I hear Jesus Christ in those words. They are personal and inviting. Scripture is clear as it lays out a life pattern for the true follower of Jesus Christ. I get that it will cost me everything to follow Him. Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:38-39, "And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
Its a personal invite to live and share life with the Trinity. Jesus said in John 5:40 many will search the Scriptures for eternal life which bear witness about Him, yet many refuse to come to Him for life. He offers it freely. It is only by God's grace through faith that we are saved. But it is more then being saved, yes Jesus came to save His people from their sins, but He also come that we might have life and life abundantly.
This grace that God extends us through His Son Jesus Christ will unsettle all hearts and lives it touches. It is a costly grace that enables us to pursue God and have Him as our treasure. Once we were selfish and using God's grace to pursue our sinful desires and pleasures, now we use it to become more like Christ in all that we do. We use all means of this life to glorify and enjoy God.
You won't see things the same. It changes how you see yourself, your wife, your children, your family and friends, your church, your work and how you walk in this world. How we use our life, share our life, die in our living and engage the things around us should say something radically different about us. In effect we can bring life or death to those around us.
In our home, in jobs, our churches we can make a huge impact. If you just think of what Jesus Christ's death has accomplished from eternity past throughout all of eternity you will only see much fruit. Not one second of His pain and suffering, not one drop of His blood was wasted. He will get His full reward. He is worthy of our dying as well.
For me to delight in God and enjoy Him is to share in His suffering and death. I don't see my life as precious and deserving of comfort, ease, and life on a silver platter. I deserve hell. But Jesus died that I may have life. For me to follow Him is a life of dying....that He may use it as He pleases to bring life to others. Your stupid to think that your choices and decisions today will not impact other disciples tomorrow.
How is your dying and sharing life bringing life to others? How are you using this life to impact tomorrow's generation? What repentance is needed to change for you to live a life of dying and sharing? 1 John 1:9 tells us "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Don't waste your life living in your sins, confess and be free to live as the best image bearer you can! Live to the glory of God in all you do in dying, sharing and living in this life.
Give your life away....it shows the world something they won't understand. They will be asking, "Why do you live that way?"
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Eternal life
Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, but sometimes the trial of extraordinary graces. ~ Matthew Henry
I posted this quote on my twitter on January 15th! I can say that I have come to understand more of the truth in this quote. Here are a few of the extraordinary graces God has been so merciful and gracious to teach me over the last 5 months:
1) I have learned that God is faithful in all His ways. Where I am not faithful, God is always faithful. He knows what I need and used a major trial to get to my heart. His main business is my heart. It has over-flowed into my husbanding and parenting. I now am quick to go after my heart and the hearts of those around me. I mean God doesn't care about what I am doing in the church, Bible reading, praying if He does not have my heart. We can get so busy and miss the main point.
2) I have learned that man is fallible. I was guilty of putting more stock into man then God. It was a lesson I needed to learn. I now know that even elders are sheep like myself. We all belong to God and are called to submit our lives to Him fully. To know that God knows are hearts and works I can rest in Him through the hardships of life. But through this lesson I have learned to have compassion on those around me. I understand that God is in control and everyone but God will let me down and fail me. That is fine. I have a solid Rock in Jesus Christ who is infallible 100%, I trust Him.
3) I have learned how to glorify and enjoy God in my family. It is crazy, but enjoying them and loving, leading and serving them I am glorifying God and enjoying Him! I am so excited about finding time to be a family with my wonderful wife and girls! It is very important to me. I am thinking more about protecting them and helping them grow spiritually and asking God to show me His ways. Everyday in my home is another opportunity to disciple my family and keep pointing them to Jesus Christ. It is another opportunity to fail and understand the gospel for myself. I am the elder of my family. This is my main mission field. I have never been so excited to lead, love and serve my family. I am always looking for ways to help Jolie grow in grace and my girls to see their need for Jesus Christ. When we are a family then we get to see the gospel lived out in our home.
4) I have learned that I can't produce any holiness, godliness and righteousness in my life. It is only because of Jesus Christ that these things grow in my life. As I behold Him and His glory (2 Cor. 3:18) my life will be changed and transformed from one degree of glory to the next. I am free to live by faith in the Son of God and enjoy Him. I just want to believe Him more and love Him more. He will be faithful to take care of the rest. I can trust God. Because He has regenerated my heart I can trust that He will make sure to reform my life as I read His Word, be secret in prayer and follow those who submit to Christ. As I delight in Him, He give me the desires of my heart. I want nothing more then to be Christlike in all my ways.
