Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21
I have particular difficulty living out this verse. Perhaps you do, too.
Embracing the counter-everything word submit is radical enough, and I do seek to submit to God. However, it's the dynamic one another that gets my goat.
I think I give the public "submit to one another" thing a sincere attempt. It's the private (friends and family) act of submitting that sneaks up on me. Is my reverence for Christ so limited? Do I reverence myself more than Jesus? These thoughts trouble me.
I hope you'll join me in a more comprehensive and conscious pursuit of our mutual concern and love for each other, because of our reverence for Christ. Let's pay attention to how well we submit to each other, and seek to glorify God in this, as well.
Father, I want to submit to You and to my brothers and sisters in Christ. Help me to think of others more than I think of me. Guide me to live in reverence to Your Son.
Have a blessed day,
JIM
Monday, August 2, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
God's Masterpiece
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10
The Greek word translated "workmanship" is a word from which we get our English word poem. As people saved through God's grace in Christ, we are God's poem, His work of art, His masterpiece. Through the good works that flow out of our life as a result of His grace in us God shows His amazing handiwork to the world. The transformation of a life from sinful self-centeredness to Christ-like goodness in word and deed is a work of art that only God can perform through His amazing grace in Christ Jesus. Let His handiwork shine forth through your life today.
Father, I rejoice in the grace You have given me in Christ and pray that Your master workmanship will shine forth out of my life today to the praise and glory of Your name.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
The Greek word translated "workmanship" is a word from which we get our English word poem. As people saved through God's grace in Christ, we are God's poem, His work of art, His masterpiece. Through the good works that flow out of our life as a result of His grace in us God shows His amazing handiwork to the world. The transformation of a life from sinful self-centeredness to Christ-like goodness in word and deed is a work of art that only God can perform through His amazing grace in Christ Jesus. Let His handiwork shine forth through your life today.
Father, I rejoice in the grace You have given me in Christ and pray that Your master workmanship will shine forth out of my life today to the praise and glory of Your name.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Consecration and Prayer
"Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it up as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on Israel's behalf, and the LORD answered him." 1 Samuel 7:9
Samuel's ministry on behalf of Israel involved consecration and intercession. Offering a lamb as burnt offering was a symbol of consecration (total commitment to God). The lamb was offered to God as a symbol of the worshipers dedication of his life to God. Samuel was personally consecrated to the Lord and he led the Israelites to consecrate themselves to the Lord (see 1 Sam. 7:3-6; click reference to read). Following the consecration of their lives to the Lord Samuel then prayed for God to deliver the Israelites out of the hand of the Philistines. God answered his prayer and brought a great deliverance to Israel.
Consecration of ourselves to God must precede powerful praying. "The prayer of a righteous (i.e. consecrated) man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16). Prayer from a consecrated soul will find favor with God. Let all your praying first begin with a time of soul searching through the light of the Holy Spirit and confession of sin as He convicts you. Then with a cleansed life proceed to seek God's powerful working in your life and the lives of those around you.
Father, search me today and cleanse me from all sin that I may prevail with You in prayer as You desire.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Samuel's ministry on behalf of Israel involved consecration and intercession. Offering a lamb as burnt offering was a symbol of consecration (total commitment to God). The lamb was offered to God as a symbol of the worshipers dedication of his life to God. Samuel was personally consecrated to the Lord and he led the Israelites to consecrate themselves to the Lord (see 1 Sam. 7:3-6; click reference to read). Following the consecration of their lives to the Lord Samuel then prayed for God to deliver the Israelites out of the hand of the Philistines. God answered his prayer and brought a great deliverance to Israel.
Consecration of ourselves to God must precede powerful praying. "The prayer of a righteous (i.e. consecrated) man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16). Prayer from a consecrated soul will find favor with God. Let all your praying first begin with a time of soul searching through the light of the Holy Spirit and confession of sin as He convicts you. Then with a cleansed life proceed to seek God's powerful working in your life and the lives of those around you.
Father, search me today and cleanse me from all sin that I may prevail with You in prayer as You desire.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Monday, July 26, 2010
More Like Jesus
"Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load." Galatians 6:3-4
One of the temptations we face is to compare our self to somebody else whom we deem less faithful or spiritually mature than our self. In so doing we comfort our self that we are doing quite well after all and we slip into complacency.
There is only one to whom we are to compare our self and that is Jesus Christ. To be like Him is the whole aim of our Christian life (see Romans 8:29; click on the reference to read the verse). Until we have reached the full measure of the stature of Christ (see Ephesians 4:13) we cannot rest in our effort to grow and mature spiritually.
We may grow discouraged in striving to become like Christ but we need to remember that our success does not rest with us but with God. He has given us His Holy Spirit to conform us degree by degree into the likeness of Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 3:17-18). Keep the goal of Christ-likeness before you. Never be content with any lesser standard. Rely on the Holy Spirit to help you. Enjoy the journey. You will not arrive overnight but you will arrive by His grace and for His glory.
Father, help me to never be content to measure my spiritual maturity and faithfulness against another sinful man but inspire me daily to strive for the high calling of being conformed to the image of Your Son, my Savior.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
One of the temptations we face is to compare our self to somebody else whom we deem less faithful or spiritually mature than our self. In so doing we comfort our self that we are doing quite well after all and we slip into complacency.
There is only one to whom we are to compare our self and that is Jesus Christ. To be like Him is the whole aim of our Christian life (see Romans 8:29; click on the reference to read the verse). Until we have reached the full measure of the stature of Christ (see Ephesians 4:13) we cannot rest in our effort to grow and mature spiritually.
