"Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." --II Peter 3:14 David Livingstone wrote in his diary; "I have found that I have no unusual endowments of intellect, but I this day resolved that I would be an uncommon christian."
Today, as in any day, many of Gods' people are good spectators and poor participators. We often are high on intentions and low on deeds, we start well
and finish poorly. Benjamin Franklin once remarked; "Work as if you were to live 100 years. Pray as if you were to die tomorrow." Theodore Roosevelt remarked one day; "I am only an average man, but I work harder at it than the average man." What makes for the uncommon Christian is persistent zeal for the will of the Lord, working at it as though it all depends on him and praying knowing it all depends on God.
There are many Christians who have an interest in their beliefs, the uncommon Christian is working out those beliefs. May we all desire to be the uncommon Christian.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
"lights in a dark world"
"In the midst of a crooked and perserve nation among whom ye shine as lights in a dark world" (Phillipians 2:15) We as Christians are supposed to live this life right in the middle of a wayward society. "Crooked" speaks of moral evil, and "perverse" speaks of a twisted nature. If there ever were a twisted and perverted generation this is it. Right is now wrong, and wrong is now right. This is exactly where God wants us. These are the people The Lord wants us to reach and influence. These are the very people God loves and Jesus died for.
If our ultimate purpose for being here was to worship God, then God would have immediately transported us to heaven because in heaven worship is perfect. If our ultimate purpose for being here were to fellowship with one another, God would have transported us to heaven where we could fellowship in perfection for eternity. We are here that we might "shine as lights in a dark world".
Our Lord prayed in John 17 " I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from evil". We must shine "among" the lost world. We are to take the "church" to them. This world needs Christ--and we are his "ambassadors". Let us take our responsibility seriously, let us desire to live "godly in this present world", contrasting the darkness with the glory of the light of Christ.
If our ultimate purpose for being here was to worship God, then God would have immediately transported us to heaven because in heaven worship is perfect. If our ultimate purpose for being here were to fellowship with one another, God would have transported us to heaven where we could fellowship in perfection for eternity. We are here that we might "shine as lights in a dark world".
Our Lord prayed in John 17 " I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from evil". We must shine "among" the lost world. We are to take the "church" to them. This world needs Christ--and we are his "ambassadors". Let us take our responsibility seriously, let us desire to live "godly in this present world", contrasting the darkness with the glory of the light of Christ.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Fighting back
Scripture exhorts us to fight. James 4 :7 says, "Submit yourselves therefore to God, Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." The word "resist" literally means "fight back."
If a police officer goes to arrest a criminal, and that criminal resists arrest; what does that mean? It means he is doing everything in his power to keep the policeman from arresting him. He is fighting back.
When Satan attacks the average Christians prays. Praying could be called a form of resistance, and there is certainly nothing wrong with praying when under attack, but the promise is not, "Pray, and I will make the devil flee." The promise is "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." If the Devil flees, it it is because we resisted or "fought back."
The Bible never says run from the devil, but rather resist and he will flee. Billy Bray, the Cornish miner preacher of old, said that he often did battle with the devil. One day while digging up little shriveled potatoes in his garden, the devil began to put thoughts into Billy's mind. " Billy, if God really loved you, you would have big, nice potatoes instead of these shriveled-up ones!" He kept bothering him until Billy shouted out loud, "You devil, I've got your character back home in my Bible in John 8:44, it says that you are a liar and the father of it. Besides that, when I served you , I didn't have any 'taters at all! Now git! "-- Now that's resisting!
The next time you are under attack do what Billy bray learned to do: "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."---FIGHT BACK!
If a police officer goes to arrest a criminal, and that criminal resists arrest; what does that mean? It means he is doing everything in his power to keep the policeman from arresting him. He is fighting back.
When Satan attacks the average Christians prays. Praying could be called a form of resistance, and there is certainly nothing wrong with praying when under attack, but the promise is not, "Pray, and I will make the devil flee." The promise is "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." If the Devil flees, it it is because we resisted or "fought back."
