Colossians 3:1-17 (Click on reference to read text)
You know that race you are running in right now? Guess what? You are going to win! That is the power of Christ in your life, that is the promise found in the Word... it is time to claim the victory.
Paul writes to the believers, "Since you have been raised with Christ..." (vs.1). I stopped here because it is time we lay hold of what the words are saying. You have already been raised! You are no longer dead, you have the power and victory of the Resurrection in your life from the moment that you chose to accept Christ as your Savior.
Instead of living in victory, putting on the full armor of God and going to war against Satan on behalf of your family, church and community, so many Christians are cowering in fear. We find ourselves often immobilized by the unknown, by the future, by fears that we cannot control. Satan has caused us to breeze right over the first few words of this chapter. WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN RAISED! According to the Word of God, we can "overwhelmingly conquer" tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril and sword (Romans 8:35-37). According to the Word of God "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). Believe in the power of God at work in your life, you have already been raised with Christ!
Once we embrace this victorious truth, we can begin to act in a manner worthy of the Gospel we have received (Phil 1:27). Paul continues to exhort us to set our hearts and minds on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set our minds on things above, not on the things that are on earth (vs.1 continued). We know from Jesus that the things of the earth are all temporary, can be taken away, or eventually will perish, but the Heavenly things will last for all eternity (Matthew 6:19-20).
Now the magic question, how? How do I live in victory, how do I build things for eternity? It is as simple as getting dressed. We are to put off the old (anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive speech, immorality, impurity, evil desires and greed) (vs. 5-8) and put on the new self (vs. 10). As you get dressed each morning pray verse 12 to God and "clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." If someone needs forgiveness, then forgive (vs.13). If someone needs love and kindness, show the love of Christ (vs.14). If you are stressed and worried about life in general, put on the peace of Christ (vs. 15). If you are confused and unsure of how to handle a situation, let the Word of Christ that dwells in you be your guide (vs. 16). If these things were not hard enough, Paul sums it all up in verse 17: "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."
A race is not run by sitting on the sidelines and thinking about the course. You cannot win in life by doing this either. The victorious Christian life is putting on Christ and taking small little steps for His kingdom. You can be victorious by winning the little battles in your life everyday. What ways is He asking for your obedience? Is it to turn off the tv or computer and spend time with him? Is it to get out of the car and go talk to your neighbor instead of just shutting the garage door behind you? Is it to be patient and kind to the cashier who is struggling even though you have screaming kids with you? Is it to greet your children with a smile and express delight, even when you are hoping to have a few moments to yourself? Is it to praise God for the blessings you have been given in those moments you want to complain? There are 100 different ways to bring glory to God today and to have victory. You have already been raised, you have the power... it is time to walk it out!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
A Glimpse into the Father's Heart...
Acts 17:24-31 (Click on reference to read text)
As Father's day approaches, I have found myself continually seeking my Heavenly Father's face. As my heart longs to mourn the death of my earthly Daddy, my spirit has been grasping to the heart of my Heavenly Daddy. As I have been seeking His face, He has reminded me of who He is.
My God, my Heavenly Father, is not far off and unapproachable. Paul describes Him in verse 24 as the "God who made the world and all things in it, since He is the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands." He is with me always (Ps 73:23-28). He will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). God actually desires to be with us so much, that we are His temple... He, the God of the universe chooses to dwell within us! (1 Cor 6:19) Paul later writes in Hebrews that we are to approach God's throne with confidence (Hebrews 4:16). When Jesus died on the cross, He became our intercessor, the veil was torn in two and we have full access to the throne of God (Mark 15:38, Hebrews 4:14-16).
Second, we are reminded that God gives us all we need and He chose us! He is the one who gives us breath and life and all things (vs. 25). Ephesians 1:3-5 teaches us that God chose us before the foundation of the world, to be adopted as His children because He wanted to, and it gave Him great pleasure! God loved us before we loved Him (1 John 4:10). We know that He has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). God, our Heavenly Father, wants us! He chose us! He desires us!
Third, we see that God is in control. This truth is sometimes hard to believe when we look at the world around us and just see chaos. However, we have to choose to believe that God is in fact working out everything to accomplish His purposes. We are constantly reminded of God's sovereignty in Scripture: God appoints the time for people to live and the exact place where they should live (vs. 26), God sets up and disposes of kingdoms and changes times and seasons (Daniel 2:20-21), all of our days have been ordained before one of them came to be (Ps 139:16), and these are just a few examples. Our Heavenly Father is sovereign, He is the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7), He has always been on the throne and He always will be on the throne. I can rest that my Heavenly Father is watching over me and my security can be found in Him.
