Romans 2:6-8:
God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.
In target shooting, the direction is important. In order to hit the target, the first thing you have to do is face the target. You might not hit the target, but if you are facing any other way, you have no chance of it.
Does God expect us to consistently hit the target? No. If He did, why would He have made provisions for our salvation?
Accord to Paul, as he soon tells the Romans later in his letter, “… all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23)
We are fallible, imperfect humans -- we are incapable of being perfect -- we are destined to miss the mark most of the time...
But, while God does not expect us to hit the bulls eye with our every attempt, He does expect us to try!
Where we fail, His grace will justify us -- make up for our inabilities.
Our goal is to make constant progress in the direction God has pointed out for us. He desires our constant movement -- always seeking to gain ground -- seeking to complete the goal before us.
We are to aim the best we can -- then go for it. Then -- learn from our mistakes and make corrections each time we miss the target!
What God does not want is for us to just do what we want -- to just live for our own selves -- seek only what we desire.
Living a life seeking to satisfy our own desires leaves us ripe for the picking…
Remember God’s words to Cain?
Genesis 4:6-8: “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
To live a life of selfishness is to invite God’s wrath. Maybe not immediately — but ultimately!
Colossians 3:5-6: Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Acts 17:22-23 - What Kind of Athenian?
Acts 17:22-23:
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.”
Some say it is "Nature." Some call it the "Cosmos." Some refer to it as "The Great Spirit." Others just call it "The Force."
In some way, most of us recognize there is something greater than ourselves.
These ancient Athenians did also -- and were careful to not exclude whatever it was from their worship. They had built an altar to the "Unknown God."
They had no real idea of how to worship Him, but they recognized a need that was not being met by the other "gods" they worshiped.
Paul, when before them, took advantage of the existence of this altar to begin explaining who their "Unknown God" was.
He did not find it necessary to berate them or ridicule them for their ignorance, but instead, saw it as an opportunity to give them knowledge.
When we are faced with someone who does not know God, do we try to educate them? Or do we tend to think of them as someone beneath us?
As we interact with each other, we will undoubtedly find there are those who know less than we do -- and others who know more.
The Athenians were people who appreciated knowledge -- and to their credit, they wanted to hear more -- and some became believers.
Some sought knowledge for knowledge sake -- but still felt they were in the judgment seat of what they would accept or deny.
Others sought knowledge -- and accepted anything that was true -- even when contrary to their original beliefs. They acted on knowledge.
Which type of "Athenian" are we? As we study and learn, is our goal to only bolster our positions and beliefs? Or are we more interested in learning the truth, and letting it dictate our actions?
To all of us, God is "unknown" to some degree. Studying His word, and learning more and more of Christ, is our way of learning who He is.
As we hear and learn of Him, do we seek to know and catalog our understanding on a dusty shelf? Or does our new found understanding cause us to hunger for more knowledge of God?
John 14:6: Jesus answered, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.”
Some say it is "Nature." Some call it the "Cosmos." Some refer to it as "The Great Spirit." Others just call it "The Force."
In some way, most of us recognize there is something greater than ourselves.
These ancient Athenians did also -- and were careful to not exclude whatever it was from their worship. They had built an altar to the "Unknown God."
They had no real idea of how to worship Him, but they recognized a need that was not being met by the other "gods" they worshiped.
Paul, when before them, took advantage of the existence of this altar to begin explaining who their "Unknown God" was.
He did not find it necessary to berate them or ridicule them for their ignorance, but instead, saw it as an opportunity to give them knowledge.
When we are faced with someone who does not know God, do we try to educate them? Or do we tend to think of them as someone beneath us?
As we interact with each other, we will undoubtedly find there are those who know less than we do -- and others who know more.
The Athenians were people who appreciated knowledge -- and to their credit, they wanted to hear more -- and some became believers.
Some sought knowledge for knowledge sake -- but still felt they were in the judgment seat of what they would accept or deny.
Others sought knowledge -- and accepted anything that was true -- even when contrary to their original beliefs. They acted on knowledge.
