord for life. Rejoicing is an act of the will and it is an act of worship. And may I remind you that every act of praise is not only a response to God’s great love, but it is also a vital part of our worship. .
The conclusion is the desire for every evil creature to be banished. But the reality is that we must trust in the Lord Jesus so supremely that regardless of what is going on around us we must learn and practice trust and love toward our God and mercy for those who would destroy us.
May we be quick to forgive and quick to offer restoration,
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Encourage One Another
Romans 1:8-17 (NIV) 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9 God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed —a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Have I talked to you lately about the importance of reading God’s Word out loud. You see, faith will actually grow at the hearing God’s Word. I believe that just like any parent, God loves to hear His children speak His words back to Him. It is a way to show you are listening, and it is a way to honor God.
Do you want to live by faith? Then stay in the Word daily, luxuriating in the presence of God. Put God first in all of your relationships and in all of your endeavors.
Additionally, there are many prayers we can pray out loud. Why would this be necessary? Sometimes we are at a loss to know how to pray for a specific need. Just pray a prayer found in the Word out loud, substituting yours or a loved one’s name. You may be surprised how effective this is.
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May we be aware as we search out God’s Word the impact it will make in our lives and the lives of those around us.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Seeking Holiness 