Called from DARKNESS into His marvelous LIGHT

Scripture:

1 Peter 2:9 (amp) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God's] own purchased,
special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you--

Observation:

Christians sometimes speak of "the priesthood of all believers." In Old Testament times, people did not approach God directly. A priest acted as intermediary between God and sinful human beings. With Christ's victory on the cross, that pattern changed. Now we can come directly into God's presence without fear (Heb 4:16), and we are given the responsibility of bringing others to him also (2 Co 5:18-21). When we are united with Christ as members of his body, we join in his priestly work of reconciling God and people.

People often base their self-concept on their accomplishments. But our relationship with Christ is far more important than our jobs, successes, wealth, or knowledge. We have been chosen by God as his very own, and we have been called to represent him to others. Remember that your value comes from being one of God's children, not from what you can achieve. You have worth because of what God does, not because of what you do.

In summary, we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God's own special people who were once not a people but are now the people of God. That description should enhance the value of all of God's people. The key to a good self-image is found in the image of what we are in Jesus Christ. It is His image that is available to us as we trust in Christ Jesus. As the apostle Paul wrote, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Gal 2:20).

Application:

I am so thankful that God chose me to let those I come in contact with know the "night and day difference" He has made in my life. I am so thankful that He called me out of darkness into His marvelous light! Now, I need to daily, as the KJV says, "show forth the praises of Him who called me out..." I do this by walking, talking, living as a person of His light and not darkness. As professing Christians we do more harm than good to the kingdom of God when we live as if no change has taken place in our life through Christ. When your attitude stinks, when your language is crude, when you are rude...these are ways that we lived before God called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. That type of unchanged life, isn't "showing forth the praises of Him who called us out of darkness."

Paul said, in 1 Corinthians 10:23-24
"Everything is permissible"-but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"-but not everything is constructive. (24) Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others."

So much truth in this verse. So talk about how THEY have freedom to do as they please. The problem is, what you want to do may be ok, or permissible, but that isn't the question. The question should be..."is it beneficial or constructive" for others who are not living for the Lord. Too many folk believe, and rightly may I add, that there are many hypocrites in the church. The problem is many do what they want because it is "permissible" and don't stop to ask the question, but is "constructive" to the body of Christ. Often it is not constructive, but very destructive.

We have been called out of darkness, into His marvelous light so we can show forth His praise by being "New creatures in Christ." If I still act, talk, live like I did before I claimed salvation, then I need to re-examine my experience and walk with Christ. "Help me Lord to show forth Your praises today!"

Prayer:

"Lord, please forgive me for living a selfish life where it is all about me and what is permissible. I need to ask myself in every decision I make...Is what I am about to do, say, wear, drink destructive to Your purpose of building Your Kingdom? Thank you for calling me from darkness into Your marvelous light. I am a blessed man. I choose today to live with intentional awareness that people are watching my life. I do this not to please man, but to please You. Please forgive me for the times that I have been destructive to your purposes instead of constructive. In Jesus' name, amen!"

David's list of God's benefits

Scripture:

Psalm 103:1-5 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! (2) Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, (3) who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, (4) who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, (5) who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Observation:

The call to bless God is repeated in verse Psalm 103:2 with the added thought: "And forget not all His benefits ['dealings']." Thus David gives all that is within himself to God and remembers all that God has done for him. Memory is always one of our best aids in worship

David's praise focused on the good things God was doing for him. It is easy to complain about life, but David's list gives us plenty for which to praise God: He forgives our sins, heals our diseases, redeems us from death, crowns us with love and compassion, satisfies our desires, and gives righteousness and justice. We receive all of these without deserving any of them. No matter how difficult your life's journey, you can always count your blessings-past, present, and future. When you feel as though you have nothing for which to praise God, read David's list.

Application:

This has always been one of my favorite Psalms. I should start every day by "blessing" the Lord, that is "bowing my knee in praise and worship to Him." This should come from my innermost being. "And all that is within me" bless his holy name; meaning not only all within his body, his heart, reins, lungs, but all within his soul, all the powers and faculties of his soul; his understanding, will, affections, and judgment; and all the grace that was within him, faith, hope, love, joy, and the like; these he would have all concerned and employed in praising the name of the Lord. This is how I should start each day. My theme verse is Psalm 118:24, "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

"Soul...today you will rejoice in this day that the Lord has given you. And you will do it with all that is within you!" That is what David was declaring to his soul. He didn't matter how he felt, he was going to bless the name of the Lord. By blessing the Lord, DAILY, it kept him from forgetting all of God's benefits.

