What do you love?

1 Timothy 6: 9

 

⁹People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.

 

Love of money is indeed a bad thing. When we chase after cash we end up running over the important things. How many time have you heard would you _____ (fill in the blank) for a million dollars? There is a very specific reason that question is asked, even if it is in jest….would you compromise your morals for money? Just what price would you pay to be famous, or rich, or powerful? If you have a number in your head, you might want to start checking on your heart! When we start to focus on our fortune, we take our focus off of the Lord. We stop worrying about what is right, and what is righteousness, and spend out time looking for the next quick buck. You might be successful at it, you might build a fortune, but it will not last. The pursuit of money instead of God will lead you down the path of destruction. I know you are thinking not me….. well you can bet that we are all susceptible to it.  The sad part about it is all that you need is readily available to you; all you have to do is trust in the Lord’s plan for you. You do not have to spend your time chasing things that will rust and rot. Spend your time searching out the Lord, and your reward will be great. Give your time and talent to the Lord. It is the one thing that the Lord tells us to test him on. Give our best to him, and he will open up the floodgates! Not only will you have some….you will have more than you know what to do with. Down run down the path looking for the way to fame and fortune, walk down the path with the Lord, and experience the fullness, the greatness, and the abundance that comes with having him in your life.

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

 

 

Thursday the 30th

Ephesians 4: 25

 

 ²⁵Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

 

Words we all would do well to live by. We have become more and more comfortable with letting that white lie slip by in an effort to not have the hard conversations. We are urged to just lay it out there, what is the worst that can happen? Some people might not like you? Some people might want to distance themselves from you? Oh I know the worst of the worst…..people might talk about you! Folks we have the responsibility to be honest and truthful, even if it causes some discomfort. As the Psalmist tells us we can trust the wounds of a friend, but our enemies will shower us with kisses! When we soften our answers with less than the truth we do in fact become our friends enemy. We are like the people that tell their friends they sing very well then let them go off to American Idol! A lie is a lie, even if that lie is told out of love!

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Good deeds are obvious

1 Timothy 5: 24-25

 

 ²⁴The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. ²⁵In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.

 

Have you ever had that friend that you thought was the best things since sliced bread only to find out down the road that they were not exactly the person that you thought they were? Their sins trail behind them! We must be careful when choosing who we surround ourselves with. It is easy to get caught up in the façade of those who are not true to the Lord, yet in time their sins will be brought to the light. However, the key is found in verse 25, Obvious or not good deeds cannot be hidden. People with a good heart are easy to see, and easy to understand, their intentions are not misunderstood because they are always in service to the Lord. Yeah, I know, that sounds like a pretty tough road to hoe! However, you can do it. It is not as hard as you might think, and the more you do it the easier it is.  Quit dragging your sins behind you! Cut the cord, and see how much easier it is to walk! Turn your life over to the Lord, let Him direct your steps. Here is a challenge for you. For the next week, before you do something for yourself, do something for someone else. Start this week working at putting others needs in front of your own. I am not suggesting that you quit doing for yourself, but that you stat doing more for others first. I can promise you that if you will work on behalf of others, you will feel the love of the Lord. You will see that good in the world around you, and your good deeds will be obvious!

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

 

Tuesday the 28th

Ephesians 4: 18

¹⁸They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

 

The more things change the more they stay the same. Still today we have many that are separated from the life of God. Just like back then, many people today will urge you to follow the same trend. There is a growing consensus in society that we no longer need God. That it is all a fairy tale and we should depend only on ourselves. While that sounds like a great deal at face value, you might want to urge people to think on that for a bit. If we rely on ourselves then we are only capable of what we ourselves can accomplish…..folks that is not much. Without the Lord’s blessing in our life we will not be fully successful. We will not be able to soar to the heights He has planned for us. You want the door open? You better start knocking! You want to find the truth? You might want to start seeking? It all starts with asking, and that takes a bent knee, and the admission that you cannot do it on your own. Do not allow your heart to become hard. It is an easy things to do, and will happen if you do not guard it. It does not take commitment, just indifference, to harden the heart. By the same token, it is not hard to find the Lord, just bend a knee, and look skyward!

