I have been a student of end times prophecy since I first started attending church back in the 1970's (I guess I just dated myself again). Tim LaHaye's book, The Late Great Planet Earth, was very popular then and our youth group would pile into various parent's cars to attend the WVCY "rallies" that were held at the the War Memorial in Milwaukee where they spoke about the topic.
Even though I found it scary at times, the topic was interesting and it showed me that in the end, God wins, and I found that comforting during my depressing teen years.
The Cold War was in full swing during that time and I remember that many people couldn't believe that a super power like the US was not mentioned as a major player in end times events. It was also hard to imagine how the Mark of the Beast could ever be implemented and how everyone on earth could be able to see the two witnesses laying dead in the streets of Jerusalem for 3 days, all at the same time.
Boy, have things changed since then! These things are absolutely possible today. The world economy proves that it would be very possible for the US to be uninvolved in future events and technology now exists that would enable both the Mark of the Beast and watching the two witnesses all over the world at the same time, a piece of cake. Recent world events as well as a marked increase in earthquakes and floods, all point to the possibility that the end times may be near or even at the door. It is a sobering thought, at least for me.
Last week I tuned in to a TV program that is dedicated to the study of end times prophecy and I was shocked that that particular show was a special presentation ultimately made as a message to people that had been "left behind". It began by explaining why millions of people had suddenly disappeared (in the Rapture) and went on to explain what they could expect during the 7 year Tribulation and how they could come to God and repent and be saved. I was shocked because I always thought of the end times as something that was going to happen way in the future. I realized that I need to be much more vigilant in telling people about Jesus and that faith in Him is the only way to be saved from having to go through the Tribulation and ultimately from the fires of Hell.
I urge you to consider Jesus' command in the Great Commission and seek to make disciples among those in your circle of influence. It is so important during these chaotic times. People are searching for hope and love and Jesus is the answer.
Showing posts with label gospel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gospel. Show all posts
Monday, September 27, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Mexico pt. 1
Dear Readers,
I feel privileged to have been asked by the True Women blogging team to record my trip with my dear friend, Esme, to her native country, Mexico. I hope to share with you my experiences in this beautiful country as they remind me of the gospel, which we hope to continue sharing with her family.
The trip got off to a rocky start yesterday: in my foolishness I had neglected to look for my passport until the day of our departure and could not find it! I suppose I had become arrogant in my own organizational skills, and God in His mercy reminded me that I need to be responsible with all of my belongings at all times. I left for work in the afternoon huffing and puffing, after having written a frantic note to my parents asking them to continue the two-hour search for my passport. Lo and behold, after less than ten minutes of searching, my wonderful father found my passport behind my desk. I felt so foolish, namely, because I had become anxious in my circumstance and was not trusting the sovereignty of God. If He so willed, my passport would be found and I would be in Mexico. However, I needed to be equally content with the possibility that the Lord in His wisdom might not have willed that I go on this trip. The experience revealed my proud and short-sighted heart, and I must remind myself daily that my steps are guided by the Lord, not by my own wisdom.
We arrived in Mexico City at 6 a.m. this morning, after a red eye flight. Esme´s family has been so hospitable to not only her but to me, a foreigner who barely speaks any of their language. Their hospitality transcends the cultural and language barrier between us. I am encouraged by this gracious family´s hospitality towards me and am reminded of the power of a generous spirit. It is no wonder that hospitality is so emphasized in Paul´s epistles. It is an effective tool for the spreading of the gospel.
As of today, the majority of our conversation consists of translating, blank stares, and smiles. I am hoping that, once I get back into the mindset of thinking more in spanish, our level of communication will increase. I generally find it takes a few days before I get adventurous in trying out my spanish! We leave tomorrow morning for our little tour of the country, and I feel so blessed to be able to be a part of it! I am praying for opportunities to share the gospel, and for the grace to take hold of those opportunities...also for diligence in our studies of Scripture despite the inconsistency in our daily happenings.
May Christ be made much of in our time here!
I feel privileged to have been asked by the True Women blogging team to record my trip with my dear friend, Esme, to her native country, Mexico. I hope to share with you my experiences in this beautiful country as they remind me of the gospel, which we hope to continue sharing with her family.
