Urgency. Preparedness. Anticipation. Excitement. Purpose.
10But when the Day of God's Judgment does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief. The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything disintegrating in a huge conflagration, earth and all its works exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment.
11-13Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day—but we'll hardly notice. We'll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness.
God knew me before I was born.
God has a plan for my life.
God is waiting patiently on me.
God is coming back for me.
Grace really is a beautiful thing.
Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."
Psalm 461 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah8 Come and see the works of the LORD,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields with fire.10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah
Right now, in my life, there is a battle brewing. I know it is coming. Instead of preparing like I should I feel like I am looking for more bricks to pile on my wall. In my heart I know that if I am following God's word I have to break this down. It is hard when a life time of fear and lack of confidence has built itself up. Then, there is this pesky need I have of never upsetting anyone. I know, you can't please everyone but no reason to pick fights, right?!! Okay, that is entirely wrong. We are called to fight, to carry our crosses, to stand on God's Word, to make a difference for our God's Glory. How do I do that if I am closed in a perfect wall? Mark 4:18-20 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."
Do you every wonder why God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son? I do. I wonder, if God knows our hearts, wouldn't he have known that Abraham would do whatever He asked?
Psalm 18:28-32
28 You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.29 With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.30 As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.31 For who is God besides the LORD ?
And who is the Rock except our God?32 It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
How are you? How is life treating you?
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.
How do you know what is right and what is wrong? How do you know what is on that perfect line in the middle?
Matthew 22: 36- 40 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
I could be considered a dictator. Sometimes my rules can be so ridiculous. I have the best of intentions at heart. I am really just trying to protect and guide my children the best I know how.
Romans 8: 1-4 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Psalm 1:3He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
Jeremiah 17: 7,8
But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.8 He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit."
Water is not very controversial. No one debates it's importance for life on this big blue ball we all live on. In fact, when 70.8% of the Earth is covered with water it is easy to take it for granted. I wonder if most kids these days even know that water comes from some place other than a bottle.
Despite it's comfortable seat in the midst of our culture and society, water has had a sorted past when it come to spirituality. Even within the text of the Bible water has carried different meanings, in and of itself, as well as, they way humanity relates to it. In Matthew 27:24, Pilate washed his hands in a basin of water as he removed himself from the decision making process of what would happen to Jesus. His unwillingness to act made him as guilty as the mobs that put Jesus on the cross. He committed indirect murder because of his selfish act deflection.
We can see the antithesis of Pilate's actions in another basin of water, as Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. In John 13 we see a selfless act of love as Jesus humbled himself before those that followed him. He not only served those around them, but he also challenged them to follow his example of servant hood and humility. What an awesome picture of grace and responsibility.
I believe that we all stand at a basin of water every day. We have the choice to serve others or ourselves. One decision follows the example of the of a man that gave himself for those he loved. The other decision follows our human nature that is founded in selfishness and self preservation. Could what we do with our hands change a life or take one? Do we engage in indirect murder when we choose to not act. Pilate found solace in the fact that he did not pull the trigger, and we are not much different. I believe that in this day and age we must stand up and choose selflessness over selfishness. We must make a choice and act, instead of doing nothing. Love: Serve: Change
John 13:12-15
When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
~Nick R.
Romans 6:23 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2 Corinthians 1:10-11 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
Penal
Substitutionary
Atonement
........there was a penalty to be paid for my sin
........Jesus took my place on the cross
........Jesus reconciled me.
What for?
our sins, our infirmities (Isaiah 53:4)
peace, healing (Isaiah 53:5)
intercession (Isaiah 53:12)
sins, justification (Romans 4:25)
love (Romans 5:8)
bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18)
sins of the world (1 John 2:2)
redemption (Galatians 3:13)
Luke 9: 57-62 As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, "I will follow You wherever You go." And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." And He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." But He said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home." But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (emphasis mine)
Hebrews10:35-39 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the
will of God, you may receive what was promised.
FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,
HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.
BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH;
AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.
But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.
It has recently come to my attention that I live a very safe life. Truth be told, I have done everything I could think of to create a safe life. The suburban house wife, the mini van and the all important, if not physical, symbolic picket fence.
