“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, i do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things.”

Philippians 3:12-15

Nature is full of examples of things that change from one form to another. Caterpillars become butterflies. Fish-like tadpoles become four-legged frogs. Eggs hatch into chickens. And small hard seeds grow into beautiful flowers. We should be the same as these, in that Jesus comes into our lives, we experience change. But it is both an instantaneous and continual change. Instantaneous as we become new creatures in Christ. The old passes away and all things are made new. Our sins are forgiven, we are adopted into God’s family, and we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit to live within us forever. Continual as we grow in our relationship with Christ day to day. We deepen our friendship with him as we spend time with him. We learn to trust him more as we see him provide for all our needs. We become more like him as we walk with him, telling the world of his love.

Having said all that, it stands to reason that there should be a change in our lives. If there has not been, you should look again at the issue of whether you truly have a personal relationship with Christ. If your life does not have turning point in it, where before you knew Christ you were one way, and after coming to know him personally, you are another way, you should examine your life to see if you indeed have made that decision to trust Christ. If you can point to a time of change, then you may be asking, just how do I continue this walk with Christ? How do I know I am following him the way that I am supposed to? God has given us the answer to that need also in Philippians.

Verse 17 of chapter 3 says, “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.” Who are we to imitate? Of course, Paul is the author of this book, and his life is very often worth imitating. He was not perfect, but he was zealous in his sharing of the gospel, and he was faithful in teaching and training those under him. He intentionally sought opportunities to talk to everyone he came in contact with about what Jesus did in his life. And he brought with him his own committed disciples and trained them through his actions and words. But Paul does not just offer himself as an example to follow. He says for us to take note of (all) those who live according to the pattern we were given. What is that pattern? How do we know if we are doing it right?

The pattern we are to follow that Paul gave us is the one he established as he patterned his life after Christ himself. Wow. That is a tall order. And let’s just say it up front that we will not match that pattern. But we have been given the gift of God’s Holy Spirit to live in and through us. And as we yield ourselves to his direction and are willing to obey him, he gives us the power to live that life we are called to live. There are those all around us that have learned how to trust him in this way, and we can imitate their lives, too, as they imitate his. And as we grow, there will be those who look at our lives as examples to follow. It may seem like a scary proposition, but as we grow in him, it should be the logical next step. It will be a sure sign that we, too, belong to him and are living the changed life that he has given to us. We receive a wonderful gift… and then have the privilege of passing it on!

thoughts to think

1. Can you point to a time in your life that you are sure you began a personal relationship with Christ? If not, go to someone who can show you the way to do that.
2. Are there definite changes that you can point to in the past, and also in the present? Are you growing in your walk with Christ, and changing as you learn?
3. Does your life act as an example to others as you follow Christ? Are you dependent on the Holy Spirit to empower you to live that kind of life? If not, what changes do you need to make?

prayer

Lord, give me a view of the changes you have made in my life. Let me see them and praise you for them. Show me those in my life that you want me to emulate. And make me the kind of person that others will want to follow. Always remind me to trust in the power of your spirit in me to accomplish all that concerns me, and show me each day how I can learn more and obey you fully. In Christ’s name, Amen.

Whether overwhelming clutter or actual unsanitary dirty filth, something has got to change. Sometimes, as I said, people nominate themselves – they realize there’s a problem and they just don’t know how or where to begin. Other people are too close to the problem and they don’t even see it – someone else calls the TV show to help get their friends’ eyes open. I look at these people – their faces, their posture… they seem beaten, bogged down by their own doing. They are sad, practically blinded by inability to function – and it affects the entire household – everyone around them. But then – they ask for help (or someone asks for them) and help comes and they accept the help.

I personally feel better having seen other people’s disastrous abodes. By comparison, well, my place isn’t nearly THAT bad! And, I am moved to action. When I see the mess that these people on TV have allowed themselves to get into, I find that I put forth a little more effort, thinking that I don’t want to end up in the same sort of mess! Then, at the end of the program, when the “new” clean beautiful rooms are revealed to the homeowners, I am again moved to action – only this time, with the mindset that, “I want that for myself!”