The trip got off to a rocky start yesterday: in my foolishness I had neglected to look for my passport until the day of our departure and could not find it! I suppose I had become arrogant in my own organizational skills, and God in His mercy reminded me that I need to be responsible with all of my belongings at all times. I left for work in the afternoon huffing and puffing, after having written a frantic note to my parents asking them to continue the two-hour search for my passport. Lo and behold, after less than ten minutes of searching, my wonderful father found my passport behind my desk. I felt so foolish, namely, because I had become anxious in my circumstance and was not trusting the sovereignty of God. If He so willed, my passport would be found and I would be in Mexico. However, I needed to be equally content with the possibility that the Lord in His wisdom might not have willed that I go on this trip. The experience revealed my proud and short-sighted heart, and I must remind myself daily that my steps are guided by the Lord, not by my own wisdom.
We arrived in Mexico City at 6 a.m. this morning, after a red eye flight. Esme´s family has been so hospitable to not only her but to me, a foreigner who barely speaks any of their language. Their hospitality transcends the cultural and language barrier between us. I am encouraged by this gracious family´s hospitality towards me and am reminded of the power of a generous spirit. It is no wonder that hospitality is so emphasized in Paul´s epistles. It is an effective tool for the spreading of the gospel.
As of today, the majority of our conversation consists of translating, blank stares, and smiles. I am hoping that, once I get back into the mindset of thinking more in spanish, our level of communication will increase. I generally find it takes a few days before I get adventurous in trying out my spanish! We leave tomorrow morning for our little tour of the country, and I feel so blessed to be able to be a part of it! I am praying for opportunities to share the gospel, and for the grace to take hold of those opportunities...also for diligence in our studies of Scripture despite the inconsistency in our daily happenings.
May Christ be made much of in our time here!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Freedom From Sin's Power
"As long as I am stricken with the guilt of my sins, I will be captive to them, and will often find myself re-committing the very sins about which I feel most guilty. The Devil is well aware of this fact; he knows that if he can keep me tormented by sin's guilt, he can dominate me with sin's power.
The gospel, however, slays sin at this root point and thereby nullifies sin's power over me. The forgiveness of God, made known to me through the gospel, liberates me from sin's power because it liberates me first from its guilt' and preaching such forgiveness to myself is a practical way of putting the gospel into operation as a nullifier of sin's power in my life." Milton Vincent, The Gospel Primer
The gospel, however, slays sin at this root point and thereby nullifies sin's power over me. The forgiveness of God, made known to me through the gospel, liberates me from sin's power because it liberates me first from its guilt' and preaching such forgiveness to myself is a practical way of putting the gospel into operation as a nullifier of sin's power in my life." Milton Vincent, The Gospel Primer
Monday, March 29, 2010
Chapter 7 of The Cross Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney, reminds us that we need to keep the Gospel as the center of our lives. Everything we do, say or think should be done with the cross of Christ in mind.
First of all, we are Christians because God showed mercy, period. We weren't worthy or special. We didn't earn it. It is all of God. When I think about this, I am filled with awe and thankfulness. Mr. Mahaney says that the message of the cross is the Christian's hope, confidence, and assurance. No matter what life brings us, if we stay focused on the cross, we will be able to persevere and have victory.
Mr. Mahaney also says that we have been saved to grow, to serve in a local church, to do good works, and to glorify God. We need to be about spreading the love of Jesus and the Gospel to our communities. I know that it often takes "guts" to do these things. But, if we are truly thankful for God's mercy in saving us from eternity in Hell, we should have no fear. We should want to tell others about the free gift of salvation by faith in Jesus. Especially to the people we love. Even if someone "doesn't want to hear it", you have still planted a seed and someday they may remember something you said and take it to heart. Remember the old saying, "there are no atheists in a foxhole". Even if they never respond to Christ, by witnessing, we are doing good in God's eyes and if you think about it, His eyes are the only ones that matter when its all said and done.
Mr. Mahaney goes on to say that any and all topics should be studied through the lens of the Gospel. Take the Old Testament for example, many people believe that they are good stories but not really pertinent for our "modern" lives. However, if you think about it, through the symbolism of the sacrificial system, the strictness of the Law, the faithfulness of God and the failures of man all show us how amazing the cross really is. God showed us in the Old Testament that He is Holy and in order to have a relationship with Him, we must be holy too. And that's why Jesus' blood was the only acceptable sacrifice for our sin.
