Do you expect to find Jesus today?
Mary had been at the cross. She had seen His beaten body. His blood soaked face from a thorny crown. Nailed to a cross to die, she watched the slow agony to the end. She saw Him dead, wrapped and layed in a tomb of death.
She returned later expecting death. Yet she was confused, shocked and frightened. The lifeless body was not in the grave site. He met her and even spoke to her. Expecting the worse (what can be worse than death), she didn't recognize her beloved friend and Master. When he became revealed to her, the tears of sorrow, confusion and fear turned to joy. The absolute worst situation and circumstance was instantly made better than could ever be expected. Her expectectation was of finality- of the end. But, the reality was life. A vibrant new beginning of victory.
Two men on the road home. Stuck in what had happened. Stuck in the circumstance of the past. Trapped in their expections of the future. Same old, same old. Back to the humdrum of life. They too, joined by a Christ they did not recognize. Christ, in their present and future, was dead to them. Yet again, when Christ was revealed to them, the circumstance turned to joy. Excitement. They immediately changed their direction. Their lives turned 180 degrees.
How often we get stuck in the past. Stuck in our own dead expectations of the future. Heads down and feet gragging. We get so sure of the worse of our circustances and so fearful and anxious of our future. We return over and over to our humdrum routines. We just go through the motions of life. What dreams have died in you? What is holding back the joy of your future?
Christ was alive in the garden. Alive on the road of daily life. And, He is alive today. We still so often fail to recognize Christ, alive right beside us in Spirit. He will never abandon you. He promises that when you pray, He will listen. Christ doesn't just add days to your life, He adds life to your days.
If you follow Him, He will be the Master of your circumstance. He has power over all things. What you see as failure, He can make alive. What you imagine as a dead end, He can turn into success and victory. For God says "I know the plans I have for you, and they are plans for good, not for disaster." With God, all things are possible to you. God has good gifts that He wants you to enjoy. If we only trust Him.
Let Christ lay out the path for your life. Pray His angels will help keep you on His path, so His blessings can overtake you. I urge you to trust Christ today. Pray to Him to be Master of your life and trust Him as your friend. He will never fail you.
(see Ephisians and Timothy to know that He has good gifts He wants you to enjoy)
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
daily disciple
Worries?............Hell no.
There seems to be new debate on the concept and significance of hell. Not so much on whether it exists, but rather on what it is like or not like. The arguments appear to be really on the matter of a physical location and graphic description of this place, as well as who is going to be there. Who is there seems to be more important, and many are quite certain they have a pretty good list going.
None of this really concerns me much. My focus is just to make sure that I'm not going there in the first place. That may sound selfish, but if I, or anyone else, keeps their efforts in obtaining heaven, there is no worry at all about hell. It becomes quite insignificant.
Recently I have heard the old argument of "I don't want to serve a God who sends people to Hell." Well, let me reassure you that God does not send anyone to Hell. Our eternal destination is our own choosing. We have the choice. If you read Matt. 3:15-17, you will see the word everyone. God sent His son Jesus so everyone may be saved. This includes me, and you too.
So, our concern is just getting into the His Kingdom of Heaven. The starting point is getting into the Kingdom of God, which is here and now. However, it is a little more complex than simply "knowing" Christ. This is a favorite Christian line. "Do you know Christ?" Or, "he or she knows Christ." In a recent survey, 83% of Americans would answer yes to that question. However, one of the most significant questions the Bible asks is, does Christ know you. In Matt. 7:21, we are knocking on the door of Heaven seeking to get in, and out of the despair around us. When Christ opens the door, his comment is "I don't know you." We lament that we have been in His church, called His name and ate His supper, but He does not know us.
We have to ask ourselves why do I know Christ, but He doesn't know me? No our work will not get us into Heaven. But if know and trust Christ, won't we be working with Him? It's amazing that so many believe in Christ, but don't believe what He says. At least that's what it looks like. We live our lives like He doesn't even exist. Christianity is not a set of rules. When asked what we must do to enter Heaven, Christ replies to love God and love our neighbor. Do we love our neighbor?
This does not have to be so hard for us. It simple means to consider their circumstances and to try and help those in need. To try and put their needs before our own. We have to make sure that we are trying to be a positive and encouraging person. We are to spread kindness. We are to offer a helping hand. To give what we can in terms of money, or time. An encouraging word. A smile. Keeping a harsh remark to ourselves, instead of letting it fly. Just simple things. Trying means that we will not be perfect. That's ok. God understands that. But, He does expect us to be trying. He calls us to be coworkers with Him. He promises to help us in our generosity. He will be our strength in our encouragement. And, when we look out for others, He promises to take care of our needs. Doesn't that sound good? God taking care of your needs, right here and right now.
Therefore, our acceptance of Christ, and our commitment to Him, to follow what He asks us to do in lives, leads us to Heaven. No worries and no concerns of Hell. Stick with God. Skip to the end of the Book. He wins and so do you.
There seems to be new debate on the concept and significance of hell. Not so much on whether it exists, but rather on what it is like or not like. The arguments appear to be really on the matter of a physical location and graphic description of this place, as well as who is going to be there. Who is there seems to be more important, and many are quite certain they have a pretty good list going.
None of this really concerns me much. My focus is just to make sure that I'm not going there in the first place. That may sound selfish, but if I, or anyone else, keeps their efforts in obtaining heaven, there is no worry at all about hell. It becomes quite insignificant.
Recently I have heard the old argument of "I don't want to serve a God who sends people to Hell." Well, let me reassure you that God does not send anyone to Hell. Our eternal destination is our own choosing. We have the choice. If you read Matt. 3:15-17, you will see the word everyone. God sent His son Jesus so everyone may be saved. This includes me, and you too.
So, our concern is just getting into the His Kingdom of Heaven. The starting point is getting into the Kingdom of God, which is here and now. However, it is a little more complex than simply "knowing" Christ. This is a favorite Christian line. "Do you know Christ?" Or, "he or she knows Christ." In a recent survey, 83% of Americans would answer yes to that question. However, one of the most significant questions the Bible asks is, does Christ know you. In Matt. 7:21, we are knocking on the door of Heaven seeking to get in, and out of the despair around us. When Christ opens the door, his comment is "I don't know you." We lament that we have been in His church, called His name and ate His supper, but He does not know us.
We have to ask ourselves why do I know Christ, but He doesn't know me? No our work will not get us into Heaven. But if know and trust Christ, won't we be working with Him? It's amazing that so many believe in Christ, but don't believe what He says. At least that's what it looks like. We live our lives like He doesn't even exist. Christianity is not a set of rules. When asked what we must do to enter Heaven, Christ replies to love God and love our neighbor. Do we love our neighbor?
This does not have to be so hard for us. It simple means to consider their circumstances and to try and help those in need. To try and put their needs before our own. We have to make sure that we are trying to be a positive and encouraging person. We are to spread kindness. We are to offer a helping hand. To give what we can in terms of money, or time. An encouraging word. A smile. Keeping a harsh remark to ourselves, instead of letting it fly. Just simple things. Trying means that we will not be perfect. That's ok. God understands that. But, He does expect us to be trying. He calls us to be coworkers with Him. He promises to help us in our generosity. He will be our strength in our encouragement. And, when we look out for others, He promises to take care of our needs. Doesn't that sound good? God taking care of your needs, right here and right now.
Therefore, our acceptance of Christ, and our commitment to Him, to follow what He asks us to do in lives, leads us to Heaven. No worries and no concerns of Hell. Stick with God. Skip to the end of the Book. He wins and so do you.
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