Good afternoon and Good Friday! As we look forward to winding down our work week, our thoughts may reflect on the events of each day. Today we also have the opportunity to reflect on the Word that God has given us this week, which has the power to make a huge difference in our plans. Whether the events of the week were good or bad, we can't change them even if we wanted to but we have the promises of God to rely on and yesterday is gone. He has the power to change any situation from bad to good and we have direct access to God through our faith in Jesus Christ, today and forever.
Our relationship with Christ continues to grow each day that we seek Him first, heed His Word and apply each one in obedience to Him. We've learned so much as we've grown in God's grace and wisdom and have a better understanding of Him and how we are to follow Christ's example. So as we make plans for our weekend, we can apply what we've learned about careful planning which includes trusting in God's guidance. Keeping in mind that the future is in His hands. Plan ahead, but hold those plans loosely and put God's desires at the center of your planning; he will never disappoint us.
"Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city. spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a midst that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. James 4:13-17
The plans we make consist of a series of choices that will produce results that correspond with those choices. We have a goal in mind, a destination that requires specific directions. There may be several routes to that destination or only one way but one thing is for sure, it's our choice. We can do it the hard way and take the long route but obviously, that's illogical, an unwise plan of direction. A lesson we've learned from the Old Testament account of Moses and the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness with the goal of reaching the land God promised them.
Disobedience caused this journey to much longer than it should have been. God heard the cries of his people in suffering and gave them a plan of escape from slavery. Countless events of Israel's deliverance are recorded in Exodus, relating more miracles than any other Old Testament book as well as the Ten Commandments. From Moses to Joshua, we can't help but understand the value and benefits of obedience to following God's plan and the tragic consequences of disobedience.
Our goal is to reach that destination as quickly and worry free as possible; a wise choice. The enemy will try to sell us a map with directions of deception; a short cut to our destination. The map of the enemy will lead us down detours that cause worry, poor health, delaying us from our destination and will ultimately lead its followers to road blocks of fear; dead end.
Fearful thoughts of what will happen next, flood our minds, freezing our ability to react and move forward. We feel lost as reality sets in; we've followed the wrong map. It led us directly to the destiny it was created for, away from God, and we know who created it. Against our better judgment, we chose to ignore the logical reasoning presented in our original plans, under the direction of God, thought he Holy Spirit.
But then we remember that we still have God's map hidden away in a compartment of our hearts; thanks to God's grace and mercy of allowing the Holy Spirit to defrost our frozen state of fear with warming thoughts of wisdom. We can still make it there, we still have hope. It may take a little longer but we can trust God's plan, a map of truth, His directions.
The directions are clear, they warn us not to take the detours that may tempt us to take, but assure us that this simple straight road will lead us directly to our destination. We are told that the road in narrow and most likely, there won't be a lot of traffic; for most have not chosen this route.
We've lost some time on those detours to worry but next time we'll know. Our plans for tomorrow will not include fear of what it holds because our plan is not ours, but God's. His map is free of cost and free of worry.
May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. Psalm 20:4
This wilderness journey to the promised land began with Moses leading God's plan for them to reach destination Promised Land. Did you know that there were only two men that were there when the journey began and when it ended at the Promised Land? Moses didn't make it. It was Josuah and Caleb.
Disobedience and lack of faith, made this a long hard journey. Knowing how that disobedience affected the length of the journey, should help us make the wise choice of obeying God's plan that he has for us. Josuah followed God's plans, completely obeying God and they finally made it. Many died on that journey too, as a result of disobedience.
Many people think that prosperity and success come from having power, influential personal contacts, and a relentless desire to get ahead. But the strategy for gaining prosperity that God taught Joshua goes against such criteria.
He said that to succeed Joshua must :
1. Be strong and courageous because the task ahead would not be easy.
2.Obey God's law
3.Constantly read and study the Book of the Law-God's Word.
To be successful, follow God's words to Joshua. You may not succeed by the world's standards, but you will be a success in God's eyes-and his opinion lasts forever.
Always allowing God to lead the plans we make will help us reach our destination safe and sound. Whether it's a family outing, an event, a goal; include God in the plans, follow His lead. In life, follow the examples that we've been given in Christ and other successful leaders just as Joshua.
Plan carefully with God and plan for success. We have so many opportunities to claim Victory in Jesus!