The big reveal at the end of the program is one of the best parts of the show. Their eyes are opened and their responses are typically those of joy, surprise, delight. They often think that their dirty old stove is a brand new stove – nah, it’s just been cleaned! They’ve not only been helped, but they’ve been given the tools – not just physical tools such as brooms and mops – but tools within themselves enabling to go from there – to maintain and improve and to not get into such a situation again in the future. They’ve been changed for the better. They’ll live differently than they did before this “encounter.” And when I see it, it gives me hope – “if they can do it, so can I!” and it presents me a challenge to get up and go scrub something and pick up some clutter myself.

In Acts 22:4-16 Paul writes:

I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.

About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, “Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?”

“Who are you, Lord?” I asked.

“I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.

“What shall I do, Lord?” I asked.

“Get up,” the Lord said, “and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.” My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.

A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. He stood beside me and said, “Brother Saul, receive your sight!” And at that very moment I was able to see him.

Then he said: “The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”

Saul was a mess. Angry and violent, and his situation had gotten way out of hand! But he wasn’t asking for help, was he? The Lord himself called Saul and confronted him about his ways. Jesus nominated him for the program! Like a TV maintenance crew, Ananias came and helped – and then Saul’s eyes were opened to new, to clean, to joy – to a new name – Paul – and a new life. New goals. He had accepted the help, the gift of salvation. He was given the tools within himself to go out and not allow himself to go back to the way he was – and this gift he was able to pass on to others who saw the change in his life. He could take what he had learned and what he had been given and pass it along. He could be an inspiration and example. Like a shiny new stove, his filthy dirty old stove had been cleaned up.

And if he can do it, hey – so can I. I can look at Paul’s life – his 180 degree change – and I can look at what he did in the name of Christ, and I can be inspired by that to get up and scrub a little here and there. And looking back on my own life, the changes in the better that I see in myself make me know for certain that God has worked – is working – will continue to work in my life.

to think about

• Is there an area of your life that you feel is in some way crippling you, paralyzing you? Is it an issue that you need to ask God for help with solving? Step back and ask yourself – is he offering help, and maybe you just aren’t accepting his help?
• Do you see a friend or family member in such a situation in their spiritual life? Pray long and hard for someone that isn’t able see that they need help, or is blind to the fact that they need help.
• Can you think of other examples of people who have had wonderful, drastic, 180 degree changes for the better?

prayer

God, I am a mess. I thank you and I give you all the glory for helping me clean up my life -and for the peace and joy and delight I have known all for knowing you. For accepting your gift, your love, and for giving me the tools such as your Word, and your son. I know it is not an easy road. I sometimes lack skills, lack confidence, and wander nearly off the path. I am misunderstood and misinterpreted. But I know you are always there for me and I pray that I can continue to learn and grow and improve and mature. If “clutter” builds up in my life, I have your help when I ask for it. For these things I am so grateful.

Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people. But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with him. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia. None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.

Acts 6: 8-10

In the early Christian church, Stephen was a trailblazer, and he held an unyielding confidence in his faith in Christ and his role as a teacher and evangelist. Little is told to us about Stephen’s background in the Bible, but commentators say we can glean some information about him from his name, and thus, his likely beliefs before converting to Christianity. His name implies he was a Hellenistic Jew with ancestry deriving from ancient Greece. Greece, as is commonly known, was a hub of intellectual activity, particularly in rhetoric, philosophy, and the arts. It was also the source of widespread polytheistic beliefs and later, neo-platonism, or the following of the teachings of Plato.

Whether Stephen was previously associated with some religion other than Christianity and had a conversion experience or whether he believed in Christ from an early age, we don’t know. What we do know was that he was the first martyr of the early Christian church and the likely greatest among the seven chosen by the church to provide aid to widows.

“And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.” Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith). … So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.

Acts 6: 3-5, 7

Here, Stephen is the first man picked for this call, and the only one described as “a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit.” While the others were of the church as well, Luke clearly singled Stephen out — and for good reason. After his arrest for teaching the gospel and after some attempted to frame him for blaspheming and other offenses, Acts says Stephen’s face “became as bright as an angel’s.” The counsel that was to judge the accusations to be true or false, questioned Stephen, who proceeded to summarize the tumultuous trek of the Israelites, falling into disobedience from God time and time again.

“You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One — the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.”

