Posts from — November 2010

“Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,” –Psalm 103:2 (NIV)

How easy it is to praise God! When everything is going our way and the floodgates of Heaven have showered blessings upon our lives, we find ourselves gushing with thankfulness and adoration for God’s love and faithful provision. In our elation we make promises to surrender our lives to God and to be unwavering in our service and faithfulness to Him. But how easily do we forget these very things! When the storms of life turn against us, we fail to remember the goodness of God. Instead, we use our struggles as evidence of God’s malevolence; pointing to our trials as indicative of His failure to provide. Yet when circumstances again turn in our favor, we return to that attitude of praise and gratitude. How opportunistic are we in our relationship with God!

When we focus upon the chaos around us we will forget about God. This is exactly what Satan wishes to do. By drawing attention to our miseries, he will attempt to pull us away from that life-giving relationship we have in Christ. But while he may claim that God Himself has brought this suffering upon us, this is far from the truth. It was never in God’s will for His creation to be tainted by suffering and sin. Yet because man chose to disobey God, we have caused the world to descend into its fallen state. Trials therefore, are not willed by God, but are the result of living in this corrupted world. However, God stands above our trials and He uses them to strengthen and develop our character. He is unchanging in His nature and He will always be loving, faithful and just. He is not one to simply discard His children; rather He will lead us through tribulations if we allow Him to do so in our lives. When we see our lives through the eyes of Christ, we will be able to remember His faithfulness with joy. We will dwell in the assurance that though we may face despair, He will lift our gaze to rest on Him.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“Obey them not only to win their favour when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.” –Ephesians 6:6 (ESV)

We want to be liked. For a variety of reasons we feel the need to please others whatever the cost. It gives us a sense of worth and usefulness when we are appreciated by others. At times, we may believe that it is necessary to maintain the peace and the status quo. However, in our effort to not jeopardize our position, we compromise our devotion to Christ. When we find ourselves seeking to align our attitudes and values to those of others, wanting to be loved and accepted by them, we have failed to take into consideration one important fact. Human opinion is subject to change and human existence itself is fleeting. If we have placed our worth and value in these, we will find ourselves having not only turned against the principles of Christ, but have brought into our lives much grief and pain whilst gaining nothing in return.

When we have accepted Christ in our heart; believing in His redemptive sacrifice and allowing Him to work out His righteousness in our lives, our worth and value is found in His eternal and perfect love. If our worth in found in anyone else, then we have exchanged the truth of God and the freedom we have in Him, for a deceptive slavery that seeks to keep us under its thumb. This is not to say we must be always antagonistic towards people. On the contrary, the Scriptures tell us to live in harmony with one another so that Christ may shine forth through us. But if we have become more concerned about pleasing those around us than serving Christ who is above them, then we are bowing down before an idol that will enslave us to our detriment. When we obey others knowing that in our service we serve Christ, we will be able to serve with a whole-hearted joy while remembering that we are not bound to man. We will be able to stand for His truth and justice knowing that our foundation is secure in Him.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” -Colossians 3:16 (NIV)

It is easy for us to fall into the trap of dead habit. How often do we find ourselves simply going through the motions of the Christian life and ministry? To subscribe to ritual is appealing because it does not require us to think and be challenged. All it asks of us is to simply do what we have always done and this rote obedience to habit gives us a false sense of satisfaction that we have fulfilled our obligations. But such an approach to the Christian life is empty. If we are truly honest with ourselves, we notice that something is missing. Our prayers feel monotonous. Our minds feel numbed to the Scripture. Our worship feels dry, and our work for Christ seems to be disconnected from ourselves.

Paul is imploring the Colossian church to “…let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”. We may have the word of Christ in our hearts, but it is another thing to allow it to mould us and shape our minds. The Christian life is not a passive one. It is an active relationship with Christ whereby we allow His Spirit to refine us and draw us closer to Himself. The only thing that is preventing us from living abundantly in Christ is our own attitudes and our desire to cling onto our obedience to ritual. Are we bowing down before the idol of ritualistic duty instead of directing our worship to Christ? When we allow Christ to conform our attitudes to Himself and seek to be made One in Him, our entire lives will take on a whole new character. Our prayers will be vibrant. Our minds will be receptive to the truths it contains. Our worship will edify and strengthen us, and our work for Christ will be effective and transformative both for ourselves and for others. When we seek Christ and allow His Spirit to work within us, we will experience the joys of living in tune with Him.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“‘I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.’” –Luke 12:8-9 (NIV)

We often live our lives by carrying a wide array of masks with us. Depending on the situations we are placed, we put on a different mask in an effort to blend in. When we are in our churches, we put on a “church mask” which presents ourselves as model Christians perfect in devotion and piety. However, when we are in our schools or workplaces, we often put on an entirely different mask which presents ourselves as being utterly depraved and willing to adjust our values according to the standards of those around us. Yet if we think that we can live as children of Christ while conveniently donning a mask to conceal our faith when we wish, we are sadly mistaken. Jesus Himself clearly states in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters…”

When we enter into a relationship with Christ, we are to surrender every area of our lives to Him. Christ’s redemptive work in our hearts seeks total restoration and this means that we must allow Christ to work out His righteousness in whatever situation we are placed. Are there areas in our lives where we are failing to acknowledge Him and allowing His restorative work to be made manifest in our daily interactions? Our true loyalties will be made known to us when we feel that sacrificing our relationship with Christ is a small price to pay for conforming to the so-called “real world”. Unless we acknowledge Christ in all our ways and are unafraid to bear witness for His truth, we cannot expect the blessings of God to rain down upon us. Only when we desire to align ourselves with Him and remain in His will are we able to partake of the blessings and joys of being covered under His protective umbrella. We are only allowed to wear one mask in this life of ours. Will we choose to wear the mask of Christ and continually bear witness to the hope and restoration that is available through Him?

