Thursday, February 25, 2010

Living By Two Principles

Matthew 22:37-39-"Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."


Some things are just not very complicated. Living for Jesus can be boiled down to two principles: love God with everything I am and have, and love others and treat them as I would like to be treated. Not too hard to understand. I guess it's living it that is the challenge!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

The Light Unto Our Path

Psalm 119:105-"Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

We live in a world where the flip of a switch instantly lightens or darkens a room. The lamps in biblical times, on the other hand, burned brightly but required proper tending. If not cared for, they would become a dwindling flame. God's Word uses the metaphor of a lamp to teach us about guidance for our lives. And it provides the opportunity for some graphic applications of this teaching. Earnestly seeking the clear teaching of God's Word allows the lamp to burn brightly and us to stay on the path. The light dims when we stay away from God's Word and the fellowship of believers. It goes out when we serve another master. Sometimes we overlook the obvious: God's will is expressed by His Word. God's will is revealed to us in His Word. There is no substitute for being "diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). The Bible is a light to your path.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Being God-Centered

Luke 9:1, 2-"He [Jesus] called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons, and to heal diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God, and to perform healing."

Notice how Jesus equipped His disciples for ministry. He knew that when they began preaching the kingdom of God and healing the sick, demonic powers would bring opposition. So He specifically gave them power and authority over demons. Later Jesus sent out 70 of His followers on a similar mission, and they "returned with joy, saying 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name'"(Luke 10:17). These missionaries were spiritually in tune enough to know that demons existed and that they were a force to be reckoned with in their ministry. Jesus' followers had been eyewitnesses as the evil spirits opposed the Master, and they probably anticipated the same treatment. Perhaps they even started out on their mission with pangs of fear and doubt about encountering demonic resistance. But they came back astonished at the victory they experienced over evil spirits. But Jesus quickly brought the issue of spiritual conflicts into perspective: "Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven" (Luke 10:20). Jesus sent out the 70 to preach the gospel and to heal, but all they could talk about when they came back was how they sent the demons running. "Don't be centered on demonic spirits," Jesus replied. "Be kingdom-centered, be ministry-centered, be God-centered." That's a good warning. As you learn to exercise authority over the kingdom of darkness in your life and in the lives of others, you may be tempted to see only the spiritual battle, looking for demons behind every door. But it's truth which sets you free, not the knowledge of error. You are not called to dispel the darkness; you are called to turn on the light. You would have no authority at all if it weren't for your identity as a child of God and your position in Christ.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

What Is There To Fear?

1 John 4:18-"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. "

What is there to fear if God sent his Son to die to redeem us? What is there to fear if we cannot be separated from the love God has for us in Christ Jesus? What is there to fear except ourselves? As we love God and his children, we are reminded by his love for us, which is far better than our meager love for others. Rather than run from him in fear, we bow before him in thanks, knowing that he who hears our prayers is also he who loves us and stops our fears

Friday, February 19, 2010

It Happens Every Spring

This week marked the beginning of the 2010 baseball season with the start of spring training. My beloved hometown team, the St. Louis Cardinals opened spring training in Jupiter, Florida this week and I am excited about the 2010 season. Manager Tony LaRussa and the Cardinals should do well this year and I am expecting great things from the Cardinals. They won the 2009 NL Central Division and I am looking forward to bigger things in 2010. GO REDBIRDS!!!!

Keeping An Honest Account

1 John 1:8-"If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

We deceive ourselves when we say we have no sin. The Scripture doesn't say that we are sin; it says that it is possible for us to sin and for sin to reside in our mortal bodies (Romans 6:12). We are not sinless saints; we are saints who sin. It's important to keep honest account of our failures and pick up our cross daily. When we become aware of a discrepancy between our identity and our behavior, we must confess it and deal with it. The person who deceives himself by ignoring these sinful discrepancies and allowing them to build up is headed for a great fall. I spent the early years of my ministry in earthquake-prone Southern California and lived through several earthquakes. Like many people who lived there and those that still reside in California, we keep hearing about "the big one," which is thought by many to be inevitable along the San Andreas fault. Whenever Californians experience minor earthquakes (up to about 4.0 on the Richter scale), they may be frightened by them a bit, but they also see them as a good sign. These little tremors mean that the plates in the earth's crust beneath them are shifting. As long as the crust is adjusting this way, it's unlikely that "the big one" will hit. It's when they don't get any minor earthquakes for several months or years that the danger of a major, devastating quake increases. Similarly, living in the light, holding ourselves accountable to God, and confessing and dealing with sin on a daily basis prevents the major spiritual crises from building up in our lives. If we keep saying, "I don't have any sin," or if we fail to acknowledge our shortcomings and settle our differences with people as God convicts us of them, we're in for "the big one." We will eventually lose our health, our family, our job, or our friendships. Unacknowledged sin is like a cancer which will grow to consume us.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Nothing Separates Us From God's Love

Romans 8:38-39-"I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither present nor the future, nor powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is ours in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Separation is something we fear whether it's from a child, a parent, a sibling, a spouse, a friend, or from God. Because Jesus bore the separation from God, becoming and going to the cross, we can know we won't have to ever be separated from God's love.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Message of Love

1 John 3:11-"This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. "

The original message - love one another. The enduring message - love one another. The most convicting message - love one another. The most difficult message - love one another. We are commanded by the Lord Jesus to love one another as He loved us and loving others means we look beyond faults and differences and learn to love those that might seem different or even unlovable to others. That is the comman from the Lord and the greatest attribute of God in our lives in when we love others.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

God Loved Us First

1 John 4:10-"This is love: not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

He loved us first! He offered his Son to save us regardless of our decision to believe or ignore his grace. We are given the ability to accept or reject the death of his Son as the sacrifice for our sins. The only condition, as 1 John 2:1-2 emphasizes, is that we realize that he died for everyone else in the world, too!