Many people today are very interested in the End Times. I admit that with all that's going on in the world today, it is exciting to watch and see things happening that seem to coincide with the prophecies of the end. But, we still need to keep the cross as our central truth. Jesus told the disciples to watch and pray concerning His return but told them that their main focus should be telling others about the gospel. Because of the cross, the future is already written. God wins!!! Satan loses.
Concerning prayer, without the blood of Jesus, we couldn't even approach God. Jesus died so we could have access to the Father through Him. Remember how the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom when Jesus died. That symbolized that we no longer needed a priest or sacrifices to come to God. The veil, as I understand it, was not just a curtain like we have on our windows today. It was a very thick tapestry that couldn't be torn at all by human hands. That's why it is so significant.
The cross also comes into play in our relationships on earth. Whenever someone makes you mad or hurts you in some way, remember what you have been forgiven of by God. Since God forgave you all of your sins, which are great, how could you not forgive someone of a snide remark or for hurting your feelings? No one can sin against you as much as you have sinned against God.
The last area Mr. Mahaney covered is suffering and trials. None of us are immune to them. But, how we react when times are tough really shows us our hearts. Some people blame God and get mad at Him. But others cling to God and look to the gospel for their hope and comfort. The bible says that God has a purpose for our suffering. If we are believers, God would never send a trial into your life just for His amusement. I admit I used to to think this way sometimes when I was younger. I think God sends trials our way to help us to become more like Jesus. When I think back over my life, my trials and suffering have always taught me something.
I have noticed that when people are in the midst of suffering or a trial, they often wonder "why me"? or "I didn't deserve this". But in actuality, all we deserve is God's wrath. Mr. Mahaney says that when people ask him how he is, his reply is "better than I deserve". I think that is a good way to think about our circumstances. We deserve death but, through the cross, Jesus has paid the penalty for us and now we live because of grace.
I urge you to take some time every day to meditate on the gospel. Think about the cross and remember that Jesus died a horrible death to pay the penalty for our sins. God loves us so much, He willingly sent His Son to die in our place so that we could have a relationship with Him. That is so amazing! Because of the cross, we should never doubt His love for us. For me, if I keep my eyes on the Lord, I know that He is always there with me no matter what and because of His love I can persevere to the end.
First of all, we are Christians because God showed mercy, period. We weren't worthy or special. We didn't earn it. It is all of God. When I think about this, I am filled with awe and thankfulness. Mr. Mahaney says that the message of the cross is the Christian's hope, confidence, and assurance. No matter what life brings us, if we stay focused on the cross, we will be able to persevere and have victory.
Mr. Mahaney also says that we have been saved to grow, to serve in a local church, to do good works, and to glorify God. We need to be about spreading the love of Jesus and the Gospel to our communities. I know that it often takes "guts" to do these things. But, if we are truly thankful for God's mercy in saving us from eternity in Hell, we should have no fear. We should want to tell others about the free gift of salvation by faith in Jesus. Especially to the people we love. Even if someone "doesn't want to hear it", you have still planted a seed and someday they may remember something you said and take it to heart. Remember the old saying, "there are no atheists in a foxhole". Even if they never respond to Christ, by witnessing, we are doing good in God's eyes and if you think about it, His eyes are the only ones that matter when its all said and done.
Mr. Mahaney goes on to say that any and all topics should be studied through the lens of the Gospel. Take the Old Testament for example, many people believe that they are good stories but not really pertinent for our "modern" lives. However, if you think about it, through the symbolism of the sacrificial system, the strictness of the Law, the faithfulness of God and the failures of man all show us how amazing the cross really is. God showed us in the Old Testament that He is Holy and in order to have a relationship with Him, we must be holy too. And that's why Jesus' blood was the only acceptable sacrifice for our sin.
Many people today are very interested in the End Times. I admit that with all that's going on in the world today, it is exciting to watch and see things happening that seem to coincide with the prophecies of the end. But, we still need to keep the cross as our central truth. Jesus told the disciples to watch and pray concerning His return but told them that their main focus should be telling others about the gospel. Because of the cross, the future is already written. God wins!!! Satan loses.
Concerning prayer, without the blood of Jesus, we couldn't even approach God. Jesus died so we could have access to the Father through Him. Remember how the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom when Jesus died. That symbolized that we no longer needed a priest or sacrifices to come to God. The veil, as I understand it, was not just a curtain like we have on our windows today. It was a very thick tapestry that couldn't be torn at all by human hands. That's why it is so significant.