Acts 7: 51-53

As the Jewish leaders’ countenance then soured at these words, Stephens grew all the more heaven-set. It is said that here, Stephen experienced a theophany, or a vision of Jesus and God together, with Jesus at the right hand of the Father. Stephen’s physical demise and his words as he drew his last breath are strikingly similar to that of Christ’s, confirming even more how sold out he was, and how confident he was in the face of a looming death, in the saving power of Christ.

As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.

Acts 7: 59-60.

These last words, of course, are easily comparable to Jesus’, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Though the space in the New Testament devoted to Stephen is small, his life’s witness was strong. So much so that in Acts 22:20, we find Stephen’s ultimate characterization.

As The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia states, “Stephen more than met the requirements of the office to which he was elected (Acts 6:3); the record characterizes him as ‘a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 6:5), i.e. of an enthusiastic faith and of a deep spirituality, …the record makes it very clear that the importance of Stephen lay in his activity as a preacher, a witness for Christ; it is this activity which has given him the place he holds in history (Acts 22:20).”

In the face of death, Stephen’s confidence in Christ as the God in the flesh and the risen Lord was unfaltering. While the tradition of his likely ancestors was founded on the belief in a series of gods who used humans as mere pawns, Stephen clearly adopted faith in a god, Christ, who first gave of himself for us and supplied in himself the ultimate sacrifice so that we may have eternal life. We can have confidence and take comfort in the fact that Christ is not only the source of grace, hope and salvation in this life, but a better choice than all the rest.

point to ponder

Ask yourself: In what other religion does the deity actually go to bat for us? Which god in the other religions cares enough to lay himself on the line for mere humans? The answer has to be: none of them. All other religions appear like a great rat race: whoever performs the most rites and rituals gets rewarded with “salvation.” Christ, however, boldly proclaimed that he is the only source. One can’t attend church enough; pray in a certain direction enough or do enough good works to enter heaven. One simply has to believe in Him who sacrificed Himself for us. The single greatest difference between Christianity and all the rest is that he loved us first, not the other way around.

prayer

Father, thank you for loving me even before my conception. Thank you for loving me enough to send your only son to die for my sins, and thank you for the confidence and comfort that brings me. Help me to bring a level of peace, love and hope to those around me that others will wonder what is so different about my life. Please walk with me throughout the week, and help me to reach those around me with the good news. In Christ’s name.

Do you like to fish? Have you ever known someone who was an avid fisherman? I’ve been fishing several times in my life, and while I generally have a good time doing it, it is not something I live for! It is relaxing, yes, but often times I find it more boring than anything. The best time I ever had in my life with a rod and reel in hand was when I got to go deep sea fishing in college. We went 90 miles off shore and I had a blast. Our group’s catch really wasn’t that great, but I enjoyed the adventure nonetheless. I have always had a fascination with the ocean, so the smell of the salty air and the sunshine on my face with no land in sight was exhilarating. I also enjoyed watching the captain and first mate execute their jobs with such skill and precision. They were fisherman of the highest caliber; men who knew the sea and had spent a lot of time interacting with it.

Simon Peter was just such a fisherman as well. A man of the water by trade, his idea of the “good life” was undoubtedly a great day on “the lake” too, just like so many people here in our area of South Carolina today. Peter had grown his sea legs early on and mastered the skill of fishing.

In Luke chapter 5 we read about a fishing excursion that would change Peter’s life. Prior to this outing, Peter was just a catcher of fish. After this launch, he would be a fully devoted follower of Jesus and a fisher of men. Just the evening before this encounter, Peter and his crew worked hard all through the night and didn’t catch a thing. They were men who knew what they were doing and had employed the same techniques dozens if not hundreds of times before with great success. However, on this night, the Bible says they “didn’t catch a thing.” (Luke 5:5)

The next morning, Jesus was preaching to an enormous crowd on the shores of Lake Gennesaret (also called the Sea of Galilee), which is where Peter and his men had been fishing the night before. In fact, Peter’s two boats were still sitting at the water’s edge while the crew was cleaning their nets. The crowds pressed in on Jesus while He spoke to the point that Jesus finally stepped into one of the boats and asked Peter to take Him out into the water a little bit to give Him some personal space to still speak to the throng. So, Peter immediately obliged Him and got a front row seat for the rest of Jesus’ sermon that was preached from his boat.