We may grow discouraged in striving to become like Christ but we need to remember that our success does not rest with us but with God. He has given us His Holy Spirit to conform us degree by degree into the likeness of Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 3:17-18). Keep the goal of Christ-likeness before you. Never be content with any lesser standard. Rely on the Holy Spirit to help you. Enjoy the journey. You will not arrive overnight but you will arrive by His grace and for His glory.
Father, help me to never be content to measure my spiritual maturity and faithfulness against another sinful man but inspire me daily to strive for the high calling of being conformed to the image of Your Son, my Savior.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Christ in You
"My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you..."
Galatians 4:19
The essence of the Christian life is "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). The miracle of the Christian life is that Christ not only leads us from above but He lives in us through His Spirit.
The goal of the Christian life is to become like Christ. But Christ-likeness is not attained through personal efforts at reforming our bad habits and character into His good habits and character. Christ-likeness is attained through allowing Christ to so live His life in you until "Christ is formed in you..." Let Christ be not just your example and teacher but your Lord who takes mastery over your life shaping you into His own image. Let Christ be not just a significant part of your life but let Him become your life (see Colossians 4:4).
Lord Jesus, live Your glorious life fully and freely in me today. Transform me into Your likeness as You live through me.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Galatians 4:19
The essence of the Christian life is "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). The miracle of the Christian life is that Christ not only leads us from above but He lives in us through His Spirit.
The goal of the Christian life is to become like Christ. But Christ-likeness is not attained through personal efforts at reforming our bad habits and character into His good habits and character. Christ-likeness is attained through allowing Christ to so live His life in you until "Christ is formed in you..." Let Christ be not just your example and teacher but your Lord who takes mastery over your life shaping you into His own image. Let Christ be not just a significant part of your life but let Him become your life (see Colossians 4:4).
Lord Jesus, live Your glorious life fully and freely in me today. Transform me into Your likeness as You live through me.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
God at Work
"For God who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles." Galatians 2:8
God's working in a ministry makes all the difference. It is God's activity that both authenticates a ministry as from Him and that makes a ministry effective. Peter's ministry among the Jews was effective because God had sent him (apostle = sent one) and was working through him to reach Jews for Christ. Paul's ministry among the Gentiles was effective because God had sent him and was working through him to reach Gentiles for Christ.
Any ministry we undertake in Christ's name will only be effective to reach others for Christ if we are serving as one's sent by God in the power of God. Is God at work in our ministry? Or have we gone out on our own without seeking and relying on Him? God's work makes all the difference between mere spiritual busyness and effective ministry that draws people to Christ. We must diligently seek and rely on His working through us.
Father, help me to be yielded to Your leadership and activity in my life. I want to go where You send and to be an instrument through whom You can work to draw people to Your Son.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
God's working in a ministry makes all the difference. It is God's activity that both authenticates a ministry as from Him and that makes a ministry effective. Peter's ministry among the Jews was effective because God had sent him (apostle = sent one) and was working through him to reach Jews for Christ. Paul's ministry among the Gentiles was effective because God had sent him and was working through him to reach Gentiles for Christ.
Any ministry we undertake in Christ's name will only be effective to reach others for Christ if we are serving as one's sent by God in the power of God. Is God at work in our ministry? Or have we gone out on our own without seeking and relying on Him? God's work makes all the difference between mere spiritual busyness and effective ministry that draws people to Christ. We must diligently seek and rely on His working through us.
Father, help me to be yielded to Your leadership and activity in my life. I want to go where You send and to be an instrument through whom You can work to draw people to Your Son.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The Power of Consecration
Then she called, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you!" He awoke from his sleep and thought, "I'll go out as before and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him. Then the Philistines seized him... Judges 16:20-21a
"He did not know that the LORD had left him." What a tragic statement! The life of Samson is really a tragic story. He was a man blessed by God with great ability and given opportunity to lead God's people Israel. However, he was all surface never achieving spiritual depth in a strong relationship with God. His long hair was not the source of Samson's strength rather it was the symbol of his consecration to God which was in fact the source of his strength. When Delilah cut his hair she did not steal his strength but God lifted His favor from Samson's life because Samson had turned his heart away from God.
Spiritual power is found in total consecration to God (commitment, being set apart to God). To maintain spiritual power we must maintain our consecration to the Lord. If we turn our heart away from the Lord we may find that God's favor has been lifted from our life and we were unaware of it. If you find yourself in such a situation return to the Lord with all your heart and His strength will fill you again. To avoid such a situation carefully maintain your consecration to the Lord day by day.
Father, You are gracious to grant to me Your strength for life's battles. Keep me mindful of the need to daily consecrate myself to You so that Your strength may flow through my life.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
"He did not know that the LORD had left him." What a tragic statement! The life of Samson is really a tragic story. He was a man blessed by God with great ability and given opportunity to lead God's people Israel. However, he was all surface never achieving spiritual depth in a strong relationship with God. His long hair was not the source of Samson's strength rather it was the symbol of his consecration to God which was in fact the source of his strength. When Delilah cut his hair she did not steal his strength but God lifted His favor from Samson's life because Samson had turned his heart away from God.
Spiritual power is found in total consecration to God (commitment, being set apart to God). To maintain spiritual power we must maintain our consecration to the Lord. If we turn our heart away from the Lord we may find that God's favor has been lifted from our life and we were unaware of it. If you find yourself in such a situation return to the Lord with all your heart and His strength will fill you again. To avoid such a situation carefully maintain your consecration to the Lord day by day.
Father, You are gracious to grant to me Your strength for life's battles. Keep me mindful of the need to daily consecrate myself to You so that Your strength may flow through my life.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
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