The cross also comes into play in our relationships on earth. Whenever someone makes you mad or hurts you in some way, remember what you have been forgiven of by God. Since God forgave you all of your sins, which are great, how could you not forgive someone of a snide remark or for hurting your feelings? No one can sin against you as much as you have sinned against God.
The last area Mr. Mahaney covered is suffering and trials. None of us are immune to them. But, how we react when times are tough really shows us our hearts. Some people blame God and get mad at Him. But others cling to God and look to the gospel for their hope and comfort. The bible says that God has a purpose for our suffering. If we are believers, God would never send a trial into your life just for His amusement. I admit I used to to think this way sometimes when I was younger. I think God sends trials our way to help us to become more like Jesus. When I think back over my life, my trials and suffering have always taught me something.
I have noticed that when people are in the midst of suffering or a trial, they often wonder "why me"? or "I didn't deserve this". But in actuality, all we deserve is God's wrath. Mr. Mahaney says that when people ask him how he is, his reply is "better than I deserve". I think that is a good way to think about our circumstances. We deserve death but, through the cross, Jesus has paid the penalty for us and now we live because of grace.
I urge you to take some time every day to meditate on the gospel. Think about the cross and remember that Jesus died a horrible death to pay the penalty for our sins. God loves us so much, He willingly sent His Son to die in our place so that we could have a relationship with Him. That is so amazing! Because of the cross, we should never doubt His love for us. For me, if I keep my eyes on the Lord, I know that He is always there with me no matter what and because of His love I can persevere to the end.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Sufficiency in the Gospel
"The gospel serves as the means by which God daily constructs me into what He wants me to be and also serves as the channel through which He gives me my inheritance every day of my Christian life. Hence it could be said that the gospel contains all I need "for life and godliness." It is for this reason that God tells me to be steadfastly entrenched in the gospel at all times and never to allow myself to be moved from there. The mere fact that God tells me to stay inside the gospel at all times must mean that He intends to supply all of my needs as long as I am abiding in that place of luxury." Milton Vincent - A Gospel Primer for Christians
How easy it is for me to become so focused on spiritual growth or the destruction of sin or the daily business of being alive that I forget that all of it must be done in and through the gospel? Very easily! This is so sad for many reasons:
How easy it is for me to become so focused on spiritual growth or the destruction of sin or the daily business of being alive that I forget that all of it must be done in and through the gospel? Very easily! This is so sad for many reasons:
- Apart from the gospel, spiritual growth is useless
- Apart from the gospel, spiritual growth is HARD
- Apart from the gospel, spiritual growth is slow and our failures are discouraging
- Apart from the gospel, sin wins
- Apart from the gospel, sin is stronger than we are
- Apart from the gospel, daily life has no purpose
- Apart from the gospel, daily life has no goal
- Apart from the gospel, daily life has no joy
- Apart from the gospel, daily life is hard, boring, monotonous
Friday, March 19, 2010
A Cure for Distrust
"Every time I deliberately disobey a command of God, it is because I am in that moment doubtful as to God's true intentions in giving me that command. Does He really have my best interests at heart? Or is He withholding something from me that I would be better off having? Such questions, whether consciously asked or not, lie under every act of disobedience.
However, the gospel changes my view of God's commandments, in that it helps me to see the heart of the Person from whom those commandments come. When I begin my train of thought with the gospel, I realize that if God loved me enough to sacrifice His Son's life for me, then He must be guided by that same love when He speaks His commandments to me. Viewing God's commands and prohibitions in this light, I can see them for what they really are: friendly signposts from a Heavenly Father who is seeking to love me through each directive so that I might experience His very fullness forever.
When controlling my thoughts as described above, the gospel cures me of my suspicion of God, thereby disposing me to walk more trustingly on the path of obedience to His commands" Milton Vincent, A Gospel Primer for Christians
The first time I read this passage I had to stop and read it over again, and then again, and then pray over it, and then read it again. What an odd idea, that when I disobey God I am in fact saying that I do not trust Him. If anyone was to ask me, even on my worst day I would say that I trusted God completely! And yet my actions often prove otherwise.