The Bible never says run from the devil, but rather resist and he will flee. Billy Bray, the Cornish miner preacher of old, said that he often did battle with the devil. One day while digging up little shriveled potatoes in his garden, the devil began to put thoughts into Billy's mind. " Billy, if God really loved you, you would have big, nice potatoes instead of these shriveled-up ones!" He kept bothering him until Billy shouted out loud, "You devil, I've got your character back home in my Bible in John 8:44, it says that you are a liar and the father of it. Besides that, when I served you , I didn't have any 'taters at all! Now git! "-- Now that's resisting!
The next time you are under attack do what Billy bray learned to do: "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."---FIGHT BACK!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Make the most of your time
Everyone realizes that our time on Earth is limited. If we are wise then we will make the most of it. There is only so much time available and its' amount is unknown."See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise." (Ephesians 5:15) Time is completely irretrievable, we can never repeat or relive it. There is no such thing as a literal replay, that exists only in the world of film.
Since our time is limited we cannot afford to dwell in the past or
live with the wrong priorities. Ephesians 5:16 says; "redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Hence, everyday is a new day, every moment is a new opportunity, let us make the most of our "alloted" time, let us spend it wisely for Him.
"The days of our years are threescore and ten: and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away" Psalm 90:10
"Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am" Psalm 39:4
Since our time is limited we cannot afford to dwell in the past or
live with the wrong priorities. Ephesians 5:16 says; "redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Hence, everyday is a new day, every moment is a new opportunity, let us make the most of our "alloted" time, let us spend it wisely for Him.
"The days of our years are threescore and ten: and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away" Psalm 90:10
"Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am" Psalm 39:4
Monday, October 5, 2009
A Good Christian
There is a big difference between being a Christian, a converted man or woman saved by the blood, and being a good christian. For example, it is easy to get married, one can get married without money, without work; all one needs to do is say "I do". But after the marriage, to be a really good husband or wife is not so easy---it costs something.
Being a converted child of God and really serving God acceptably costs something too. When the Lord Jesus told the disciples of His own impending trial, condemnation and crucifixion, He said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me. And whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it" (Luke 9:23, 24). The kind of service that does not cost anything is not worth anything. If one is to hear "well done thou good and faithful servant," it will be because they paid the price of being a good christian.
The Old Testament and New Testament alike---books written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit by some forty men, covering a period of fifteen centuries or more--give us a real testimony that it costs much to be a real man or woman of God.
May we today make a holy renunciation of our own plans and say an eternal "yes" to all that God asks of us. May we all desire to be a good christian.
Being a converted child of God and really serving God acceptably costs something too. When the Lord Jesus told the disciples of His own impending trial, condemnation and crucifixion, He said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me. And whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it" (Luke 9:23, 24). The kind of service that does not cost anything is not worth anything. If one is to hear "well done thou good and faithful servant," it will be because they paid the price of being a good christian.
The Old Testament and New Testament alike---books written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit by some forty men, covering a period of fifteen centuries or more--give us a real testimony that it costs much to be a real man or woman of God.
May we today make a holy renunciation of our own plans and say an eternal "yes" to all that God asks of us. May we all desire to be a good christian.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Present Joy
Far too many allow past experiences to rob them of the present joy afforded in Christ. It does not have to be that way. We can be joyful in spite of what the past has been. By understanding and embracing the Grace of God we can sail beyond the past and rejoice in the present. By yielding to God we can replace the timorous frustration of our past with His total fulfilling joy in the present.
"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life, For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" Romans 6:4-6
As Christians we have entered into a permanent relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We can rest completely in Him and the new life He has afforded us. He has placed the Holy Spirit within us to lead us to the abundant life. Our task is to set our thoughts on the Truth of His Word and allow His Word to supersede the frustrations and pain of the past.
The tensions of the past can be exchanged for contented living in the present by abiding in Him."If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." John 8:36
"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life, For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" Romans 6:4-6
As Christians we have entered into a permanent relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We can rest completely in Him and the new life He has afforded us. He has placed the Holy Spirit within us to lead us to the abundant life. Our task is to set our thoughts on the Truth of His Word and allow His Word to supersede the frustrations and pain of the past.
The tensions of the past can be exchanged for contented living in the present by abiding in Him."If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." John 8:36
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