Claim them All in Jesus Name,
Prayer:
Holy Father, our Friend and Guide, thank you for teaching us the right way and the wrong way as we make plans.so there are no excuses for the choices we make. We choose to serve you and we ask you to forgive us for choosing the wrong way when we knew where it would lead us. Help us to remember what we've learned to be true from you and even from the mistakes we make and utilize this wisdom to make choices based on your truth in all of our plans, whether as a parent, a worker, a student, a leader or a friend. We lift our praises to you with love and adoration. Our goal is to glorify your name in everything that we do here on earth and on into our final goal of making heaven our home, our eternal destination is you. We worship you Lord. Amen.
You can't make this stuff up... And yeah, I cuss here. Well, I have. I have new convictions over the words I speak. One of the many changes God has brought in my life.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
Walking through Romans - part 2
Romans 1:2-4 NIV
2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures
The Gospel, A.K.A. The Good News, the message, the word, the plan, the truth, the written Testimony of Christ and the list goes on and on. Today we call “The Gospel” a verity of things, but in the days of Paul, the Gospel was a new idea. He felt it was something very special and unique. We may have become desensitized to the awesome power of The Gospel, but Paul knew the weight and responsibility he carried when he brought The Gospel to people. The Gospel sacred and holy. It is the message by which the plan of salvation through the sacrifice and life of Christ Jesus is laid out for someone to hear, understand and believe in the loving God that brought all of this about, just so he could spend eternity with a creation that chooses to love Him as he loves it. HE planned it from the beginning of the world, laid it out in creation, told mankind through prophets and scriptures and the sent his Son to be the living example and eternal sacrifice and intercessor to restore man to the Grace of a loving God. HE truly loved us first.
3 regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David,
A descendant of David.
My challenge to you the reader is to take some time and trace the linage of Christ, through Mary to David. Find out just how Christ is related to David, there by fulfilling several prophecies concerning Jesus being the Christ foretold of in the scriptures. You may be surprised what you find.
4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prophecy, birth, life, ministry, Death and finally resurrection and ascension to the father. This is the true story of the Gospel. This is the story of Jesus and his purpose as it relates to us. He was sent for a specific reason. A mission given from God to achieve a particular goal, restoration of humanity to God by freedom of choice paid for by sacrifice and granted under Grace. The ultimate testimony of God’s Love for us. Notice a theme here. Paul was on a mission, Christ was sent for a mission, We are called for a particular mission. Ever get the idea that God works through people with a specific purpose in mind. After you can not use a screwdriver to drive a nail and get the job done as efficiently and correctly as if you choose to use the correct tool for the job, a hammer. Again, we are tools in the hands of the master builder.
2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures
The Gospel, A.K.A. The Good News, the message, the word, the plan, the truth, the written Testimony of Christ and the list goes on and on. Today we call “The Gospel” a verity of things, but in the days of Paul, the Gospel was a new idea. He felt it was something very special and unique. We may have become desensitized to the awesome power of The Gospel, but Paul knew the weight and responsibility he carried when he brought The Gospel to people. The Gospel sacred and holy. It is the message by which the plan of salvation through the sacrifice and life of Christ Jesus is laid out for someone to hear, understand and believe in the loving God that brought all of this about, just so he could spend eternity with a creation that chooses to love Him as he loves it. HE planned it from the beginning of the world, laid it out in creation, told mankind through prophets and scriptures and the sent his Son to be the living example and eternal sacrifice and intercessor to restore man to the Grace of a loving God. HE truly loved us first.
3 regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David,
A descendant of David.
My challenge to you the reader is to take some time and trace the linage of Christ, through Mary to David. Find out just how Christ is related to David, there by fulfilling several prophecies concerning Jesus being the Christ foretold of in the scriptures. You may be surprised what you find.
4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prophecy, birth, life, ministry, Death and finally resurrection and ascension to the father. This is the true story of the Gospel. This is the story of Jesus and his purpose as it relates to us. He was sent for a specific reason. A mission given from God to achieve a particular goal, restoration of humanity to God by freedom of choice paid for by sacrifice and granted under Grace. The ultimate testimony of God’s Love for us. Notice a theme here. Paul was on a mission, Christ was sent for a mission, We are called for a particular mission. Ever get the idea that God works through people with a specific purpose in mind. After you can not use a screwdriver to drive a nail and get the job done as efficiently and correctly as if you choose to use the correct tool for the job, a hammer. Again, we are tools in the hands of the master builder.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Walking through Romans - by Charles Wesley Williams
Taking a walk Through Romans
“1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God–“ Romans 1:1
Just thought I would take a walk through Romans and see what God Would show me. I was tempted to skip ahead to chapters 8, 9 and 10 and begin there. But the Lord pressed upon my heart an old phrase. “If it is worth doing, it is worth doing right.” If God so chooses to place the book of Romans on my heart, then it is I who must start at the beginning and allow Him to teach me his ways. So join me on a walk though Romans and let’s see where the Lords leads us.
