Posts
Praise: The Everlasting Father, the Ancient of Days. "I praise you Lord, as the 'Ancient of Days' (Daniel 7:9), the 'Everlasting Father' (Isaiah 9:6), who lives forever and ever."
Scripture: "So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober." (1 Thess 5:6) At first glance, we might think that Paul is proposing insomnia for all believers, but fortunately not. He previously called us children of the light, children of the day. We are those who live in the light of Christ, we have received revelation or enlightenment through the Spirit so that we need no longer walk in 'darkness' (sin and rebellion) or drunkenness (being out of control or disconnected from reality and morality). But the invitation or call is to live soberly, understanding the times such that we would not be surprised by the 'coming of the Lord'. This is meant to be something we look forward to and for which prepare ourselves.
How do we do that in practice? Paul again references his "threesome" of faith, hope and love. Our heart is to be protected by the 'breastplate' of trust and love. the more we allow ourselves to be loved and accepted by God as his child, perfect in his eyes because of Christ, the less we are likely to be overcome by our fears. Our hope in Christ, his return and the establishment of his kingdom reign, protect our minds from the lies and accusation of the enemy, Satan, the accuser of the brethren. So keep asking that the Lord would enlighten our hearts and minds through the work of the Holy Spirit who reminds us that whether alive or passed through death, we are always with the Lord. Hallelujah!
Prayer: Pray that we would be a community characterized by life-giving fellowship. Pray for genuine care and honoring of one another in unity of spirit and the bond of peace. Thank God for one another and for the grace to love each other as Christ loved us.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Work heartily, as for the Lord
Praise: God the Liberator. "I will praise You because 'you are my help and my deliverer, O LORD'" (Psalm 70:5)
Scripture: 'Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men .. You are serving the Lord Christ.' [Col 3:23-24] This is a good reminder for me this morning that my whole life belongs to the Lord. He is interested in everything I do and knows that whether I am home with my family, at work with business colleagues, or playing with friends, I am a Christ-follower and a Christ-'glorifier' (if there is such a word) ... or at least I have the chance to be such. This is because being a Christian is primarily about who I am, my identity. I am not meant to have multiple identities depending upon who I am with or what I am doing.
As I seek to develop this consistency and integrity in my life, by the grace of God and the inner working of the Holy Spirit (i.e. renewing my sense of 'sonship'), then I am most free and God is most glorified. That is important - to me and to Him. This is our worship and this will bring the greatest blessing into the lives of my family at home, my colleagues at work and my friends at play. That is also important to God.
Prayer: Pray for the strengthening of marriages. Pray that couples will honor and care for one another in the love of Christ. Ask God to bless and heal those whom he has joined together, that nothing would drive them apart.
Scripture: 'Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men .. You are serving the Lord Christ.' [Col 3:23-24] This is a good reminder for me this morning that my whole life belongs to the Lord. He is interested in everything I do and knows that whether I am home with my family, at work with business colleagues, or playing with friends, I am a Christ-follower and a Christ-'glorifier' (if there is such a word) ... or at least I have the chance to be such. This is because being a Christian is primarily about who I am, my identity. I am not meant to have multiple identities depending upon who I am with or what I am doing.
As I seek to develop this consistency and integrity in my life, by the grace of God and the inner working of the Holy Spirit (i.e. renewing my sense of 'sonship'), then I am most free and God is most glorified. That is important - to me and to Him. This is our worship and this will bring the greatest blessing into the lives of my family at home, my colleagues at work and my friends at play. That is also important to God.
Prayer: Pray for the strengthening of marriages. Pray that couples will honor and care for one another in the love of Christ. Ask God to bless and heal those whom he has joined together, that nothing would drive them apart.
Friday, April 16, 2010
When it's better for Jesus to leave
Praise: God my Shepherd. "I bless Your name and praise You as my Jehovah-Rohi (the Lord my Shepherd), who will shepherd me and guide me in the paths of righteousness for Your name's sake." (Psalm 23:1-3)
Scripture: "it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you." (John 16:7) There came a time in the growth and development of Jesus' disciples, when it was becoming detrimental for Jesus to stay around. Jesus (of Nazareth), though the Son of God, was not going to be as effective in their lives as the Spirit (of Christ) would be. It was only to be after his departure that Jesus was going to be able to send the Holy Spirit upon his followers. Yet in doing this, God was depositing in their lives something of immense worth and power - his Spirit, his very presence. They were going to do even greater things than Jesus because of the indwelling Spirit in each one of them. The Spirit (of Christ) was better for them than Jesus (the Christ).