I didn't have a lot of safety as a child. As an adult most of the decisions I have made have been to make my life "better" then what I had. Sometimes I treat my Christianity as a stepping stone for the "better" life. Isn't that what it is? A place for good morals, happy children and good marriages.
What I didn't realize is that my picket fence isn't keeping out all of the bad. Instead it has kept me in a very safe "better" life than what I had. It isn't the "best" life that God has called me to live. How does my picket fence life show the power of my God?
God has been calling me to change. Change radically. To fall in love with Him dramatically. To respond with a faith that trusts Him with my life. I love my life. I love my husband, my kids, my home and all the treasure I have stored up in it. There isn't anything wrong with safety and security. I am scared of every step that calls me out of my safe place. Stronger than the fear, I have a desire to know what is outside this fence of mine. I am curious to see what God has beyond this "better" life of mine. I want to grasp the thing called "Christianity" that brings me first to my knees and second into following His plan.
How are you responding when God calls you to change?
Do you limit yourself? Do you limit your dreams? Are you afraid to begin because you can't see the end?
I do.
Proverbs 16:9
The mind of man plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps.
In November I ran my first race. I got up, I ate my breakfast, I followed my plan and I made it to the starting line. I ran my first 8k, also the first time I ran 5 consecutive miles. I did it 2 minutes a mile faster then I thought I could.
In February I ran my first half-marathon. 13.2 miles. It took me two hours and 25 minutes. I didn't know I could run 13 miles. Again, I cried.
There are things and moments in life that will tell you about yourself. When I run, I am reminded that there is potential in me that I don't know yet. I don't have the courage to start things on my own but sometimes I find myself facing a fear and taking on the challenge. Because of one idea, one challenge I was inspired. I pray that my journey will inspire others. I know I have drawn closer to God in the process. I now can see in many areas of my life where the courage to begin and finding the strength to pursue and endure come from God. The finish line really isn't as important. What I thought would be the finish line in the process has disappeared but the journey will drive me for the rest of my life.
I may not see it and you may not see it in me but God does. I believe that. I believe He sees in me abilities and ideas and concepts that I can't even grasp. When it comes to honoring Him with my life, He is my biggest advocate and the best trainer. It isn't about just living a better life. This life isn't about the beginning or the end, it is about the journey. It is about taking this very moment and pointing it to God and His promises.
Matthew 10:30-32 (amp)
But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Fear not, then; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Therefore, everyone who acknowledges Me before men and confesses Me [out of a state of oneness with Me], I will also acknowledge him before My Father Who is in heaven and confess [that I am abiding in] him.
I will run my marathon this weekend. I don't know if I can run 26.2 miles. I know I have trained. The journey has been amazing. I will be looking to Him in the process.
What calling in your life needs you to get started on journey?
God Created Man In His Image.
You and I are a part of God's creative legacy.
Wow, now that is an awesome responsibility....or is it an honor?!!
In the image of our Creator we are given the opportunity to be imaginative. We can take any idea we have and turn it into something real, something tangable. Do you believe you have that ability?
Why do we hold ourselves back? Why do we stop before we even start? Why do we believe only in our own potential and not in the potential God sees in us?
A few months ago a good friend of mine found out her husband is not what he said he was. He came home one day and told her he was tired of lying and that he wasn't a Christian. After 10 years of marriage, 10 years of church going, mission supporting and Sunday School teaching he made this confession.
She knew that he had struggles with his faith. She knew he questioned and lived a lukewarm life. Did she expect that deep down he wasn't a believer? No.
Lukewarm people do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don't have to trust God if something unexpected happens--they have their savings account. They don't need God to help them--they have their retirement plan in place. They don't genuinely seek out what life God would have them live--they have life figured and mapped out. They don't depend on God on a daily basis--their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in good health. The truth is, their lives wouldn't look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God. (Crazy Love by Francis Chan, pg 78)
How do we recognize when our lives have become too comfortable? Do we recognize when the people we love have lost their faith? Do we know the difference between when they are just doing the "right" thing and when they are serving God?
Is it our responsibility as Christians to hold one another responsible for the lives we live?
If you stopped believing in God today would anyone notice?