When Jesus finished speaking, he turned to Peter and gave him a quick fishing suggestion: “Now go out where it is deeper and let down your nets, and you will catch many fish.” I’m sure this must have caught Peter off guard; a carpenter giving an experienced fisherman some tips on how to do his job better. Peter had a choice, right then and there, sitting in the boat as the waves lapped the shore on Sea of Galilee. Peter could have responded with indignance and politely suggested that Jesus stick to sanding wood and building furniture. But, instead, Peter chose wisely and uttered the words that would change his life…”Master, we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, we’ll try again.”

You probably know how the story turned out. This time they let down their nets and caught so many fish that the nets began to tear and they had to call in reinforcements in the second boat. In fact, by the time the last fish was pulled in, both boats were filled and on the verge of sinking!

When Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and humbly admitted how unworthy he was as a sinner to be in the Presence of the Lord. And Jesus replied, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” And as soon as they brought the boats back into shore, Peter left everything and followed Jesus!

We see a tremendous transformation take place in Peter over the course of a few hours or so on an ordinary “day at the office” for him. Because of his encounter with the Son of God, he went from cleaning his nets after a vain foray into the sea to becoming a follower of Jesus and a fisher for men.

Those of you who are familiar with the life of Peter know the transformation didn’t end there, it was only the beginning of a powerful metamorphosis that would take place in his life. Peter would go on to be one of Jesus’ most beloved disciples and the one to whom Jesus would say, “Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it,” after his witness to Jesus being the Christ.

Jesus has always been in the business of transforming lives. Just as He completely changed Peter’s life that day on the lake so long ago, He is still changing lives today. Jesus died on the cross to bring the transforming power of heaven to all of mankind. The same Messiah who rose from the grave is the One who has the power to transform your life today.

Each and every one of us has the same choice that Peter had in the boat that day. When Jesus calls us to trust Him and follow Him with our lives, will we tell Jesus to stick to what He knows and let us handle our own affairs, or will we humbly respond, “Yes, Master, I will obey simply because You told me to.”? Everyone who has ever encountered and yielded to Christ has a before and after story to tell about their lives. Hopefully you’re one of them. If you’re not one of them and you’re still stuck with only a “before Jesus” side to your life, why not listen to His call, say yes to Him, and discover the “after Jesus” side of your life today through His amazing power of transformation! Like Peter, you can simply confess your status as a sinner to God through prayer, admitting that you are a person who is in need of forgiveness and who wants to give up living for themselves and start living for God’s purposes right now. You can do that in the quietness of the room you’re reading this in or you can contact us at the church to pray with you. In either case, don’t let another day go by without giving your heart to the Master.

And, if you do decide today is the day to begin the “after Jesus” side of your life, be sure to let someone know so they can celebrate and rejoice with you!!

a glance in the mirror

In Luke 18:18-29, we are given a glimpse at a certain ruler. He has authority over people and property, likely responsible and very successful, a “man of great wealth” (verse 23). He is carrying on a conversation with Christ, comfortable enough to approach directly the “good teacher”. He describes himself as having kept the law since he was a boy – a righteous man in his own eyes, and in the eyes of others.

Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-9), on the other hand, is neither attractive in appearance or heart – he is described as a short man (verse 3) and a tax collector (verse 2). He was not your average tax collector, but the chief tax collector – often a crooked job, and a profession hated by the crowd. He was not bold enough (or welcomed enough) to approach Christ directly, but ran ahead and climbed a tree in order to simply get a glimpse of Christ. And when Christ called out to him, those in the crowd began condemning Christ for being the “guest of a sinner” (verse 7). The portrait of these two men, in outward righteousness, status within the community, and therefore boldness in approaching Christ, are opposite. What the two did share in common was their wealth (verse 2).

How do you view yourself in light of others?

How do you view yourself in light of the Lord?

a look at the heart

Both men encounter Christ and are not left unscathed. Though the ruler outwardly professed righteousness, Christ knew his heart. He challenged the ruler to “sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. The come, follow me.” (18:22). The righteous ruler sadly turned away, loving his wealth, his comfort and security, more than Christ (verse 23). Zacchaeus, however, without prompting from Christ, began to give away his wealth and repay those he had wronged (19:8). The recognition of the Teacher and His great reception of this sinner impacted Zacchaeus’ heart – Christ was of greater value than all possessions. Both men encountered the same Lord. Their responses were vastly different. One who felt he had done well, turned away from his only true hope, while the one who knew the wretchedness of his heart repented fully.

