Anyone Else Ready to Die?

I was reading an exerpt from Waking the Dead by John Eldredge that references 1 Corinthians 15, to point out Christ’s resurrection. Well I kept reading because the topic interested me and this is what I came to: 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, “So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.  If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.“  At first I thought, cool when I die I get to come back super human…sort of, you know what I mean. But then Galations 2:20 came to me. Anybody know that one? “For I have been crucified with Christ…” Now, for me this was especially cool seeing as I was just baptised about a month ago. So you see, I’m already dead….and raised again. I’ve already been resurrected in my imperishable, glorious, powerful and spiritual body. But, that is not an instant freebie when I wake up. I can either choose to die to myself and be resurrected in this new, “super human” body, or I can choose to walk around in my perishable, dishonorable, weak and natural body. Which would you rather have? So I ask you, and myself, are you ready to die?

slow down, be content

Well Idon’t have any fancy words or scriptures, in fact I almost did even write this.  But Dad got my attention and this is what HE told me.  “Slow down son, your living you life in the future and not being content with the present.  you plan and organize and setup and then spend your time worry about what might happen hours later or days later when all you need to be concerned about is the here and now.  There nothing wrong with making a plan but remember that your not promised tomorrow.  So slow down son, be content with right now.  Focus on ME, and not on what might or could happen later.  I’ll take care of that.”
So there you go,  then a pretty alright guy named chandler called and gave some words of wisdom.
Anyway, that’s it.  It was a pretty tough day.

Am I, Are You?

 Acts 13 is where I decided to land.  What an assembly was here! In these names we see that the Lord raises up instruments for his work, from various places and stations in life. Everyone and their mother was here. It is by the Spirit of Christ that his ministers are made both able and willing for his service, and taken from other cares that would hinder in it. So what is hindering me from doing the work of Christ?  Christ’s ministers are to be employed in Christ’s work, and, under the Spirit’s guidance, to act for the glory of God the Father.  Laying on of hands and a blessing upon Barnabas and Saul in their present work was sought for, and that they might be filled with the Holy Ghost in their work.  So not just are we to do the work but we need the filling to do it.  Whatever means are used, or rules observed, the Holy Ghost alone can fit ministers for their important work, and call them to it. (Ac 13:4-13) Satan is in a special manner busy with great men and men in power, to keep them being religious, for their example will influence many. There is a new thing happening with the world right now, and God is going to raise up His people in places and offices that have once been held by others. Saul is here for the first time called Paul, and never after Saul. Saul was his name as he was a Hebrew; Paul was his name as he was a citizen of Rome. Under the direct influence of the Holy Ghost, he gave Elymas his true character, showed Elymas his own heart.  He explained that a fullness of deceit and mischief together make a man indeed a child of the devil. And those who are enemies to the doctrine of Jesus, are enemies to all righteousness; for in it all righteousness is fulfilled. The ways of the Lord Jesus are the only right ways to heaven and happiness. There are many who not only wander from these ways themselves, but set others against these ways. The proconsul was astonished at the force of the doctrine upon his own heart and conscience, and at the power of God by which it was confirmed. The doctrine of Christ astonishes; and the more we know of it, the less we actually know. Those who put their hand to the plough and look back, are not fit for the kingdom of God. Those who are not prepared to face opposition, and to endure hardship, are not fitted for the work of the ministry.

So my continuous question is am I doing my part in the Kingdom, are you?  Am I being led and filled with the Holy Spirit to do this work, are you?  Do I believe that I am even called to do His work, do you?  Am I doing everything I can to turn the tide of the people to God and not allow them to walk dumbly behind someone just because they are in power, are you?

Eternal Life

OK.  I’m still not very far in Romans, but in Romans 2:6-7 I was looking up all the meanings of the various words and for kicks I happened to look up “eternal.”

I’ve been a Christian a long time and thought I knew the word… Eternal Life and all, but its entirely possible that I’ve been missing something.  Read carefully the definition in Strongs for the word translated as “eternal.”  The word is aionios.

1 without beginning and end, that which always has been and always will be. 2 without beginning. 3 without end, never to cease, everlasting.

Did you catch something new?  “Without beginning,” really hit me between the eyes.  Is it possible (prepare for a synapse or two to be overloaded here) that when we step into eternal life, we will will be “without beginning?”  Just typing this out blows my mind, but this word is used 70 or so times in the New Testament and clearly refer to our eternal state.  My finite mind can’t wrap its arms around that infinite thought because I was born on a fall day in 1966.

It’s possible that I’m way out in left field on this one.  However, Father has shown me today what He needs me to see and that it is a very applicable lesson.  How does that apply to me today?

I cannot possibly understand the ways of God. In one sense, it scares me to not be able to think my way through this.  In another, it’s very reassuring to know that my God is so much bigger than I am and I can trust Him, even if I can’t wrap my head around Him.

Don’t stop seeking. Verse 7 in the ESV uses the word “seek” which means to “to seek [in order to find out] by thinking, meditating, reasoning, to inquire into.”  We are to seek out those things – think on, meditate, reason, inquire – that bring glory, honor and immortality (those things that are pure and incorruptible) by patiently doing, but God himself will give us eternal life – that which we will never be able to reason out.

Father,  Thank you that you are bigger than my mind.  I praise the fact that I cannot understand you; I cannot figure you out; that you are SO much bigger than I could ever imagine.  Help me walk today in that security and faith to do things bigger than myself in your name today.  Bless your name.  Amen.

Still need a catchy title

I am in 2 Chronicles 17 today.

You know it seems that each successive king of Judah is stepping it up a notch (at least at the beginning of their reign).  Abijah understood his place with God compared to Jeroboam and trusted in the Lord to deliver him; Asa “did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord” and he removed idols, alters, etc; Now I am reading of Jehoshaphat walked in the ways of David and took delight in the ways of the Lord.  But he also sent His leaders to teach in the cities of Judah.

Here is what jumped out at me as I read this.  First, he said he took delight in the ways of the Lord. Psalm 40:8-10 talks about what it looks like when you delight to do the will of the Lord.  You proclaim the good news in the great assembly; you do not restrain your lips; you do not hide or conceal His righteousness or His lovingkindness or His truth.  Instead you declare all of this and His faithfulness and salvation to the assembly.  That is precisely what Jehoshaphat did.  He sent his leaders throughout all of Judah to teach the people.  He was declaring all he knew about the Lord.

Another interesting thing is that he sent his leaders to do this teaching.  That means his leadership team knew the Word.  It doesn’t say that he sent the priests (although they went, too) or that he sent teachers; he sent his leaders.  Jehoshaphat sent his core team out to do the teaching.  His core team, those with whom he was closest and upon whom he relied to lead his kingdom, was comprised of those people who walked closest to God.

I believe that this is a Biblical principle for my life and for all of us.  It is something I strive for at work.  To make my core leadership team one that is sold out for God.  A group of people who understand the ways of the Lord and can teach others about him.  But, I believe that we should run our homes the same way.  The people whom we are closest to should have the ability to teach our children and to speak truth into the lives of those around us.

BTW, did y’all notice that I used Shoe’s cool little scripture viewer?