Why was this? I think, in part, it was because Jesus of Nazareth was just that, a man from Nazareth. Still God, put limited by his human frame and his choice to 'empty himself'. Jesus was teaching them how to depend not upon the man who had walked with them at times, but upon his Holy Spirit who would dwell within them at all times, 'Christ in you, the hope of glory'.
Still today we need to keep learning this lesson and growing into those who would learn to live by the Spirit. Yet we have a strong tendency to look to other men or women whom we think have been given something we don't have. We look to human personalities and even depend upon them because that is what our culture (church and secular) often promotes. But this is not good for us, nor does it facilitate our growth. What does that, is the working of the Spirit of Christ within us and our learning to listen to and relate to him. It is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and it is at work within YOU! Maybe it is time to release the place some people or person has in your life and yield to the leading and empowering of the Spirit within.
Prayer: Pray that we are giving birth to a new and living hope within our communities that is an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Pray that as we hope in God, our strength will be renewed, we will soar with wings like eagles; we will run and not grow weary, walk and not faint. Proclaim our hope in God alone!
Scripture: "it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you." (John 16:7) There came a time in the growth and development of Jesus' disciples, when it was becoming detrimental for Jesus to stay around. Jesus (of Nazareth), though the Son of God, was not going to be as effective in their lives as the Spirit (of Christ) would be. It was only to be after his departure that Jesus was going to be able to send the Holy Spirit upon his followers. Yet in doing this, God was depositing in their lives something of immense worth and power - his Spirit, his very presence. They were going to do even greater things than Jesus because of the indwelling Spirit in each one of them. The Spirit (of Christ) was better for them than Jesus (the Christ).
Why was this? I think, in part, it was because Jesus of Nazareth was just that, a man from Nazareth. Still God, put limited by his human frame and his choice to 'empty himself'. Jesus was teaching them how to depend not upon the man who had walked with them at times, but upon his Holy Spirit who would dwell within them at all times, 'Christ in you, the hope of glory'.
Still today we need to keep learning this lesson and growing into those who would learn to live by the Spirit. Yet we have a strong tendency to look to other men or women whom we think have been given something we don't have. We look to human personalities and even depend upon them because that is what our culture (church and secular) often promotes. But this is not good for us, nor does it facilitate our growth. What does that, is the working of the Spirit of Christ within us and our learning to listen to and relate to him. It is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and it is at work within YOU! Maybe it is time to release the place some people or person has in your life and yield to the leading and empowering of the Spirit within.
Prayer: Pray that we are giving birth to a new and living hope within our communities that is an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Pray that as we hope in God, our strength will be renewed, we will soar with wings like eagles; we will run and not grow weary, walk and not faint. Proclaim our hope in God alone!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Why does he eat with .. sinners?
Praise: God the Liberator. "I will praise You because 'you are my help and my deliverer, O LORD'" (Psalm 70:5)
Scripture: Jesus was often found just hanging out at the house of people the religious types of the day called "sinners". I love the fact that having just impacted one of these sinners (Matthew the tax collector), and called him to follow him, he then wants to hang out with Matthew at his place with his friends. How else would he be able to have the opportunity to connect with those who 'need' him? How easily would we find ourselves encouraging Matthew not to spend too much time with his old friends who were a bad influence. Not so Jesus, the "friend of sinners".
I want to be able to connect with people in a similar way, without prejudice Lord. If my life/body is truly a temple of the Holy Spirit as we read in Corinthians, then could it be that you want me to express this reality to people who don't yet know the Lord. Interestingly I also found the story about Joseph helpful in this. Here he is stuck in prison, unjustly. Yet he is never without opportunity to impact people with the Lord. He shows concern for the cup-bearer and baker. He asks them why they seem upset and then has opportunity to share some truth about God (all dreams belong to him) but also to demonstrate the truth by inviting them to share their dreams trusting that God would supernaturally work through him. So he did, even though it didn't immediately lead to his release. That would come later but God still had purpose in keeping Joseph where he was.
Lord, let me not be too preoccupied with what might seem to be going wrong with my situation, but more concerned about the people around me and what you are doing and want to do in their lives through me.
Prayer: Pray for the strengthening of marriages. Pray that couples will honor and care for one another in the love of Christ. Ask God to bless and heal those whom he has joined together, that nothing would drive them apart.