5) I have learned that I am not going to fix everything. I am not God. I see no point in living to get everything fixed and perfect. Life is hard and messy and God is always good in all His ways. No matter what the circumstance is that He ordains for my life (it could be good or evil) He is doing it for my good and His glory. It doesn't matter what God ordains. Whatever it is I know my God is the faithful God who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. The day is coming when God will restore all things, but in this life I will only give my best and leave the results up to God. What a blessing and privilege it is to be God's servant here on earth. He uses me as He pleases. I can't change hearts, but He can and sometimes He will choose to use me. Regardless of what works He has planned for me, my only desire is to believe and love Him and get to know Him more and more by meditating and praying over the Bible. It is how He has chosen to reveal Himself to us. I don't know what is better then learning about God. I believe if man is going to live a life that glorifies God and enjoy Him forever he must first have right thinking about God. Right thinking leads to right living. What wonderful lessons of graces God has poured out into my life.
Last I want to share just how life has been so wonderful. I really am enjoying eternal life now. God has been working more then ever. I see Him everywhere around me. I guess that is what happens when you get your eyes of self and others and put them on Jesus Christ. God is enough. If I have Him I am doing just fine. As Lecrae says, "If I don't see Christ anymore then I don't want to be!"
I posted this quote on my twitter on January 15th! I can say that I have come to understand more of the truth in this quote. Here are a few of the extraordinary graces God has been so merciful and gracious to teach me over the last 5 months:
1) I have learned that God is faithful in all His ways. Where I am not faithful, God is always faithful. He knows what I need and used a major trial to get to my heart. His main business is my heart. It has over-flowed into my husbanding and parenting. I now am quick to go after my heart and the hearts of those around me. I mean God doesn't care about what I am doing in the church, Bible reading, praying if He does not have my heart. We can get so busy and miss the main point.
2) I have learned that man is fallible. I was guilty of putting more stock into man then God. It was a lesson I needed to learn. I now know that even elders are sheep like myself. We all belong to God and are called to submit our lives to Him fully. To know that God knows are hearts and works I can rest in Him through the hardships of life. But through this lesson I have learned to have compassion on those around me. I understand that God is in control and everyone but God will let me down and fail me. That is fine. I have a solid Rock in Jesus Christ who is infallible 100%, I trust Him.
3) I have learned how to glorify and enjoy God in my family. It is crazy, but enjoying them and loving, leading and serving them I am glorifying God and enjoying Him! I am so excited about finding time to be a family with my wonderful wife and girls! It is very important to me. I am thinking more about protecting them and helping them grow spiritually and asking God to show me His ways. Everyday in my home is another opportunity to disciple my family and keep pointing them to Jesus Christ. It is another opportunity to fail and understand the gospel for myself. I am the elder of my family. This is my main mission field. I have never been so excited to lead, love and serve my family. I am always looking for ways to help Jolie grow in grace and my girls to see their need for Jesus Christ. When we are a family then we get to see the gospel lived out in our home.
4) I have learned that I can't produce any holiness, godliness and righteousness in my life. It is only because of Jesus Christ that these things grow in my life. As I behold Him and His glory (2 Cor. 3:18) my life will be changed and transformed from one degree of glory to the next. I am free to live by faith in the Son of God and enjoy Him. I just want to believe Him more and love Him more. He will be faithful to take care of the rest. I can trust God. Because He has regenerated my heart I can trust that He will make sure to reform my life as I read His Word, be secret in prayer and follow those who submit to Christ. As I delight in Him, He give me the desires of my heart. I want nothing more then to be Christlike in all my ways.
5) I have learned that I am not going to fix everything. I am not God. I see no point in living to get everything fixed and perfect. Life is hard and messy and God is always good in all His ways. No matter what the circumstance is that He ordains for my life (it could be good or evil) He is doing it for my good and His glory. It doesn't matter what God ordains. Whatever it is I know my God is the faithful God who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. The day is coming when God will restore all things, but in this life I will only give my best and leave the results up to God. What a blessing and privilege it is to be God's servant here on earth. He uses me as He pleases. I can't change hearts, but He can and sometimes He will choose to use me. Regardless of what works He has planned for me, my only desire is to believe and love Him and get to know Him more and more by meditating and praying over the Bible. It is how He has chosen to reveal Himself to us. I don't know what is better then learning about God. I believe if man is going to live a life that glorifies God and enjoy Him forever he must first have right thinking about God. Right thinking leads to right living. What wonderful lessons of graces God has poured out into my life.
Last I want to share just how life has been so wonderful. I really am enjoying eternal life now. God has been working more then ever. I see Him everywhere around me. I guess that is what happens when you get your eyes of self and others and put them on Jesus Christ. God is enough. If I have Him I am doing just fine. As Lecrae says, "If I don't see Christ anymore then I don't want to be!"
