October 9, 2012
Paul applauded the Thessalonian believers for how they “looked forward” to Christ’s return. When we are “looking forward” to a vacation, a wedding day, a birth or a graduation, what kinds of things do we do? Do we mark the calendar and count the days? Do we talk about the upcoming day with others? Do we pack our bags and organize our lives accordingly? Do we work and prepare? If we do all these things and more to prepare for worldly occasions, what might it look like for us to live “looking forward” to Christ’s return?
October 8, 2012
Your true employer is Jesus Christ. Don’t worry about layoffs, mergers or economic slow-downs. God is your provider. With this in mind, work with all your hearts for Him, as if you were signing Christ’s name to your work. People take note of one who works wholeheartedly like this. It not only attracts them to your work, it causes them to want to hear about the One you claim to work for.
October 7, 2012
Paul encouraged the Colossians to fill their lives with preaching, teaching and singing about Christ. A couple thousand years later and faithful Christians are still following this pattern. Let’s go to church today and join Paul and the Colossians in worshiping the Christ!
October 6, 2012
Like many in our modern generation, the people of Judah replied, “No, that’s not the road we want!” Within their lifetimes the land of Judah fell and the people were carried into Babylonian exile. There are “crossroad” moments for every nation and generation. I wonder what our generation will decide. Will they choose the old, godly way or not?
October 5, 2012
Do you understand what God has done? The punishment that was due us has been spent on Christ’s “physical body,” so that there is none left for us. The penalty for sin has been paid in full. When we accept Christ, we are redeemed from sin’s penalty and we are reconciled to God. Christ took our sin, our separation and our death and offers us His righteousness, His Sonship and His eternal life.
October 4, 2012
If you want to know what God is like, then gaze upon the face of Jesus. Read the gospels and see God’s nature revealed. Through Christ, God has created all, offers redemption and sustains all. Everything was made by Christ and for Christ. You were made for Him.
October 3, 2012
Worry is self-talk. Prayer is talking to God. Stop talking to your self and start talking to God. Worry is not only wasted effort, it is self destructive. Worry is sin, the opposite of faith. But praying we experience a peace of mind that only comes through trusting Christ with every circumstance. Stop worrying. Pray.
October 2, 2012
This is what we believe, that the Resurrected One will return and our bodies will be changed to be like His. Christ is the firstborn (prototokos) from among the dead, the prototype. Those who believe will have a glorious body like His! Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!
October 1, 2012
We sometimes struggle with questions of fairness. We ask,”Why do good people suffer, while bad people prosper?” Our question implies that God isn’t fair. That He has somehow taken His eye off the ball and allowed injustice to happen. We suffer from a limited perspective. We don’t see how things will end. But God does. Trust Him with judgment. He hasn’t missed a thing. Ultimately, no one will doubt His justice.
September 30, 2012
Since God (has done/is doing/will do) a work in us, we must work out what He is working in. God gives us a physical muscle, but we must work it out. In the same way, when we believe, God does a work in us that gives us both the “desire and the power to do what pleases Him.” Now, it is up to us to work out of that which He has worked in us. We can exercise our faith and yield to the Spirit, so that God’s work in us becomes obvious to all. Start flexing your spiritual muscles!