Friday Thought -- May 31, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“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, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” (1 Peter 3:15-16)

Be ready to tell others about Christ and what He has done for you. That’s the challenge that Peter gives us here.

Get your heart ready. To do that requires that our hearts be right with the Lord. Put the Lord in His rightful place in your heart. This whole letter was written to those who were already Christians, so Peter is not talking about a salvation decision here. Rather, he is talking about the day-to-day challenge of keeping our heart focused on Jesus.

Be ready with words. God will provide you with opportunities to speak to others about what makes your life different. He is always at work in the lives of the people around you and He’ll give you opportunities to be a part of that work. The challenge is for us to be ready when it happens. To be ready we need to know why we have hope and we need to know how to put it into words. Could you tell someone else why you’ve received Jesus Christ and what difference He has made in your life? Are you ready?

Get your life ready. Many people are turned off to our words because of what they see in our lives. Our goal must be to live our lives in such a way that we don’t detract from the message that we want people to hear from us. In fact, Peter talks about answering the questions of those who ask and that implies that our lives so reflect Christ that others see it and are prompted to ask about it. That’s a huge challenge for all of us.

It was Francis of Assisi who said something like this, “Preach the gospel always. When

necessary, use words.”

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- May 30, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.” (1 Peter 3:1-6)

“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” (1 Peter 3:7)

I think there are four words that form the core of what God was teaching about marriage in this passage. These may not be the words you see as key, but I think they are the most important words in the passage. You can tell how important they are because you see them in the instructions Peter gives both to wives and to husbands. Read the first section to wives and the second section to husbands and see if you can find the words that are repeated.

Here they are: “in the same way.”

God is saying that the very core of the instructions to the husband and to the wife contain the same message! What God is saying to them both is to put the interests of your partner ahead of your own. And that is the key to a healthy and godly marriage.

God says wives are to do that by being submissive. It’s about doing what is right for your husband, not what he deserves. It’s about not considering your own interests, but rather trusting God to take care of you and to work through your husband to do it.

God says husbands are to do that by treating their wives with consideration and respect, and by recognizing your wife as a partner with you in marriage. That’s doing what is right for her, no matter what that means for what you want or what you need. Your focus is on her, not on yourself.

In fact, that phrase is the key to every human relationship. Healthy and godly human relationships are the product of each person putting the needs of the other person first, before their own needs.

Try it – see how it works in your own relationships. Why not start at home!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- May 29, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. … Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.” (1 Peter 2:13-14; 18)

None of us like submission – but all of us have to submit. All of us live under some kind of authority.

There are governing authorities over our lives. They set speed limits and install STOP signs to regulate how we drive and we are expected to submit. They enact regulations about how and when and where we can build, even on property that we own. They set fees that we must pay to go into business and establish taxes that we must pay on income, sales, investments, property, and so on. We are required to submit to the rules they establish, or to suffer the consequences for not submitting.

Most of us work under the authority of employers. They may require us to work days and hours that we would rather not work. They may ask us to handle tasks that we would rather not handle. They may make decisions with which we do not agree. But as long as we work under their authority, we are required to submit to them – or suffer the consequences of not submitting.

And there are many other kinds of authority that may operate in our lives — certainly some that did at some times. