I exercise by running/walking at least six days a week. When I get done exercising my clothes are usually quite filled with "sweat". It is always enjoyable to "put off" the sweaty clothes and "put on" the clean, fresh ones.
As I was reading Colossians 3 regarding the "putting off" of the old carnal habits - anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy... of the old man and the "putting on" of the new habits of the new man I thought "I wish it was just as easy to change our natures as it is to change our clothes. Then I realized afresh that I don't have to change those carnal habits because God in Christ did it for me. "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering..." This is the character of the new man. The key is that we have been elected by God to walk in newness of life. It was nothing we did or could even choose to do.
In this life, we will still struggle at times and there will be a battle between the new man and the old man. The good news is that God has given us the character of the new man and we can choose to "put off" those carnal habits when we see them raising their ugly heads at us.
The Lord has already dressed us in clothes of righteousness. He has cleansed us through the blood of Christ. Therefore, let us walk in the newness of that life and rejoice in the character that God has placed in us through Jesus Christ.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Heartily, as unto the Lord!
The other day a friend called and asked me to do a favor that would take up a couple hours of my time. I readily agreed outwardly but inside what I was saying was "I really don't want to do this - it's a dreary rainy day and it's late and I'm tired".
In spite of my feelings I did what she asked me to do.
This morning I was reading Colossians 3 and when I read vs. 17 I was reminded of the attitude I had regarding the help I gave my friend. "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
As I began to think about this I realized the many areas of our lives this speaks to - young wives and mothers who are at home doing routine tasks, people in the work place unsatisfied and hating their jobs, people in Christian service who are burned out and not at all joyous about their service, children or teens who hate school and dread every class, and those times we are asked to help a friend or neighbor. The list goes on and we could all fit into any one of those categories. I would venture to say that most of the time as we perform various tasks we do not give a lot of thought to the fact that it is to be done in the name of the Lord Jesus - even our very words. Then in vs. 23 it is said a little differently. "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men..."
Another side of this is that many times we do things to "please men". There is nothing wrong with wanting to please our family, friends and neighbors but when we do something only to get a "praise" or "thank you" from people, we will never find the joy the Lord intends us to have. Many times you will serve and not receive a "praise" or "thank you". Then we find ourselves saying "Well, I am not going to do that again or did they not realize what I sacrificed to do this?" When something is done in the name of the Lord Jesus he says "you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."
In spite of my feelings I did what she asked me to do.
This morning I was reading Colossians 3 and when I read vs. 17 I was reminded of the attitude I had regarding the help I gave my friend. "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
As I began to think about this I realized the many areas of our lives this speaks to - young wives and mothers who are at home doing routine tasks, people in the work place unsatisfied and hating their jobs, people in Christian service who are burned out and not at all joyous about their service, children or teens who hate school and dread every class, and those times we are asked to help a friend or neighbor. The list goes on and we could all fit into any one of those categories. I would venture to say that most of the time as we perform various tasks we do not give a lot of thought to the fact that it is to be done in the name of the Lord Jesus - even our very words. Then in vs. 23 it is said a little differently. "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men..."
Another side of this is that many times we do things to "please men". There is nothing wrong with wanting to please our family, friends and neighbors but when we do something only to get a "praise" or "thank you" from people, we will never find the joy the Lord intends us to have. Many times you will serve and not receive a "praise" or "thank you". Then we find ourselves saying "Well, I am not going to do that again or did they not realize what I sacrificed to do this?" When something is done in the name of the Lord Jesus he says "you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
All authority is appointed by God
President Obama has been in office approximately 50 days. It is a short "drop in the bucket" before completing a full term. For some this may be exciting, for others, a dreaded road.
Barak Obama was certainly not my choice as President. It is very easy as I talk with others who also did not vote for Barak Obama to complain and grumble about this administration under his leadership. We may not agree with his choices and decisions and there is nothing wrong with disagreeing with them. However, there is a line that we are warned by the Lord that should not be crossed. We are not to speak evil of him or curse him.
Exodus 22:28 says "we are not to curse a ruler of our people." In fact Paul quotes this verse in Acts 23:5. Ecclesiastes 10:20 says "Do not curse the king, even in your thought."
