Colossians 1:9-10
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer
9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
The Apostle Paul indicates in these verses that learning God’s will and growing in His grace is a process rather than an instantaneous act. He is speaking to the Church at Colossi, believers, yet he says “… give you complete knowledge … give you spiritual wisdom and understanding … you will grow as you learn…”.
We are not finished products. God is still working on us. Let us purpose in our hearts to study more so we might grow faster … in His time.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
LEARN FROM PAST FAILURES
Zechariah 1:2-6
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
A Call to Return to the LORD
2 “I, the LORD, was very angry with your ancestors. 3 Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.’ 4 Don’t be like your ancestors who would not listen or pay attention when the earlier prophets said to them, ‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Turn from your evil ways, and stop all your evil practices.’
5 “Where are your ancestors now? They and the prophets are long dead. 6 But everything I said through my servants the prophets happened to your ancestors, just as I said. As a result, they repented and said, ‘We have received what we deserved from the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. He has done what he said he would do.’”
Having lived through the 60’s and the civil rights struggles of our nation, one of the concerns was always if we push too hard for what is right, the responses would be over reaction and greater repression. Thankfully that concern did not become reality. Now, almost 50 years later, we are seeing separationist thought resurface. We see it in politics, race and in a place where it never went away … worship. Take a look around your place of worship this week. With a few exceptions and a few tokens, we are acting and looking separated.
When we do unify as the Body of Christ, we see how wonderful things are when we come together. The Kairos Prison Ministry team we had this past weekend is a wonderful reminder from the Lord of how He wants us to love each other and serve together.
Like Israel, I’m afraid we are in danger of failing to learn lessons from past failures. “Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.”
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
A Call to Return to the LORD
2 “I, the LORD, was very angry with your ancestors. 3 Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.’ 4 Don’t be like your ancestors who would not listen or pay attention when the earlier prophets said to them, ‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Turn from your evil ways, and stop all your evil practices.’
5 “Where are your ancestors now? They and the prophets are long dead. 6 But everything I said through my servants the prophets happened to your ancestors, just as I said. As a result, they repented and said, ‘We have received what we deserved from the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. He has done what he said he would do.’”
Having lived through the 60’s and the civil rights struggles of our nation, one of the concerns was always if we push too hard for what is right, the responses would be over reaction and greater repression. Thankfully that concern did not become reality. Now, almost 50 years later, we are seeing separationist thought resurface. We see it in politics, race and in a place where it never went away … worship. Take a look around your place of worship this week. With a few exceptions and a few tokens, we are acting and looking separated.
When we do unify as the Body of Christ, we see how wonderful things are when we come together. The Kairos Prison Ministry team we had this past weekend is a wonderful reminder from the Lord of how He wants us to love each other and serve together.
Like Israel, I’m afraid we are in danger of failing to learn lessons from past failures. “Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.”
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
YET TO COME
1 Peter 1:10-12
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
The Hope of Eternal Life
10 This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. 11 They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.
12 They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.
Just as with the Old Testament prophets, we want to know more about things which were spoken of but have not yet come to pass. We are curious about the last days, the judgment seat, the final battle … eternity. God gave the prophets the what they were to say in their day. He gave John the Revelator the words he was to write. Then God closed the Book and tells us to watch and wait. We are to observe the signs and always be ready.
Much is yet to come!
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
The Hope of Eternal Life
10 This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. 11 They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.
12 They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.
Just as with the Old Testament prophets, we want to know more about things which were spoken of but have not yet come to pass. We are curious about the last days, the judgment seat, the final battle … eternity. God gave the prophets the what they were to say in their day. He gave John the Revelator the words he was to write. Then God closed the Book and tells us to watch and wait. We are to observe the signs and always be ready.
Much is yet to come!
Monday, November 02, 2009
TO THIS DAY
Judges 2:1-3
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
The LORD’s Messenger Comes to Bokim
1 The angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said to the Israelites, “I brought you out of Egypt into this land that I swore to give your ancestors, and I said I would never break my covenant with you. 2 For your part, you were not to make any covenants with the people living in this land; instead, you were to destroy their altars. But you disobeyed my command. Why did you do this? 3 So now I declare that I will no longer drive out the people living in your land. They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a constant temptation to you.”
Israel’s enemies remain a thorn in their side to this day. The failure to obey, several thousand years before, is still causing them trouble. There are consequences to sin. Peace in the Middle East has not been attained. “Their gods…”, the Islamic nations are and will continue to be troublesome for these people who failed to obey the Lord’s command.
Should we expect any less when we fail to obey God? Israel is God’s chosen nation … the nation through which He sent the Savior Jesus Christ. If they are subject to years of punishment for disobedience, should we, a Christian nation expect any less when we fail to faithfully follow God’s Word? Solutions will never come through government. God calls for His people to turn from their wicked ways and humbly seek His face. Only then will God heal this land.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
The LORD’s Messenger Comes to Bokim
1 The angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said to the Israelites, “I brought you out of Egypt into this land that I swore to give your ancestors, and I said I would never break my covenant with you. 2 For your part, you were not to make any covenants with the people living in this land; instead, you were to destroy their altars. But you disobeyed my command. Why did you do this? 3 So now I declare that I will no longer drive out the people living in your land. They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a constant temptation to you.”
Israel’s enemies remain a thorn in their side to this day. The failure to obey, several thousand years before, is still causing them trouble. There are consequences to sin. Peace in the Middle East has not been attained. “Their gods…”, the Islamic nations are and will continue to be troublesome for these people who failed to obey the Lord’s command.
Should we expect any less when we fail to obey God? Israel is God’s chosen nation … the nation through which He sent the Savior Jesus Christ. If they are subject to years of punishment for disobedience, should we, a Christian nation expect any less when we fail to faithfully follow God’s Word? Solutions will never come through government. God calls for His people to turn from their wicked ways and humbly seek His face. Only then will God heal this land.
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