1 Thessalonians 1:5
For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
Paul notes four distinct and important values in effectively sharing the Gospel. The Gospel must be shared in word, by nature it is a verbal message. Throughout the New Testament we find the Gospel in dialogue. This means the Gospel is an interactive, verbal message. While a picture is worth 1000 words, we cannot choose which words; 1000 choice words are priceless. Second, the Gospel must be shared in power and authority that only comes by the Word of God - the Scriptures. Paul reasoned with the Thessalonians from the Prophets (Acts 17). God's Word is powerful and effective and will not return void, it will accomplish what it was sent out to do (Isa. 55:11, Heb. 4:12). Our words cannot be our own, they must be the vary words of God which alone have the power to change hearts and minds and lives. Third, it must be shared in the power of the Holy Spirit and His leading within both the sharer and the hearer. Apart from the conviction of the Holy Spirit and His compelling call there is no salvation (John 16:7-15). Finally, the Gospel must be shared in deed - in lives that are consistent with the message we proclaim. By our deeds our message is validated and assurance is found by both the sharer and the listener. The message is strengthened when it is married to good deeds and moral lives that are above reproach. When our proclamation reflects all this we can be sure and secure, knowing that we have done our part. Does the Gospel message I proclaim reflect all this? Do I proclaim in word and Scripture and Spirit and deed?
Father - may the Gospel I proclaim reflect these values and consistently point to You in every way. Make me diligent to make my Gospel message complete. Open my eyes to how and when I may share it each day and make me bold to share. Amen.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Consistent living...
Colossians 4:5-6
Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
The world is watching and even whispering about Christ's church. There is curiosity and skepticism about the love we share, the joy we express, the standards we raise, the discipline we exercise, the Truth we proclaim and the lives we live. We must be wise and careful to keep these all consistent and constant. When questioned we must not answer defensively but gracefully. When ridiculed we must not answer in anger but is humility and gentleness. Our speech and lives should be seasoned in such a peculiar way that a critical world notices the difference. We only have so many moments to proclaim the truth of the Gospel, we must redeem each one in every way so those outside looking in may see and encounter Jesus.
Ephesians 5:15-16
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
1 Peter 3:15-16
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
Father - help me notice where my life is inconsistent with the Truth I profess. Give me the strength and courage and discipline to bring my every word and deed in line with Your will for the sake of the lost - that they may see Jesus. Amen.
Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
The world is watching and even whispering about Christ's church. There is curiosity and skepticism about the love we share, the joy we express, the standards we raise, the discipline we exercise, the Truth we proclaim and the lives we live. We must be wise and careful to keep these all consistent and constant. When questioned we must not answer defensively but gracefully. When ridiculed we must not answer in anger but is humility and gentleness. Our speech and lives should be seasoned in such a peculiar way that a critical world notices the difference. We only have so many moments to proclaim the truth of the Gospel, we must redeem each one in every way so those outside looking in may see and encounter Jesus.
Ephesians 5:15-16
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
1 Peter 3:15-16
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
Father - help me notice where my life is inconsistent with the Truth I profess. Give me the strength and courage and discipline to bring my every word and deed in line with Your will for the sake of the lost - that they may see Jesus. Amen.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
humility
Colossians 3:12-13
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
As God's elect, holy and dearly loved, I can easily put on pride, arrogance, cynicism, harshness and impatience. I can let the idea of being chosen and loved by God puff me up if I don't remind myself also why I've been chosen and loved. Nothing in me is worthy of choosing or loving. I did nothing to earn or deserve God's favor. As Paul reminds the Colossians, God forgave me - He overlooked my unworthiness and forgave my sinfulness. I am chosen and loved by God because of what is in Him, not what is in me. Because God chose to forgive me, love me and make me His, I must also humbly accept others in the same way.
Father - humble me and let me extend Your same love and tenderness to others as You have extended to me. Amen.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
As God's elect, holy and dearly loved, I can easily put on pride, arrogance, cynicism, harshness and impatience. I can let the idea of being chosen and loved by God puff me up if I don't remind myself also why I've been chosen and loved. Nothing in me is worthy of choosing or loving. I did nothing to earn or deserve God's favor. As Paul reminds the Colossians, God forgave me - He overlooked my unworthiness and forgave my sinfulness. I am chosen and loved by God because of what is in Him, not what is in me. Because God chose to forgive me, love me and make me His, I must also humbly accept others in the same way.
Father - humble me and let me extend Your same love and tenderness to others as You have extended to me. Amen.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Confidence...
Colossians 2:23
Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
There are a lot of good things done in the name of religion and spirituality that seem wise and virtuous and noble and sacrificial. However, in the end, they are worthless act which have no eternal value but instead serve to feed our prideful flesh, to puff us up with false humility and piety and dissuade others from the true substance of faith and spirituality. These practices include serving, giving, fighting injustice, saving the environment and endangered animals, feeding the hungry and championing causes. These are the marks of pop-cultural spirituality or "Oprahanity." In reality, these practices are empty shadows of what is the true substance of faith - Jesus Christ (2:7).
And while it is easy to point out such empty practices in "Oprahanity," we must also courageously scrutinize the practices of Christianity and ask ourselves if we too have placed false confidence in shadows rather than substance. Have we found false security in Christian virtues and values rather than Christ? Am I puffed up by prayer or Bible reading or journaling or serving or working at a church or anything else? Where is my confidence and value?
