September 8, 2012 Show God

Show God Romans 11:36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen. ARE YOU wondering, “What is my life’s purpose?” Then dwell on this verse. You are among the “everything” that “comes from him”. And you “exist by his power”. And you exist because you are “intended for his glory”. Life in Jesus is glorifying the One who made you new in him. God desires you live the type of life that shows those around you how good and gracious he is. He wants you in your activities, your attitude and your words to let people know of his power to change lives and his grace to save all to eternal life. How do you show God to people? The key thing is this: live as closely as you humanly can to God’s ways as found in the Bible. There are many, many resources today that tell you how to have happiness, peace, money, a better job and more friends. But nothing is as true and lasting as the Word of God. When God says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” he means to actually do this—not to think about it. He means to help, forgive, listen to, care for people, to act as Jesus acted for people. When you live as Jesus lived, you bring him into the reality of the culture. People around you will see that he is indeed real and alive. People who don’t know God, begin to see him in how you talk and walk. And when they see your life formed in God’s truth, they will see God. Then you have reached your purpose. Then God’s name will be praised and glorified. That’s what life is about. It’s True! Living with God shows God.

September 7, 2012 Heart to Mouth

Heart to Mouth Romans 10:9-10 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. ONE of Jesus’ “bottom-line” statements in his teachings was, “I tell you the truth.” When he spoke, he emphasized that his words were the truth of God directly from God. There was no intermediary of the truth as the prophets had been. Jesus had come to “Tell you the truth.” Jesus demands, through Paul’s words here, that you confess him with your mouth as the truth of your heart. As one might ask you, “Have you received Jesus into your heart?” the question really is, “Is Jesus’ truth in your heart?” Do you really believe Jesus’ truth? Do you really believe with your heart that Jesus is your Savior? What do you do when your heart believes something? When you really believe you love your spouse, you tell others. When you really believe your kids are great kids, you tell others. When you really believe your candidate is the best choice, you tell others. When you really believe you are blessed, you tell others. You speak what your heart truly believes. You “speak your heart.” Having Jesus “in your heart” should mean you will easily tell others, “I love Jesus. Jesus is my Savior. Jesus died on a cross to save me to eternal life. Jesus did that for you, too.” Confessing Jesus comes easily to your mouth when Jesus’ truth fills your heart. It’s True! A true heart for Jesus is easy to talk about.

September 6, 2012 Know Peace

Know Peace Romans 8:6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace LIFE and peace are gifts from God’s Holy Spirit. God is so good, isn’t he? When you walk through life, there are many days when conflict seems to rule in your workplace, in your home, in your relationships, and in your church. Conflict small and big seems to easily reign over peace. People in any kind of “group” have their own ideas, their own desires their own goals and their own dreams. Most of the time, they seek after these things without thought or submission to others’ needs and desires. Thinking “Me first.” means conflict is too often first. How do you get past this conflict, this competition for who “wins” as you battle to be victorious over each other? The answer is in listening to the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is your guide, your Counselor, your Comforter, and your Strengthener. He is the Spirit of Truth, and he tells you what you must do. The Spirit’s presence in you is the true value in your life—for you have nothing if you have not life in Jesus. And when you face conflict, you must know Jesus’ life way is to humbly serve, to give value to others and to lovingly respond to others’ first. Jesus demonstrated your peace path in his servant life. He gave up everything to serve life to you, and then he sent to you the Holy Spirit to help you live in your life gift. Are conflict and arguments getting the best of you? Then call on the power of the Holy Spirit. See his love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control. Know his faith, joy, hope in your mind. Receive his peace and live in his peace. It’s True! The Holy Spirit is God’s peace offering to you.