We have a tendency to forget God and His faithfulness. We have a tendency to moan, groan and complain. Instead we should praise, rejoice, and celebrate THIS DAY. Because THIS DAY God has blessed us with so many benefits and blessings. Why don't you stop for a moment and just begin to name the blessings of God. It may surprise you just what the Lord has done for you!

Someone has written in article simply entitled, "Blessed."

* If you own just one Bible, you are abundantly blessed. One-third of the world does not have access to even one.

* If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

* If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony or torture or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people around the world.

* If you attend a church meeting without the fear of harassment, arrest or torture of death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world.

* If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.

* If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy.

* If your parents are still married or alive, you are very rare.

*If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all.

Something to think about and thank God for, amen?

This week I plan to blog each day on the blessings of God. Thursday we as a nation celebrate "Thanksgiving Day." It isn't TURKEY day. It should be a day where we as a nation give thanks to God for all of His benefits. I am afraid that we as a nation have forgotten so much of what God has done for us. But...I can remember, and I will give thanks. Not only Thursday...but every day of my life!

Prayer:

"Wow, Lord! I am so blessed. You have blessed me with so many benefits. I take so much for granted. Please forgive me for "forgetting all of your benefits." You have truly redeemed me from so much. I bless Your name today, and thank you for Your faithfulness. Help me to start each day with praise and thanksgiving unto you. You truly deserve each thanks, praise and worship that I can give you. I choose today to remember. I will not forget today. In Jesus' name, amen!"

The Value of Christ’s Crucifixion

Scripture:

Galatians 2:20-21 (NIV) I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (21) I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

Galatians 2:20-21 ((MSG) Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (21) I am not going to go back on that. Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily

Observation:

How have our old selves been crucified with Christ? Legally, God looks at us as if we had died with Christ. Because our sins died with him, we are no longer condemned (Col 2:13-15). Relationally, we have become one with Christ, and his experiences are ours. Our Christian life began when, in unity with him, we died to our old life. In our daily life, we must regularly crucify sinful desires that keep us from following Christ. This, too, is a kind of dying with him (Luke 9:23-25).

And yet the focus of Christianity is not on dying but on living. Because we have been crucified with Christ, we have also been raised with him (Rom_6:5). Legally, we have been reconciled with God (2Co 5:19) and are free to grow into Christ's likeness (Rom 8:29). And in our daily life, we have Christ's resurrection power as we continue to fight sin (Eph 1:19-20). We are no longer alone, for Christ lives in us-he is our power for living and our hope for the future (Col 1:27).

Believers today may still be in danger of acting as if there was no need for Christ to die. How? By replacing Jewish legalism with their own brand of Christian legalism, they are giving people extra laws to obey. By believing they can earn God's favor by what they do, they are not trusting completely in Christ's work on the cross. By struggling to appropriate God's power to change them (sanctification), they are not resting in God's power to save them (justification). If we could be saved by being good, then Christ would not have had to die. But the cross is the only way to salvation.

Application:

In order to accept Christ as Savior, and crucify my flesh daily, I need to turn from my sins and willingly nail my sinful nature to the cross. I do this my naming the weak areas of my flesh, confessing where I have failed and receiving God's strength and forgiveness. I must do this DAILY. Every single day, aligning myself with Christ's crucifixion by dying to my flesh. This doesn't mean, however, that I will never see traces of its evil desires again.

As Christians we still have the capacity to sin, but we have been set free from sin's power over us and no longer have to give in to it. We must daily commit our sinful tendencies to God's control, daily crucify them, and moment by moment draw on the Spirit's power to overcome them. When we do this every day, we refuse to "set aside the grace of God." By crucifying my flesh, I am recognizing the value of Christ's crucifixion. I never want God to have to say that, when it comes to me, that "Jesus died for nothing."

