Our LIfe in Christ

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,

instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires
and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,
who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed,
and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession,
zealous for good deeds.”
Titus 2:11-14

A good treatise on the Christian life!  Our rebirth, our life, and the hope of the future!  You are a part of a people for His own possession.  You are His!  You are His child!  He loves you. Period!  The grace of God has appeared.  Grace is His forgiveness and pleasure of loving you just  because you are His!  He has redeemed (bought) you from your sins (every lawless deed) and made you His.  The good deeds and righteous living are an outgrowth of who we are in Christ, they do not save us or make us more precious to God.  He already loves His children with a love as wide as the skies!

 

Praise your God today in spite of your circumstances.  His grace is abounding and His love is unending!

Continue

“Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…

You however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of,
knowing from whom you have learned them,
and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings
which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2 timothy 3:12-15

In spite of life’s circumstances, satan’s traps, and your own inadequacies, know that God is faithful!  Be faithful, don’t give in!  Keep taking the next step next!  Wait with eager anticipation for God to bring the victory!

 

God's Reputation

In the book of Esther after Haman is humbled by having to lead Mordecai around town on the king’s best horse, Haman goes home to complain to his wife.  Her reply? 

 

“If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish origin,

you will not overcome him, but will surely fall before him.” 

Esther 6:13

 

The Persians had a knowledge of the Jews’ God!  That Haman’s wife said this is even more profound when you realize that Haman was the Jews’ enemy form the previous chapter. 

 

Do people know that you will succeed because they know the reputation of your God in your life?  Have you made God’s glory and greatness known that others realize that He is your success?

Contentment

“But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.”

1 Timothy 6:6

Contentment is the hardest attitude to cultivate, but one that is well worth it!  Contentment comes on the heels of thanksgiving and praise.  Contentment is a byproduct of humility.  Contentment looks forward to Heaven.  Contentment is saying, “I am at peace with my past, my present, and my future because Jesus is Lord over all.”  Godliness without contentment is just legalism.  True godliness is faith and trust not works.  Faith and trust leads to contentment. 

May you be content in whatever circumstance you find yourself in.  God will bless  that attitude and you will be at peace.

 

Fear

“God has not given us a spirit of fear,

but of love and power and discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:7

Fear is the opposite of faith.  But it is also a human emotion that must be brought under the authority of the cross by taking every thought captive and replacing Satan’s lies with God’s truth.  Fear often stems from the past.  Jesus is Lord over your past.  Give it to Him along with the fear.  He is Lord of your future.  Give it to Him along with your fear.

 I am afraid of bridges when driving in a car.  There is a bridge on I-10 in Louisiana that reaches the clouds before it comes back down!  The last time we went that way, I was driving and my husband was in the passenger seat sleeping.  As we approached that bridge I told myself that I was fine, that many cars over that bridge daily, that Jesus was with me, that I just needed to sing praises and trust God.  My mind was set on Christ.  My body, on the other hand, began to tremble and shake and I began to hyperventilate.  I finally woke my husband up and asked him to talk to me.  He talked me off the bridge and into the nearest exit.  I got out of the car and stood there shaking for about another 5 minutes.  But when it was over, I was able to laugh.  Fear, the emotion, took over, but faith won the day, and I think that I could handle that bridge if I ever have to again.  (Then again there is always an alternate route!)  That fear did not keep me from crossing over many other bridges since then.  This faith walk is a journey.  If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.  And remember that Jesus is Lord and will bring you love and power and discipline as you face your fears

God is Near

“’Am I a God who is near,’ declares the Lord,

 ‘And not a God far off?
Can a man  hide himself in hiding places
So I do not see him?’ declares the Lord.
‘Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?’”
Declares the Lord.”
Jeremiah 23:23-24

The answer: “Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there,
If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will lay hold of me…”
Psalm 139:7-12

Sometimes we don’t feel God’s presence and we feel like he has abandoned us.  But the truth is: He is there with you always.  Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Act upon what you know is God’s truth and not your feelings.  Take time to praise Him for His presence and His care.  Eventually your feelings will line up with the truth.  But stand on the B-I-B-L-E!

 

Our Righteousness

“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord,

“When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch;
And He will reign as king and act wisely
And do justice and righteousness in the land.
In His days Judah will be saved,
And Israel will dwell securely;
And this is His name by which He will be called,
‘The Lord our righteousness.’”
Jeremiah 23:5

It is interesting to note that Jesus will be righteousness and He will do righteousness.  He is the embodiment of righteousness, therefore His actions must be righteous!  What about you?  If Jesus is your Savior, then He is your righteousness.  You are righteous not because of who you are, but because of Whom you belong to.  If we are declared righteous before God, then we should be able to only do righteousness.  Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness?  Our pastor explained that this is not the verbs hunger and thirst for an immediate satisfaction that will quickly need to be replenished, but rather a hunger and a thirst that is vital for life a starving and a parchment that can only be satisfied through Christ, Our Righteousness.  Many believe that sin will always be a part of our life while still here on the earth.  I wonder.  If we are made righteous and able to do righteousness because of the Holy Spirit in us, can we choose to not sin?  I think that is sanctification and maturity in Christ.  I am not there yet, but as I grow, I should be aiming towards pure righteousness and not allow sin to reign, because where light is, darkness can not abide!