A Dead Life That Lives

Romans 12:1-2 [1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which  is your reasonable service. [2] And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The previous chapter of Romans makes it clear that God has not forsaken His promises to Israel. Their state of unbelief will one day be shed, and a remnant who survive the Tribulation will finally be saved, when they all recognize Jesus as their Messiah. In the meantime, their partial blindness has been a blessing to us who have been grafted in, with Israel, and we are now known as the church. Please do not misunderstand this. God has made promises, specifically to Israel, that He will fulfill to them. We, as the church, also have promises made to us that will also be fulfilled. The Apostle Paul tells us, because we have been given this wonderful undeserved opportunity, and blessing, we should be willing to lay down our bodies, on God's altar, as living sacrifices. How can a sacrifice be living, when a sacrifice that is put on the altar is supposed to be put to death first? I'm glad you asked. Very simply put, we are to be dead to the world, its ways, and all it offers; and be alive to God, in Christ, ready to serve Him in accordance with His will. That means that God, His Word, prayer, and serving Him, should be of greater priority than fulfilling our lustful and selfish desires for the empty promises the world makes us, day in and day out. Far too many of us have sold out to the world, chasing after money, status, popularity, and all kinds of prosperity; only to find out that all those things are ever fleeting. Even when we achieve these worldly goals, it all still leaves an emptiness that is never filled. We try to fill it all kinds of perversities, but it all usually ends in destruction of relationships and even the taking of one's own life. The only true life of satisfaction, here on earth, is a life lived for Jesus. It is a life that is dead to the things of this world, and has crucified its desires for them. It is a life that, though it be dead, is focused on heavenly things, and lives for the glory of God.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on the Name of Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation (Romans 10:13).

Onward to Victory

‭‭Luke 4:13-14 [13] Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. [14] Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.

My friends, here is a fact that we must never forget. The devils may flee for a time, but know that they flee only to wait for an opportune time to return to do battle. As long as we are here on earth, our enemies will continue to launch their spiritual attacks against us. The Bible is clear that all of us who are born again believers have not only been adopted into God's family, but we have also been enlisted into His army. The enemies will do everything within their power to steal our joy and our peace, kill our testimony for Christ, and destroy all the relationships we have, starting with our relationship with Jesus. Praise be to God that we have a Lord and Savior who promised to never leave us, nor forsake us. However, this means that we must heed Peter's warning to be sober and vigilant, because our adversary, the devil, walks about seeking whom he may devour. My friends, that is you and me, who have put our trust in Christ Jesus. Note that in today's verses, Jesus returned, after resisting the devil, in the power of the Spirit. God promised that if we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. The result will be that the devil will flee. If we want to truly walk in the power of the Spirit, as Jesus did, then we must put on our spiritual armor (put on Christ), resist the temptations thrown at us by taking the way of escape that God provides with each temptation; and always remember that our enemies may retreat for a time, but will relaunch their attacks the moment we let our guard down again. My brothers and sisters, we must always be ready for the fight. We must put on our armor every day, pray without ceasing, read and study God's Word every day, and be doers of the Word, not just hearers. Only then will we be able to walk in the power of the One who indwells us, and the One who is greater than the one who is in the world. So for today, suit up, pray up, study up, and onward to victory!

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on the Name of Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation (Romans 10:13).

Why, Why, Why?

‭Acts 16:37-38 [37] But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.” [38] And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans.

     Have you ever asked yourself, "Why did this happen?" "Why did this happen to me, or my family member or friend?" "Why did God allow this?" I'm sure many of us have asked one or all of these questions at some point in our lives. The verses above contain what may seem like an insignificant detail. Yet, it is a most important detail. That detail is the fact that the Apostle Paul was a Roman citizen, even though he was a Jew. I recently heard a message that told an interesting story about that detail. You see, back in those days, it was not a common thing for a Jew to have Roman citizenship. However, God, in His sovereignty, many years before Paul was born, allowed Paul's great great grandparents to be forcibly moved from Jerusalem to Tarsus, and given citizenship status in that place. I'm sure his great great grandparents questioned why God would allow that to happen to them. "God, why?" During the time that Paul's parents lived in Tarsus, there was a rebellion against Caesar, led by Brutus and Cassius. Tarsus became their headquarters. Upon their defeat, Rome honored the citizens of Tarsus, for their continued loyalty, by making them Roman citizen. Hence, the Apostle Paul was a Roman citizen by birth. The unfair jailing and public punishment Paul & Silas suffered, in Philippi, put them in a position where Paul could bring charges against those magistrates that sentenced them. So even though the magistrates begged them to leave, they could return at any time and seek legal charges. By the way, this incident also put the magistrates in check, should they decide to persecute the local church Paul established while in Philippi. Why does this matter today? Well, it answers the question, "Why?" You see, the truth of the matter is that God may allow things in our lives that we may not understand. However, we see what happened to Paul, and how God used what He allowed to happen to his great great grandparents, so long ago, to benefit the church at Philippi; keeping them from possibly being persecuted. My friends, everything that happens to us in this life has a purpose. Nothing is ever wasted, and the fact is that what happens to us today, may end up being for the future good of our family, friends, or even a coworker. We simply have to trust that it's all under God's sovereign control.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on the Name of Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation (Romans 10:13).

