Ephesians 5:20 (ESV) "giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,"
In our home there is a running joke. Dad is always right. It tastes good if Dad says it does. It’s bad if Dad says so. Dad’s opinion on any subject is right and should be universal law. This is Dad’s house and he makes the rules. If only all this were true. I’ve tried in vain to convince my 6 children that canned spinach is a worthy and even tasty part of a meal. They all detest canned spinach. I say, the only kind of “real” cake is chocolate cake with vanilla frosting. And believe it or not they don’t all agree. Some of them like yellow cake or lemon poppy seed cake. I could give many other examples of this “rebellion” but to do so would crush my already bruised ego.
Of course, even as I say all this tongue-in-cheek there is truth in the humor that God’s children would be well advised to keep in mind. In our Heavenly Father’s house He is always right. He does rule. His ways are the right ways. His likes and dislikes are the standards by which we should judge right and wrong, good and bad, should do or should not do. His Word is full of His desires for His house. Some of them are very clear cut and obvious. Some of them take a little more time to figure out. And some of them, although unchangeable and irrefutable, look different among different parts and members of His house.
In Ephesians chapter 5 He gives a few of His house rules. Here in verse 20 He tells us to “give thanks always and for everything”. I know that’s a hard one. How do we give thanks for the “bad” things that happen to us and around us? I’m still learning that one, but I do know that if I can find nothing in a situation for which to be thankful, I can still be thankful that He is God, He loves me, and He is always on His throne. In verse 16 he tells us to “make the best use of our time”. In verse 17 we read “understand the will of the Lord”. We are to be “filled with the Spirit”. We should live a life of “singing and making melody to the Lord”. And in verse 21 we find another hard one. We are to “Submit to one another in reverence for Christ”.
These are just a few of His ways we should strive to follow. This is His house and He does make the rules. His likes and dislikes should be our likes and dislikes. (I’m firmly convinced He wants us to like spinach!) Whatever He says is the way it should be. We need to commune with Him through His word and prayer so we can learn His ways, likes and dislikes. His house always runs better when His children listen to His voice and obey what He commands.
Fortunately for us He is not a vengeful Father and Master. He understands our weakness. He knows our frailty. He stands always ready and willing to forgive our shortcomings and sin. God help us to learn your ways and live according to them. May we always remember that You are right, You are Holy, and You dearly love us, Your children. Amen.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
A Sure Expectation
Titus 2:13 (KJV) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ…
Many times during my tour of duty in the USMC I had the opportunity to participate in Orienteering and Map Reading training. I remember one time we had been given a course of instruction. We were given maps and compasses. We were given particular routes we had to follow. We were all to end up at the same destination but were to get there along different paths. No prizes were awarded to being 1st. The satisfaction came in reaching the camp and resting from the journey.
In our “race” of life we all have different paths to walk. Sometimes our path is easy, sometimes it is hard. There are obstacles, seen and unseen. There are dangers, known and unknown. Often times the map is hard for us to read. We may get turned around and a lose our way for a time. We may falter or even get stopped in our tracks by some adversity. In the midst of all this there is one thing we can know for certain. He, Jesus Christ, is coming back and we shall be with Him for all eternity.
One of the great things about our Christian race is that we will all arrive at our final destination. We will all cross the finish line. We may have different opinions on when and how that finish line appears. Is it pre-tribulational, post-tribulational, mid-tribulational, pre-wrath, pre-millennial or a-millennial? Whatever your particular belief may be of End Times or prophecy, we may be assured of this…. He is coming again. We will see Him face to face.
The path you walk will not go on forever. There is an end in sight. This is a comfort to the believer. 1 Thessalonians 4:18 (NKJV) “Therefore comfort one another with these words.” Paul tells us Titus in 2:13 that this is a “blessed hope”. This “blessed hope” involves a sure expectation of receiving that for which we are hoping. He will appear and it will be glorious!
Read these words of a beautiful hymn written by Jim Hill…
There is coming a day, When no heart aches shall come, No more clouds in the sky, No more tears to dim the eye, All is peace forever more, On that happy golden shore, What a day, glorious day that will be.
What a day that will be, When my Jesus I shall see, And I look upon His face, The One who saved me by His grace; When He takes me by the hand, And leads me through the Promised Land, What a day, glorious day that will be.
May God bless you in your race. Be encouraged and have hope. He is coming again. It will be a glorious day. Amen!
Many times during my tour of duty in the USMC I had the opportunity to participate in Orienteering and Map Reading training. I remember one time we had been given a course of instruction. We were given maps and compasses. We were given particular routes we had to follow. We were all to end up at the same destination but were to get there along different paths. No prizes were awarded to being 1st. The satisfaction came in reaching the camp and resting from the journey.
In our “race” of life we all have different paths to walk. Sometimes our path is easy, sometimes it is hard. There are obstacles, seen and unseen. There are dangers, known and unknown. Often times the map is hard for us to read. We may get turned around and a lose our way for a time. We may falter or even get stopped in our tracks by some adversity. In the midst of all this there is one thing we can know for certain. He, Jesus Christ, is coming back and we shall be with Him for all eternity.