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Running after glory
This life is short. However long this life is for you, it is only a blink in light of eternity. What is our purpose in life? Is it to gain the whole world and all the happiness this world can bring into our life? Is that really the ticket we are after. Think about the fact that when you were born you brought nothing into this world, and the fact that when you die you take nothing with you into the next life. I don't want to waste this life. I really don't want to regret how I lived this life.
Psalm 103:15 tells us that, "As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more." Our days are numbered. We cannot add to them or take away from them. Regardless of how your life ends there are no surprises with God. He is the giver of life and the breath you have now while reading this is from Him. What you do with this life matters more then most people in the world know. What are you living for? How is your soul with God Most High? Because if your not right with God, then no matter what you do, no matter how many "good things" you do, no matter what He will cast your soul down into hell for all eternity. Besides, you can't earn or deserve heaven. It is a free gift of grace from God. (read Eph. 2:8-9)
All of us are running after glory. Think about it! You are either running after your own glory or God's glory. Those are the only options we have in what we are living for. If we chase glory for our name in this life we won't ever get it. If you really understand the human heart you know that we only deserve hell. God is angry with us for our rebellious hearts that are running after glory that does not belong to us. Jesus gives us the most clear warning about running in the wrong direction.
Which brings to me to a passage that helped me think and ponder more on about running after glory. Psalm 105:1-4. Here we are called to give thanks to the LORD and call upon His name. Why? Because you only give thanks for things that are done for you. Calling upon His name shows are dependence to the LORD. Giving thanks for the things that the LORD has done for us makes known His glory to those around us. When we are thankful for all that the LORD has done for us....in all things....singing, praising, worship flow out of our hearts. In this we glory in His holy Name, and as we behold and worship His glory our hearts seek Him more and more and rejoice in who He is, what He has done for sinners that are poor and weak in the flesh. When we seek the LORD and His strength we are really seeking His presence continually. This will change us more and more into the image of Jesus Christ!
Rejoice that we can bow before Him in awe. He is everything we need. If only He would give us bigger taste buds for His glory....one reason why He might not be doing this is because we are not asking Him. I am asking as I seek His face and glory....He has been gracious to answer my prayer. I hope your encouraged and that if your His child or if you don't know Him that you would cry out to Him with a whole heart.
May this be my cry today and through eternity:
Psalm 103:15 tells us that, "As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more." Our days are numbered. We cannot add to them or take away from them. Regardless of how your life ends there are no surprises with God. He is the giver of life and the breath you have now while reading this is from Him. What you do with this life matters more then most people in the world know. What are you living for? How is your soul with God Most High? Because if your not right with God, then no matter what you do, no matter how many "good things" you do, no matter what He will cast your soul down into hell for all eternity. Besides, you can't earn or deserve heaven. It is a free gift of grace from God. (read Eph. 2:8-9)
All of us are running after glory. Think about it! You are either running after your own glory or God's glory. Those are the only options we have in what we are living for. If we chase glory for our name in this life we won't ever get it. If you really understand the human heart you know that we only deserve hell. God is angry with us for our rebellious hearts that are running after glory that does not belong to us. Jesus gives us the most clear warning about running in the wrong direction.
"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"Man wants to have the whole world and everything in it. He thinks that it is the ticket to the best life. Having all the things in the world and all the fame that would come with such a life is where it is at. That is a lie! The reason man cannot and never will be able to do that is because EVERYTHING BELONGS TO GOD! Romans 11:36 tells us, "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." (read 1 Cor. 8:6; 1 Cor. 11:12; Col. 1:16). It is very clear. God created all things and owns all things. He gets all the glory....it is not for us to chase.
Which brings to me to a passage that helped me think and ponder more on about running after glory. Psalm 105:1-4. Here we are called to give thanks to the LORD and call upon His name. Why? Because you only give thanks for things that are done for you. Calling upon His name shows are dependence to the LORD. Giving thanks for the things that the LORD has done for us makes known His glory to those around us. When we are thankful for all that the LORD has done for us....in all things....singing, praising, worship flow out of our hearts. In this we glory in His holy Name, and as we behold and worship His glory our hearts seek Him more and more and rejoice in who He is, what He has done for sinners that are poor and weak in the flesh. When we seek the LORD and His strength we are really seeking His presence continually. This will change us more and more into the image of Jesus Christ!