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Friday the 24th

Psalm 18:24

²⁴ This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

 

Mathew 6:

³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

 

Matthew 10:30

30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

 

 

I had several e-mails sent to me this morning that ran in the same vein, and these three verses came to mind. First and foremost today is THE day. We should give thanks each day that we open our eyes that the Lord has placed another day in our path. There is only one way to approach that day, with joy, praise, and thanks! Second getting through this day will not be easy. It never is. Each and everyday poses it’s own unique set of obstacles, and it will take that joy, faith, and thanks to successfully navigate the day. And last but not least let us each remember that while we all are immortal until our purpose on this earth is fulfilled, once it is done, we will be called home. This is why it is so important to seize each day! Today might be your day, it might be mine. So is your house in order? None of us want to stand before the Lord and tell him, “well I was going to do that…..but I thought I had more time” As Christ said, are there not 12 hours in the day? While that might be enough time to accomplish what we need to, it is not enough time to waste it on useless things! So rejoice, do not worry, and remember tomorrow will come, no matter what we do. So let us use this day to honor and glorify the Lord, for while tomorrow will get here, we might not!

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Wed the 22nd

Ephesians 4: 16

 

¹⁶From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

 

There is one piece to our existence that is vital, and that piece is Christ. Everything is held in place and continues to grow through Christ. He is the bond that holds us together, and is as important to our lives as rain is to the fields. The first and foremost duty that we have it to the Lord, to honor Him, to praise Him, and to give Him thanks. Without Christ in our lives all of our good works are worthless, all of our money is irrelevant, and all of our dreams will never fully be attained. It is through our faith in Christ that we will be lifted up on the wings of eagles. He lights the path, and protects us with his love and faithfulness. With Him there is nothing that is impossible, yet without him even the simplest things can be difficult. The surest path to victory in all we do is through Christ. He is our Jacob’s ladder, and He holds the keys to the kingdom. HE wants to give them to you; He wants to walk this world with you so you can see it as He does. We each have a part of the plan to fulfill, each of us are an important piece to the puzzle. Remember to but Him first, so that the body of Christ here on earth may build itself up, strong, mature, and able to overcome any obstacle.

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Be dilligent

1 Timothy 4: 15-16

 

¹⁵Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. ¹⁶Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

 

Be diligent……it is a thought that we often give to our family, our work, our quest for the flat screen, and the search for the best bargain, yet is it a concept that we can say we apply to our relationship with Christ? Are we diligent? The Greek word used in the Bible is meletaō meaning to revolve in the mind or meditate, to take care of. While we apply that to so many aspects of our lives, why do we lack in the one area that is so important? TO go a step further, Paul urges to give yourself wholly to them, so all might see the progress. Persevere in them, so that not just you, but those that hear will be saved as well. What a call to arms! Be diligent, watch your life, be an example so that you and those around you might be saved! If that is not worth of our diligence then I ask you what is?

 

So I issue a challenge to all who will read this, become diligent in your relationship with the Lord. Commit, or re-commit yourself to Him, and his teachings. Open your bible; encourage others to do the same. Let your life be a beacon that those lost in the storms of life can follow to the safe harbor of Christ. Let others see you not as a justification for their skepticism, but as a reason to believe. You might be the person who changes someone’s life today. You might be the reason that someone picks up a bible, and accepts Christ as their savior. I know you are thinking not me, you do not know me! I promise you that it can be you! Become diligent, be an example, persevere. Put your energy into knowing the Lord and all that he has to offer. Take your focus off the day to day, and set your sights on the eternal. Save yourselves, and those around you! Will you accept? The challenge has been around for quite a long time, as Christ himself said, the harvest is plenty, but the workers are few. Be diligent, and persevere!

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Tuesday the 21st

Ephesians 4:12-13

 

¹²to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

 

Everyone always asks why are we here; this verse lays it out there for us. Unity in the faith and knowledge of Christ, maturing until we attain the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. We are the living body of Christ. Casting Crowns has a great song called “if we are the body” the chorus is: if we are the body, why aren’t his arms reaching, what aren’t his hands healing, why aren’t his words teaching? If we are the body why aren’t his feet going, why is his love not showing them there is a way? It really sums up where we are today as a body of believers. A lot of us talk a good game, but there is no follow through. We will never get off the milk and on to the meat if we are pre-occupied with ourselves! Where are you in the body of Christ? Are you taking action in the world around you to advance the Word of God? We all have spiritual gifts; each one of us has something very unique, and very special to give to the world. It is a gift from the Lord, and it was not meant to be held inside. It was given to us to share with the world; to be a light for those lost in the darkness. You are a unique person who has the opportunity to reach out and touch people’s hearts like no other person in the world. Don’t hold that in! When we allow ourselves to share not just our time, or our money, but our very being with others, then we can start to see the body of Christ in action. We will build that body in unity of faith, so that we all might mature to the point where we all attain the full measure of Christ. We are the body. Will you join in or sit by and let it pass you by?

