Hindsight

I remember a trip I took a few years ago that required a little more patience that I was prepared for. The drive was a lot longer, 90 miles, twice the distance of my normal airport. It took over 20 minutes to find a parking spot followed by a 45 minute security line!

I had just enough time to get a cup of coffee before going to my gate, and no one was in line at the Duncan Donut. As I stepped to the counter the server turned and said, “One moment please”. I could have got mad but decided to laugh at my hurriedness instead. “In a moment” I was enjoying a great cup of java with a smile on my face. I thought later that a lot can happen in a moment - both good and bad.

The Bible gives us good news about what can happen in a moment.

In a Moment:

- Through Christ you can cross from hopelessness to hope.

- We can be taken from this life in to eternity with God.

-  Christ will return (In the twinkling of an eye).

Slow down, take a deep breath, and take your moment with God today.

Amen?

Heart Ruler

Two thousand years ago, a carpenter from Nazareth named Jesus burst on the scene with a vision that has changed the world. Everywhere He went Jesus inspired the imaginations of many people by painting a picture of a spiritual and relational movement like none that had ever existed before.

Some would go without food just to be near Him. Others would travel miles to hear Him tell about a God who loved them personally. They thronged to hear Him teach about a phenomenon He called the “Kingdom of God.” They found it hard to believe that God’s gift of forgiveness and salvation was for everyone.

For three years, Jesus Christ proclaimed the Good News of the Kingdom and then He was betrayed, arrested, beaten, and murdered on a cross.  His followers thought the Kingdom-vision was dead. 

But three days later Jesus rose from the grave, and His Kingdom dream was as alive as He was. He opened their minds to see that the kingdom He had been teaching about for three years was not a political kingdom, but a far greater one, a spiritual kingdom—the rule of God in people’s hearts,

Does God rule in your heart?

Pressing On

Life is tough! We have so many things that keep us from doing what God wants us to do. It seems we are so busy chasing the "good life" that we forget what is necessary for the "God Life"! Consider the following challenge from the Word of God.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Philippians 3:12-16

Press on believer! Keep your eyes up - where our true help comes from.

  

Amen?

I Can

We can summarize our response to God’s call on our lives in two statements; “But God” or “But I” We make excuses for our disobedience by saying things like, “But I’m too busy”, or “But I’m not able”. If we believe in the power of God we respond with, “But God so loves the world” or “But God is able”.  This gives us a totally different outlook on things. Paul writes to the church:

 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. – Galatians 2:20

Dying to self and living for Christ is what He desires. Live a bold and abundant life for Jesus.  For it is by grace you have been saved, through  faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:8-10

Give yourself over to the work that He has begun in you It really is more fun to be a God’s way not a My way person.

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. - Philippians 4:13

 He is able to heal you from the But I and exchange it with I can!

Amen?

Eternal Change

Jesus said in John 3:14-18 - ¹⁴ Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ¹⁵ that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

 

It is crucially important that we understand repentance is not a work we do to earn salvation. Repentance is something God gives—it is only possible because of His grace, love, mercy, and forgiveness. No one can repent unless God grants repentance. All of salvation, including repentance and faith, is a result of God changing our minds, hearts, and focus to Him. Repentance is a 180 Turn.

 

Have you made it?

Growth Spurt

Life in Christ is about growing. The bonsai tree is a very small tree that has been manipulated in to staying tiny. By keeping the tree in a small pot (roots cannot expand) to severe pruning it keeps the plant small. I think we have "bonsai" Christians out there! They think, act, serve, and worship too small. We were meant to grow!

Look what Paul has to say in Colossians 2:6-7; So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  

This is a great reminder on how to grow and keep growing in our Christian faith. You first accept Christ as your Savior, then live your life in Him and through Him. We are "rooted" by our faith and strengthen by learning His Word, and from mature Christians. This will lead to a life of joy and thankfulness!

Take time today to do a faith and growth "check-up". One quick test is to ask others if they think you are joyful and thankful.

 Keep rooted and growing in Jesus.

Turn in Repentance

One definition of repentance is: sincere regret or remorse. It’s more than turning from your sins. In the Bible, the word repent means “to change one’s mind.” The Bible also tells us that true repentance will result in a change of actions. Acts 26:20 declares, “I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.”  

To repent, in relation to salvation, is to change your mind in regard to Jesus Christ. In Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts chapter 2:36-38), he concludes with a call for the people to repent. Repent from what? Peter is calling the people who rejected Jesus to change their minds about Him, to recognize that He is indeed “Lord and Christ”. Peter is calling the people to change their minds from rejection of Christ as the Messiah to faith in Him as both Messiah and Savior.

It is impossible to place your faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior without first changing your mind about who He is and what He has done. Whether it is repentance from willful rejection or repentance from ignorance or disinterest, it is a change of mind. Biblical repentance, in relation to salvation, is changing your mind from rejection of Christ to faith in Christ. Amen?