God Has Called Us To Live

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8–"For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.  Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives His Holy Spirit to you."

This passage comes as the conclusion of a brief exhortation about Christian living.  But, as we reach this verse, there is an interesting point being made.  Paul is exhorting believers to live to Christ, for Christ, and as Christ.  This means, at the very least, that our lifestyles will be pure and undefiled. The point here, though, is that the authority with which Paul makes these commands is not his own.  More than that, if we disregard Paul's teachings it is, in truth, not Paul we are disregarding at all; we are disregarding God Himself.

We should never, not ever forget this.  It is, ultimately, not the church, any man, or institution that compels us to live lives of purity and holiness.  It is God Himself that desires it.  It is He who orders and commands.  This is, it turns out, everything.

Psalm 56:4–In God I Trust

Psalm 56:4–"In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid."

Fear is a real, very human thing that every person experiences.  It could be the fear of paying the bills, or the anxiety of relationships, whatever the fears may be we all deal with them.  Sometimes fear can be so overwhelming that it feels asphyxiating.  It is at these times, though, when all of life seems to fall like a great dark cloud over our lives that we should remember and apply the words of this verse.

I shall not be afraid.

Why?

Because my trust is in God and His word.

Amen.

Psalm 103:17-18–The Lord Loves Those Who Keep His Covenant

Psalm 103:17-18–"But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children, to those who keep His covenant and remember to do His commandments."

There is a severe tendency when reading this passage (and the multitude of verses like it) to read the lovely part at the beginning while neglecting the latter conditional components.  But in truth it is the contingent aspect of this passage that makes it so important.

At the onset, one thing must be asserted: God loves everyone.  This is unambiguous and, quite frankly, irrevocable.

Now that that's out of the way we get to the hard part: God's love is not equal.  While this may seem provocative it flows from relational definitions.

Some people know God as their Father just as He knows them as His children.  These people, the people of the Covenant of Christ, are–in a quite literal way–His.  This means, among a who litany of things, that the people who He has deemed to call His, who He has called to live covenantally, God loves them, for lack of a better term, differently than everyone else.

It is this 'difference' that warrants the entirety of the aforementioned passage.  The people of God, who are called to live according to His covenant, have commandments to fulfill.  It is upon the satisfaction of these commandments that righteousness is received, just as it is upon our fear of Him that His love is applied steadfast.

Much, much more could be said but suffice to say this passage is anything but easy to stomach while it remains rather straightforward: fear God and keep His covenant.

Romans 12:15–Practical Relational Intelligence

Romans 12:15–"Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."

Knowing when it is appropriate to weep with someone is as important as knowing when it is inappropriate to rejoice.  When someone is grieving the loss of a loved one or the diagnosis of cancer it can be like a great wound.  If we go to that person with nothing but rejoices we will be salting the wound not nourishing someone who is broken.  It is, therefore, of paramount importance that we would grow the acuteness of our relational intelligence.  In other words, we need to become better at assessing where other people are coming from emotionally and to relate to them appropriately.  This is love.  This is Christianity.

Sermons

Romans 8–Wonder-Working, Chain-Breaking, Back-Flipping, Life-Changing Power

John 3–The Necessity of the New Birth

John 3:16–What Have You Given For Love

John 3:16–God So Loved The World

John 3:16–"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but shat have eternal life."

Without a doubt this is one of the most famous verses in all of Scripture.  It is so well-renowned and frequently quoted that perhaps some of us may have even forgotten what it means.  But consider, for a moment, the reality of what this verse is saying.  God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.  Love.

Spend some time today pondering on this verse, perhaps thinking on it in a way you have never done.

Romans 15:2–Let Each Build Up His Neighbor

Romans 15:2–"Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up."

This is a decidedly-foreign attitude to take towards the people around us (our neighbors).  We're so far more prone to belittling, criticism, negligence, and disregard.  But this verse exhorts a different perspective, another way to love those we are blessed to have in our lives.  We are called to love our neighbors in order to build them up.