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Monday the 20th

Ephesians 4: 4-6

 

⁴There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— ⁵one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

 

As we start the week off, let us all take the time to remember that there is one, not many, just one God. We can all listen to the things that “scratch our ears” we can let ourselves become sidetracked with the day to day activities that crowd, and clutter our lives, we can allow ourselves to become hyper focused on the days events. Yet when we do that, we push God to the back of the line. We take our focus off the one important thing in life, and turn our attention to the worldly. There is only one God, and we have only one life to live. Use that life to be an example of the Lord for all to see. Start your day off with the Lord, keep Him the focus of your day. DO not let yourself become entangled in the snares of the devil. We are created in the image of the Lord, that means inside each of us is a piece of God. Cultivate that part of your life. Allow the Lord to become the focal point of your day, and let Him guide your actions. There is but one God, and we have but one life…..how will you spend it?  

 

 

Peace,

Brian

not just the young

1 Timothy 4: 12

 

 ¹²Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

 

This scripture is often quoted to young adults, but why does it seem to stop there? We are all young to someone. We all have people looking at our examples that we set. SO no matter your age, don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. There will always be someone close by to tell you that they have already done it before……and you are not doing it right, or it did not work, or it can’t be done. People who discourage lean heavily on the word can’t in life. They will use their experience as a tool to make you doubt yourself. Do not give these people an inch! When you live your life setting examples as Paul has set forth, there is little doubt that the Lord will be directing your steps. What is a can’t for society, is a “watch this”  to the Lord! Let your life be an example of a life lived through faith, do not let others look down on you, show them the way. They might gather around and tell you it can’t be done…….let them know that you are a child of the most high God, there is nothing that cannot be done through the glory, the grace, and the power of God!

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Friday the 17th

Ephesians 4: 1

 

 ¹As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

 

Mighty high expectations are being handed down from Paul here, and it is expectations that I would like to pass on to each of you. Are you living your life worthy of the calling you receive? Do you handle your business deals with honor, and integrity, do you foster love in your personal relationships? Do you offer the loving hand of forgiveness that Christ so willingly offers you? I am not talking about all of the tangents of legalism, that subject can bog you down so far that you lose sight of the teachings of Christ. I am talking about the core principles that Christ based his life on. These are the principles we have been called to exemplify, love, faith, righteousness, compassion, forgiveness, hope….are these the traits that people see when they look at us, or do we show more of the exact opposite? The life we are called to receive came form a man who was willing to leave all the comforts and security of Heaven and become human, He endured more than we can imagine, all so that we might be allowed to live this life, not chained to the law, but free to soar with him on wings of an eagle. We have great things in store for us, but we have to be willing to live the life we were called to. I know there is struggle in all of our lives, temptations lurk and wink at as from every corner. How will you respond? What will your life project…….as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord! Will you do the same? If you have not already done so, say yes now. Do not think about it, don’t “sleep on it” don’t put it on the back burner, say yes now, and live the life you were called to. The harvest is great, but the workers are few!

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Hope for all

1 Timothy 4: 10

¹⁰(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

We put our hope, and our faith in the living God, but the second part of this passage is one that many of us miss, and one that many of us need to hear. “who is the savior of all men” Every person alive has the ability to be saved, and that is what we put our faith in, not just faith in our own salvation, but the faith that all people can be saved. Paul tells us in 3 John “¹¹Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.” Notice how he does not call all who do evil, evil? He simply states that they have not seen God. There is hope for all, especially those who believe, but let us not forget that each one of us is worthy of that hope, each one of us, every man, woman, and child, is created in His image. If you think there is no hope for yourself, you are wrong, there is an abundance of hope, if you think we are in a select group, you are wrong, there is hope for all, and it is our job to spread that good news, and offer the love of Christ to all.

Peace,

Brian

Thursday the 16th

Ephesians 3: 20

 

²⁰Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,….