In who or what are you placing your full hope?

What are you tempted to hope in other than Christ?

a peak at eternity

Christ’s responses to the two men are very different following the change (or lack thereof) in their hearts. To the rich ruler, Christ mourns “…It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” (18:25). But to the repentant tax collector Christ declares, “Today salvation has come to this house…” (19:9). One rejects Christ for the fleeting joys of this world, the other clings to Him above all treasure. Both choices effect eternity. All who encounter Christ are left with a choice – to receive or reject Him. Those who receive Him do not remain the same – there is a change at the heart level that effects every aspect of life. One who encounters Christ truly lives.

What was your life like before Christ? After?

Change does NOT come from within yourself – it is God’s work in your heart. Have you tried to change on your own apart from Him? How is change different when submitted to Christ?

Do you tend to fight the Lord at every turn, or is your heart soft and mold-able in His hands? Why?

prayer

Father, thank you for changing us when it was impossible for us to change ourselves. Thank you for loving us enough to not allow us to remain the same. I pray that our hearts would be soft – that we would trust an not resist your touch, even when it is hard or painful. Reveal to us the things that we are trusting in more than you – anything we hold in greater value than you, and take it from our hands. May we see you as you truly are – worth all, worthy of all, and may our lives reflect this.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.

2 Peter 3:11-12a, NIV

What does Jesus’ second coming mean to you? That is a very important question. If you know that Jesus is coming again, if you are anticipating that day (what Peter calls the day of God), if you’re anticipating your final state, the eternity that God has planned for those who love Him, how should it impact your life now? If you’re looking forward to heaven, then that anticipation should have some very real implications for how you live here on earth. Your belief in the reality of Jesus’ return will impact how you live in preparation for His return.

For example, when the new year rolls around and it’s time to get your summer vacation on the calendar, the anticipation of that trip’s reality affects the way you live. You and every other member of your family who will be going on the trip blocks off the same dates so they can be sure to participate in the event. If you are traveling overseas you make sure your passports and visas are up to date so that when the appointed time comes, you are ready to go.

If you’re staying in the states, there is still preparation to be done. There are reservations to make at hotels or resorts, there is transportation to arrange, pets to get to the kennel, newspaper and mail deliveries to put on hold, laundry to do, luggage to pack, money to save, and a dozen other details to cover in order to be ready for the long-awaited day of departure. The belief that vacation is coming, even when it is still a long way off, affects the way you live. And as the day to leave approaches, your anticipation and preparation grow even more vigorous.

That is the same way we are to live in anticipation of Christ’s return. If we really believe that Jesus is coming back to receive us to Himself to take us to spend eternity with Him in heaven, then our lives now should reflect our preparation for that glorious day. An eternal “vacation” from earth and life as we know it is imminent, and our lives will reflect how strongly our belief is in that truth. Are we preparing for that “vacation,” or are we just cruising along, saying we’re ready to go, but not really doing anything to be ready?

If we really believe Jesus is coming back, then our lives should be filled with hope and joy. That isn’t to say we’ll never be sad, but we will be able to live in light of eternity, knowing that our trials here in this life are temporary. This world is not our home and our eternal destiny is being prepared for us even now as you read this. Jesus is at work preparing a place for you right now, at this very moment!! Do you believe that?

If we believe Jesus is coming back, our lives will be spent inviting others to come on “vacation” too. We’ll be sharing the Good News about Jesus with them so they too can come along and spend eternity in heaven and be ready for our day of departure from this world. Those who live in light of the here and now only live to please themselves, seeing life as a playground to be enjoyed. Those who live in light of eternity live for others, seeing life as an opportunity to be used by God to help others come to Him before it is too late.