September 4, 2012 New Life For You

New Life For You Romans 6:4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. DO YOU know you really do have a new life in Jesus Christ? When you speak of or hear the words of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, you of course say the words of resurrection. You rejoice in his triumph over death, and you celebrate that he is alive. But do you truly relate Jesus’ resurrection to your own life? Jesus’ death has given each one who calls Jesus “Lord and Savior of my life.” a brand-new life. Think of how the word “new” means completely different. “New” means the old is gone and no longer exists. “New” means something vital and life-changing has happened to you. So I ask you, “Do you live that way?” Are you willing to cast away old doubts and old fears? Are you willing to live in a way that is truly opened to new life? Are you willing to allow the Lordship of Jesus Christ to spiritually cleanse your sins and remove your fears and your doubts? Are you willing to think differently about your neighbor—to see him as God sees him? Are you open to hearing God speak to you? And, are you willing to say, “Yes, Lord. Here I am.” when he calls you to go somewhere new to tell others of his resurrection? Newness means change. A life truly lived in the newness of Christ’s resurrection power is a changed life of passion for Him. I pray you will experience this new life in all its power and blessings God has planned for you. It’s True! You can confidently live new in Jesus.

September 3, 2012 Believe It!

Believe It! Romans 3:22-24 There is no difference 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.   DO YOU believe this? In one remarkable sentence the Apostle Paul summarizes the entire Bible. Mankind has sinned. The sin keeps you short of God’s glory—you can’t get to God. But believe it or not, God fixed it for you! You are justified, found “Not guilty.” at God’s judgment seat because Jesus’ death has canceled your sin. The charges are dismissed. The jury has gone home. You are free to go to God. But there’s something you must do. That’s why I ask, “Do you believe this?” To receive God’s freedom, you must believe you have sinned. You might think, “God will take me as I am.” But he won’t. You need to change. The truth is, because of Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden, you are born into Adam’s sin nature just as surely as you are born with human genetics. You can’t change your sin nature, but God can. Yes, you must believe this scripture of life to get to God. Belief in your sin will cause you to know, “I’m short of God’s glory.” Belief in your sin will cause you to confess, “I have sinned.” Belief in Jesus’ redemption will cause you to receive his forgiveness. Belief in his forgiveness will cause you to confess him as Lord and Savior. God has made it possible through Jesus for you to be declared “Not guilty.” in Heaven’s court. Confess your sins. Confess Jesus as Lord, and you will reach God’s glory. It’s True! Believe Romans 3:22-24, and you will be saved. Go ahead. Believe it.

September 2, 2012 Why Act?

Why Act? Romans 1:5-6 Through Christ and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. 6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. WHAT motivates you to do what you do? Some of the things I do are to fulfill my responsibilities in my work, to help out at home and to be in relationship with my family. I think you do what you do for the same reasons. Hopefully, your activities are based on God’s grace to respond to what he has given you. Paul defines God’s grace by referring to its purpose—“to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.” God has given to you his love and grace for your salvation. And he has given you salvation for the purpose of telling others about God. Keeping God “to ourselves” would be as if you took home the salary you made at work, put it under a mattress and never used it. Your money would do no one any good. Your family would suffer because you would not use it for food or shelter. Keeping your cash, you would not help others in need. Keeping the Gospel to yourself is similar. No one will benefit from God’s grace upon your life if you do not share in your words, your actions and your giving. God’s desire is for people to know his message and to experience his love and peace. He calls on you to responsibly use the gift of eternal life he has given to you to bring him glory and honor. God offers himself to you—will you offer him to others? It’s Ture! God’s gifts expand when you give them.

September 1, 2012 Big Things

Big Things Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” THIS is a remarkable scene. It’s called the “Great Commission” or “Great Commandment”. Jesus is commissioning, empowering, his disciples to “go and make disciples of all the nations”. If they are true disciples of the Living Lord Jesus Christ, they must become disciple makers. I’m wondering what they thought. “Make disciples of all the world.” is an enormous command. These are 11 young men. Some are likely still in their teens. They’re only 3 years removed from fishing, tax collecting, and hanging out. How are they going to do this? Will they get financial support from the local church? Nope—the only church around is the one that killed Jesus. Can they get prayer support from friends? Probably, although quite a few of their friends are probably afraid to associate with the “Jesus guys”. Do they start their own church and reach the world from there? That could work. They could worship, teach each other and invite others in—build relationships in Jesus’ name. But what’s the thing that will really work for them? It’s obeying Jesus’ command in the name of the Holy Trinity. Jesus has committed the power of God to be with them. The thing they have to do is go tell the world about Jesus. When they do, Jesus’ power commitment will change the world. It’s True! Obeying Jesus brings his power to you and the world.