When looked at the commands of scripture through the eyes of logic only, they appear to be good! For what good has ever come to a person by lying or by cheating or by having an affair, or by characterizing laziness? It may seem good for the moment but there are always long-term consequences. God, being the only Person completely holy, separate from sin, realizes this fact in its fullness for although each of these has long-term consequences here on Earth, there are much bigger consequences: death and hell apart from His saving grace. And in love He gives us commands to protect us.
Just as parents will forbid their child from touching the stove or playing in the street, not because they are gleefully keeping a great pleasure from their child but because they are protecting her, so God has given certain commands to His children.
At the humans' most fundamental level, we rebel against any restrictions placed on us. We immediately assume that something is being withheld from us. We become suspicious and curious about what we are "missing." Since this is a natural part of the humans' condition, it becomes necessary for us to fight it with the one thing more powerful - the gospel.
Romans 8:32 "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?"
The amount of love that God showed us in the sacrifice of His Son was so great that we should automatically assume that every act from Him to us after this is done in love and for our best.
John 15:12-13 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."
So the next time we are tempted by sin and begin to wonder what that particular sin is like and start to justify experiencing it in our minds, let us immediately call to mind the truth of the gospel. Let us remember the great love shown to us at Calvary and realize that the wisdom of God far outweighs the wisdom of man (for which of us could have looked at the brutal act of Calvary and declared it to be good and beautiful apart from the grace of God?)
However, the gospel changes my view of God's commandments, in that it helps me to see the heart of the Person from whom those commandments come. When I begin my train of thought with the gospel, I realize that if God loved me enough to sacrifice His Son's life for me, then He must be guided by that same love when He speaks His commandments to me. Viewing God's commands and prohibitions in this light, I can see them for what they really are: friendly signposts from a Heavenly Father who is seeking to love me through each directive so that I might experience His very fullness forever.
When controlling my thoughts as described above, the gospel cures me of my suspicion of God, thereby disposing me to walk more trustingly on the path of obedience to His commands" Milton Vincent, A Gospel Primer for Christians
The first time I read this passage I had to stop and read it over again, and then again, and then pray over it, and then read it again. What an odd idea, that when I disobey God I am in fact saying that I do not trust Him. If anyone was to ask me, even on my worst day I would say that I trusted God completely! And yet my actions often prove otherwise.
When looked at the commands of scripture through the eyes of logic only, they appear to be good! For what good has ever come to a person by lying or by cheating or by having an affair, or by characterizing laziness? It may seem good for the moment but there are always long-term consequences. God, being the only Person completely holy, separate from sin, realizes this fact in its fullness for although each of these has long-term consequences here on Earth, there are much bigger consequences: death and hell apart from His saving grace. And in love He gives us commands to protect us.
Just as parents will forbid their child from touching the stove or playing in the street, not because they are gleefully keeping a great pleasure from their child but because they are protecting her, so God has given certain commands to His children.
At the humans' most fundamental level, we rebel against any restrictions placed on us. We immediately assume that something is being withheld from us. We become suspicious and curious about what we are "missing." Since this is a natural part of the humans' condition, it becomes necessary for us to fight it with the one thing more powerful - the gospel.
Romans 8:32 "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?"
The amount of love that God showed us in the sacrifice of His Son was so great that we should automatically assume that every act from Him to us after this is done in love and for our best.
John 15:12-13 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."
So the next time we are tempted by sin and begin to wonder what that particular sin is like and start to justify experiencing it in our minds, let us immediately call to mind the truth of the gospel. Let us remember the great love shown to us at Calvary and realize that the wisdom of God far outweighs the wisdom of man (for which of us could have looked at the brutal act of Calvary and declared it to be good and beautiful apart from the grace of God?)
Sunday, March 14, 2010
God's Everlasting Love
Romans 8:31-39 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Completely Done
What reason have I to doubt
Why would I dwell in fear
When all I have known is grace
My future in Christ is clear
My sins have been paid in full
There's no condemnation here
I live in the good of this
My Father has brought me near
I'm leaving my fears behind me now
Chorus
The old is gone, the new has come
What You complete is completely done
We're heirs with Christ, the victory won
What You complete is completely done
I don't know what lies ahead
What if I fail again
You are my confidence
You'll keep me to the end
I'm leaving my fears behind me now
By Jonathan Baird, Ryan Baird, and Rich Gunderlock as recorded on the album Sons & Daughters.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
My Daily Need
"The Gospel is so foolish (according to my natural wisdom), so scandalous (according to my conscience), and so incredible (according to my timid heart), that it is a daily battle to believe the full scope of it as I should. There is simply no other way to compete with the forebodings of my conscience, the condemnings of my heart, and the lies of the world and of the Devil than to overwhelm such things with daily rehearsings of the gospel." Milton Vincent, A Gospel Primer for Christians.