One of the great things about our Christian race is that we will all arrive at our final destination. We will all cross the finish line. We may have different opinions on when and how that finish line appears. Is it pre-tribulational, post-tribulational, mid-tribulational, pre-wrath, pre-millennial or a-millennial? Whatever your particular belief may be of End Times or prophecy, we may be assured of this…. He is coming again. We will see Him face to face.
The path you walk will not go on forever. There is an end in sight. This is a comfort to the believer. 1 Thessalonians 4:18 (NKJV) “Therefore comfort one another with these words.” Paul tells us Titus in 2:13 that this is a “blessed hope”. This “blessed hope” involves a sure expectation of receiving that for which we are hoping. He will appear and it will be glorious!
Read these words of a beautiful hymn written by Jim Hill…
There is coming a day, When no heart aches shall come, No more clouds in the sky, No more tears to dim the eye, All is peace forever more, On that happy golden shore, What a day, glorious day that will be.
What a day that will be, When my Jesus I shall see, And I look upon His face, The One who saved me by His grace; When He takes me by the hand, And leads me through the Promised Land, What a day, glorious day that will be.
May God bless you in your race. Be encouraged and have hope. He is coming again. It will be a glorious day. Amen!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
The Mark
John 13:35 (ESV) “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
During World War I the Marines fought with such ferocity that the Germans started calling them Devils Dogs. There are other names are synonymous with US Marines. Leathernecks, Jarheads and Gyrenes are among these names. When folks think of Marines they generally think of a trained fighting man who is disciplined and tough. They picture one who stands tall and proud. They think of the dress blue uniform filled with combat ribbons and marksmanship badges. They think of the popular slogan used in Marine recruiting commercials, “The Few. The Proud. The Marines.”
When you think of think of a Christian, what comes to mind? You can ask several different people and get several different answers. Here are just a few that I have heard over the years. Stuck up. Bible thumper. Holy roller. Bigoted. Narrow-minded. Hypocrite. Self-righteous. I could go on and on but I think we all get the picture. Some of these labels are given to us by folks with no knowledge of what and who Christians really are. Unfortunately, some of these labels have been earned by Christians who have a faulty view of what it means to live a Christian life.
So what should be the “mark” of a Christian, a Believer, a Follower of Christ? Simply put, Jesus said it is our love for each other. In John 13:34 Jesus said “just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” He said it was this love that would show the world that we are His disciples.
Love is arguably the most important ingredient in the Christian’s life. Love draws together those in the church. Colossians 2:2 (ESV) that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love…. Love is the ultimate fulfillment of the Law, Galatians 5:14 (ESV) For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” We are to walk in love. We are to sacrifice for love. We are to “increase and abound in love towards one another and for all“. We are to provoke or stir up one another unto love.
Love is indeed the true “mark” of a Christian. It’s not always easy, in fact, it can be downright hard sometimes. People who commit horrible crimes, loved ones who irritate us and fellow church members who “fall into” ungodliness are all examples of times when it is difficult to love. Love is hard but it is not optional. It is our “mark”, and it is possible to live in love because He first loved us. He gave His all for us. He lovingly paid the price for our sin on the cross.
In this coming New Year, may it be our goal to live in love. May the “mark” of love be displayed through our lives in brilliant colors for all the world to see. May others know that we are Christians by our love. May other see and experience God’s love through interaction with God’s people. Amen!!
During World War I the Marines fought with such ferocity that the Germans started calling them Devils Dogs. There are other names are synonymous with US Marines. Leathernecks, Jarheads and Gyrenes are among these names. When folks think of Marines they generally think of a trained fighting man who is disciplined and tough. They picture one who stands tall and proud. They think of the dress blue uniform filled with combat ribbons and marksmanship badges. They think of the popular slogan used in Marine recruiting commercials, “The Few. The Proud. The Marines.”
When you think of think of a Christian, what comes to mind? You can ask several different people and get several different answers. Here are just a few that I have heard over the years. Stuck up. Bible thumper. Holy roller. Bigoted. Narrow-minded. Hypocrite. Self-righteous. I could go on and on but I think we all get the picture. Some of these labels are given to us by folks with no knowledge of what and who Christians really are. Unfortunately, some of these labels have been earned by Christians who have a faulty view of what it means to live a Christian life.
So what should be the “mark” of a Christian, a Believer, a Follower of Christ? Simply put, Jesus said it is our love for each other. In John 13:34 Jesus said “just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” He said it was this love that would show the world that we are His disciples.
Love is arguably the most important ingredient in the Christian’s life. Love draws together those in the church. Colossians 2:2 (ESV) that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love…. Love is the ultimate fulfillment of the Law, Galatians 5:14 (ESV) For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” We are to walk in love. We are to sacrifice for love. We are to “increase and abound in love towards one another and for all“. We are to provoke or stir up one another unto love.
Love is indeed the true “mark” of a Christian. It’s not always easy, in fact, it can be downright hard sometimes. People who commit horrible crimes, loved ones who irritate us and fellow church members who “fall into” ungodliness are all examples of times when it is difficult to love. Love is hard but it is not optional. It is our “mark”, and it is possible to live in love because He first loved us. He gave His all for us. He lovingly paid the price for our sin on the cross.
In this coming New Year, may it be our goal to live in love. May the “mark” of love be displayed through our lives in brilliant colors for all the world to see. May others know that we are Christians by our love. May other see and experience God’s love through interaction with God’s people. Amen!!
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