 

There is nothing that the Lord is incapable of. If you think of the toughest situation that you have found yourself in, the one where you did not know how you would get through, and in fact maybe you did not get through, maybe you are still struggling to get through it today….that situation is not a challenge for our Lord, so why not turn it over to him? He is at work inside each one of us. God can take a normal everyday person, and produce supernatural results. Nothing is impossible when we put the Lord in the drivers seat. Day in and day out so many people struggle, and find themselves in darkness, maybe that is where you find yourself today. Quit struggling, and start praying. Open your heart and you life to Christ; allow Him to come in. Give Him the space He needs in your life to work out all of your problems. There is nothing that the Lord cannot handle, there is nothing that the Lord will not do for you. He is there waiting, call on Him, trust Him, and turn your problems over to him. He is the foundation that can weather any storm.

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

 

train yourself

1 Timothy 4: 6-7

 

 ⁶If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. ⁷Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.

 

We each have a duty to be good ministers of Christ. The Great Commission urges each of us to go out and spread the word, but Paul reminds us of a very important point, train yourself to be godly. Get yourself right with God before you run out and save the world. As Christ himself pointed out, why to you try to remove the speck of dust from your brother’s eye, when you will not remove the plank from your own! We each need to spend time getting our own house in order. Take a look at your life, pick out one day and reflect on it. Have you spent more time telling others how to live, while not working to correct your own inequities? Train yourself to be godly. We all are broken, each has their own cross to bear, we all have our own struggles, and demons to fight. Keep an eye out for your brother; help when and where you can, but daily train yourself to be godly. Spend sometime in quite reflection, and ask the Lord to help you heal yourself. When we take the time to heal our own wound we will find that we are better able to help others, we can easily dismiss the old myths, and do the good work that the Lord intended. When we train ourselves to be godly, it clears the haze form our eyes, and allows us to focus on the important things in life; namely filling our lives and the lives of those around us with Christ!

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

 

Tuesday the 15th

Ephesians 3: 17-19

¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

 

 

Everyone says that there is no perfection, but I disagree. There is perfection, it is you! You have the ability to become the perfection that the Lord intended. Everything you need is right at your fingertips, above, below, and all around us are the loving arms of the Lord waiting to fill us with the fullness of God. It is up to each of us to allow that transformation to happen. How do we get there you ask? We root ourselves in love. We allow the roots of love to not just fill our hearts, but to fill our very soul. Each one of us is marching towards perfection; the path is laid in front of us to travel. Each day we decide if we will take a step further down the path, or if we will allow ourselves to slide backwards. How hard the journey is largely depends on how much love you allow into your life. Revel in it, search for it, and allow it to take over your life. When you lead with love, you lead with the Lord.

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

the wrong path

1 Timothy 4:

 

¹The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.

 

What faith are you following? Better question, do you have faith? Where do you find your faith today? Is the unshakeable faith that is found by reading scripture, and talking with the Lord, or is it the faith of the day? We are told throughout the Bible to watch out for “false prophets” and people who will lead us down the wrong path. However many people do not take in to account that many of these people will come to us flying the banner of the Lord. They will teach things that are not Biblically based; they will subvert the teachings of Christ into a way of life that is far form the one intended. So how will we combat that? How will we see what is so often unseen today? We must arm ourselves with the truth, and the only way to do that is to make finding the Lord your first priority. He is with you always, the problem is that many people stuff so much into their lives that the Lord get covered up, and you can no longer hear him! We owe it to Christ and ourselves to take the time each day to give thanks for what we have, and take the time to listen for the gentle voice of the Lord. Dust off your Bible and read, all of life’s instructions can be found between the covers. When we put the Lord first in our lives we will easily see the false faiths for what they are, snares of the devil. Open your heart to the Lord, and let the Spirit lead you daily. You will find the path easier to see, and the road much smoother!

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Tuesday the 14th

Ephesians 3: 12

 

¹²In him (Christ) and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

 