At Any Moment

II Timothy 2:1-4 [1] You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. [2] And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. [3] You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. [4] No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

Jesus gave us the command to go out and make disciples. That requires that we go out and share the Good News of what He did for us. However, He also warned us that in this world we would have trials and tribulations. He warned us that we would face hatred and opposition; not because of who we are personally, but because we represent Him. The Apostle Paul gave the same command and warning to Timothy. The truth of the matter is that we have been left here on earth to proclaim the life-changing message of Christ, His death, resurrection, and return. He paid the ultimate price so that we could be reconciled to God and be given eternal life. The mission we have been given sends us out into a spiritual battlefield, and that battle manifests itself in the physical world. Therefore, the Apostle reminds us that we are to be mindful of Who enlisted us, and what our duty is while we are here, as strangers and pilgrims. He warns us not to be entangled in the cares of this world. Instead, we are to focus on the mission and remember that when we called upon the Name of Jesus, we were not only adopted into God's family, we were enlisted into His army. We are to proclaim His message, make disciples, and endure trials, tribulations, and do what pleases Him. Jesus promised that even though we will experience suffering in this world, we have His peace, and in Him we have already overcome the world and its way. So my brothers and sisters, today we must go forward proclaiming the Good News, and enduring whatever hardships He allows. His return is near, and we will only have to endure for a short while; as our time to be reunited with our Savior, Lord, and King could come at any moment.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on the Name of Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation (Romans 10:13).

A Much Needed Reminder

‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭John 21:1-6 [1] After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself:  [2] Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. [3] Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. [4] But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. [5] Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” [6] And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

How do we handle the disappointments of life? The disappointments that come from circumstances beyond our control, or the ones that come as a result of personal choices and failures? The disciples had forsaken everything to follow Jesus, only to find themselves in a place where they experienced great pain and disappointment, when the One they had been following, the One they believed was their Messiah, was crucified. Now, in the midst of their confusion over what took place, Peter, the one who denied Jesus, decided to return to his old life, his old ways. Note that this was after Jesus had reappeared to them twice already, after His resurrection. How often have we found ourselves in this place of temptation? The temptation to return to the old ways of life, even after the Lord has shown Himself in our lives over and over. We experience those instances of disappointment and we seem to forget all that we know about who God is and what He has already done for us. We forget how faithful He is in keeping His promises, and we walk back toward our old life, sulking because things didn't turn out the way we expected. As I re-read this account, the one thing that stood out was that Jesus showed His disciples, once again, that life without Him was a life void of real blessings. When they went off on their own, they caught nothing. When they followed Jesus' command, they were blessed. What spiritual blessings do we forfeit when we choose our own way, after being disappionted, or when we walk away after making a sinful choice? The fact of the matter is that we need not put ourselves "out of service". Instead, we need to turn back to Jesus, with repentance and confession, and let Him restore us, just as He did with Peter. We should not allow the disappointments of life to cause us to forget the blessings of walking intimately with Jesus. There is nothing we can do that will separate us from His love, and there's nothing we can do that will go beyond the reach of His grace and forgiveness. Peter went back to fishing those things that escaped him that night, and would not last; but Jesus reminded him that He had called him to fish for those things that had eternal value, and would live forever; the souls of men.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on the Name of Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation (Romans 10:13).

Only He Is the Lord

‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭Leviticus 22:31-33 [31] “Therefore you shall keep My commandments, and perform them: I am the Lord. [32] You shall not profane My holy Name, but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel. I am the Lord who sanctifies you, [33] who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord.”

 These verses were a wonderful reminder, today, that the Words God spoke to His people Israel are just as applicable to us. How do we show and prove our love for Jesus? Jesus told us that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments. He is Lord. As followers of Jesus we should not profane His Name. This means that we are not to live in such a way that we bring shame to His Name. May I also remind us that we do not glorify His Name when we use it in vain, use it as a cuss word; or entertain ourselves with any kind of televison program, video game, or any form of media that uses it as a cuss word. We are to reverently fear Him as the holy God that He is, and as the only God we are to worship and serve. He is the One who gives us eternal life. Jesus is the only Way. He is the One who has brought us out of the world and made Heaven our home. Only He is the Lord.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on the Name of Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation (Romans 10:13).

Simply Open Our Mouths

‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭Philippians 1:3-7 [3] I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, [4] always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, [5] for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, [6] being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; [7] just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.

Today's verses should cause us to ask ourselves, "Are we truly partnered with the local church and the missionaries we support?" Well, that is, if we give to support the local church and missions. Nevertheless, I'm not referring to financial support. Although, that is of great importance. What I speak of is the spreading of the Gospel. The Apostle Paul gave God thanks for the church at Philippi, not just because they supported him financially, but because they supported him in sharing the Gospel, from day one. They did not waver. Sadly, I hear far too many Christians make the excuse that they don't know enough to be able to share their faith with others. Yet, in its simplest form, all we need to tell someone is that God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to die for us, to pay for our sins; and now we can have eternal life, if we believe that Jesus die for us and rose again. It's very easy to explain to someone that we are all sinners, and that we can confess our sins, and ask for forgiveness for our sins, and ask Jesus to give us eternal life, and change our life and eternal destination. As we grow in our faith and the understanding of our faith, we can then go deeper, as God gives us oppprtunity. The bottom line is that we cannot say, with all honesty, that we love Jesus if we aren't willing to obey His command to share the Gospel with others. Not only that, but one day we will stand before Him and give an answer for whether or not we were good stewards of this wonderful, life-changing message He has entrusted us with. So, I ask us all, "When was the last time that, in obedience to Jesus, and because of our love for Jesus, did we partner with and support our local church and missionaries; simply by opening our mouths to share the Gospel with someone?" 

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on the Name of Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation (Romans 10:13).