Scripture: Jesus was often found just hanging out at the house of people the religious types of the day called "sinners". I love the fact that having just impacted one of these sinners (Matthew the tax collector), and called him to follow him, he then wants to hang out with Matthew at his place with his friends. How else would he be able to have the opportunity to connect with those who 'need' him? How easily would we find ourselves encouraging Matthew not to spend too much time with his old friends who were a bad influence. Not so Jesus, the "friend of sinners".
I want to be able to connect with people in a similar way, without prejudice Lord. If my life/body is truly a temple of the Holy Spirit as we read in Corinthians, then could it be that you want me to express this reality to people who don't yet know the Lord. Interestingly I also found the story about Joseph helpful in this. Here he is stuck in prison, unjustly. Yet he is never without opportunity to impact people with the Lord. He shows concern for the cup-bearer and baker. He asks them why they seem upset and then has opportunity to share some truth about God (all dreams belong to him) but also to demonstrate the truth by inviting them to share their dreams trusting that God would supernaturally work through him. So he did, even though it didn't immediately lead to his release. That would come later but God still had purpose in keeping Joseph where he was.
Lord, let me not be too preoccupied with what might seem to be going wrong with my situation, but more concerned about the people around me and what you are doing and want to do in their lives through me.
Prayer: Pray for the strengthening of marriages. Pray that couples will honor and care for one another in the love of Christ. Ask God to bless and heal those whom he has joined together, that nothing would drive them apart.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Do you understand what you have been given?
Praise: A Faithful God. "I praise you because 'your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies' (Ps. 36:5) and 'great is your faithfulness'" (Lam 3:23)
Scripture: "Now we have received .. the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God." (1 Cor 2:12) I often find myself living on a very 'natural' level, all too self-centered and too restricted to what I think I am able to achieve. This is why I need to keep reading Scripture, especially something like what is shown to us in this verse. The very Spirit who plumbs the depths of God, who knows what no man has ever conceived of or imagined, has been given to us by God so that we might be centered upon Christ and live on a different plane.
For Paul, it was worked out through weakness and fear amongst the sophists of Corinth, who were no match for the wisdom of God. It needed a demonstration of the Spirit's power, not Paul's oratory. Does my life "need" this also?? What will it take to see people I know become Christ-followers? Nothing less than the power of the Holy Spirit. But do I see that this is what has been given to me, in Christ Jesus? Am I sufficiently released from the limitations or shackles of mere human ability and desire? Will God even remain faithful to his word and his promises? I believe so, I must believe so. I sense that the stakes are being raised ... or maybe they have always been there and I am only truly seeing things more clearly now.
Prayer: Pray that joyful gratitude would characterize our community, and flow out in ministry to others. Let us sing, making melody in our hearts to the Lord.
Scripture: "Now we have received .. the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God." (1 Cor 2:12) I often find myself living on a very 'natural' level, all too self-centered and too restricted to what I think I am able to achieve. This is why I need to keep reading Scripture, especially something like what is shown to us in this verse. The very Spirit who plumbs the depths of God, who knows what no man has ever conceived of or imagined, has been given to us by God so that we might be centered upon Christ and live on a different plane.
For Paul, it was worked out through weakness and fear amongst the sophists of Corinth, who were no match for the wisdom of God. It needed a demonstration of the Spirit's power, not Paul's oratory. Does my life "need" this also?? What will it take to see people I know become Christ-followers? Nothing less than the power of the Holy Spirit. But do I see that this is what has been given to me, in Christ Jesus? Am I sufficiently released from the limitations or shackles of mere human ability and desire? Will God even remain faithful to his word and his promises? I believe so, I must believe so. I sense that the stakes are being raised ... or maybe they have always been there and I am only truly seeing things more clearly now.
Prayer: Pray that joyful gratitude would characterize our community, and flow out in ministry to others. Let us sing, making melody in our hearts to the Lord.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
What's your Good News?
Praise: The Burden Bearer. "Praise be to the Lord, to God [my] Savior, who daily bears [my] burdens" (Psalm 68:19)
Scripture: "Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand" This morning I found myself asking, 'have I all too easily domesticated the gospel (good news), somehow making it safer'? I know that Jesus born of the virgin, crucified, buried and raised by the Father according to the Scriptures was the heart of Paul's gospel and is reflected in our creeds. But do we make enough of Jesus' life and how he proclaimed and demonstrated a new reality with the coming of the Kingdom?
