"for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure." (ASV)
"I've tried and tried to do it, but I just can't." So many people make this complaint about giving up old sinful habits. I'm here to tell you that they're right. No human can overcome sin. We aren't built to be able to. From the moment Adam and Eve bit into that apple way back in the garden, we're a fallen race. We can't escape sin on our own because it is a part of us.
There's good news though. We don't have to. The reason the above complaint is made is evident within the complaint itself. It's the emphasis on the word "I" that does it. If you're struggling against sin, stop struggling and be still. "I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13 ASV) All of your efforts may get you nowhere, but simply praying that God will take away the sin will have an enormous effect.
Just as a lump of ore can't refine itself, we humans need the refiner's fire to bring out our true potential. This is not an easy process to go through. "Behold, I have refined thee, but not as silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." (Isaiah 48:10 ASV) Just as Israel endured difficulty and hardship in the Bible, so we too are refined today. When you ask for God's help in removing a sin from your life, be prepared. Often our faith is tested most when God is working hardest on us.
You see, it's not us, but God's work in us that perfects us. Where we are fallen, He alone is holy. Where we are weak, His strength will prevail. God knows the sins we struggle with, better than we do most times. He wants us to be made holy, "Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48 ASV) While the process will not be complete until we stand in His presence in heaven, He is working toward that end even today.
So the next time you find yourself wondering why you can't do something, remember that it's not yours alone to do. Give it to God in prayer and let Him handle it.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Matthew 13:54
"And coming into his own country he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?" (ASV)
Not much is known about Christ's childhood, but we can assume it was a fairly normal one. This accounts for the reaction He got upon returning to His hometown. Those who knew Him before He began His ministry were baffled at the revelation of His wisdom and knowledge of God. "Just who does He think He is?" was their response. They took offense at His works. They couldn't accept Him because He was not what they expected.
In the same way, sometimes the people who know us best can be discouraging. When they see a change in our lives, they may feel threatened by it. They are comfortable with the way things were before, so they tell us we can't change, or we're out of our depth. While it may seem easy to listen to them and go back to our old mediocre lives, God's plan for us is greatness, whether it be here on earth or later in His kingdom.
Job faced a similar situation. When he was at his lowest, three of his friends came to him and gave him advice. They told him his suffering was because of his own sin or because he refused to confess his sins. Since Job knew they were wrong, he refused to listen to them. If Job had listened to his friends, he might have been discouraged and missed out on the blessings God had stored up for his later years. Instead, he stood his ground. When the Lord finally gave answer, He rebuked those who had given Job bad advice, and told Job to pray for them.
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end." (Jeremiah 29:11 ASV) If we listen to the people around us who are comfortable in their sinful lives, it's easy to miss out on God's plan for us. Who are the nay-sayers in your life who may be holding you back from all that God has in store for you? Perhaps rather than listening to their advice, you should stand your ground and pray that God would reveal His truth to them.
Not much is known about Christ's childhood, but we can assume it was a fairly normal one. This accounts for the reaction He got upon returning to His hometown. Those who knew Him before He began His ministry were baffled at the revelation of His wisdom and knowledge of God. "Just who does He think He is?" was their response. They took offense at His works. They couldn't accept Him because He was not what they expected.
In the same way, sometimes the people who know us best can be discouraging. When they see a change in our lives, they may feel threatened by it. They are comfortable with the way things were before, so they tell us we can't change, or we're out of our depth. While it may seem easy to listen to them and go back to our old mediocre lives, God's plan for us is greatness, whether it be here on earth or later in His kingdom.
Job faced a similar situation. When he was at his lowest, three of his friends came to him and gave him advice. They told him his suffering was because of his own sin or because he refused to confess his sins. Since Job knew they were wrong, he refused to listen to them. If Job had listened to his friends, he might have been discouraged and missed out on the blessings God had stored up for his later years. Instead, he stood his ground. When the Lord finally gave answer, He rebuked those who had given Job bad advice, and told Job to pray for them.
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end." (Jeremiah 29:11 ASV) If we listen to the people around us who are comfortable in their sinful lives, it's easy to miss out on God's plan for us. Who are the nay-sayers in your life who may be holding you back from all that God has in store for you? Perhaps rather than listening to their advice, you should stand your ground and pray that God would reveal His truth to them.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Psalm 9:9
"Jehovah also will be a high tower for the oppressed, A high tower in times of trouble;" (ASV)
Living a Christian life is no guarantee against difficulty. God never promised to keep us from pain or struggle. Instead He has promised to help us get through whatever hardships may com our way. Paul, who knew what it was to suffer for the gospel if anyone did, wrote "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39 ASV)
Likewise, David, who wrote the above referenced Psalm would know all about times of trouble. His reign as King was marked by assassination attempts, battles and struggles, yet he never lost his faith in God. The same sentiment of God's refuge is echoed in Psalm 32:7 where he writes "Thou art my hiding-place; thou wilt preserve me from trouble; Thou wilt compass me about with songs of deliverance." (ASV)
Now then, if David (who was an adulterer and a murderer) and Paul (who was there for the stoning of the first Christian martyr before God got hold of him) can find solace in God's love and protection, then can't we all expect the same?