Prayer:

"Lord, forgive me for the times that it seemed that Your death meant nothing to me. That grieves my heart and Spirit this morning. I am so thankful for your death and resurrection. Yet, still I lean on my "goodness" oftentimes instead of your grace. I repent of that today. I make up my mind to die to my flesh at this moment. I am sure there will be other moments throughout this day that I need to die to. Help me to turn from my sins and willingly nail my sinful nature to the cross. In Jesus name, amen!"

“That is what some of you WERE”

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders (10) nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (11) And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Observation:

Paul is describing characteristics of unbelievers. He doesn't mean that all those who have indulged in sexual sin or who have been idol worshipers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, abusers, and swindlers are automatically and irrevocably excluded from heaven. Christians come out of all kinds of different backgrounds, including these. They may still struggle with evil desires, but they should not continue in these practices. In v. 11, Paul clearly states that even those who sin in these ways can have their lives changed by Christ. However, those who say that they are Christians but persist in these practices with no sign of remorse will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Such people need to reevaluate their lives to see if they truly believe in Christ.

In a permissive society it is easy for Christians to overlook or tolerate some immoral behavior (greed, drunkenness, etc.) while remaining outraged at others (homosexuality, thievery). We must not participate in sin or condone it in any way; we cannot be selective about what we condemn or excuse. Staying away from more "acceptable" forms of sin is difficult, but it is no harder for us than it was for the Corinthians. God expects his followers in any age to have high standards.

Application:

Paul emphasizes God's action in making believers new people. The three aspects of God's work are all part of our salvation: Our sins were washed away, we were set apart for special use (sanctified), and we have been made right with God (justified).

I am so thankful that it can be said of me, "And that is what you WERE..." But, thank God, I have now been washed, sanctified, justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now I need to live like it! I love verse 11 in the Message translation:

1 Corinthians 6:11 A number of you know from experience what I'm talking about, for not so long ago you were on that list. Since then, you've been cleaned up and given a fresh start by Jesus, our Master, our Messiah, and by our God present in us, the Spirit.

I am so thankful that I have been given a fresh start by Jesus! I am a new creature in Christ. I am not the same as I used to be. At one time I had a "potty" mouth. Now when I hear someone cursing, it makes me cringe. Why? Because I'm not that same person anymore. I want to please the Lord by every aspect of my life. I fall short often of that, but I keep on striving to become all that the Lord dreams and longs for me to become. Today, I want to meditate on the thought that "that is what some of you WERE" I need to remember today the change that Jesus has brought into my life. I need to make a commitment RIGHT NOW to act, live, talk like it is what I WAS and not what I am now. I am changed by the power of the Word, and the blood of Jesus. Praise be to the Lord!

Prayer:

"Lord, I am so thankful that you brought me out of bondage in my life. I am so thankful that I can relate to what our text says, "and that is what some of you WERE" What a powerful word. WERE...not anymore. I have been changed. I thank You, Lord for that change. I choose today to act, talk and live like a changed person. TODAY I am a new creature through you. I want all of my decisions to reflect that. In Jesus' name, amen!"

Formed, Known, Sanctified, and Ordained!

Scripture:

Jeremiah 1:4-7 (MSG) This is what GOD said: (5) "Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations-- that's what I had in mind for you." (6) But I said, "Hold it, Master GOD! Look at me. I don't know anything. I'm only a boy!" (7) GOD told me, "Don't say, 'I'm only a boy.' I'll tell you where to go and you'll go there. I'll tell you what to say and you'll say it.

Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV) "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

Observation:

1. "I formed you" (Jer 1:5). Our earthbound little minds imagine conception as only a biological event. Yet here we are forced to think again concerning the origins of human life. The psalmist cries out, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth" (Psa 139:14, Psa 139:15).

This ought to shock today's culture whose abortion clinics have taken the lives of millions of unborn children since the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision. If God is present in the process of conception, then the value of human life takes on the implications of eternity. The weight of our glory as humans comes through these words to Jeremiah. Just as they must have shocked him, so must they shock us. We are infinitely more than children of humankind. Our birth is not our real beginning nor will our death be the end. Yet how we live the span between the two will count forever.