The reason we are not to speak evil or curse President Obama is because he has been appointed by the Lord to be where he is. To speak evil of him is to speak evil of the Lord since He is the one who appointed him. The 13th chapter of Romans clearly explains that "we are to be subject to governing authorities and that there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God."
One of the ways to support him is certainly to pray for God's leading in his life.
In the meantime, we can take an active roll where we can make a difference and help to make changes but realizing it is all under the authority of the Lord.
Barak Obama was certainly not my choice as President. It is very easy as I talk with others who also did not vote for Barak Obama to complain and grumble about this administration under his leadership. We may not agree with his choices and decisions and there is nothing wrong with disagreeing with them. However, there is a line that we are warned by the Lord that should not be crossed. We are not to speak evil of him or curse him.
Exodus 22:28 says "we are not to curse a ruler of our people." In fact Paul quotes this verse in Acts 23:5. Ecclesiastes 10:20 says "Do not curse the king, even in your thought."
The reason we are not to speak evil or curse President Obama is because he has been appointed by the Lord to be where he is. To speak evil of him is to speak evil of the Lord since He is the one who appointed him. The 13th chapter of Romans clearly explains that "we are to be subject to governing authorities and that there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God."
One of the ways to support him is certainly to pray for God's leading in his life.
In the meantime, we can take an active roll where we can make a difference and help to make changes but realizing it is all under the authority of the Lord.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Wisdom for the day
I have been reading the book of James lately and I have been struck with how practical this book is for a day to day life. In it there is instruction for how we handle trials, applying God’s word and not just hearing it, showing partiality to people, showing our faith with our works, the untamable tongue, pride, humility, judging others, boasting, and patience in perseverance. There is much more but I am having trouble doing what I already know to be true about these instructions. I know the book of James reasonably well. What I lack is the ability to apply these things so that they make a difference in my life leading me to joy on this path I walk everyday. In fact James says in 4:17 “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”
Solomon was told by God at the beginning of his reign as king that he could ask for whatever he wanted! Wow, that almost sounds too good to be true. My mind already pictures the kind of things I would be asking but, to get back to the point, Solomon asked for discernment so that he would be able to judge God’s people. In other words, he asked for wisdom.
When I am faced with decisions that seem very daunting, I usually will pray about these things. I confess it would be wonderful if God would just write the answer on the palace wall the way he did for Nebuchadnezzar. However, instead I need to pray and wait.
James tells us in 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” This is interesting. Those of us who have spent a reasonable amount of time in the bible can “spout” verses that have to do with prayer. But in this verse I truly see that we are to ask for wisdom. I believe that when we ask for wisdom we are asking God to show us how to pray about the issues in trials and hard decisions.
I confess for the most part I fail to ask for wisdom in my prayers. In reading the first chapter of James you see this verse coming on the heels of various trials that he says will produce patience.
I know that prayer can be joyous but sometimes very difficult and very confusing. Yet, when the Lord has given us the guideline to walk and we fail to do so, we cannot say “God doesn’t answer my prayers”. Perhaps wisdom is what we are lacking. His wisdom - wisdom that He gives to all liberally.
Solomon was told by God at the beginning of his reign as king that he could ask for whatever he wanted! Wow, that almost sounds too good to be true. My mind already pictures the kind of things I would be asking but, to get back to the point, Solomon asked for discernment so that he would be able to judge God’s people. In other words, he asked for wisdom.
When I am faced with decisions that seem very daunting, I usually will pray about these things. I confess it would be wonderful if God would just write the answer on the palace wall the way he did for Nebuchadnezzar. However, instead I need to pray and wait.
James tells us in 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” This is interesting. Those of us who have spent a reasonable amount of time in the bible can “spout” verses that have to do with prayer. But in this verse I truly see that we are to ask for wisdom. I believe that when we ask for wisdom we are asking God to show us how to pray about the issues in trials and hard decisions.
I confess for the most part I fail to ask for wisdom in my prayers. In reading the first chapter of James you see this verse coming on the heels of various trials that he says will produce patience.
I know that prayer can be joyous but sometimes very difficult and very confusing. Yet, when the Lord has given us the guideline to walk and we fail to do so, we cannot say “God doesn’t answer my prayers”. Perhaps wisdom is what we are lacking. His wisdom - wisdom that He gives to all liberally.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