Rejoice that we can bow before Him in awe. He is everything we need. If only He would give us bigger taste buds for His glory....one reason why He might not be doing this is because we are not asking Him. I am asking as I seek His face and glory....He has been gracious to answer my prayer. I hope your encouraged and that if your His child or if you don't know Him that you would cry out to Him with a whole heart.
May this be my cry today and through eternity:
Psalm 27:4 "One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple."When His people are satistifed in His glory then they glorify Him in all they do and enjoy Him forever. May that be ture of all His people. Lord bless us and keep us!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Thoughts about fellowship and sharing life
My heart rejoices in the Trinity. What an example we have of genuine and perfect fellowship. I ponder that for many reasons. I am jealous for that kind of fellowship in a vertical and horizontal sense. I can only imagine what life will be like with perfect fellowship with the Lord of glory, Jesus Christ and all His people around His glorious throne. That will be the day, and until then I still must live life in a fallen world that is filled with sin, suffering and death.
Last Lord's Day, SKH, taught us from 2 Corinthians 3:18. The sermon was absolutely fantastic. I am still pondering all that he said in my own heart and am praying that the Lord works it out into every facet of my life....in my relationship with Him, my wife, children, family, friends, all everyone that the Lord would bring into my path. Thinking about the truth that men are known by their God. This says a lot about our personal relationship with other people. If I am wrong in theology of the living God then I will be wrong in how I live out my life before Him. Right thinking about God will lead to right living before God.
We become like what we worship. If we are beholding and worshipping the glory of the Lord then it is right to assume that we would become more and more like Jesus Christ. It is only as I behold and worship Him that I will be transformed into the same image as Him from one degree of glory to another. That means a Christian will ALWAYS be changing more and more, week by week, month by month, year by year....and I should always be able to look back and be grateful for His work in my life and as I see His work in my life have more faith to trust Him as I go forward. The Christian life should be marked by transformation. If your not changing into His image then something is wrong. It is not like God just changes your heart and keeps the same old cloths on you. His righteousness and holiness will change all Christians to the core.
But the thing we must understand is that the process of transformation is both a personal and corporate participation. The Trinity is our best example of this. The 3-n-1 Triune God has invited us into fellowship with Himself. He was not selfish in doing this, but gave Himself, His very life in the work and Person of Jesus Christ. It encourages me not to be selfish in sharing my life with those around me. When I do this I am imitating Jesus Christ. And the blessing is that the more I do share my life the more He will use that to conform me into His image. My sharing is really an act of worship. As I am beholding and worshipping Him all I do will be to the glory of God.
Don't fool yourself. All Christians are headed in the same direction, and if that is true and for sure it is then that means will be be more like minded in how we walk, talk and act in our daily lives. It is only when we are not beholding and worshipping the glory of the Lord that we become stagnate and apathetic in who we are becoming. That is why we need more life on life sharing with other fellow Christians. This is the process that will keep you from becoming ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
If your not increasing in virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love then you are ineffective and unfruitful. That is why Peter urged Christians to be diligent to make your calling and election sure! If Jesus Christ has removed the veil from your heart and given you a new heart then you can know that He will continue the work that He started and as you continue in the faith you will continue to grow more and more by the grace of God into the man or women God called you to be in Jesus Christ. As you grow you become more and more like Christ and you also grow deeper and deeper into fellowship with Him and His people.
May God grant me more grace and I continue in this race towards the goal of the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus! May the Lord Jesus come back today. I am eager and excited about His return. Until then I just want to share more of my life because the Trinity has brought me into fellowship with the 3-1 God. The true and living God. He sought me out. He gave me life in His Son. He gives generously. May I not be grabby in my life, but give as my heavenly Father gives. He is the giver of all that is good and perfect. I have been given too much to not be excited and ready to give back to those around me as I share life that has been given to me.
Last Lord's Day, SKH, taught us from 2 Corinthians 3:18. The sermon was absolutely fantastic. I am still pondering all that he said in my own heart and am praying that the Lord works it out into every facet of my life....in my relationship with Him, my wife, children, family, friends, all everyone that the Lord would bring into my path. Thinking about the truth that men are known by their God. This says a lot about our personal relationship with other people. If I am wrong in theology of the living God then I will be wrong in how I live out my life before Him. Right thinking about God will lead to right living before God.
We become like what we worship. If we are beholding and worshipping the glory of the Lord then it is right to assume that we would become more and more like Jesus Christ. It is only as I behold and worship Him that I will be transformed into the same image as Him from one degree of glory to another. That means a Christian will ALWAYS be changing more and more, week by week, month by month, year by year....and I should always be able to look back and be grateful for His work in my life and as I see His work in my life have more faith to trust Him as I go forward. The Christian life should be marked by transformation. If your not changing into His image then something is wrong. It is not like God just changes your heart and keeps the same old cloths on you. His righteousness and holiness will change all Christians to the core.