My conscience works really well. I need only to briefly consider sin and my heart starts to beat faster. When I inevitably fall into sin anyway, be it impatience or pride or rebellion or discontentment, the memory stays in my mind. A small voice continually reminds me of my vast array of failings and when my mind turns towards the Lord and His praise, my heart immediately hurls condemnation at me. And how do I fight back? My heart has no need of slander; it has an unlimited and ever growing storage of ammunition to use against me.
The answer, of course is the gospel. It is true that I am a sinner, and a very good one at that. It is true that there is nothing redeeming about me. It is true that on my own there is nothing good about me. It is true that I cannot save myself. It is true that all of my works are empty. It is true that I cannot even grasp the depravity of my heart.
But...
It is also true that Jesus came to earth and lived a sinless life. It is also true that He willingly died on the cross for my sins. It is also true that He rose again three days later and forever conquered sin and death. It is also true that I have been justified, that I have been covered in the righteousness of Christ and that God has declared me Not Guilty. It is also true that I have been adopted into the family of God and that He loves me as His beloved child. It is also true that God has promised to never leave me and to never forsake me. It is also true that God has promised to remain faithful despite my unfaithfulness. It is also true that God has given me the Holy Spirit.
Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
This then is the way to fight against the truths that condemn me - to daily rehearse the truths of the gospel. To daily remind myself that the truth of the gospel far outweighs the truth of my sin. To daily remind myself that the work has already been done, I will never be less guilty than I am today. The only way to fight against the knowledge of my sin is to dwell in the knowledge of the gospel because the gospel is the only thing more powerful than my sin.
This truth should set us free to live in the joy of our position with Christ. As the chorus of one of my favorite songs puts it:
My conscience works really well. I need only to briefly consider sin and my heart starts to beat faster. When I inevitably fall into sin anyway, be it impatience or pride or rebellion or discontentment, the memory stays in my mind. A small voice continually reminds me of my vast array of failings and when my mind turns towards the Lord and His praise, my heart immediately hurls condemnation at me. And how do I fight back? My heart has no need of slander; it has an unlimited and ever growing storage of ammunition to use against me.
The answer, of course is the gospel. It is true that I am a sinner, and a very good one at that. It is true that there is nothing redeeming about me. It is true that on my own there is nothing good about me. It is true that I cannot save myself. It is true that all of my works are empty. It is true that I cannot even grasp the depravity of my heart.
But...
It is also true that Jesus came to earth and lived a sinless life. It is also true that He willingly died on the cross for my sins. It is also true that He rose again three days later and forever conquered sin and death. It is also true that I have been justified, that I have been covered in the righteousness of Christ and that God has declared me Not Guilty. It is also true that I have been adopted into the family of God and that He loves me as His beloved child. It is also true that God has promised to never leave me and to never forsake me. It is also true that God has promised to remain faithful despite my unfaithfulness. It is also true that God has given me the Holy Spirit.
Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
This then is the way to fight against the truths that condemn me - to daily rehearse the truths of the gospel. To daily remind myself that the truth of the gospel far outweighs the truth of my sin. To daily remind myself that the work has already been done, I will never be less guilty than I am today. The only way to fight against the knowledge of my sin is to dwell in the knowledge of the gospel because the gospel is the only thing more powerful than my sin.
This truth should set us free to live in the joy of our position with Christ. As the chorus of one of my favorite songs puts it:
The old is gone, the new has come
What You complete is completely done
We're heirs with Christ, the victory won
What You complete is completely done
What You complete is completely done
We're heirs with Christ, the victory won
What You complete is completely done
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Book Discussion: The Cross Centered Life, Chapter 1
In the first chapter of the Cross Centered Life, Mahaney introduces the concept of the importance of living a "cross centered life." On page 16 he writes, "Perhaps the purpose of this book is to restate the obvious, yet oft-neglected, truth of the gospel, to bring it before you one more time."
