Finish, then Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let it be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.

Charles Wesley, from the hymn, Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

God is already at work in us. As believers, He has once and for all adopted us. He is now in the process of transforming us into the likeness of Jesus. One day, that transformation will be complete. And we have been promised that God is going to see us through to that end.

Already, we can say that God sees us as holy and unblemished. Our guilt has been cleansed. But life as we know it is still full of suffering. Our world is not perfect. We feel distant from God’s presence. We continue to fail. Our friends and loved-ones eventually move away or pass away.

But we have a promise that God will live with us for eternity:

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever.”

Revelation 21:3-4 NLT

Since we know that this is our future, we have joy to overcome the stings of the present, and the failings of the past. Take comfort in the knowledge that God has good things in store for you, especially his lasting presence. But don’t forget that God has already placed his Spirit inside you.

reflect

God is working on your life now, and will complete the task!

• What is an area of you life that you wish God was already done working on?
• Thank God for His presence in your life now.

Come to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by the people, but he is precious to God who chose him.

And now God is building you, as a living stone, into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are God’s holy priests, who offer the spiritual sacrifices that please him because of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:4 NLT

This new life we have in Christ has given us new purpose. We are priests. We are agents of reconciliation. We offer peace to a world in desperate need of it. Our new life is not just to be shared with God and other believers. We must venture out!

This is nothing new, really. You see, the Jews of Christ’s time had a similar calling. They were to be the picture of a nation in relationship with God. They were the priests that were to offer an example of harmony to the world.

Obviously, something went wrong. Along the way, the physical temple became such a focus of their being that they rejected its support, Christ. They were so focused on themselves that God was nauseated by the stink of their sacrifices.

Rather than wait on the world to come to Him, God has commanded us to take the message to the streets. Our daily lives and past experiences are opportunities to offer transformation to a broken world.

Whether we will be successful depends on the content of our message. Do we offer self-help, or Christ’s help? Are we quicker to condemn, or forgive? Are our weaknesses and failures corrected or hidden?

Will they see us, or Jesus in us?

reflect

We don’t talk about priests a lot. But mediation between God and man was well understood by the early Christian and pagan world.

• What is so important about the fact that you are “God’s holy priests”?
• What are the “spiritual sacrifices that please him [God]”?

…you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

“Once you were not a people; now you are the people of God,

Once you received none of God’s mercy; now you have received his mercy.”

1 Peter 2:9-10 NLT
(check out Hosea 1:6,9;2:23!)

Each believer was once an outsider, separated from God. But God himself has called every believer out of that place. A change of status has occurred:

• From “darkness” to “light”
• From ”not a people” to “the people of God”
• From “received none of God’s mercy” to “received his mercy”

Hosea adds to this list a people unloved and unforgiven, now being shown love. And as a finale, God declares to Israel: I will say, ‘Now you are my people.’ Then they will reply, ‘You are our God!’

Following the declaration in 1 Peter 2:9-10, verse 11 states a new truth: believers become “foreigners and aliens here [in the world].” Without a doubt, a change of status has occurred!

reflect

Note that this status change has two major components. There is (1) a new status between us and God, and (2) a new status between us and other believers.

• Why do you think God links our status with him (vertical) and our status with other believers (horizontal)?
• What happens to this new status when you fail?

All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again. Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.

1 Peter 1:3-4 NLT

It’s what we long for: We crave life and relationship. Jesus has prepared the way for us by rising from the dead himself. We have a new life, with a new family and a promised inheritance. It is both a promise and a settled truth.

As believers, we have been adopted into the family of God. A family is often known for its commonalities. Some families share physical traits; others share a sense of humor or a common way of dealing with stress. God’s family is to be known by a common love; Jesus’ disciples are to be known by their common willingness to sacrifice for the sake of others.

But God does not expect this sacrifice to be without its own rewards. We are like children away at school. The comfort of our home awaits us. All the blessings of a family home are stored up for a future day when we will share them with Him forever without fear of loss, pain or rejection.

reflect

It is the secret of true discipleship to bear the cross, to acknowledge the death sentence that has been passed on the self, and to deny any right that self has to rule over us.

Andrew Murray

• Which has a greater impact on your daily walk, the truth that you are Jesus’ disciple, or the truth that you are a child of God? Why?
• How are these two truths related?

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…

Matthew 28: 18 – 20a, NIV

As we look at what Christ clearly commanded, many of us still cling to the comfort of our favorite chair, scared of the task set before us. But what Christ has called us to do, while intimidating in thought, could never be so bad that we would not receive a blessing by following as He leads.

Christ gave us clear instructions: “GO!” So why are we still sitting? We have glorious news, news that should always spill from our lips, yet I find I’m silent too often. There is a world crying out to us Christians as they struggle to live in this world, people who are hungry. We can meet their physical need for nourishment and Christ can meet their need for “soul food”.

We may not all be called to missions, but we can support missions. We can support missions in many different ways. God has blessed you in some way. Be a blessing to others.

In the words of Caedmon’s Call : “maybe you’ve got money, maybe you’ve got time, maybe you’ve got a Living Well, that ain’t never running dry…share the well, share with your brother, share the well, my friend.”

reflect

If we are the body
Why aren’t His arms reaching?
Why aren’t His hands healing?
Why aren’t His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren’t His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way

Casting Crowns

• How can you support the spreading of the Gospel over the world?
• Pray for God’s direction in your role in spreading the Good News.