Which type of "Athenian" are we? As we study and learn, is our goal to only bolster our positions and beliefs? Or are we more interested in learning the truth, and letting it dictate our actions?
To all of us, God is "unknown" to some degree. Studying His word, and learning more and more of Christ, is our way of learning who He is.
As we hear and learn of Him, do we seek to know and catalog our understanding on a dusty shelf? Or does our new found understanding cause us to hunger for more knowledge of God?
John 14:6: Jesus answered, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Friday, February 24, 2012
Matthew 18:35 - It's the Mercy
Matthew 18:35:
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Peter had listened to Jesus and heard a thorough “procedure list” for dealing with sinners -- and what to do when they fail to change.
But what about when they do change?
Peter wondered, would he have to keep forgiving them, or could he limit the times he forgave them to maybe -- seven times?
We are often sinned against by some who later ask us to forgive them. Then -- they go and do the same thing to us again! Each time they come back -- begging our understanding and forgiveness.
Sometimes it’s genuine -- and other times we just feel they are playing us for a patsy. It is hard to tell.
How much patience do we have to extend to those who keep doing it to us, over -- and over -- and over?
Jesus gave Peter, and those around him, a parable to chew on.
He told of a King’s servant who had built up a debt that was more than he could ever pay back. The king demanded repayment -- and wanted to set up conditions for repayment. In his case -- the man -- his wife -- his children -- and all he had -- would be sold to repay the debt.
The man, filled with fear and dread, begged the king to give him a little more time -- and he would repay it.
The king -- knowing the debt was so great it could not be repaid -- had mercy on him. He not only stopped the sale of the man and his family -- but also forgave the man his entire debt!
The lesson Peter and the others were to learn, came from what the man did after that…
Newly forgiven of his own immense debt, he went out and confronted someone who owed him a small debt -- and put him in prison until he got payment!
The lesson for Peter and the others to grasp?
The offense is not important -- it is the mercy!
The number of times you forgive is not important -- it is the mercy!
How can we hope for forgiveness and mercy -- which we all so desperately need -- if we do not offer forgiveness and mercy ourselves?
How we treat others is a good indication of how we will be treated.
Earlier, Peter and the others heard Jesus say, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)
Think about it... No matter how you have been offended and sinned against -- it pales in comparison to our offenses and sins against the Father -- and He didn’t just forgive our debt -- His Son paid it!
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Peter had listened to Jesus and heard a thorough “procedure list” for dealing with sinners -- and what to do when they fail to change.
But what about when they do change?
Peter wondered, would he have to keep forgiving them, or could he limit the times he forgave them to maybe -- seven times?
We are often sinned against by some who later ask us to forgive them. Then -- they go and do the same thing to us again! Each time they come back -- begging our understanding and forgiveness.
Sometimes it’s genuine -- and other times we just feel they are playing us for a patsy. It is hard to tell.
How much patience do we have to extend to those who keep doing it to us, over -- and over -- and over?
Jesus gave Peter, and those around him, a parable to chew on.
He told of a King’s servant who had built up a debt that was more than he could ever pay back. The king demanded repayment -- and wanted to set up conditions for repayment. In his case -- the man -- his wife -- his children -- and all he had -- would be sold to repay the debt.
The man, filled with fear and dread, begged the king to give him a little more time -- and he would repay it.
The king -- knowing the debt was so great it could not be repaid -- had mercy on him. He not only stopped the sale of the man and his family -- but also forgave the man his entire debt!
The lesson Peter and the others were to learn, came from what the man did after that…
Newly forgiven of his own immense debt, he went out and confronted someone who owed him a small debt -- and put him in prison until he got payment!
The lesson for Peter and the others to grasp?
The offense is not important -- it is the mercy!
The number of times you forgive is not important -- it is the mercy!
How can we hope for forgiveness and mercy -- which we all so desperately need -- if we do not offer forgiveness and mercy ourselves?
How we treat others is a good indication of how we will be treated.