The gospel is the most important truth in a Christian's life but it is often forgotten in the business of daily life and eagerness to learn something "new." The result of this is always bad. We loose our joy, our focus, and our purpose. Mahaney says that the signs of not living a cross centered life are obvious, and then poses the following qualities of a person in this position to help us determine if this could be us.
The sad reality is that most of us live in the list I quoted from the book rather than the scene I just described. We are far from joyful, spending most of our days caught up in busywork and struggling with depression and anxiety. We don't share the gospel with our friends and neighbors because we are shy or scared or because we simply don't think to. And this is sad, friends. This is wrong.
Join me in rediscovering the great truth of the gospel, of recovering the joy you had when you first were saved. "The key to joy, to growth, to passion isn't hiding from you. It's right before your eyes.
It's the gospel."
The gospel is the most important truth in a Christian's life but it is often forgotten in the business of daily life and eagerness to learn something "new." The result of this is always bad. We loose our joy, our focus, and our purpose. Mahaney says that the signs of not living a cross centered life are obvious, and then poses the following qualities of a person in this position to help us determine if this could be us.
- You often lack joy.
- You're not consistently growing in spiritual maturity.
- Your love for God lacks passion.
- You're always looking for some new technique, some "new truth" or new experience that will pull all the pieces of your faith together.
The sad reality is that most of us live in the list I quoted from the book rather than the scene I just described. We are far from joyful, spending most of our days caught up in busywork and struggling with depression and anxiety. We don't share the gospel with our friends and neighbors because we are shy or scared or because we simply don't think to. And this is sad, friends. This is wrong.
Join me in rediscovering the great truth of the gospel, of recovering the joy you had when you first were saved. "The key to joy, to growth, to passion isn't hiding from you. It's right before your eyes.
It's the gospel."
Friday, January 1, 2010
Hello Ladies, happy new year! I cannot believe it is 2010 already; time goes by way too fast. I hope you all enjoyed your new years celebrations.
The beginning of a new year is always a unique time. Many spend time looking over the past year and marveling at how much was able to transpire in such a short time. If you are anything like me, you are astounded at the amount of sin you managed to squeeze in! I am always dumbfounded looking back over a year of selfish, prideful, sinful activity. It is so easy to grow complacent caught up in the moment, in the day to day activities that consume our lives. I sin so much more often than I am even aware of.
This is one of the many reasons that we at the True Women blog have decided to start this year off in a specific and purposeful way. In January, we will focus on prayer. We will feature prayer requests from several of the leaders of our church, book reviews on a couple books dealing with prayer, and several prayer discussions. Remember to check in on the weekends for examples of Scripture to pray through!
In February we will focus on the gospel. Jasmine and I both start off each new year by reading the Cross Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney and so we are going to do an online study of this excellent book. I hope that you are all able to join us! We will be starting this very quickly in February, so make sure and get the book now if you plan to participate. We will also be doing other gospel oriented posts. Any of you who have been reading this blog for any length of time know the importance that we place on the gospel for every day living.
I cannot think of a better way to start a new year than by focusing my mind on the gospel and prayer. Please join us as we prepare to start 2010 off in a God-honoring, Christ exalting way.
For God's glory and our good,
Nichole
The beginning of a new year is always a unique time. Many spend time looking over the past year and marveling at how much was able to transpire in such a short time. If you are anything like me, you are astounded at the amount of sin you managed to squeeze in! I am always dumbfounded looking back over a year of selfish, prideful, sinful activity. It is so easy to grow complacent caught up in the moment, in the day to day activities that consume our lives. I sin so much more often than I am even aware of.
This is one of the many reasons that we at the True Women blog have decided to start this year off in a specific and purposeful way. In January, we will focus on prayer. We will feature prayer requests from several of the leaders of our church, book reviews on a couple books dealing with prayer, and several prayer discussions. Remember to check in on the weekends for examples of Scripture to pray through!
In February we will focus on the gospel. Jasmine and I both start off each new year by reading the Cross Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney and so we are going to do an online study of this excellent book. I hope that you are all able to join us! We will be starting this very quickly in February, so make sure and get the book now if you plan to participate. We will also be doing other gospel oriented posts. Any of you who have been reading this blog for any length of time know the importance that we place on the gospel for every day living.
I cannot think of a better way to start a new year than by focusing my mind on the gospel and prayer. Please join us as we prepare to start 2010 off in a God-honoring, Christ exalting way.