But the thing we must understand is that the process of transformation is both a personal and corporate participation. The Trinity is our best example of this. The 3-n-1 Triune God has invited us into fellowship with Himself. He was not selfish in doing this, but gave Himself, His very life in the work and Person of Jesus Christ. It encourages me not to be selfish in sharing my life with those around me. When I do this I am imitating Jesus Christ. And the blessing is that the more I do share my life the more He will use that to conform me into His image. My sharing is really an act of worship. As I am beholding and worshipping Him all I do will be to the glory of God.
Don't fool yourself. All Christians are headed in the same direction, and if that is true and for sure it is then that means will be be more like minded in how we walk, talk and act in our daily lives. It is only when we are not beholding and worshipping the glory of the Lord that we become stagnate and apathetic in who we are becoming. That is why we need more life on life sharing with other fellow Christians. This is the process that will keep you from becoming ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
If your not increasing in virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love then you are ineffective and unfruitful. That is why Peter urged Christians to be diligent to make your calling and election sure! If Jesus Christ has removed the veil from your heart and given you a new heart then you can know that He will continue the work that He started and as you continue in the faith you will continue to grow more and more by the grace of God into the man or women God called you to be in Jesus Christ. As you grow you become more and more like Christ and you also grow deeper and deeper into fellowship with Him and His people.
May God grant me more grace and I continue in this race towards the goal of the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus! May the Lord Jesus come back today. I am eager and excited about His return. Until then I just want to share more of my life because the Trinity has brought me into fellowship with the 3-1 God. The true and living God. He sought me out. He gave me life in His Son. He gives generously. May I not be grabby in my life, but give as my heavenly Father gives. He is the giver of all that is good and perfect. I have been given too much to not be excited and ready to give back to those around me as I share life that has been given to me.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Thanksgiving thoughts
I am so thankful for Jesus Christ and the gospel. The Lord gave me a new heart about 5 years ago, and the way that I have lived since is radically different from what I lived before I knew Jesus Christ. When I look back over my life and who I was before God saved me I am just filled with praise and worship for Him. To see the work of His hand in my life and those around me is a joy. To know and understand that I am not getting what I deserve, but that I will have Jesus Christ forever. I'm ok with that. It is exciting to live Christ. In my walking in this world He is always using all circumstances to draw me closer to Him and to make me more like Him. I don't have a desire to sin, but when I do it is grace that He uses it for my good and His glory.
I am thankful for my home. I am thankful that God gave me the responsibility to love, lead and serve my wife and children. It is a joy to talk with them about the things of the Lord and to live out before them the life of a man of God. It is exciting to look back and see all that God has done in my home. I find it a joy to serve the Lord in my home and all that it entails.
I am thankful for all the godly men that God has placed around me. They cause much growth and santification in my life. It is another mercy of God that He would use other sinners in my life and growth in Christlikeness. I am eager as I go through this life to come along side other men and teach them all that God has taught me.
I am thankful for the church God has me at and for the body my family gets to worship with, love, encourage, rebuke, forgive as we fight the good fight of faith. I love everyday, but the Lord's Day holds a dear place in my heart. It is a joy to come together and live life on life....but not only on the Lord's Day but everyday. I find the more we open our lives and share them with others the more we will see God's mercy and grace within our lives. It is blessings upon blessings. May we love God more and as a result love man more.
May your Thanksgiving be filled with the love of God. He has done so much for us.
I am thankful for my home. I am thankful that God gave me the responsibility to love, lead and serve my wife and children. It is a joy to talk with them about the things of the Lord and to live out before them the life of a man of God. It is exciting to look back and see all that God has done in my home. I find it a joy to serve the Lord in my home and all that it entails.
I am thankful for all the godly men that God has placed around me. They cause much growth and santification in my life. It is another mercy of God that He would use other sinners in my life and growth in Christlikeness. I am eager as I go through this life to come along side other men and teach them all that God has taught me.
I am thankful for the church God has me at and for the body my family gets to worship with, love, encourage, rebuke, forgive as we fight the good fight of faith. I love everyday, but the Lord's Day holds a dear place in my heart. It is a joy to come together and live life on life....but not only on the Lord's Day but everyday. I find the more we open our lives and share them with others the more we will see God's mercy and grace within our lives. It is blessings upon blessings. May we love God more and as a result love man more.