But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

1 Corinthians 12:24b-25

I was recently involved in a conversation where I was asked, “What is the most unenviable job you’ve ever had?” I had to think for a moment because I’ve had a couple of occupations in my work history that might qualify. But finally I shared about a position I held once providing in-home care to a terminally ill gentleman who was dying of Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Spending time with him was a pleasure because he was a devout believer in Jesus Christ and had an admirable disposition, especially considering his prognosis. The undesirable nature of that job involved helping him with matters where his body no longer functioned normally. He could not use the bathroom alone, blow his nose, walk, lie down, eat, or do many other things that we take for granted. But, despite all his inabilities, he still did at least one thing exceptionally well. He encouraged those around him!! He hadn’t resigned the last days of his life to self-pity or depression; he hadn’t given up on fulfilling his role in the body of Christ. I can still see the broad smile he would flash at everyone who walked through the door to visit and I can hear his voice talking about the Lord and sharing words of joy. Right up to his death, he was on active duty in the body of Christ!

I think we can learn a lesson from “Al” when it comes to doing our job in caring for the body of Christ. No matter what part of the body we may be connected to based on our gifts and abilities, we all can help keep the body healthy by being encouragers. We can offer words of affirmation and hope to those parts of the body that are hurting. We can do more than just tell someone we’re going to pray for them, we can actually do it. We can smile more and brighten another’s day. We can do what the Bible says and think of others more highly than ourselves and think of their interests too (Ph. 2:3-4).

Whenever I reflect back on my time spent with “Al,” it isn’t the undignified times that stand out or the tasks that I performed for him, but rather it is the blessings I received from him, an encouraging vocal chord in the body of Christ.

reflect

• Am I strengthening the body of Christ or handicapping it? How?
• What care can I offer the Body at The Mount?

This post was originally distributed through PDF in conjunction with the Christian Self Image series, November 2, 2005.

Be constant in prayer as well as in reading. Speak with God, and let God speak with you. Let Him instruct you in his commands; let him direct you. No one can make poor those He makes rich, for those who have been supplied with heavenly food can’t be poor. When you know that it is you who will be perfected, golden ceilings and houses with costly marble mosaics will seem dull to you in comparison to the dwelling in which God has lived and in which the Holy Spirit has begun to make his home. Let us then decorate this house with the colors of innocence. Let us illuminate it with the light of justice. Then it will never decay with the wear of age, nor will its wall colors or its gold become tarnished. Those things made artificially beautiful are perishing. Things that can’t really be owned can’t provide abiding assurance for their possessors. But remain in a beauty that is continually vivid, in perfect honor, in permanent splendor. It can neither decay nor be destroyed. It can only be fashioned into greater perfection

Cyprian

A body must be nourished properly. That is, if a body is going to grow properly and work successfully, it must be nourished properly. Cyprian directs the source of our nourishment to Jesus himself. He asks us to immerse ourselves in the beauty of Christ, that our lives might be richly supplied.

We hear a lot these days about proper nourishment of our physical bodies. The food pyramid is constantly changing as our culture seeks the best way to feed the body and sustain an active lifestyle. But when we neglect the spiritual side of ourselves, we fail to understand who God has created us to be.

We must drink deeply of God’s word for it gives us strength, security, promise, and hope. This includes spending time in the written word, as well as communicating (both speaking and listening) with God through prayer. God teaches us how to act, how to live, and what steps to take. God reveals to us what is true, what is honorable, what is indestructible.

Before we begin to believe that reading and meditation are efforts of our own will alone, we must go back to John’s gospel:

Oh, there is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by revealing to you whatever he receives from me. All that the Father has is mine; this is what I mean when I say that the Spirit will reveal to you whatever he receives from me.

John 16:12-15

We are told that we cannot properly understand scripture unless the Holy Spirit teaches us. The Holy Spirit takes the message and applies it to our lives. He takes the riches of the Father and disperses them with Christ’s authority so that our needs might be met. He brings every believer into one body for mutual benefit – and so much more.

And the last is not just a side-effect. All along it was God’s purpose not just to nourish us as individuals, but to nourish a unified body that could impact the wider world.

They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord’s Supper and in prayer.

A deep sense of awe come over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.

And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. They worshipped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity – all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.

Acts 2:42-47

• Looking at this passage, identify which elements are causes and which are effects.
• Is your spiritual health affecting the church? How?

This post was originally distributed through PDF in conjunction with the Christian Self Image series, November 2, 2005.

If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans – I will come to you.

John 14:15-18

But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative – and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit – he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you.

I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn’t like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

John 14:26-27

In John 14, Jesus responds to Philip’s seemingly reasonable request to “see” the Father. Jesus answers by pointing to himself. But he does not stop there. He also indicates the coming of the Counselor. In John 14-17, we then see how much the Holy Spirit is integral to God’s plan for us.

Before chapter 14 ends, another seemingly reasonable question is asked: “Why don’t you just reveal yourself to everyone now? Why just us? Why be so selective?” Jesus response again, not missing a beat, is “I have a gift for you!” That gift is “peace of mind and heart.” It is the Spirit’s presence in our lives.

God wants us to understand that the Holy Spirit is the backbone of his plan for enabling the Church. The Spirit reveals the truth to us and convicts the world of sin. The Spirit establishes and coordinates our spiritual gifts. The Spirit dwells within each believer as a source of comfort and strength.

The Spirit is not divided, though we may be. He directs us towards common goals. Reaching the world, encouraging each other, developing godly character, meeting each other’s needs, glorifying God – all these things are orchestrated by the Holy Spirit living within us.

reflect

How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when brothers live together in harmony!

Psalm 133:1

Look at our ministries:

• Do they work together? How are they related?
• How could they work together better?
• How do you fit in?