If we really believe Jesus is coming back, we will be different. Others will be able to see and hear and know that we live life from a totally different perspective. The Spirit of God living in us will permeate our speech and our actions and others will be able to recognize that something is unique about us. Living in the confident belief that Jesus will return and keep His promise to you and me will temper everything we do, just as a bride’s anticipation of her husband’s return from war is a part of who she is. Being a believer in Christ’s return is not just something we say, it is something we are. We are believers. And belief is manifested through action. And that action will be obedience to God’s Word.

Are you ready for the trip? Are you anticipating the return of Jesus to take you home to heaven? Are you living in light of today, or eternity? If you knew Jesus were coming back today at 7:00 – and He could you know – how would you live life differently between now and that moment? Your answer to that question is how you should be living every moment.

Why not pray right now and ask the Lord to help you live in joyful anticipation of His return?

After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body.

Ephesians 5:29, 30

The image of the body is a familiar one in relation to the church, or the all-encompassing group of believers in Christ. It is used several times in the New Testament, and it is a great illustration. Each part has a role to fulfill, and without the cooperation of each part working together, the true purpose cannot be achieved. But I would like for you today to think about not only the role that each part has, but the role each part plays in the life of the other parts. We are clearly needed by each other. If your nose itches, it has no capacity to scratch itself. It is dependent on the hand to assist in that job. If your lips are dry, they cannot produce their own moisture. They are dependent on the tongue to lick them, or the hand to apply Chap Stick to meet their need. If your hand needs to pick up something, it is dependent on the arm to guide it to the object to be retrieved. Each part needs another part to help it out from time to time. And the cooperation they display all comes from their commitment to the body as a whole.

In similar fashion, our relationship to the body of Christ is a gauge of our commitment to Christ. We exist to fulfill our roles in his body, but we can make it a much more pleasant “work environment” for each other if we are committed to help each other through this life. Can a person belong to Christ and not be a part of the church? Yes, Hebrews 10:25 says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Obviously, some are in the habit of not meeting together—some are not involved with the people of the church.

But what does the verse go on to say? “Let us encourage one another.” In fact, the verse before that one talks about us, “spurring one another on toward love and good deeds.” I don’t know about you, but I need someone in my life that will spur me on in this world. I need someone who will remind me of the truth and hold me accountable to do the things I have been commanded to do. I need a hand to scratch my nose when it itches! Without a committed presence of believers in our lives, we are asking for a much harder existence than God intended us to have.

I attended a bonfire a few months back. While the logs were close together, the fire burned and grew, producing warmth for all around it. When it was time to leave the area, those in charge began separating the logs from one another. In a short period of time the separated logs began to loose their flames. They burned a little while alone, and then they went out. Our lives are just like those logs. While we are together, we are strong and warm and we can accomplish our purpose well. When we are split apart and left to carry on alone, we lose our flames and die out. We can not accomplish our goals without the help of other believers. And only when we function well together will we demonstrate to a lost world what God’s true character is like. We grow, accomplish, and witness best together. We reflect God best together.

So, what if I don’t like everyone in my church? You ask God to give you an unconditional love for them through the power of the Holy Spirit. What if I don’t feel like I need the others in my church? Don’t trust those feelings—they are not right. Our prayers are more powerful with others (Matthew 18:20), our lives are easier with others (Ecclesiastes 4:10-12), and our character is refined with others (Proverbs 27:17). We need each other.

What if I feel like I can make it alone and that just Jesus in my life is all I need? Well, you should think about what Jesus considered valuable. Ephesians 5:25-27 says: “…Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” If Jesus valued the church that much and we are to be imitators of Christ, then we should value it too. We will only be better for it, regardless of the cost.

Points to Ponder

• Do I have the proper view of the body of Christ?
• Do I demonstrate his same values in the way I interact with his body?
• Am I trying to live a “lone ranger” Christian life, separated from others?
• Have I found the place he wants me to be in his church?

Prayer
Holy Father, I thank you that you are the one that shows us how to function as a church. I thank you that you are the one that created this body, and through it we can fulfill all that you have planned for us. Help us to value one another the way you value us. Help us to love each other with your unconditional love. Help us to honor you in all of our relationships with each other. Give us the power to do all this through your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Christ is the Son of God, equal to God and to the Holy Spirit in power and glory, one part of the Trinity. He was from the beginning (implied in Genesis 1:26 with the use of “us”, stated in John 1:1). The gospels record multiple accounts of His claim to be the Son of God (Luke 9:20-22, Matthew 26:63-64). Historians hold that Jesus was crucified by the Romans. He rose again on the 3rd day, and was later seen by over 500 different witnesses recorded by 5 different authors (John 20:19-22, Luke 24, 1 Corinthians 15:6). Christ was a man, very few would argue against this point no matter what religious holdings one has.