Finally, in this passage, we are reminded that God draws us to Him (vs. 27). If we come near to God, He will come near to us (James 4:8). He desires for all nations and all people to come into His presence and be His child (2 Peter 3:9). I think that often times when we feel far away from God, it is because we are the one that moved. I want to remind you of a parable that Jesus told. Luke 15 talks of the prodigal son that practically robbed his father and disowned him. When he was in despair, he came crawling back to his father just asking to be a servant, never believing the father would want to call him son. Instead of denying the child's son ship, he threw a party and threw his arms around his son welcoming him home. Max Lucado says it so well, "Though the boy is willing to stop being a son, the father is not willing to stop being a father" (The Great House of God). What was the point of this story? God is not willing to stop being our Father. He draws us to Him and gives us rest. He offers forgiveness and promises to remember our sins no more (Ps 103). Don't let Satan convince you to stay away, God is welcoming you with open arms.
You see, these simple truths are a reminder of things I already knew. My Heavenly Father loves me, He chooses me, He is near, and He draws me to Him when I wander away. You know what? He is all of those things to you too. If on this Father's day you too find yourself without a Dad to celebrate, choose to celebrate our precious Heavenly Father. I know He is choosing to spend that day with you, and me, too.
As Father's day approaches, I have found myself continually seeking my Heavenly Father's face. As my heart longs to mourn the death of my earthly Daddy, my spirit has been grasping to the heart of my Heavenly Daddy. As I have been seeking His face, He has reminded me of who He is.
My God, my Heavenly Father, is not far off and unapproachable. Paul describes Him in verse 24 as the "God who made the world and all things in it, since He is the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands." He is with me always (Ps 73:23-28). He will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). God actually desires to be with us so much, that we are His temple... He, the God of the universe chooses to dwell within us! (1 Cor 6:19) Paul later writes in Hebrews that we are to approach God's throne with confidence (Hebrews 4:16). When Jesus died on the cross, He became our intercessor, the veil was torn in two and we have full access to the throne of God (Mark 15:38, Hebrews 4:14-16).
Second, we are reminded that God gives us all we need and He chose us! He is the one who gives us breath and life and all things (vs. 25). Ephesians 1:3-5 teaches us that God chose us before the foundation of the world, to be adopted as His children because He wanted to, and it gave Him great pleasure! God loved us before we loved Him (1 John 4:10). We know that He has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). God, our Heavenly Father, wants us! He chose us! He desires us!
Third, we see that God is in control. This truth is sometimes hard to believe when we look at the world around us and just see chaos. However, we have to choose to believe that God is in fact working out everything to accomplish His purposes. We are constantly reminded of God's sovereignty in Scripture: God appoints the time for people to live and the exact place where they should live (vs. 26), God sets up and disposes of kingdoms and changes times and seasons (Daniel 2:20-21), all of our days have been ordained before one of them came to be (Ps 139:16), and these are just a few examples. Our Heavenly Father is sovereign, He is the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7), He has always been on the throne and He always will be on the throne. I can rest that my Heavenly Father is watching over me and my security can be found in Him.
Finally, in this passage, we are reminded that God draws us to Him (vs. 27). If we come near to God, He will come near to us (James 4:8). He desires for all nations and all people to come into His presence and be His child (2 Peter 3:9). I think that often times when we feel far away from God, it is because we are the one that moved. I want to remind you of a parable that Jesus told. Luke 15 talks of the prodigal son that practically robbed his father and disowned him. When he was in despair, he came crawling back to his father just asking to be a servant, never believing the father would want to call him son. Instead of denying the child's son ship, he threw a party and threw his arms around his son welcoming him home. Max Lucado says it so well, "Though the boy is willing to stop being a son, the father is not willing to stop being a father" (The Great House of God). What was the point of this story? God is not willing to stop being our Father. He draws us to Him and gives us rest. He offers forgiveness and promises to remember our sins no more (Ps 103). Don't let Satan convince you to stay away, God is welcoming you with open arms.
You see, these simple truths are a reminder of things I already knew. My Heavenly Father loves me, He chooses me, He is near, and He draws me to Him when I wander away. You know what? He is all of those things to you too. If on this Father's day you too find yourself without a Dad to celebrate, choose to celebrate our precious Heavenly Father. I know He is choosing to spend that day with you, and me, too.
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