What made this truly good news, something worth singing and shouting about, was that something of heaven was now invading earth. Personified in Jesus, but also demonstrating God's compassion, his power over all the works of darkness (healing, deliverance, raising the dead), his desire for renewed intimacy and friendship with his children and the true miracle of changed lives - men and women desiring and empowered to love God and one another more consistently. It is this Kingdom that excited and called me many years ago and the message has not changed. I know I have changed, but not always for the good sadly.
Lord, let your will be done here on earth (and in me) as it is in heaven.
Prayer: Pray that we will be a people who are generous and cheerful in their financial giving to those in need. Cry out to see the floodgates of heaven open and so much blessing poured out that we will not have room to contain it. Pray for breakthrough and rejoice in God's abundance.
Scripture: "Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand" This morning I found myself asking, 'have I all too easily domesticated the gospel (good news), somehow making it safer'? I know that Jesus born of the virgin, crucified, buried and raised by the Father according to the Scriptures was the heart of Paul's gospel and is reflected in our creeds. But do we make enough of Jesus' life and how he proclaimed and demonstrated a new reality with the coming of the Kingdom?
What made this truly good news, something worth singing and shouting about, was that something of heaven was now invading earth. Personified in Jesus, but also demonstrating God's compassion, his power over all the works of darkness (healing, deliverance, raising the dead), his desire for renewed intimacy and friendship with his children and the true miracle of changed lives - men and women desiring and empowered to love God and one another more consistently. It is this Kingdom that excited and called me many years ago and the message has not changed. I know I have changed, but not always for the good sadly.
Lord, let your will be done here on earth (and in me) as it is in heaven.
Prayer: Pray that we will be a people who are generous and cheerful in their financial giving to those in need. Cry out to see the floodgates of heaven open and so much blessing poured out that we will not have room to contain it. Pray for breakthrough and rejoice in God's abundance.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Just keep it between you and God
Praise: A Personal God. "I praise You, God, because You are a personal God, who gives me the honor of knowing You personally, even inviting me to feast at Your kingdom's table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" (Matt 8:11)
Scripture: "The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God." This could be a bit misleading to some. Aren't we supposed to share our faith with others, after all? But for Paul, it seems that there are to be some self-imposed limits on on our 'exuberance' for Christ and how we communicate with other believers what we are excited about. It strikes me as an attitude problem - do I find myself more concerned with proving myself right, or am I more concerned with the faith and freedom of my brother.
When it comes to different foods, drink, holy days, etc., it is a good thing to have our minds made up as to what is important and how we are to live. But we are to be careful about imposing these interpretations (even if they are true), upon other brothers and sisters in the Lord, when they are in a different place. In other words, be careful not to judge fellow believers over issues of faith and practice so as to make them feel condemned. Right relationships 'trump' right belief and right behavior. Orthodoxy without love is very dangerous ... and displeasing to our Father in heaven.
Help us Lord, not forget the importance of love and unity in the Church.
Prayer: Pray for purity in thought, word and deed for each other. Pray that we would be a people who confess our sins, receive forgiveness and are purified from all unrighteousness. Proclaim that we are a people who, like King David, cry out: "Create in me a pure heart, O God." Take joy in the promise, "The pure in heart will see God."
Scripture: "The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God." This could be a bit misleading to some. Aren't we supposed to share our faith with others, after all? But for Paul, it seems that there are to be some self-imposed limits on on our 'exuberance' for Christ and how we communicate with other believers what we are excited about. It strikes me as an attitude problem - do I find myself more concerned with proving myself right, or am I more concerned with the faith and freedom of my brother.
When it comes to different foods, drink, holy days, etc., it is a good thing to have our minds made up as to what is important and how we are to live. But we are to be careful about imposing these interpretations (even if they are true), upon other brothers and sisters in the Lord, when they are in a different place. In other words, be careful not to judge fellow believers over issues of faith and practice so as to make them feel condemned. Right relationships 'trump' right belief and right behavior. Orthodoxy without love is very dangerous ... and displeasing to our Father in heaven.
Help us Lord, not forget the importance of love and unity in the Church.
Prayer: Pray for purity in thought, word and deed for each other. Pray that we would be a people who confess our sins, receive forgiveness and are purified from all unrighteousness. Proclaim that we are a people who, like King David, cry out: "Create in me a pure heart, O God." Take joy in the promise, "The pure in heart will see God."
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