Earlier, Peter and the others heard Jesus say, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)
Think about it... No matter how you have been offended and sinned against -- it pales in comparison to our offenses and sins against the Father -- and He didn’t just forgive our debt -- His Son paid it!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Genesis 3:6 - Why Should I Wait?
Genesis 3:6:
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
How many times have I fell for the same kind if snare?
Satan has done the same thing to me time and time again... "Here is what you want. Maybe the timing is off, and you shouldn't have it yet, but who is looking? Who would know? You are going to get it later anyway, so why wait?"
How many young people have fallen for this same thing? Baby after baby has been born because Satan convinced two young people that it would be okay. "You love each other anyway, so why wait?"
Satan is the great deceiver. (I didn't capitalize the letters because he doesn't deserve it!)
"Go ahead and take that tax deduction -- you deserve it."
"Park there in the handicap stall -- why shouldn't you get special treatment too?"
All of these, and most every sin, results from being caught in a similar snare to what Eve fell for -- "I want it now!" Or, maybe, "I'll get it later anyway, so why should I wait?"
The phrase, "Good things come to those who wait," is maybe just a little off. It should be, "Good things are worth the wait."
God might bless a couple with a child, but the blessing truly comes when the parents wait until they are married. God will bless you if you let Him choose the manner and the time.
By trying to speed things up, Eve caused Adam to deal with weeds all his life, and she gave herself pain in bearing children!
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
How many times have I fell for the same kind if snare?
Satan has done the same thing to me time and time again... "Here is what you want. Maybe the timing is off, and you shouldn't have it yet, but who is looking? Who would know? You are going to get it later anyway, so why wait?"
How many young people have fallen for this same thing? Baby after baby has been born because Satan convinced two young people that it would be okay. "You love each other anyway, so why wait?"
Satan is the great deceiver. (I didn't capitalize the letters because he doesn't deserve it!)
"Go ahead and take that tax deduction -- you deserve it."
"Park there in the handicap stall -- why shouldn't you get special treatment too?"
All of these, and most every sin, results from being caught in a similar snare to what Eve fell for -- "I want it now!" Or, maybe, "I'll get it later anyway, so why should I wait?"
The phrase, "Good things come to those who wait," is maybe just a little off. It should be, "Good things are worth the wait."
God might bless a couple with a child, but the blessing truly comes when the parents wait until they are married. God will bless you if you let Him choose the manner and the time.
By trying to speed things up, Eve caused Adam to deal with weeds all his life, and she gave herself pain in bearing children!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Genesis 2:22-25 - Helpmeets
Genesis 2:22-25:
Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
Our world seems to be going through a shift in its paradigm...
Marriage is slowly changing from something more than a man and a woman -- to include a man "married" to a man, or a woman "married" to a woman.
Many states in the US are now considering changing laws to include such marriage definitions as legal relationships.
Even a quick glance at this passage, however, gives you a clear understanding of God's reason for marriage to only be between a man and a woman. There is a purpose for it -- to be "helpmeets" to each other.
Adam could find no suitable mate in God's other creatures (not even "man's best friend,") and so God created a special mate -- one from man's own body.
The fact that they were naked together, and had no shame, points to the intimacy of their relationship. It also points to what Heaven will be like as well -- a place where we all will have a relationship so close that we will "have nothing to hide" from each other.
Not that we will be "naked" in Heaven -- but that we will be as transparent to each other.
Consider what your current relationship is to your fellow Christian brothers and sisters... Are you developing close bonds? Or staying a bit distant?
Remember -- these are the ones with whom eternity will be spent!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Genesis 39:20-21 - It's Not My Plan
Genesis 39:20-21:
Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.
But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.
His life was not exactly going as he had envisioned it… Amid his dreams, Joseph saw himself at the center. Now, he was forgotten, in a cold dark place…
With turn after turn, everything seemed to constantly spiral downward -- seemingly getting worse with each turn. First his brothers had shunned and mocked him -- later, they sold him as a slave, after first toying with the idea of killing him. Then, after the indignity of being merchandise for slave traders, he was sold to the captain of Pharaoh's guard.