Living a Christian life is no guarantee against difficulty. God never promised to keep us from pain or struggle. Instead He has promised to help us get through whatever hardships may com our way. Paul, who knew what it was to suffer for the gospel if anyone did, wrote "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39 ASV)
Likewise, David, who wrote the above referenced Psalm would know all about times of trouble. His reign as King was marked by assassination attempts, battles and struggles, yet he never lost his faith in God. The same sentiment of God's refuge is echoed in Psalm 32:7 where he writes "Thou art my hiding-place; thou wilt preserve me from trouble; Thou wilt compass me about with songs of deliverance." (ASV)
Now then, if David (who was an adulterer and a murderer) and Paul (who was there for the stoning of the first Christian martyr before God got hold of him) can find solace in God's love and protection, then can't we all expect the same?
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Psalm 16:11
"Thou wilt show me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; In thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (ASV)
Atheists use many words to describe the Christian life. They tell us we're trapped in a prison, we're suffering for no reason, we allow ourselves to be enslaved to a God who isn't there. You never hear them talk about joy, peace, freedom in association with the Christian life. That's because they're missing the point. Since they don't know God, they don't know about the good things He has provided to His children.
God is not some stern lecturer hurling lightning bolts from the sky to punish His followers. While He is certainly just, He's not all about rules. He is all about love, and His love for us who He created is far more powerful than we could ever fathom. Because He cares for us so much, God has provided us with a number of gifts which are ours for the taking!
One of these gifts is joy. In the above verse, the Psalmist writes "In thy presence is fulness of joy." Joy is not to be confused with happiness. Joy is a long-term state, rather than an emotion of elation. It is the ability to stand in the face of pain and depression and say "My God loves me, and that's enough for me!" Joy doesn't fade with the circumstances around us, rather it aides us through our mourning, keeps us from drowning in our sorrow.
Another gift God bestows on us is peace. In Phillippians 4:7 Paul writes: "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus." (ASV) There's a calmness that comes with the knowledge that God is in control. Have you ever found yourself calm in a situation where you felt you should have been panicked? Have you watched the hustle and bustle around you and been content to move at God's pace rather than the world's? Have you made what should have been a very difficult decision with certainty because you knew it was God's will? Have you ever tried to explain to an unbeliever why you're not worried in spite of difficult circumstances? These are all examples of the peace God grants to us who follow Him.
"For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage." (Galatians 5:1 ASV) Possibly the one gift most non-Christians have the hardest time understanding is the freedom we find when we follow God's path for our lives. They see it as a set of rules to be followed. They assume we're not allowed to have any fun because much of what the world calls "fun," God calls "sin." While it's true that God has made rules for us to follow, they're not in place just to make our lives more difficult. Rather, God has set these rules because He know's what's best for us. But more than the rules, He gives us the freedom to live our lives without worry.
Imagine yourself to be a player in a big championship sporting event. There's a lot of pressure involved. You don't want to mess up and let your team down, let your fans down. Now imagine that you also have seen the future and you know that your team will win, regardless of your performance. What a weight off your shoulders that would be! You would be free to just enjoy playing the game, rather than worrying about putting in a perfect performance. In a lot of ways the Christian life is like that. We're playing in a game that has eternal consequences, but we know that in the end, Christ has already won it for us. We are free to enjoy the game because we don't need to fret over the conclusion.
Of course, there are many other gifts God gives to each of His followers. Most of them the outside world will never fully understand. So the next time someone tells you that you're a slave to your God, or that you don't need to be entrapped by your religion, share a little of God's joy, peace and freedom with them.
Atheists use many words to describe the Christian life. They tell us we're trapped in a prison, we're suffering for no reason, we allow ourselves to be enslaved to a God who isn't there. You never hear them talk about joy, peace, freedom in association with the Christian life. That's because they're missing the point. Since they don't know God, they don't know about the good things He has provided to His children.
God is not some stern lecturer hurling lightning bolts from the sky to punish His followers. While He is certainly just, He's not all about rules. He is all about love, and His love for us who He created is far more powerful than we could ever fathom. Because He cares for us so much, God has provided us with a number of gifts which are ours for the taking!
One of these gifts is joy. In the above verse, the Psalmist writes "In thy presence is fulness of joy." Joy is not to be confused with happiness. Joy is a long-term state, rather than an emotion of elation. It is the ability to stand in the face of pain and depression and say "My God loves me, and that's enough for me!" Joy doesn't fade with the circumstances around us, rather it aides us through our mourning, keeps us from drowning in our sorrow.