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“Be joyful always; pray continually;” -1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 (NIV)

Where do we find joy? Where do we find peace? It is a universal desire that humanity yearns to posses; that we may find these things in abundance in our lives. Philosophers throughout human history have sought to find the key to obtaining that unshakable joy and calm which we all seek. Some say it is through living the moral life, others through the accumulation of wealth and the pursuit of pleasure. Still others claim that lasting human happiness can be achieved through the creation of a harmonious society where all live in equality and unity. The reality however, is that societies rise and fall, wealth and pleasure are fleeting, and living a truly moral life is seemingly impossible; all because of the fallen state of ourselves and the world around us.

We were created for one purpose alone, to live in relationship with God. In His eternity, man’s hope was secure, and in His goodness man’s joy was complete. However, because of our sinful nature, we are separated from God and with that separation our eternal joy and peace is lost.  Yet it is in God’s plan to mend this broken relationship we have with Him. He sees that sin has only wrought misery and insecurity upon our souls and wants to restore our hope and bliss. When we accept Christ’s redemptive sacrifice for us and allow Him to dwell within our hearts, we not only have a restored relationship with Him, but our relationship with Him is direct and personal. Being in relationship with Christ is the key to true happiness and peace. As He enables us to live according to His righteousness we are free from the degrading control of sin. When we invest in that relationship through prayer and allowing His Word to permeate our minds, we will find that in Him we are made complete and that nothing can take away the hope we have through Him.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.” –Micah 7:7 (NIV)

Waiting is hard. How easily do we give ourselves to worry whenever we are placed in a situation where we are unexpectedly obligated to wait? It is at these times that we constantly bombard ourselves with questions. What is going on? Is everything okay? Can we still hope in the possibility that everything will work out according to plan? Perhaps what frustrates us most is that this period of waiting has placed us in a seeming state of helplessness. When it appears that we must resign ourselves to the practice of patience, it makes us feel that we have no control whatsoever over those areas of our lives that we wish to have under our control; thus resulting in much anxiety and stress.

The truth is that in our own human capabilities we cannot control the world around us. As much as we would like to, we must accept the fact that we cannot control our own destiny, and if we could, we would most likely bring ourselves to the doorstep of destruction. But thankfully we have someone who is greater than our limitations and who wants to serve as our guide. When we personally accept the redemptive sacrifice of Christ and allow him to dwell within our hearts, we enter into a restored relationship with Him. This is characterized by a dependence on His perfect will and loving providence. Why then do we worry when we have someone who promises to take care of our very need? Is it because we refuse to give up control over our lives and stubbornly trust in our fallible wisdom? If we try to impatiently and impulsively master our circumstances, our efforts will be rendered futile. But it is only in waiting upon the Lord that we are filled with his peace and joy knowing that it is He who commands our destiny according to His good and perfect desires for our lives.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“…for we were born only yesterday and know nothing…” –Job 8:9 (NIV)

I wasn’t born yesterday! How many times have we caught ourselves saying this phrase? We often use this exclamation when we sense that we are being tricked or deceived by someone else. As much as it signals to the listener that we are not easy to fool, it also assures us that we are not gullible people. But despite our claims to being shrewd, we prove ourselves time and time again that we are quite the opposite. How often do we fall into the traps of misery and woe? How often do we allow sin to deceive us into submitting ourselves under its yoke? Though we are able to see through these deceptions and avoid these traps, we are a forgetful race. When we fail to remember the lessons God has taught us through our lives, our neglect of His teachings will be our undoing.

The Christian life is a discipline. It is a discipline based on remembrance; a concept which is echoed throughout the Bible. God calls His people to remember His commandments and to remember His faithfulness. Like a teacher training his students, God continues to remind us of these things for He knows that wisdom and knowledge easily depart from our minds. The remnants of our sinful nature would like for us to forget His teachings and draw ourselves away from Christ. Our only defence against sin’s devices is to abide with Christ and allow His wisdom to illumine our minds. When we make that choice to walk closely with Him and spend time in His Word, He will remind us of the viciousness of sin, and the hope and joy we have by being in His presence. No one can claim to be wise for our erstwhile wicked nature continues to vie for our loyalty. It is this struggle within our souls which prevents us from achieving full perfection in the wisdom and righteousness of Christ. But when we have allowed Christ to reside in our hearts and opened our ears and minds to walk in His ways, we will be able to live within His perfect will knowing that it is He who gives us wisdom and ability to apply it in our lives.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.