This is the very essence of Christianity as it pertains to loving one another.  We do it to build them up.

Love, plain and simple.

Gal. 5:13–Freedom To Do What?

Galatians 5:13–"For you were called to freedom, brothers.  Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."

Freedom can be a controversial word in the American church.  The reason for this is two-fold.  Firstly, Americans have been raised with a specific understanding of what freedom is.  As a result, we bring our American definition of freedom to bear upon the Scriptural meaning of freedom.  We struggle, sometimes, to take our American lenses off, meaning that we confuse Christian freedom with American freedom, even going so far, unfortunately, to use the terms synonymously.

But Christian freedom is different.  It is the freedom to love one another, the freedom from sin, the freedom to do what is right in God's eyes, the freedom to obey the commands, and, lastly, the freedom to live a life of submission to God's will in our lives.  It is in this way that we have been called to freedom just as we have been blessed with freedom.

Let us not forget this. And let us not use our freedom in Christ to serve ourselves but, rather, to love each other more!

Proverbs 15:1–Need For A Soft Answer

Proverbs 15:1–"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

A 'soft' answer.  To my discredit, this has not always been my most natural response.  In truth, actually, I am prone to offer answers that are too direct, too aggressive, and, quite frankly, too harsh.  This verse, then, has a special relevance to someone like me who has a tendency towards foot-in-mouth syndrome. More than once, many times to be honest, I have seen the reality of this verse in my own life.  I can say without hesitation that a soft answer does turn away wrath just as a harsh word does stir up angry responses.

It is thus so vital that we would guard our tongues, monitor our speech so that in any and every circumstance we would only offer answers soft in delivery.  This does not relegate everything we say to be weak.  On the contrary, this means that when what we say is difficult and strong, our delivery will be soft for the purpose of making it most effective.  The sharpest blade can be deflected by defenses, but the dullest knife can wound if defenses are lowered.

Romans 15:5-6–"May God Grant You To Live In Unity

Romans 15:5-6–"May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

We are surrounded by divisions.  The whole world is a mix of lines of maps, lines down aisles, lines between factions, and lines between ethnicities.  But in Christ, the hostility that separates us is broken (Eph. 2:13-16), and we are able to join together not only to Christ our Lord, but also to each other through Christ.

This transformation from tension to relationship does not happen naturally.  In truth, it is an entirely unnatural change.  It demands that we would rely on God to bring us together, to build connecting bridges where none exist.  It is with this intent, with this sentiment in mind that Paul pens the benediction of Romans 15:5-6.

Let us thus pray that God may grant us the ability to truly sing with one voice, breaking down any barriers that would hinder our unity and glorifying God as a unified body of Christ.

Ephesians–3:20-21–To Him Who Is Able To Do More!

Ephesians 3:20-21–"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.  Amen."

Sometimes, a lot of the times, we don't know what to pray for.  We know we need to pray, we might even have some sense of what we need to pray for–but still, we are at a loss for words when it comes time to pray.  It is at these times, when we are at a loss, that we can turn to Scripture.  Scripture is rife full of prayers, benedictions, and doxologies that can be very valuable not only as examples for prayer but, and perhaps more so, as prayers we can ourselves pray.  Let us not forget this basic truth as we seek to worship God through prayer!

Enjoy Worshiping Together

There are few things more satisfying than joining together with believers and worshiping God.  When we get together on Sunday mornings (or whenever) we are engaging in an ages-old celebration.  It is a celebration of Christ, a celebration of His sacrifice, and a celebration of all we are as His body, His Church.  This is why it is so important that we would never forsake coming together.  In coming together, we are loving God and loving one another.  In truth, let us never forget this!

Ecc. 11:5–Thank God You Don't Know

Ecclesiastes 11:5–"As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything."

Praise God for miracles!  Praise God for babies!  Praise God for His endless, amazing creativity in creation!

If I have uttered it a million times, it has not been enough.