May your Thanksgiving be filled with the love of God. He has done so much for us.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
The Atonement of Christ
Last night we heard a seriously fantastic sermon by JSarr. I highly recommend you feed your soul and check this out: ATONEMENT
Maybe you don't ever think about it, but without Calvary we would not escape the hell we deserve. Our sin has violated the holiness and character of God. Our sin gives us a practical need of the atonement. The truth is that no amount of hell would change our status. In order for us to be righteous, we need another Person's righteousness.
2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." The fact that God has made a way for us to be righteous is fantastic. I will never get over the truth that on the cross of Calvary, Jesus Christ took my sins (past, present and future) and took the wrath that was meant for me upon Himself and paid the price for my ransom, and credited my account with His righteousness. Now when the Father looks upon me He sees His Son's perfect work on the cross. He looks on me as His beloved.
The truth is that nothing else could take away my sin except the death of the 2nd Person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ. The only thing man can bring to his salvation is his sin. I can have confidence in God, that those that He elected He provided atonement. May that cause of fire in me to get the gospel out even more. All those that Christ died for will come to faith in Christ. Not one will be lost. Those that come to faith in Christ have their sins paid for in full, their ransom price paid, they are justified by God because of the death of His precious Son, Jesus Christ.
God wrath is real and has to be dealt with. I am eager to share Christ more. What a honor and privilege as I go about this world to take with me the best news possible and share it with others. Christ has propitiated our wrong and made it right. We must get the message of the gospel out to as many as we can. We must be looking at how we are evangelizing the world around us. If we only looked at it as God did, maybe that would put a fire in our souls for other souls.
Piper puts it best by saying, "evangelizing is not making sheep, but gathering sheep" God's elect are out there lost. We have to look at everyone as a possible elect person of God. God is who can change a heart to believe the gospel. He provides them with everything they need. He does the work in the heart. But as Christians we should be serious about talking with others more about the gospel. I am sure we all have many opportunities each and every day to throw seed and water everywhere, trusting that God will be faithful as He wills with the results, and that no matter what He does do He is good and has given us the best in His Son.
My heart is full of thanksgiving, praise and worship because of God. I don't need anything but Christ. He is beautiful. What a blessing to have eyes to see the beauty and Majesty of Christ, who He is, and what He has done. I stand clothed in His righteousness. I am a child of the King.
I will never be able to comprehend the cost. God went to extreme means to bring me to Himself. He first loved me, and showed me His love by dying for me on the cross. I am drawn to love Him and lay down my life for His Name and His gospel and His kingdom. May God do as He pleases. I am content with Him alone. And as long as I have breath I desire others know God Most High.
Maybe you don't ever think about it, but without Calvary we would not escape the hell we deserve. Our sin has violated the holiness and character of God. Our sin gives us a practical need of the atonement. The truth is that no amount of hell would change our status. In order for us to be righteous, we need another Person's righteousness.
2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." The fact that God has made a way for us to be righteous is fantastic. I will never get over the truth that on the cross of Calvary, Jesus Christ took my sins (past, present and future) and took the wrath that was meant for me upon Himself and paid the price for my ransom, and credited my account with His righteousness. Now when the Father looks upon me He sees His Son's perfect work on the cross. He looks on me as His beloved.
The truth is that nothing else could take away my sin except the death of the 2nd Person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ. The only thing man can bring to his salvation is his sin. I can have confidence in God, that those that He elected He provided atonement. May that cause of fire in me to get the gospel out even more. All those that Christ died for will come to faith in Christ. Not one will be lost. Those that come to faith in Christ have their sins paid for in full, their ransom price paid, they are justified by God because of the death of His precious Son, Jesus Christ.
God wrath is real and has to be dealt with. I am eager to share Christ more. What a honor and privilege as I go about this world to take with me the best news possible and share it with others. Christ has propitiated our wrong and made it right. We must get the message of the gospel out to as many as we can. We must be looking at how we are evangelizing the world around us. If we only looked at it as God did, maybe that would put a fire in our souls for other souls.
Piper puts it best by saying, "evangelizing is not making sheep, but gathering sheep" God's elect are out there lost. We have to look at everyone as a possible elect person of God. God is who can change a heart to believe the gospel. He provides them with everything they need. He does the work in the heart. But as Christians we should be serious about talking with others more about the gospel. I am sure we all have many opportunities each and every day to throw seed and water everywhere, trusting that God will be faithful as He wills with the results, and that no matter what He does do He is good and has given us the best in His Son.
My heart is full of thanksgiving, praise and worship because of God. I don't need anything but Christ. He is beautiful. What a blessing to have eyes to see the beauty and Majesty of Christ, who He is, and what He has done. I stand clothed in His righteousness. I am a child of the King.