2. "I knew you" (Jer 1:5). This second mind-boggling claim stretches the prophet's origins beyond the walls of Anathoth, beyond the day of his birth, even beyond the day of his conception. In all of those "beyonds" God had a plan for his life. His mother first cradled him proudly, innocently in her arms, never knowing that larger arms than hers were wrapped around her child and holding him fast in a relentless purpose that was destined to touch all the power structures of the world. God had a plan for his life.

3. "I sanctified you" (Jer 1:5). Because Jeremiah was first known and then, at a point in time, formed in his mother's womb, this third condition becomes possible. He was then set apart for something sacred. When we argue against the sanctity of human life we must come up against this passage. Jeremiah was about to be sent headlong into a culture that had lost all reverence for human life. They were debauching themselves in the most flagrant disregard for the dignity to which they had been called as the people of God. They had lost every trace of their ordination. Are we not a society very much like that one? All manner of obscenities have penetrated our culture-our airwaves, our telephones, our music, even our communities and families. The four realities of humanity as God sees it and as He uttered to the prophet should arouse us to action. It has been said that "all that is required for the triumph of evil is that good men and women do nothing."

4. "I ordained you a prophet to the nations" (Jer 1:5).
The particular form our life is to take on earth is wrapped up in the purposes and foreknowledge of God. We cannot "find" ourselves until we first find Him. I cannot ultimately know who I am until I know whose I am.

Application:

God knew you, as he knew Jeremiah, long before you were born or even conceived. He thought about you and planned for you. When you feel discouraged or inadequate, remember that God has always thought of you as valuable and that he has a purpose in mind for you. Jeremiah was "appointed" by God as his "prophet to the nations." God has a purpose for each Christian, but some people are appointed by God for specific kinds of work. Samson (Jdg 13:3-5), David (1Sa 16:12-13) John the Baptist (Luk 1:13-17), and Paul (Gal 1:15-16) were also called to do particular jobs for God. Whatever work you do should be done for the glory of God (Php 1:11). If God gives you a specific task, accept it cheerfully and do it with diligence. If God has not given you a specific call or assignment, then seek to fulfill the mission common to all believers-to love, obey, and serve God-until his guidance becomes more clear.

Often people struggle with new challenges because they lack self-confidence, feeling that they have inadequate ability, training, or experience. Jeremiah thought he was "too young" and inexperienced to be God's prophet to the nations. But God promised to be with him. We should not allow feelings of inadequacy to keep us from obeying God. He will always be with us. If God gives you a job to do, he will provide all you need to do it.

God promised to be with Jeremiah and take care of him, but not to keep trouble from coming. God did not insulate him from imprisonment, deportation, or insults. God does not keep us from encountering life's storms, but he will see us through them. In fact, God walks through these storms with us and rescues us. Remember that, like Jeremiah, God formed you, knows you, sanctified you, and ordained you for a purpose and a plan in this life. Your life really does have purpose, which is why the enemy is fighting you so hard today.

Prayer:

"Lord, I am overwhelmed today to think that you formed me, know me, sanctified me, and ordained me! That makes me feel pretty special. I realize today that you really do not make any "junk". I am valuable to you. I have purpose. Forgive me for the times I have allowed my world and culture to take that purpose and value away. I choose today to make life decisions based on that value and purpose. In Jesus' name, amen!"

To please God, or Man…that is the question!

Scripture:

Galatians 1:10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Observation:

Paul would make no pretension at being religiously tolerant, if being tolerant means that it doesn't really matter what persons believe so long as they believe. How naive and glib we often are: "What persons believe is their business-a private matter. We don't need to be too concerned about theology or doctrine. Being brotherly is what matters, living by the Golden Rule, doing good, refraining from harmful activity-that's what counts. And if you are sincere, you'll be led to the right truth and in the right path."

"Hogwash!" Paul would say. "What you believe eventually determines how you live. You can't encrust the gospel of grace with a system of law. To do so diminishes the sovereignty of God and puts salvation back in the hands of humans to be earned by merit." Whatever the case, Paul warned against a gospel that was not centered in one gift-the grace of Christ-and in one event-the Christ event in which Crucifixion and Resurrection could not be separated. He could have pleased the Jews by preaching law observance, and the pagans by making the death of Christ a mere sacrificial transaction that placed no obligation upon the follower. But from the moment he became a Christian Paul knew nothing else but Jesus crucified. This freed him from the law, but it called him to be crucified with Christ. The only way to prove he was pleasing to God rather than men was to keep the scandal of the Cross at the heart of his preaching and take the consequences of the Cross to the heart of his living.