Humanity is brilliant in its creativity and intellect, clever in its category and thought, and beautiful in its poetry and language.  But with all this genius and grandeur we still must bow in humility before the God who creates by the power of His voice, the strength of His Word, and can still the storm or swell the wave with but a whisper.

To all of this we can only say:

Praise be to God!

Psalm 139:13-14–Praise The Lord For Making Us!

Psalm 139:13-14–"For you formed my inward part; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."

This passage has special meaning to me right now.  At this very moment, my wife is pregnant with our first child.  It is no small comfort to know that God is doing all the work in my wife's womb, knitting together our unborn child.  How wonderful it is to know that God is, even now, making our child to be and become the person God intends our baby to be.

Amen!  Hallelujah to the King who forms our inward parts even before we are born!

When The Going Gets Tough is God Enough?

Only a child or a fool would ever say that life isn't hard.  It is.  But the measure of a person is not how much they have to deal with but, rather, how much they can persevere and still remain strong and joyful.

It is with this context that I ask the question: when the going gets tough, is God enough?

Where is our confidence when everything is overwhelming?  Where do we find comfort when life is so uncomfortable?  Where is our strength when we have no strength?

Only God, the Eternal One, is sufficient to maintain us when life is so tumultuous and uncertain.  Only He is the sure source of relief, strength, and support in all of life's turmoil.  There is no greater place to place our confidence than firmly in God.

Let us never forget this!

Psalm 118:24–Everything You Need To Know About Today

Psalm 118:24–"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

This verse encompasses everything we need to know about every single day.  More accurately, this verse prescribes for us a course of action for every day: rejoicing and being glad every day.  Why? because the Lord has made it.  Bad day? Rejoice and be glad.  Great day? Rejoice and be glad.  Rainy day? Rejoice and be glad.  Sunny day? Rejoice and be glad.

Why? Because the Lord has made it.

1 Peter 3:8–What's Left To Say?

1 Peter 3:8–"Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind."

Could there any more comprehensive an exhortation for community?  To be sure, this verse is not without context, coming about midway through Peter's first epistle, but suffice to say that it encompasses much of this letter's intent for Christians–to be a people of love.

Consider, for a moment, the elements exhorted here: unity, sympathy, brotherly love, tenderness, and humility–could there be a more comprehensive list for the character demands of Christian unity?  But this is not an inventory, a to-do list for Christian fellowship and life.  It is focus, focus for our Christian sanctification, focus for our lives.

Let us strive to live this verse out in ever-increasing measures as we seek to be obedient to the will Christ has for us in our lives!

1 Tim. 1:15–Jesus Came To Save Sinners

1 Tim. 1:15–"The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of who I am the foremost."

This is a great verse, revealing Paul's deep understanding of why Christ came or, rather, who He came for.  Furthermore, this "saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance–that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."  I assure you that I could say so much more about this but, to be quite honest, this verse pretty much speaks for itself so I'll just re-state and ask that you take some tome to consider its truth for your life today.

1 Tim. 1:15–"The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of who I am the foremost."

Romans 12:1–Present Your Bodies

Romans 12:1–"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

To present your body as a living sacrifice is a theologically-dense proposition.  Not only is it a commentary about how different Christian worship is in contrast to every other form of worship, but it is also a testament to the wholehearted devotion that God desires from us.  It is insufficient for us to merely believe.  We need to support our belief by offering ourselves in body to the will of God for our lives.  Furthermore, Paul tells us that this kind of devotion is, it turns out, our spiritual worship.  Let us consider, then, how important it is for us to remember that God wants it all–our bodies too!

Colossians 4:5–Walk Wisely

Colossians 4:5–"Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time."

This is one of those concepts that can be so difficult for the Christian to understand–it has been for me at least.  The reality is that non-Christians and those that do not know God do watch the Christian with a critical eye, searching for hypocrisy or weakness of conviction.  It is for this reason (not to mention the other more devotional reasons) that we need to live our lives wisely at all times, but especially in front of non-believers who are watching.  