I will never be able to comprehend the cost. God went to extreme means to bring me to Himself. He first loved me, and showed me His love by dying for me on the cross. I am drawn to love Him and lay down my life for His Name and His gospel and His kingdom. May God do as He pleases. I am content with Him alone. And as long as I have breath I desire others know God Most High.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
DGNC: My Think Thoughts
It was fantastic going to this years Desiring God National Conference. For my own soul I needed it. It was good to get under some other Bible teachers and here what the Lord had put on their heart. The Lord was faithful to encourage, convict and challenge me through out this conference. Here are some of my take aways.
Session 1: The battle for your mind with Rick Warren
I must fight to renew my mind daily. Each moment I must test every thought and take it captive and make it obedient to Christ. Daily I need to feed and think over the Word. I must guard my mind from all trash, and think upon what is true and pure. I need to strive to think more, learn more, and pray more in hopes that I would trust God more, and as I trust and obey God would continue to make my path straight.
Session 2: Kevin DeYoung, Tullian Tchividjian, N.D. Wilson, Matt Perman and John Piper Q&A time
I must think over what I do, say, and think daily! If I am going to be a biblical thinker then I must think and dwell upon the Word of God. I must find others to think and talk with. Basically I need accountability in my life. Moment by moment I should connect my faith in Christ to what I am doing. Loving and knowing Christ more will help me to imitate Him and walk as He did. God fearfully and wonderfully made me, so just be me and find my shape. God will test to see if I am for self or Christ. The point is be real, genuine, open and transparent.
Session 3: Thinking Deeply in the Ocean of Revelation: The Bible and the Life of the Mind with R.C. Sproul
I must trust God, He doesn't need my help. To think that the universe and all man (all that is) was created and moves because of God will help me understand that He doesn't need my works. Yes He did prepare good works for me to do, but its not about me. I can only give myself to be used by God, and He may chose not to use me. God will do all that He pleases. To know that I live, move and have my being in God is reason enough to trust Him in all things. Everything except God is changing. I will never find meaning in reality outside of God, His Son, and His Word.
Session 4: Thinking for the Sake of Global Faithfulness: Confronting Islam with the Mind of Christ with Thabiti Anyabwile I must not fear man, but think upon God's providence and protection and fear Him alone. When fear takes control, thinking doesn't. Thinking is not the same as reaction. I must think through what I believe in doctrine/theology and understand what and why I believe what I believe. Thinking is not the same as feeling. I must submit my heart to the authority of God's Word. I must remember the gospel, the Word of God has power to make one new in Christ. As I live in this world I must be a thinker that is wise and pure. I must remember my reward and what my purpose in this world is, and that is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Because God is sovereign I can throw away my comfort and safety. I can trust Him.
Session 5: The Way the World Thinks: Meeting the Natural Mind—in the Mirror and in the Market Place with Al Mohler
I must be thinking about my thinking. I need to remember where my thinking leads me I am accountable for it. My thinking must be grounded from the Word of God. There is a difference between a regenerate mind and a unregenerate mind. I must strive to renew my mind. I can't trust myself as my reason was corrupted at the fall. I must take every thought to Christ. I must look to Jesus Christ in all my thoughts and put them up against the Word of God.
Session 6: Speaker Panel with Piper, Anyabwile, Chan, and Mohler
In my thinking I must remember that God is in control. God fits us with weaknesses and does what He does to break us. Our theology is meant to flatten us. God is gonna do what He is gonna do. I must concentrate and think in my reading and study of God's Word so that I can learn more about God, and in all my learning not settle for anything less then loving God. I must be a praying people, asking God to grant what He commands!
Session 7: Think Hard, Stay Humble: The Life of the Mind and the Peril of Pride with Francis Chan
I must think about my brothers and sisters, and man in this fallen world. I want to be more mindful of where people are on the Way, and think about others and how I can help them in this life. I hope the Lord will increase the sorrow and anguish for people in my heart for my family, my church family, God's people, all people that they would know Christ for salvation. In all I do I must remember daily that love builds up, not tear down. Knowledge in God's eyes is me loving others for their good. We can know a lot and still be worthless. I must pray that God would grow me in the grace of God, and my love for people. I can stay humble by fearing the Lord and loving others.
Session 8: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God with John Piper
I left this conference knowing that my thinking can cause me to love God more and people more. Thinking is very important. If I am not loving people then I have to ask myself if I am loving God most. My final thoughts are I don't want to waste my mind. I must understand what the Word says about the human being and there condition. How we think is very important because wrong thinking leads to wrong actions. If my knowledge does not grow my love for God which flows out for a love to people then I don't have true knowledge. I must use my mind as a means of treasuring God. Just to think is not the point. Our thinking should lead to action that pleases God. If I really love Jesus it will change my way of life towards God and people. I must focus my mind on the death of Jesus for my sins. May I only boast in Christ and never my self.