He was also God. This is clearly demonstrated throughout scripture. And while it is very popular and almost “politically correct” to pick and choose what one believes throughout the Bible, I would caution anyone who does so and bases their eternal salvation on their fruit basket of beliefs.

Not all roads lead to Rome. Sincerity of belief matters nothing, if what you place your faith in is wrong—I could sincerely believe that a termite-infested wooden chair could hold my weight. And to even prove the authenticity of my belief, I could place my faith in that chair—I could sit in it. It would still collapse. My amount of belief matters not, if the object of my faith is unreliable. Christ clearly stated in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” A relationship with God apart from Christ is impossible. Was He being arrogant in making this claim? Was Christ making salvation that much more difficult for us? OR is this too a demonstration of His love for us? Could it be that Christ is the only safe chair to rest in, the only reliable object to put one’s full faith in? Did he know that all others would collapse in the end?

If so, the question then to answer is—why is it so difficult for one to place faith in Christ and accept a free gift of salvation? Are we that prideful, that we would not humble ourselves before Him and see how truly desperate we are without him? Do we want God on our terms rather than coming to God on His terms? This certainly is our culture’s desire. A relationship with God based on anything other than Christ’s sacrifice is not a relationship at all—one is either placing hope in a false god or in mere works, both of which will fall short in light of a righteous God.

I remind you of these truths because these are some lies that people I’ve known, brothers and sisters in Christ, have chosen to believe, or have accepted as truth, or at the very least deemed unimportant issues to wrestle with. It is absolutely key that one understand what they believe, especially concerning Christ, the validity of the Bible, and salvation. Christ’s claim is clear and unapologetic. He is the way, not one way. John emphasizes this as well in 1st John 5:1-12 “…we accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater…Anyone who does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about His Son…”

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are inseparable within the scriptures. You must either accept them, all of the scriptures, or reject them, but you cannot pick and choose and hope that what you come up with works well in the end, God is clear on this point. Call me intolerant, but I know why I believe what I believe—more importantly, I know Who I believe, and feel that He is the only reliable object to put my trust in.

Questions

• What according to our culture, are some unpopular Christian beliefs? Why are they unpopular? What is the heart issue?
• How has this affected your personal beliefs about God and the Bible? Your walk with the Lord? Your desire to witness?

Prayer
Father, thank you for making the way to you, your plan of salvation, clear. Thank you for the great sacrifice that you gave—the pain that you suffered, that we might know you. Father, may we never take this for granted. May we never cheapen your gift. Forgive us for the times that we have chosen harmony over truth, for the times we’ve given in to our culture’s pressures. Help us to love with your love—help us to love others in truth. Father, may we be grounded in who You are and in what we believe, and may we take this to those we love who don’t know you. Give us boldness and eloquence. Give us a great love that drives us, not fear or anger. May we know you and in Your power and love, make you known.

I suggest reading Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis, for more on this topic.

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you. Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness. Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you. You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

Psalm 51:10-17

The times in our lives where we feel the worst physically, mentally or morally may not be the times when we desire to come into God’s presence, but in reality, it’s those times when we need him the most. It’s at those times when redemption, in the form of God’s spirit, calls us near.

In this passage in Psalms, we see David at a crossroads, remembering his actions, which we read about in 2 Samuel, regarding his adultery with Bathsheba and subsequent murder of her husband, Uriah. Already by the first verse of the Psalm, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness …” (KJV), it is likely that David is already on his knees in a repentant spirit. The first part of the chapter focuses on his confession of sin, desire to know the truth and forgiveness. By verse 10, however, he changes modes away his carnal actions and seemingly turns inward toward his spirit and God’s.

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.

John 14:16-19 (NASB)

In the passage in Psalms and this verse in John, the Bible outlines some of the many things the Holy Spirit, called the Helper in John, does in the life of a Christian. After his restoration, David says the spirit of God brings joy and the willingness to sing praises to God. The spirit brings an ability and desire to teach God’s truth to an unbelieving world. It brings a boldness, “Unseal my lips, Oh Lord, that my mouth may praise you,” to publically praise God him for who he is.