With concentration and discipline, Joseph finally felt himself begin to rise out of his plight. He had made a good impression on his master, and had begun to reap the rewards of keeping his nose clean!
But then -- the master’s randy wife got him into deep trouble -- and he was innocent!
As we read of Joseph here, he was in prison, and yet, he was again bubbling to the surface -- getting noticed by the warden -- being trusted with responsibilities not entrusted to other inmates. If we followed his story, we would see he eventually became second-in-command to all of Egypt!
How is this possible? Remember -- as Joseph’s life will attest to -- God was with him the whole time!
When his brothers assaulted him and threw him into the empty cistern, he surely had moments when he felt God had left him. In prison, he might have thought, “Where is God?” -- But, through it all, Joseph held on to his faith in God.
There are times in our own lives we have felt God has left us. Maybe you have even asked yourself the question, “Where is God?” when you felt like you were forgotten, and in a cold, dark place...
For Joseph, the prison was still prison -- the floor was just as cold -- the conditions were just as miserable -- but, after seeing the bigger picture of God’s plan, they were small concerns in comparison to the great things God accomplished.
A songwriter once wrote, “I never promised you a rose garden…,” and neither did God. But -- God has promised you much more that that -- He has promised eternal life to those who believe and obey Him.
Galatians 6:9: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Acts 11:26c - What Is a Name?
Acts 11:26c:
" . . . The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch."
What do the words, “Galinha,” “Huhn,” “Kip,” “Poulet,” and “Pollo” have in common?
They are the Portuguese, German, Dutch, French and Spanish words for what the English-speaking world calls a chicken.
They are the simple descriptive words each language uses to describe the tasty staple of many dinner tables.
“Rhode Island Reds,” “Mahrans,” “Leghorns,” “Jersey Giants,” and “Silkies” -- are names used to describe particular types of chickens.
Knowing the right name for the right kind of chicken is important, because each type of chicken has certain qualities -- each has certain characteristics -- each is bred to be different!
How about “Christen,” “Chrétien,” “Cristiano,” “Cristão,” and -- “Christian?” Do these words describe different people?
When the people of Antioch looked at those who believed and followed Christ, they saw a group of people who were trying to live like Christ. They started calling them "Christians." They saw a group trying to head in the same direction -- a biblical concept desired by Christ, even as He was facing His own death...
John 17:20-23: ". . . I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
If you place a term before or after "Christian" to describe the kind of Christian you are, ask yourself -- why?
Are you consciously trying to be united to that for which God gave His Son -- or are you unconsciously being lead in a slightly different direction?
There is only one body -- one church. And, it has only one head -- Jesus Christ!
Ephesians 4:4-6: There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Colossians 1:15-20: The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
" . . . The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch."
What do the words, “Galinha,” “Huhn,” “Kip,” “Poulet,” and “Pollo” have in common?
They are the Portuguese, German, Dutch, French and Spanish words for what the English-speaking world calls a chicken.
They are the simple descriptive words each language uses to describe the tasty staple of many dinner tables.
“Rhode Island Reds,” “Mahrans,” “Leghorns,” “Jersey Giants,” and “Silkies” -- are names used to describe particular types of chickens.
Knowing the right name for the right kind of chicken is important, because each type of chicken has certain qualities -- each has certain characteristics -- each is bred to be different!
How about “Christen,” “Chrétien,” “Cristiano,” “Cristão,” and -- “Christian?” Do these words describe different people?
When the people of Antioch looked at those who believed and followed Christ, they saw a group of people who were trying to live like Christ. They started calling them "Christians." They saw a group trying to head in the same direction -- a biblical concept desired by Christ, even as He was facing His own death...
John 17:20-23: ". . . I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
If you place a term before or after "Christian" to describe the kind of Christian you are, ask yourself -- why?
Are you consciously trying to be united to that for which God gave His Son -- or are you unconsciously being lead in a slightly different direction?
There is only one body -- one church. And, it has only one head -- Jesus Christ!
Ephesians 4:4-6: There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Colossians 1:15-20: The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)