Grace for your spirit July 20, 2009

Grace for your spirit

For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. Hebrews 2:1

If we get into a rowboat on a lake, untie it from the dock, lay down then only looking at the sky, we will drift away from the shore. Without a point of reference, who knows where we will be when we get up. Perhaps we will be near disaster. The same is true with our Christian life. We have to keep our eyes on a sure point of reference. That point must be Jesus and His Word. If we lose that point of reference, we can drift into all kinds of trouble. The devil will provide a strong current to take us into false religions and the lusts of this world. Let’s get up now. Look for our desired destination, and get those oars in the water.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

Grace for your spirit July 17, 2009

Grace for your spirit

He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. Psalm 2:4

The Lord has been anointed and sits at the right hand of God in heaven. Normally, we don’t think of Him laughing from that throne, but the Holy Spirit says He is laughing. Not a laugh of happiness at what He sees, but rather a laugh of ridicule and scorn. When the Creator watches those of His creation claim they can take a stand against Him, if it wasn’t so sad, it would be hilarious. At some point His laughter must end when His anger, fury, and wrath, is unleashed on the rebellion. Is the Lord laughing at our rebellion, or is He smiling warmly at our obedience. Maybe we should ask Him for a double measure of grace today.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

Grace for your spirit July 16, 2009

Grace for your spirit

And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Matthew 17:2-3

On the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus appeared with Moses and Elijah. The apostle wanted to honor all three, but God spoke saying they should listen only to Jesus. Moses and Elijah faded away and only Jesus was with them. It was a powerful picture that the Law and the Prophets were fading away and Jesus would be the only way. It was God’s revelation from heaven that He was ready to honor the promises given to Abraham before the Law and Prophets. Justification by faith in the New Covenant would be patterned after Abraham’s faith relationship with God, revealed before the Law and Prophets.The faith promise was fulfilled in Christ, and it will never fade.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

Grace for your spirit July 15, 2009

Grace for your spirit

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. II Timothy 4:6

As the apostle Paul speaks of his coming death, he uses a nautical term. The time of departure was used to describe the launching a ship into the water. The ship having been held on the dock by ropes would be released. As it “crossed the bar” the ship would moan as it slipped into the water. In fact ships belong in the water, not in dry dock. Paul saw his death as leaving this earth and going to the place where he really belonged; with His Lord in heaven. Alfred Tennyson wrote a poem about this event entitled “Crossing the Bar”. The poem called for no moaning when he crossed the bar and no sadness at his farewell. After all, he was going home where he wished to be. Isn’t it great that God has something better planned for all of us who trust in Him? Yes, it is !!

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

Grace for your spirit July 14, 2009

Grace for your spirit

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, Hebrews 5:8-9

Sometimes people ask why Jesus had to spend so many years on the earth. Why didn’t he just come for a three day weekend? Wouldn’t that have fulfilled His sacrifice time for us? Although Jesus was sinless, when He came to earth, He wasn’t yet the perfect sacrifice. He became our perfect sacrifice by learning obedience in suffering. Since He was tempted in all things without sin, He is able to come to our aid in times of temptation. His life gives us a path to walk on, and His sacrifice sprinkles that path with His cleansing blood. Since He is the source of eternal salvation, there is no other way to walk. Let’s learn to walk without debating God’s will for our lives.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

Grace for your spirit July 13, 2009

Grace for your spirit

So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance Luke 3:7-8

John the Baptist took his mission seriously. He came to point souls to Jesus, and bring them a baptism of repentance. When the crowds rushed toward him for baptism, he made sure they understood the reason for the baptism. He directed them to bring forth the fruits of repentance in their lives. This baptism would only be effective if their obedience from a heart was committed to change. If we were rushed by a crowd demanding baptism, would we be willing to speak the truth of repentance and change? Repentance is our death to sin, then baptism is our burial. Let’s keep them in the proper order.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

Grace for your spirit July 1, 2009

Grace for your spirit

Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. Romans 5:9

We are not saved just because Jesus is the Son of God. We are not made right just because He loves us. We will not escape the wrath of God just because Jesus came to earth. Jesus is the Son of God, He does love us, and He did come to earth for us, but our salvation comes because He died for us. He diagnosed our lost condition and then paid the price with His own blood. When we go to a doctor, we want one with a great diploma, but the key to a real cure is the correct diagnosis and treatment. Jesus is our Great Physician with the ultimate cure for this life and the life to come. It is because of Him we have freedom from sin, condemnation, wrath, and freedom from the Old Law. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. That is the liberty we need to celebrate everyday.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23