Specifically, who is God? Christians can know him more intimately because of the spirit he brings into each of our lives. In fact, John implies that we have a oneness with God because we, not only believe that Christ is God in the flesh and the savior of all, but we also have residing in us his abiding spirit. Like David, John gives us some specific attributes of the Holy Spirit and the work he does in our lives. First, he is with us forever, helping us grow and mature in Christ daily. In this book, John uses the Greek paráklētos to describe the Holy Spirit as one who will give strength, comfort and counsel to Christ’s followers.

So, in our modern age, why is this important? We surely already get strength, comfort, help and love from friends and family members. Why do we need anything more? We need something more because one day, all that we love and cherish on this earth will be no more. Family members will, one by one, leave our side. Friend will disappoint us. TV sets, computers, cars and houses will decay. But the help that Christ offers, through his spirit, includes not only help and comfort to get through this carnal life but forgiveness and eternal life. And the help and forgiveness hinges on whether we are today willing to give up ourselves and to trade in our life for one He offers. It is one enveloped in a kind of love that we can’t fathom, a kind of love that makes the love we have friends and family pale in comparison.

In penning one of the greatest poems, Christian or otherwise, John Donne surely knew this and was likely thinking on these things when he said “Your force to break; blow, burn, and make me new.” Here is his short and powerful love sonnet to God:

BATTER my heart, three-personed God; for you / As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend; / That I may rise and stand, o’erthrow me, and bend / Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new. / I, like an usurped town, to another due, / Labor to admit you, but O, to no end; / Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend, / but is captived, and proves weak or untrue. / yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain, / But am betrothed unto your enemy. / Divorce me, untie or break that knot again; / Take me to you, imprison me, for I, / Except you enthrall me, never shall be free, / Nor even chaste, except you ravish me.

Prayer
Father, thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to help and comfort me. Thank you for loving me enough to send your son to take my place. When I deserved death, you gave me life. When I turned by back on you, you were unmoved and waited for my return. I’m sorry for the times I’ve done my own thing failed to put my trust in you. Help me to lean on your spirit more and more for my sustenance. In Christ’s name…

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.

Colossians 2:9-10

Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. Christ is 100% man and 100% God. The difference between Jesus the man and “US,” is his sinlessness. He is the Messiah – a word which is synonymous with “the Christ” and means “chosen for the task.” The task for which he was chosen – his one singular primary purpose (despite all of the many other good things he did) was to take our sins upon himself at the cross. We un-deservingly received grace and forgiveness. When we accept this gift – when we choose to believe, we are given a new start. His mercy is new to us and the sins of our past are washed away – forgotten. This is what we believe. And Jesus Christ is the one – the ONLY one – who was capable, supernaturally able, to do this.

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

Acts 4:12

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

John 14:6-7

What God has done by sending his son, well, it is almost unimaginable; seemingly beyond our realm of comprehension. But we believe. We can have confidence and know that we’ll spend eternity with him. It all depends on what we believe here. Now. Believe he rose from the dead and lives in us. And it is crucial for us to know who he IS, so we can be aware with absolute certainty when we encounter what he is NOT.

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

1 John 5:11-13

To Think About
Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord, the perfect, sinless, son of God? God himself in human form? Do you think that Jesus was a liar when he claimed to be such? Or do you think he was a “lunatic?”

Do you occasionally question your beliefs, what you think, what you have been taught? Read the word of God. Know that what it contains is truth. Prayerfully ask God to show you – and have confidence and certainty that he is who he says he is. Know and receive the savior.

A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic – on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg – or he would be the devil of hell. You must take your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us.

Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis

Prayer
Lord, where would I be without your perfect gift of salvation? I know I am a sinner and I am forever grateful for your sacrifice. When I think of the blood you shed, the pain and humiliation you endured, I can’t fathom that I could ever be worthy. But it absolutely blows me away to realize that you love me that much. May I never forget. May I never doubt or question your love. You have changed my life. I pray as I continue to learn and grow in your word, that I could progressively become a better reflection of your love.