Father - help me focus on You alone and find my confidence and value in knowing You... or more rightly, in being known by You. Amen.
Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
There are a lot of good things done in the name of religion and spirituality that seem wise and virtuous and noble and sacrificial. However, in the end, they are worthless act which have no eternal value but instead serve to feed our prideful flesh, to puff us up with false humility and piety and dissuade others from the true substance of faith and spirituality. These practices include serving, giving, fighting injustice, saving the environment and endangered animals, feeding the hungry and championing causes. These are the marks of pop-cultural spirituality or "Oprahanity." In reality, these practices are empty shadows of what is the true substance of faith - Jesus Christ (2:7).
And while it is easy to point out such empty practices in "Oprahanity," we must also courageously scrutinize the practices of Christianity and ask ourselves if we too have placed false confidence in shadows rather than substance. Have we found false security in Christian virtues and values rather than Christ? Am I puffed up by prayer or Bible reading or journaling or serving or working at a church or anything else? Where is my confidence and value?
Father - help me focus on You alone and find my confidence and value in knowing You... or more rightly, in being known by You. Amen.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Prayer
Colossians 1:9-12
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
What an amazing prayer! I should be praying this prayer daily for those God has entrusted to me. To break it down into manageable parts I would say Paul is praying for: Spirit filling, obedience, worship (fully pleasing Him), sharing the faith effectively (fruitful good works), growth, and strength and power to endure. What would God do in the lives of my brother and sisters in Christ if I did not cease to pray this prayer for them?
God - make me more fervent in prayer. Make me more disciplined to schedule prayer and more sensitive to Your Spirit to spontaneously pray. Let me be known as a man of prayer and let my family, friends and students know the power of these prayers. Amen.
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
What an amazing prayer! I should be praying this prayer daily for those God has entrusted to me. To break it down into manageable parts I would say Paul is praying for: Spirit filling, obedience, worship (fully pleasing Him), sharing the faith effectively (fruitful good works), growth, and strength and power to endure. What would God do in the lives of my brother and sisters in Christ if I did not cease to pray this prayer for them?
God - make me more fervent in prayer. Make me more disciplined to schedule prayer and more sensitive to Your Spirit to spontaneously pray. Let me be known as a man of prayer and let my family, friends and students know the power of these prayers. Amen.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Strengthened in the Lord
1 Samuel 30:6
Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
This passage echoes of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane deeply grieved to the point of death yet finding strength in the Father through prayer to face the trial ahead (Matthew 26/Luke 22).
I wish I could see how David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. Was it Scripture? Prayer? Psalms and music? Meditation on the faithfulness of God in the past? Remembering the prophesies of God through Samuel? What brought David's eyes from the loss in his life back to the Lord? What brought David strength?
What turns my eyes from the things of this life back to the Lord? What gets my focus off me and back onto Him? Most often I find that Scripture gets me back to God and changes my thoughts and feelings. Prayer most often clarifies and solidifies the lessons. Journaling makes it memorable.
So why don't I turn to my Bible immediately when I am distressed? Why do I wait til morning? Why not turn to God as all times?
Father - draw me into Your Word at all times. Teach me to depend on You as air in every day circumstances. Let me be strengthened by You, oh Lord my God. Amen.
Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
This passage echoes of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane deeply grieved to the point of death yet finding strength in the Father through prayer to face the trial ahead (Matthew 26/Luke 22).
I wish I could see how David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. Was it Scripture? Prayer? Psalms and music? Meditation on the faithfulness of God in the past? Remembering the prophesies of God through Samuel? What brought David's eyes from the loss in his life back to the Lord? What brought David strength?
What turns my eyes from the things of this life back to the Lord? What gets my focus off me and back onto Him? Most often I find that Scripture gets me back to God and changes my thoughts and feelings. Prayer most often clarifies and solidifies the lessons. Journaling makes it memorable.
So why don't I turn to my Bible immediately when I am distressed? Why do I wait til morning? Why not turn to God as all times?
Father - draw me into Your Word at all times. Teach me to depend on You as air in every day circumstances. Let me be strengthened by You, oh Lord my God. Amen.
Friday, May 1, 2009
"From the Lord"
1 Samuel 26:12
So David took the spear and the jug of water by Saul’s head, and they got away; and no man saw or knew it or awoke. For they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.
I am curious about the phrase "from the Lord." It seems that many times God gave to certain people what seems unfit to come from Him.
1 Samuel 16:14
Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.
1 Samuel 19:9
But an evil spirit from the LORD came upon Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand.
Exodus 9:12,10:20, 10:27, 11:10, 14:8
But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart...
And yet the words of Romans 9:19-21 come to mind, "One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' "Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?"
Lord - look upon me with favor and keep me in Your will. Protect me from temptation and from a spirit and heart that would turn away from You. Amen
So David took the spear and the jug of water by Saul’s head, and they got away; and no man saw or knew it or awoke. For they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.
I am curious about the phrase "from the Lord." It seems that many times God gave to certain people what seems unfit to come from Him.
1 Samuel 16:14
Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.
1 Samuel 19:9
But an evil spirit from the LORD came upon Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand.
Exodus 9:12,10:20, 10:27, 11:10, 14:8
But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart...
And yet the words of Romans 9:19-21 come to mind, "One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' "Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?"
Lord - look upon me with favor and keep me in Your will. Protect me from temptation and from a spirit and heart that would turn away from You. Amen
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