The very first verse starts out, like many other letters that Paul wrote, stating who he is. This is not Paul boasting, but is actually him stating by which authority he writes to the church. This is Paul actually being humble to the will of God. Stated so completely by the words, “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus.”
Later in the book we will read about Paul describing those that are called by Christ to serve Him in his earthly work. This is made reference to when Paul mentions that he was “Called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God-“ Paul is referring to the callings of God and to predestination. Again a topic best suited for Chapter 8. So please bear with me.
What I do want to call to attention is the plain and very blunt statement that Paul, one of the founders of the church, the man who through divine inspiration wrote the majority of what we now call the new testament. This visionary of the church and founder of many of the doctrines, practices and beliefs of the modern church was nothing more that a servant of Christ. Just like you and I. He was called of God for a purpose no grander than the one God has called us for.
He was to take the Gospel to those that needed to hear “the good news” of Christ Jesus and the salvation obtained through the Cross. He was just a man on a mission from his Lord. The same Lord, and in many cases the same mission we have been set upon. The only major difference between Paul and you or I is that he took it more serious and was far more dedicated that we are. He reached out to a world in need of light and showed them the Son. We are the servants of Christ Jesus. We have been called to be the stewards of his Word. The givers of the Good News. The bearers of the Gospel. The redeemed lives lived as an example of what the Love of God can do.
We are those people. We have been set apart for a purpose and a plan that was written, orchestrated and governed by none other than God himself, creator of all tings great and small. We are special. We are all Paul’s in our own respect. We have been given a great and glorious task. To carry the Word of God and the Love that dwells in our souls out into a world that cries out for the love and security a personal relationship with the Creator through Christ can bring. I as you today, right now, this moment in your life to look at you life and see it for what it is.
Know the precious gift you have been given and feel the weight of the calling you have on your life. Open your heart to the voice of God and allow him to tell you where to go. You are special. You are a tool in the hand of the master builder. You are called By HIS name and for HIS purpose. Go and do the will of God.
“1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God–“ Romans 1:1
Just thought I would take a walk through Romans and see what God Would show me. I was tempted to skip ahead to chapters 8, 9 and 10 and begin there. But the Lord pressed upon my heart an old phrase. “If it is worth doing, it is worth doing right.” If God so chooses to place the book of Romans on my heart, then it is I who must start at the beginning and allow Him to teach me his ways. So join me on a walk though Romans and let’s see where the Lords leads us.
The very first verse starts out, like many other letters that Paul wrote, stating who he is. This is not Paul boasting, but is actually him stating by which authority he writes to the church. This is Paul actually being humble to the will of God. Stated so completely by the words, “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus.”
Later in the book we will read about Paul describing those that are called by Christ to serve Him in his earthly work. This is made reference to when Paul mentions that he was “Called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God-“ Paul is referring to the callings of God and to predestination. Again a topic best suited for Chapter 8. So please bear with me.
What I do want to call to attention is the plain and very blunt statement that Paul, one of the founders of the church, the man who through divine inspiration wrote the majority of what we now call the new testament. This visionary of the church and founder of many of the doctrines, practices and beliefs of the modern church was nothing more that a servant of Christ. Just like you and I. He was called of God for a purpose no grander than the one God has called us for.
He was to take the Gospel to those that needed to hear “the good news” of Christ Jesus and the salvation obtained through the Cross. He was just a man on a mission from his Lord. The same Lord, and in many cases the same mission we have been set upon. The only major difference between Paul and you or I is that he took it more serious and was far more dedicated that we are. He reached out to a world in need of light and showed them the Son. We are the servants of Christ Jesus. We have been called to be the stewards of his Word. The givers of the Good News. The bearers of the Gospel. The redeemed lives lived as an example of what the Love of God can do.
We are those people. We have been set apart for a purpose and a plan that was written, orchestrated and governed by none other than God himself, creator of all tings great and small. We are special. We are all Paul’s in our own respect. We have been given a great and glorious task. To carry the Word of God and the Love that dwells in our souls out into a world that cries out for the love and security a personal relationship with the Creator through Christ can bring. I as you today, right now, this moment in your life to look at you life and see it for what it is.
Know the precious gift you have been given and feel the weight of the calling you have on your life. Open your heart to the voice of God and allow him to tell you where to go. You are special. You are a tool in the hand of the master builder. You are called By HIS name and for HIS purpose. Go and do the will of God.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)