For God's glory and our good,
Nichole
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry Christmas Eve
Like a drama unfolding, the curtain was opening
An audience of angels was holding its breath
A census, a manger, two travel worn strangers
The stage was finally set.
Galatians 4:4 "But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman."
Angels folded their wings at the throne, worshipping
As God whispered, “I love you, my Son.”
Jesus took off His crown and laying it down
Said, “Father, Thy will be done.”
Matthew 3:17 "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
The time had now come for God’s only Son
To be born as a light in a dark, lonely place.
So He stepped from Heaven’s hall to Bethlehem’s stall
Where a star lit His newborn face.
Matthew 2:9-10 "After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy."
Then God called to Gabriel with gladness and tears,
“Play the trumpet, the horns, and the strings.
Tell the shepherds, and the wise men and all who will hear.
Command all the angels to sing
Fill the sky with your voices and sing!
Luke 2:8-13 "In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.'"
Joy, joy to the world
Praise to the King
Oh, let it ring.
Joy, joy to the world
Worship and sing
Jesus has come to bring joy!
John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world that he sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him."
This the power of the cross
Christ became sin for us
Took the blame, bore the wrath
We stand forgiven at the cross
Hebrews 9:22 "And without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."
This the power of the cross
Son of God slain for us
What a love What a cost
We stand forgiven at the cross
Luke 23:33,46 "And when they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him....And Jesus, crying out in a loud voice, said, 'FATHER! INTO YOUR HANDS, I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.' Having said this, He breathed His last."
Matthew 28:5-6 "The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said."
John 14:19 "After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also."
1st Corinthians 15:55-57 "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
It is good to celebrate Christmas! It is good to celebrate the birth of Jesus! If Jesus had not been born, He could could not have lived His life in complete righteousness and holiness. If Jesus had not come, He could not have given His life as the ultimate sacrifice for sin. If Jesus had not been born, He could not have risen again, forever conquering death and securing a place in Heaven with God for His people.It is good to celebrate the birth of Jesus, for without His birth we would not have a Savior. Without His birth, we would have no way to be saved, no one to have faith in, no way to repent.
Let us thank Jesus for the immense sacrifice that He made for God's glory and our good when He humbled Himself to the point of being born as a baby, in a womb that He fashioned, in a stable whose atoms He held together. Let us thank Him for growing up in a sin-filled world, never once giving into temptation. Let us thank Him for willingly offering Himself up as the sacrifice for our sins so that we could spend eternity in Heaven with God.
Thank you, Lord. Come back soon! Amen
Thursday, October 8, 2009
The Courage to Pray - Part1
The other day I read a post at my favorite blog, The Blazing Center written by Mark and Stephen Altrogge. The name of this post was The Courage to Pray. In the post, Mark discussed various scriptural reasons that he, as a mere human, had the courage to pray to God, the creator and sustainer of the universe. As usual, it was a well written post and I encourage you to read it. Don't worry, its short; it will only take you a matter of minutes to read.
Although I enjoyed the post, Mark left out the main reason that I personally have the courage to pray. He invited readers to leave comments sharing other reasons but I chose to share with you instead. :)
Have you ever thought of prayer this way? Have you ever decided not to pray because surely God had so many better things He could be doing instead of listening to you? Have you ever prayed in a timid, worried manner because, well, He was God and you are...well, not? I have. Thankfully, I have been well taught and I know that this thinking is at its very root erroneous and based in either an incomplete knowledge of our 'status' as Christians or in an unbelief that this status is real in a practical way. But it can still at times be a struggle.
So why do I have the ability to go to God in prayer and know that he will hear me? Simply put: because of Jesus' death and resurrection. When I was saved I was justified - I was covered in the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ and from that moment on whenever God looks at me, He sees His Son. And God has great love for His Son. I know that when I come in the name of Jesus to approach the throne room of God I will gain immediate access. I will be listened to as a favored child. And I have this all because of the blood of Jesus, because of His work on the cross.
The next time you hear someone end their prayer "In Jesus' Name, Amen" don't view it as a simple catch phrase, the popular way to end a prayer. Instead, take the opportunity to thank God for His salvation and to remember that you truly are going to the Father in the name of the Son.
Next week, Lord willing, I am going to address the specific points of Mark's post and make some observations on them in general.
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