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

Monday the 6th

Ephesians 1: 18

 

¹⁸I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.

 

As we journey through this week, this is my prayer for all. Holy week is a time for reflection. DO not let this week go by without spending some time looking at your life and what the Lord has blessed you with. This was the most difficult week in Christ’s life. All of His hopes, and struggles come to their pinnacle this week. The world’s savior is coming, and his resurrection will save every man woman and child who will have faith in Him. Do not let this week slip by without taking the time to say thank you! Why God loves us as much as he does is a mystery to me. His patience, understanding, and love go beyond my comprehension. What I can tell you is that God gave us a gift, that gift was His Son Jesus Christ. Do not squander that gift. Search your heart, and your soul, find what it is that the Lord has called you for, and go to work. Let this week be a week of praise and thanks giving to the Lord, may we each set forth the example that Christ lived. Love your God with all your heart; all your strength, and all your soul, then love your neighbor as you love yourself!

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Friday the 3rd

Luke: 19: 37-40

 

 ³⁷When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
 ³⁸"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!"
      "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

 ³⁹Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"

 ⁴⁰"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

 

No long posts today, this weekend is the beginning of forever for us! Jesus rides in to town on the back of a donkey, and the wheels of God’s plan steps into high gear. Let us all make a commitment to rekindle the passion of the Lord this week. I pose a question to all who read this passage. What is missing in Luke’s triumphal entry account that is present in all the other three Gospels? There are slight differences in all four, but Luke left one thing out that is in all other accounts. What is it? I will post the answer later this afternoon! Be blessed this weekend, and remember Blessed is the king that comes in the name of the Lord!

 

Peace,

Brian

Thursday the 2nd

Galatians 6:9    

⁹Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

 

The road sometimes looks long, and the end is not end sight, yet we cannot give up on the journey. We all get tired; it is only human to feel overwhelmed, less than perfect, and not capable. We all have times in our lives when we think to ourselves….”are you kidding me? What was I thinking….I will never pull this off!” It is in those moments, those quiet dark moments of doubt, and wariness, that we must not falter. There is a harvest awaiting us, and it will be bountiful for those that persevere; but we have to stay strong, we cannot give up. I know that it sounds so easy then it is spoken, yet so hard to actually carry out when you find yourself at the end of your rope! It is at those times that I urge you not to turn to the comfort of friends who will sympathize and feed that feeling of despair, instead turn to the Lord first. He will restore your strength; He will make the path easier, and lighten your burden. Turn to Him first, then friends second! After all He is your true friend, the friend that picked you before your birth, the one who has been at your side through all of your victories, and defeats. He is the one friend that always has His arms stretched out waiting for you to ask Him for the strength to carry on. Do not give up, do not tire. When the load gets heavy share that burden with the Lord.

 

Peace,

Brian

lead with love

2 Thessalonians 3: 14-15

 

¹⁴If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. ¹⁵Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

 

Do not lose the love for your brother….or sister! We are here for each other. We are here to support, encourage, and help each other. There will always be people who stray. We are commanded to love each other as we love ourselves. That means all others, not some, not just those we like, but all of them. When we read this passage, some might take it as license to turn their back on those who stumble. Do not lose sight of the intention Paul had behind the exclusion, it was to be used as a way to humble the person in question. It was to be temporary, not permanent. Do not regard him as an enemy….Here is where many fall short. We get so zealous in our desire to bring people to the Lord, we get so caught up in trying to “save their soul” that we push so hard that we end up pushing the people away. We should warn them as a brother. Notice it says do not treat them as an enemy. We come together in love, we persevere in love. We heal each others wounds with love. Lead with love.

 

Peace,

Brian

Wed the 1st

Galatians 6: 1

 

¹Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

 

Here we find words to live by. It is human nature to spend more time looking at others than looking at ourselves. We tend to hold others more accountable for their actions, while we can typically rationalize our own. The trap we fall in to is how we handle those who do stumble, or even fall. Society tells us to puff our self up with our accomplishments, and be full of pride. Yet when we do that we treat others harshly, we think of ourselves as “better then most” When we think we are “only trying to help” we find that we really are holding others to a standard that we ourselves cannot attain. We must remain humble in all that we do. When we find others that are being challenged in their spirituality, when we see those that step off the path, we cannot meet them with harsh words, or exclusion; we must come to them, and see them for what they are…..a wounded soul. We do not care for a wound by pouring acid on it, and we will never fulfill the work of the Lord if we are pushing others away instead of bringing them back into the fold. So be gentle with each other. Be kind to the weak, remember where it is that you yourself started. Most importantly, do not allow yourself to become tempted. Hold fast to your faith, and lead your help for others with the Love of Christ so that you will keep him first, and use His protection for the temptation to come. We can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens us!

 

Peace,

Brian