Darkness into light

♦ July 20, 2012 ♦ Leave a comment

 

1 John 1

Common English Bible (CEB)

Announcement about the word of life

1 We announce to you what existed from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have seen and our hands handled, about the word of life. 2 The life was revealed, and we have seen, and we testify and announce to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us. 3 What we have seen and heard, we also announce it to you so that you can have fellowship with us. Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that our joy can be complete.

The message: God is light

5 This is the message that we have heard from him and announce to you: “God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.” 6 If we claim, “We have fellowship with him,” and live in the darkness, we are lying and do not act truthfully. 7 But if we live in the light in the same way as he is in the light, we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin. 8 If we claim, “We don’t have any sin,” we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from everything we’ve done wrong. 10 If we claim, “We have never sinned,” we make him a liar and his word is not in us.

If you have ever taken a tour of a cavern, there inevitably comes the time when all of the lights are extinguished and you are in total darkness.  Then, as if by magic, one match is struck and the light pierces the darkness just like the sword of the Word of God pierces our souls.

Christianity is not just about salvation, but it is about transformation.  We who were in the darkness of our sins step into the marvelous light of the truth of God’s grace and we are a changed people .  Through the transformation of salvation we are restored into a right relationship with God, our father, and with all those we meet.

Our relationship with Christians becomes sweeter, and our relationship with those who have not yet accepted the gift of salvation becomes both urgent and compassionate. no longer rules our lives, but instead the divinity of Christ covers our humanity.  Yet, we cannot claim that we no longer sin because that sin nature is always within us, struggling to be the dominant force in our lives.  It is only through the grace of Jesus Christ and the power of His spirit that we can be world overcomers.

 PRAYER:  Father, how great is your love and your grace.  May we appropriate your grace each and every day so that we will not only be transformed but we will do all we can to share your love with others. Amen.

Be Established in Faith

♦ July 16, 2012 ♦ 3 Comments

Colossians 2:6 So live in Christ Jesus the Lord in the same way as you received him. 7 Be rooted and built up in him, be established in faith, and overflow with thanksgiving just as you were taught. 8 See to it that nobody enslaves you with philosophy and foolish deception, which conform to human traditions and the way the world thinks and acts rather than Christ.

Human nature is nothing if not humorous. After all, we have everything we need in Christ to be content, thankful, and strengthened in our faith, yet we tend to look other places for our help. Isn’t that funny? We are given freedom from bondage in Christ, yet we allow people to deceive us and burden us with traditions made by man instead of God. Isn’t that funny?

The Colossians were in danger of having the gospel adulterated by those who taught that faith and grace alone were not enough to offer salvation. And, if you think about it, the gospel does not make sense to the world. How could it? The gospel requires that we believe in a God we cannot see, follow a Christ who did not come to save the people from a corrupt government but from the corruption within their souls, and depend on a spirit for strength and guidance.

Things have not changed much in the 21st century. Instead of reading the Bible to discern God’s will, we read self-help books. Rather than allowing our faith to sustain us, we look for signs. Will we ever learn?

PRAYER: Dear God, forgive us for failing to remain steadfast but instead being tossed by every wind. Help us to maintain a teachable heart and to keep our eyes on you rather than seeking answers elsewhere. Amen

Prayer for Power

♦ July 9, 2012 ♦ Leave a comment

A Prayer for the Ephesians

Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Imagine this—you are a Christian missionary and you have traveled to parts of the world where Jesus Christ is unknown.  You have labored to bring the gospel to a group of people. They accepted your message just like the deer that is thirsty almost to death and when he finds cool, refreshing water from the stream he laps it up with enthusiasm.  You have been imprisoned for your efforts but learn that the church you started has been under attack from false preachers, black magic, division, yet the church has remained strong.

The scenario above is the background for the book of Ephesians, one of the Pauline epistles written while Paul was in prison.  Paul loved all new churches, but he had a particular fondness for the churches he began.  The church at Ephesus was started during Paul’s third missionary journey and he wanted to give them the encouragement they needed to remain strong in the faith.

During the first two chapters of Ephesians Paul reminds them of the mystery of Jesus Christ which has been made available to the Gentiles, this mystery being that we are all saved by grace.  He finishes his letter with this prayer, and what a great prayer it is.  Paul makes sure the Ephesians understands that they are now a part of God’s family, and they have access to power through the Holy Spirit who has set up a dwelling place within their hearts. Paul prays that the people at Ephesus are filled with the fullness of God—His love, His grace, His mercy, and His power.

If you are feeling less than secure about your relationship with God, pray this prayer for yourself, your family, your church and your community.  The power of God’s Holy Spirit is available for all Christians.  All we must do is plug in through prayer, Bible reading, community (attending a Bible-believing church) and we will begin to see our faith increase and our resolve strengthened.

PRAYER: Precious Father, thank you for people like Paul who gave everything for the gospel.  Thank you that your grace is meant for all who will hear and respond.  May we be empowered today and every day by your Word, your Spirit, and your love. Amen

Be Still

♦ July 6, 2012 ♦ Leave a comment

  • Psalm 46:9-11
  • New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
  • 9 
  • He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
  • he burns the shields with fire. 
  • 10 
  • “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
  • 11 
  • The Lord Almighty is with us;
  • the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
  •  

As a child, I was told on more than one occasion to “be still.”  Later, as a mother, I admonished my son to “be still.”  And now, as I read the Scriptures, I am cautioned once again to, “be still.”

Being still is something we do not do very well.  As children, we simply have too much energy to be still for very long.  As adults, there is a distinct lack of comfort in being still.  We believe we are missing something if we are not on the move, when in fact we are in danger of missing the most important thing if we fail to be still, and that is communion with God.

David understood how to be still and connect with his God. From the highs to the lows, from castles to caves, David learned to seek God where He could be found.  David knew that God was his shepherd, and David understood both what it meant to be a shepherd, and what it meant to be shepherded.

Have you learned to be still before the Lord, waiting on Him and allowing Him to restore your soul?  Be still, and know that He is God, and He is holy, holy, holy.

Prayer:  Dear Father, I have too often rushed headlong into plans and schemes and instead of asking for your direction, hoped you would bless my efforts because I am your child.  Forgive me for my impatience and for failing to wait on you.  May I learn what it means to be still before you.  Amen

I will sing your praise, O God

♦ July 6, 2012 ♦ Leave a comment

Psalm 138 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984) Psalm 138 Of David. 1 I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; before the gods I will sing your praise. 2 I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.

Just as The Lord’s Prayer teaches us to pray, these few scriptures could be the guideline for the beginning of every word spoken in prayer. How can I say anything more appropriate and more meaningful than what David says in this psalm?

When we praise God if it is not with our whole heart, then what purpose does such praise serve? When we sing of God, if we do not sing His praise before the entire world, are our songs not hollow? We must learn that God requires nothing less than the fullness of our love and devotion toward Him. Will you bow down your knees with me before the throne of the Almighty God and praise Him for Who He is?

PRAYER: Precious Father, help us to know, really know, what it means to praise you with our whole hearts. You are worthy of all praise and honor and we pray that we, your children, would learn how to give you the praise you so deserve. Amen.