Application:

Do you spend your life trying to please everybody? Paul had to speak harshly to the Christians in Galatia because they were in serious danger. He did not apologize for his straightforward words, knowing that he could not serve Christ faithfully if he allowed the Galatian Christians to remain on the wrong track. Whose approval are you seeking-others' or God's? Pray for the courage to seek God's approval above anyone else's.

Prayer:

"Lord, please forgive me for the times that I have been more concerned at pleasing MAN than in pleasing YOU. There is a natural tendency and temptation in the world we live in to not "rock the boat" or to just keep our thoughts and opinions quiet. It does matter what I believe, it does matter what doctrine I believe. Help me to strive today to please you...and be salt and light to the world around me by living LIKE YOU, and not LIKE THEM...them being the ones that are not YET living for you. In Jesus' name, amen!"

Small Beginnings

Scripture:

Zechariah 4:10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand." (The seven lamps represent the eyes of the LORD that search all around the world.)

Observation:

Many of the older Jews were disheartened when they realized this new Temple would not match the size and splendor of the previous Temple built during King Solomon's reign. But bigger and more beautiful is not always better. What you do for God may seem small and insignificant at the time, but God rejoices in what is right, not necessarily in what is big. Be faithful in the small opportunities. Begin where you are and do what you can, and leave the results to God.

Application:

Yesterday I read something from Max Lucado about this verse that I would like to share here:

Begin. Just begin! What seems small to you might be huge to someone else. Just ask Bohn Fawkes. During World War II, he piloted a B-17. On one mission he sustained flak from Nazi antiaircraft guns. Even though his gas tanks were hit, the plane did not explode, and Fawkes was able to land the plane.

On the morning following the raid, Fawkes asked his crew chief for the German shell. He wanted to keep a souvenir of his incredible good fortune. The crew chief explained that not just one but eleven shells had been found in the gas tanks, none of which had exploded.

Technicians opened the missiles and found them void of explosive charge. They were clean and harmless and with one exception, empty. The exception contained a carefully rolled piece of paper. On it a message had been scrawled in the Czech language. Translated, the note read: "This is all we can do for you now."

A courageous assembly-line worker was disarming bombs and scribbled the note. He couldn't end the war, but he could save one plane. He couldn't do everything, but he could do something. So he did it.

God does big things with small deeds.

Against a towering giant, a brook pebble seems futile. But God used it to topple Goliath. Compared to the tithes of the wealthy, a widow's coins seem puny. But Jesus used them to inspire us. And in contrast with sophisticated priests and powerful Roman rulers, a cross-suspended carpenter seemed nothing but a waste of life. Few Jewish leaders mourned his death. Only a handful of friends buried his body. The people turned their attention back to the temple. Why not?

What power does a buried rabbi have? We know the answer. Mustard-seed and leaven-lump power. Power to tear away death rags and push away death rocks. Power to change history. In the hands of God, small seeds grow into sheltering trees. Tiny leaven expands into nourishing loaves.

Small deeds can change the world. Sow the mustard seed. Bury the leaven lump. Make the call. Write the check. Organize the committee.

Moses had a staff.
David had a sling.
Samson had a jawbone.
Rahab had a string.
Mary had some ointment.
Aaron had a rod.
Dorcas had a needle.
All were used by God.
What do you have?

God inhabits the tiny seed, empowers the tiny deed. He cures the common life by giving no common life, by offering no common gifts. Don't discount the smallness of your deeds.

Prayer:

"Lord, forgive me for not understanding the importance of small beginnings. I know that you do big things with small deeds. You use the foolishness of this world to confound the wise. You used a staff, sling, jawbone, string, ointment, rod, needle, small lunch to do great miracles. I just need to make myself available. I choose today to rejoice in the small beginnings. I have been praying for some things for a long time. In stead of saying, 'I guess it isn't doing any good' I will thank you for the small beginnings whether I see anything or not. I choose to walk by faith and not by sight. In Jesus' name, amen!"