When Christ lifted his head and shouted Tetelestai it was truly finished, it is recorded that the curtain in the inner temple ripped from top to bottom, forever opening the once closed door between the worshipers, and God. Christ is the great mediator. We no longer have to live in fear of not being worthy, or fearing God, for Jesus Christ stands firmly between us, and God. Our past is truly our past now. We are free to live, not in fear of sin, but in the joyous light that is Jesus Christ. We are no longer bound to the “old” laws, Christ fulfilled them all! While we live to give glory and praise to God, we now also live to spread the good news of Christ. The Son of Man did in fact become the ladder between man and God, bringing us into the family once and for all. So I ask you, how are you living your life? DO you shrink in fear at the thought of God? DO you hold back in your execution of the great commission because you feel unworthy? Do you find yourself turning from the Lord, and falling in with the crowd of society because you do not feel it is too hard to connect with God? Step out of the shadows, and live in the light! Christ has erased the boundary lines. There is nothing that cannot be brought before the Lord. Your fears, your doubts, your troubles, and your sin, bring it all and leave it at the feet of Christ! He died for the opportunity to carry your burdens; He shed his blood, so that you might have everlasting life. He is the older brother that will forever look our for you, and explain it all to Dad. It is through our faith in Christ that we will be saved; it is through Christ that we have the freedom to truly live!

 

Peace,

Brian

Chrsit died, let us all live!

1 Timothy 2: 4-5

 

⁴who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁵For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

 

Christ came for everyone, not just the Jews, not just the Gentiles. He came for every man woman and child that walks the face of the earth. Remember that when Christ showed himself to his disciples after his resurrection he told the to go out and spread the Gospels….to spread the good news. Nowhere in there does it say we get to pick and choose. Christ gave no indication that there was anyone that he was not interested in saving. When questioned by the Pharisees as to why he would dine with tax collectors, and sinners, Christ’s answer was not that they were a hopeless group, or that he wanted to spend time with them before he condemned them…NO!! Christ told them that he came for the sinners, not the righteous! HE came to save the world not judge it! If we are to live our lives as Christ followers, then we to must be open to all. Get out of your comfort zones! Speak freely of Christ and all of the wonders, and joy that he holds. Let your Jesus freak flag fly! We are here to save those that have strayed, not just pat each other on the back for believing in Christ. Today is the first day after Christ rose form the dead, it is a new beginning. A new day, and a New Covenant. Let today be a new start for you. There is one God and one mediator….. Jesus Christ, He died for us…..let us live for Him!

 

 

Peace,

Brian

Monday the 13th

Ephesians 3: 8

 

⁸Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.

 

Paul was one of the most well known Disciples of Christ. He traveled the greatest distance, and preached the hardest. Yet here we see that he refers to himself as the least of all of God’s people. Hopefully we all can relate to the trait that Paul is displaying…..humility, Each of us excel in one area of our life, what is that area for you? Do you let yourself become puffed up and prideful, or do you gladly share that gift with all, and accept it for what it really is? A gift form the Lord, not to make you look good, but to be used to give glory to God! The best way to give thanks, and praise to the Lord is to put him in the spotlight, the best way to accomplish that is to use the God given talent that you have, then let the world know that without the Lord in your life it would not be possible. Each of us in an amazing individual, we can accomplish things that can only be imagined, but for us to be successful, for us to sustain, we must remember to give the glory to God! SO let yourself be all that you are capable of, use your time and talents, but remember to give credit where credit is due.

 

Peace,

Brian

Thursday the 9th

No specific scripture passage today. There is not one verse by itself that can combine the emotions that are wrapped up in the following days. Joy, hope, despair, fear, pain, humiliation, and most of all love. Today Christ will meet with his closest friends in an upstairs room; they will break bread, share wine, and declare the New Covenant. Later Jesus will pray for his life to be spared. Ultimately tonight he will be arrested, and the beginning of the end starts for Christ.

 

As we go through the weekend I have one question that I would like you to not only meditate on, but to ask others. Do you believe in Easter? We live in a very flippant world, we accept war in this world as inevitable, we spend a trillion dollars and never even blink, we see sin, death, and destruction around us, and we allow ourselves to become numb to the images. Sadly, many do the same with Christ and their faith. Ask if someone believes in Jesus, you will get a quick “sure”, ask if they believe in Easter, and you will most likely get the same “of course” without a second thought. In this world of instant access everything; do we slow down enough to really reflect on the sacrifice that Christ made for us?

 

I encourage everyone this weekend to recount the next 4 days. Gather your family around and spend some time really reflecting on the last supper, the trial of Christ, the crucifixion, and the greatest moment in the history of the world, the resurrection of Christ. Take the time to look at the human side Christ, the betrayal, the fear, the pain, the isolation, and the joy that Christ experienced. Christ did not want to die for us, He knew it had to be done, but he asked on three different occasions for God to provide another way. Could you make that choice? Would you lay your life down for the world? It is easy to say yes until the guards come to take you away.