To be sure, this is no easy task.  But it is a matter of faith and focus more than it is a matter of show.  We are to live wisely for those who would be watching because we desire to be obedient to Christ in every aspect of our lives.  Let us then strive to live wisely and make the best use of the time, recognizing that we are being observed for our Christianity.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18–Rejoice Always

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18–"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

In all circumstances.  The key to this passage lies in this simple, though neglected phrase: this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  In other words,  rejoicing, prayer and giving thanks are the very things God desires from us.  The real trick is to apply these practices to every and all circumstances, to pray when we would rather not, to rejoice when life is joyless, and to give thanks when there seems to be nothing worthy of thankfulness.  Let us commit to do these things so as to fulfill God's will in our own lives.

Romans 15:7–Welcome One Another

Romans 15:7–"Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."

Let me begin with this: Christ did not need to welcome us into His presence.  In fact, it could be argued that we didn't deserve was for Christ to accept and welcome us into relationship with Him.  But this is precisely what He did; He overlooked our unlovability in order to make us lovable.  At the very least, this means that we will overlook offensiveness, overlook differences, overlook that which separates, and all this for the purpose of joining in relationship for the glory of God.

As we look to Christ as our example, let us strive to welcome one another into relationship as He has welcomed us.

Psalm 100:3–The Lord Is God

Psalm 100:3–"Know that the Lord, He is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture."

Basically everything we need to know about God and our relationship to Him is delivered in this verse. If we could only come to God with this understanding, that He is God and we are His, I am certain that profound transformation could have its effect in us.  The soil the Holy Spirit needs in order to grow His fruit is a penitent heart that comes to His throne with the right posture of praise and humility.

Let us then take this verse as a prayer, a sincere offering of worship to our King.  In this way we will ensure a right perspective as we come to Him in praise and adoration.

A Big "if"

2 Chronicles 7:14–"if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

This is no small "if."  The whole bit about hearing from heaven and forgiving sin depends upon the big "if."   It runs like this: if we who are called by name would humble themselves, if we would pray and seek Him, and if we would repent of our wicked ways, then we will hear from heaven and will be forgiven our sin.

There is something to this verse, something for us in this verse.  Take a moment today to consider the "if" in your own life as you seek to come to God in faith and devotion.

Romans 12:11–Be Fervent

Romans 12:11–"Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in Spirit, serve the Lord."

Christianity is not about sitting on salvation as if it is an arrival or a destination.  No.  Christianity is about expiring ourselves upon the Gospel, utilizing the lengths of our energies for the task of loving one another and serving the Lord.  That is what this verse is about.  It comes in a context that is concerned with what the Christian is supposed to do, how the Christian is to live his/her life.  It is no wonder, then, why the writer is sure to remind us for the need for zeal and fervor in our lives.  There is no little pull to be lazy in spirit or slothful in zeal.  But if we keep our eyes fixed upon Christ and the great depth of zeal in His passion, we will remain zealous in fervent service to the tasks God has placed before us.

Proverbs 17:28–Just Be Quiet

Proverbs 17:28–"Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent."

For someone who is prone to speaking when it would be best to remain quiet, this verse is provocatively profound.  In reality, I have confirmed this verse to be true many times.  But even with all this experience I am still prone to foolishness, opening my mouth to speak when it would be best to keep it shut tight.  Who knows, maybe I could sound wise by not making a sound at all!

Hebrews 11:6–Need For Faith

Hebrews 11:6–"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him."

The quintessence of our relationship with God through Christ is found in this verse.  Our introduction to the Gospel comes through faith, to which we believe in God's existence but, even more so, without faith drawing near God is an impossibility.  In terms of the necessities of worship, faith is sine qua non, that without which worship could not take place at all.

Because of this, there is one prayer that takes precedent over all others:

God, please forgive me my doubt and help me to believe.