Monday, February 15, 2010

The Accuser of the Brethren

Revelation 12:10-"The accuser of our brethren . . . who accuses them before our God day and night."

Next to temptation, perhaps the most frequent and insistent attack from Satan to which we are vulnerable is accusation. By faith we have entered into an eternal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. As a result, we are dead to sin and alive to God, and we now sit with Christ in the heavenlies. In Christ we are important, we are qualified, we are justified. Satan can do absolutely nothing to alter our position in Christ and our worth to God. But he can render us virtually inoperative if he can deceive us into listening to and believing his insidious lies, accusing us of being of little value to God or other people. Satan often uses temptation and accusation as a brutal one-two punch. He comes along and says, "Why don't you try it? Everybody does it. Besides, you can get away with it. Who's going to know?" Then as soon as we fall for his tempting line, he changes his tune to accusation: "What kind of a Christian are you to do such a thing? You're a pitiful excuse for a child of God. You'll never get away with it. You might as well give up because God has already given up on you." We have all heard Satan's lying, hateful voice in our hearts and consciences. He never seems to let up on us. Many Christians are perpetually discouraged and defeated because they believe his persistent lies about them. And those who give in to his accusations end up being robbed of the freedom that God intends His people to enjoy. The good news is that we don't have to listen to Satan's accusations and live in despair and defeat. Satan is not your judge; he is merely your accuser. When Satan's accusations of unworthiness attack you, don't pay attention to them. Instead respond, "I have put my trust in Christ, and I am a child of God in Him. I have been rescued by God from the fire of judgment, and He has declared me righteous. Satan cannot determine a verdict or pronounce a sentence. All he can do is accuse me--and I don't buy it."

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Sign of a Real Disciple of Christ

John 13:34-35-"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you , so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

How do you recognize Jesus' followers? How do you find Christians? Jesus said they love each other just as he loved the disciples. In the immediate context, this means he is willing to give sacrificially and extravagantly by dying for them on the cross, and he is also willing to love selflessly and practically by washing their feet. His ministry reveals he also will do almost anything in between extravagant and practical. Imagine if we all read the Gospels, and committed to love each other in the same way Jesus showed his love to his disciples!

Friday, February 12, 2010

Love Always

1 Corinthians 13:6-7-"Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

Always love - pretty tall order and pretty tough stuff. Only God is "always." But then Christians are fueled to a always love through the Holy Spirit! Check out the promised source of "always" love in Romans 5:5.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Growing Our Love for One Another

2 Thessalonians 1:3-"We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing."

"Increase my faith, O Lord." "Increase my strength." "Increase my wisdom." We often pray for these things, but when is the last time you thanked God for your love increasing? Can you think of anything more exciting to say about your church than "The love every one of you has for each other is increasing!" Lets pray and act to make it so!

Monday, February 8, 2010

Loving Your Enemies

Matthew 5:43-45-[Jesus said,] "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."

We often talk about the privileges of being a child of God - forgiveness, salvation, a future in heaven with him, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and ultimate victory when Christ comes. One of the greatest privileges we get, however, is the opportunity to act toward those who dislike and hate us in a way that reflects the character of God himself. We all have been hurt, offended or mistreated by someone and it does indeed cause hurt feelings and pain and sorrow along with anger and thoughts of revenge. Anyone can return hate for hate, but it takes a child of God to return a blessing and a prayer for their enemies.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Colts Lose Super Bowl XLIV


Tonight the Indianapolis Colts saw their quest for a world championship end in Miami as the New Orleans Saints defeated the Colts 31-17 to win Super Bowl XLIV. Peyton Manning and the Colts saw an end to a terrific season and came up short against the Saints. Not surprising....the Colts are already the favorites to win the Super Bowl next year according to the odds makers. I am disappointed but I am confident that the Colts will be back. GO COLTS!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

I Love You Lord...

Psalm 18:1-2-"I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

We sing it and we say it in our public prayers: "Father, God, we love you." But notice very carefully the beginning phrase of our verse. "I love you, O Lord..." Even in public, community worship, we are taught the importance of a personal expression of love to God. When is the last time you told the Creator of the universe, "I love you!"

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Phil Sees His Shadow....

Don't put those cold weather clothes in storage just yet. Punxsutawney Phil, the internationally known weather prognosticating groundhog, emerged from his burrow in Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and saw his shadow this morning and predicted six more weeks of winter. Looks like we'll have to endure the cold a little longer. God bless everyone and have a great day.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Better Than We Can Imagine

1 Corinthians 2:9-"As it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him."

Many of the things we anticipate and dream about are much less glorious in real life than they were in our imaginations. There is one event, however, that is better than we can imagine and beyond our wildest dreams. When Jesus returns to take us home to be with our Father, it will be far better than we can ask, imagine, dream or think. Maranatha - Come Lord Jesus