Another gift God bestows on us is peace. In Phillippians 4:7 Paul writes: "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus." (ASV) There's a calmness that comes with the knowledge that God is in control. Have you ever found yourself calm in a situation where you felt you should have been panicked? Have you watched the hustle and bustle around you and been content to move at God's pace rather than the world's? Have you made what should have been a very difficult decision with certainty because you knew it was God's will? Have you ever tried to explain to an unbeliever why you're not worried in spite of difficult circumstances? These are all examples of the peace God grants to us who follow Him.
"For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage." (Galatians 5:1 ASV) Possibly the one gift most non-Christians have the hardest time understanding is the freedom we find when we follow God's path for our lives. They see it as a set of rules to be followed. They assume we're not allowed to have any fun because much of what the world calls "fun," God calls "sin." While it's true that God has made rules for us to follow, they're not in place just to make our lives more difficult. Rather, God has set these rules because He know's what's best for us. But more than the rules, He gives us the freedom to live our lives without worry.
Imagine yourself to be a player in a big championship sporting event. There's a lot of pressure involved. You don't want to mess up and let your team down, let your fans down. Now imagine that you also have seen the future and you know that your team will win, regardless of your performance. What a weight off your shoulders that would be! You would be free to just enjoy playing the game, rather than worrying about putting in a perfect performance. In a lot of ways the Christian life is like that. We're playing in a game that has eternal consequences, but we know that in the end, Christ has already won it for us. We are free to enjoy the game because we don't need to fret over the conclusion.
Of course, there are many other gifts God gives to each of His followers. Most of them the outside world will never fully understand. So the next time someone tells you that you're a slave to your God, or that you don't need to be entrapped by your religion, share a little of God's joy, peace and freedom with them.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Matthew 18:10
"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven" (ASV)
Do you believe in angels? I get this question pretty regularly when discussing my faith. People are often surprised that I do in fact believe in them. For some reason our culture seems to have equated the concept of angels with new age spirituality.
The concept of the guardian angel is not a new one at all, but rather a very old one. In connection to Jesus, we often think of angels associated with His birth (Christmas) and His death (Easter), but forget about them for the rest of the year. It should also be noted that the Bible mentions them attending Him in the desert (Mark 1:13) and predicts their appearance at His return (Mark 8:38).
We also know that angels were present in the early church. It was an angel who freed the jailed apostles in Acts 5:19. An angel placed Phillip on the road where he met the Ethiopian in Acts 8:26. In Acts 10 an angel appeared to Cornelius and directed him to seek counsel from Simon Peter. Afterward an angel rescued Peter from a jail cell where he was surrounded by guards Acts 12:7. And all of that happened in just one book!
The Bible also takes for granted the concept that angels will always serve as guardians to God's chosen people. "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14 ASV) In the above passage from Matthew, Jesus makes reference to "little ones" having angels who dwell in the presence of God. In Hebrews we are reminded that not only do angels live in heaven, but also they walk among us here on earth. "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." (Hebrews 13:2 ASV) Just as angels existed in the days when Christ walked the earth, so too do they work today as messengers and servants of God.
While the Bible does assure us that angels are real, it also warns against worshiping them. It is clear that angels are merely servants and messengers of God. "Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions." (Colossians 2:18 ASV)
Do you believe in angels? I get this question pretty regularly when discussing my faith. People are often surprised that I do in fact believe in them. For some reason our culture seems to have equated the concept of angels with new age spirituality.
The concept of the guardian angel is not a new one at all, but rather a very old one. In connection to Jesus, we often think of angels associated with His birth (Christmas) and His death (Easter), but forget about them for the rest of the year. It should also be noted that the Bible mentions them attending Him in the desert (Mark 1:13) and predicts their appearance at His return (Mark 8:38).
We also know that angels were present in the early church. It was an angel who freed the jailed apostles in Acts 5:19. An angel placed Phillip on the road where he met the Ethiopian in Acts 8:26. In Acts 10 an angel appeared to Cornelius and directed him to seek counsel from Simon Peter. Afterward an angel rescued Peter from a jail cell where he was surrounded by guards Acts 12:7. And all of that happened in just one book!
The Bible also takes for granted the concept that angels will always serve as guardians to God's chosen people. "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14 ASV) In the above passage from Matthew, Jesus makes reference to "little ones" having angels who dwell in the presence of God. In Hebrews we are reminded that not only do angels live in heaven, but also they walk among us here on earth. "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." (Hebrews 13:2 ASV) Just as angels existed in the days when Christ walked the earth, so too do they work today as messengers and servants of God.
While the Bible does assure us that angels are real, it also warns against worshiping them. It is clear that angels are merely servants and messengers of God. "Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions." (Colossians 2:18 ASV)
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