 

Sunday will be filled with hunting eggs, and baskets of chocolate. Don’t let the day slip away without giving thanks to God. Christ rose from the dead on Sunday; he defeated death, and became a one-time blood sacrifice for everyone of us. Do not let that fact slip by or be brushed aside and filed with the egg dye for next year. Sunday we will remember that we all have a chance at a new life, an eternal life. We have gained access into the family of God, and the brotherhood of Christ. We have been blessed with this because of Christ and the sacrifice that he made. Sunday is a new beginning, let us use it as such. On Sunday recommit yourselves to Christ, He defeated death, may we all resolve to defeat the chains of this world, so we might all see the hope, the love and the light that is Jesus Christ. May we all say a whole hearted joyous YES if someone asks us if we believe in Easter!

 

God bless! And Happy Easter!

 

 

B. Thetford CTB

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"A great many of those who 'debunk' traditional...values have in the background values of their own which they believe to be immune from the debunking process." C.S. Lewis

 

Wed the 8th

Ephesians 2: 19-20

 

¹⁹Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, ²⁰built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

 

Christ is the tie that binds us all together. It is through his death and resurrection that we all have eternal life. Today in the final week of Christ we see Christ Speak of the second coming, and he condemns the Pharisees. It will be one of the last times He speaks in public. Even knowing what is coming, knowing that these people will have him killed, he still tells them that he would forgive them, He would accept them into the fold, but their hearts were hard, as a result Christ leaves them in the temple. How much forgiveness do you hold in your heart? We are one in Christ. No longer separated by Jew, or Gentile, but we are one body, all that will believe will be received. We all have people in our lives that have hard hearts. They are the ones who need our forgiveness. We, like Jesus, must take the first step. Christ never withdrew his hand; He always has it outstretched waiting for the people’s hearts to soften. This is how we must be, yes there are people who want to harm us, there are people that will use our forgiveness as a tool against us, but we must continue to try. Christ offered forgiveness to the very people who would condemn Him……can we say that we make even half that effort in our lives?

 

Peace

Brian

 

 

the saved sinner

1 Timothy 1: 15-16

 

¹⁵Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

 

Christ came to save the sinners; he came to save you and me. I can relate to Paul when he says that he is the worst, for I too often feel that I spent a large part of my life sinning instead of saving, perhaps upon reflection we all fee like that from time to time.  We should all remember that Christ loves us; we are part of his family. This week we see the magnitude of that love. A love that is built on faith; Faith from the Lord that by sacrificing His son He might further revel his love for us, and faith from us, that all who believe in Him might be saved, and have eternal life. There is little doubt that we are all sinners, I often wonder why God chooses who he does. It often seems that it is those that have sinned the most that the Lord calls to service, I think that Paul rightly points out it is an opportunity for the Lord to show his grace, His power, and His love, for if the Grace of the Lord can save people like me and Paul…..well then that should be proof that the Lord can save anyone. Let your heart open to the true love of Christ this week. Give Him thanks and Praise. Call out to the Lord; he gave his life for the chance to save yours.

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Tuesday the 7th

Ephesians 2: 4-5

 

⁴But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 

 

Let us give thanks and praise to the Lord. It is by His Grace that we have been saved. Why God loves us is a true mystery to me. This week as we reflect on the final week of Christ’s life we see Him brought in to town in the triumphal entry. HE is declared King, all the while knowing that each passing moment brings him closer to a death that even his closest disciples do not fully realize is looming. Christ spends his final days not in hiding, not cowering in a corner, or laying depressed in a bed….He spends his final days teaching, and spreading the truth of His Father. HE cleared the temple of the moneychangers yesterday, and today he locks up with the Pharisees and lawmakers. Today a couple thousand years ago, Christ gave reiterated the two most important laws. Love God, and love your neighbor….I find it a little ironic that Christ is teaching love of God, as if it needs to be justified, or explained. Jesus was less than a week from His death, and he is spending his days trying to convince people to love God. A God that holds so much love for the world that He is going to allow His only Son to not just die, but to become sin, to take all of the sin of the world squarely on his shoulders and stand in judgment for each of us! When we were at the height of our sin, lost in our transgressions, blinded by the world, God sent his Son. God has always shown us love, before we ever give Him a reason to love us, he showers us with undeserved love. His mercy is unexplainable. Be sure and take a moment today and offer thanks to the Lord.

 

Peace,

Brian