Session 1: The battle for your mind with Rick Warren
I must fight to renew my mind daily. Each moment I must test every thought and take it captive and make it obedient to Christ. Daily I need to feed and think over the Word. I must guard my mind from all trash, and think upon what is true and pure. I need to strive to think more, learn more, and pray more in hopes that I would trust God more, and as I trust and obey God would continue to make my path straight.
Session 2: Kevin DeYoung, Tullian Tchividjian, N.D. Wilson, Matt Perman and John Piper Q&A time
I must think over what I do, say, and think daily! If I am going to be a biblical thinker then I must think and dwell upon the Word of God. I must find others to think and talk with. Basically I need accountability in my life. Moment by moment I should connect my faith in Christ to what I am doing. Loving and knowing Christ more will help me to imitate Him and walk as He did. God fearfully and wonderfully made me, so just be me and find my shape. God will test to see if I am for self or Christ. The point is be real, genuine, open and transparent.
Session 3: Thinking Deeply in the Ocean of Revelation: The Bible and the Life of the Mind with R.C. Sproul
I must trust God, He doesn't need my help. To think that the universe and all man (all that is) was created and moves because of God will help me understand that He doesn't need my works. Yes He did prepare good works for me to do, but its not about me. I can only give myself to be used by God, and He may chose not to use me. God will do all that He pleases. To know that I live, move and have my being in God is reason enough to trust Him in all things. Everything except God is changing. I will never find meaning in reality outside of God, His Son, and His Word.
Session 4: Thinking for the Sake of Global Faithfulness: Confronting Islam with the Mind of Christ with Thabiti Anyabwile I must not fear man, but think upon God's providence and protection and fear Him alone. When fear takes control, thinking doesn't. Thinking is not the same as reaction. I must think through what I believe in doctrine/theology and understand what and why I believe what I believe. Thinking is not the same as feeling. I must submit my heart to the authority of God's Word. I must remember the gospel, the Word of God has power to make one new in Christ. As I live in this world I must be a thinker that is wise and pure. I must remember my reward and what my purpose in this world is, and that is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Because God is sovereign I can throw away my comfort and safety. I can trust Him.
Session 5: The Way the World Thinks: Meeting the Natural Mind—in the Mirror and in the Market Place with Al Mohler
I must be thinking about my thinking. I need to remember where my thinking leads me I am accountable for it. My thinking must be grounded from the Word of God. There is a difference between a regenerate mind and a unregenerate mind. I must strive to renew my mind. I can't trust myself as my reason was corrupted at the fall. I must take every thought to Christ. I must look to Jesus Christ in all my thoughts and put them up against the Word of God.
Session 6: Speaker Panel with Piper, Anyabwile, Chan, and Mohler
In my thinking I must remember that God is in control. God fits us with weaknesses and does what He does to break us. Our theology is meant to flatten us. God is gonna do what He is gonna do. I must concentrate and think in my reading and study of God's Word so that I can learn more about God, and in all my learning not settle for anything less then loving God. I must be a praying people, asking God to grant what He commands!
Session 7: Think Hard, Stay Humble: The Life of the Mind and the Peril of Pride with Francis Chan
I must think about my brothers and sisters, and man in this fallen world. I want to be more mindful of where people are on the Way, and think about others and how I can help them in this life. I hope the Lord will increase the sorrow and anguish for people in my heart for my family, my church family, God's people, all people that they would know Christ for salvation. In all I do I must remember daily that love builds up, not tear down. Knowledge in God's eyes is me loving others for their good. We can know a lot and still be worthless. I must pray that God would grow me in the grace of God, and my love for people. I can stay humble by fearing the Lord and loving others.
Session 8: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God with John Piper
I left this conference knowing that my thinking can cause me to love God more and people more. Thinking is very important. If I am not loving people then I have to ask myself if I am loving God most. My final thoughts are I don't want to waste my mind. I must understand what the Word says about the human being and there condition. How we think is very important because wrong thinking leads to wrong actions. If my knowledge does not grow my love for God which flows out for a love to people then I don't have true knowledge. I must use my mind as a means of treasuring God. Just to think is not the point. Our thinking should lead to action that pleases God. If I really love Jesus it will change my way of life towards God and people. I must focus my mind on the death of Jesus for my sins. May I only boast in Christ and never my self.
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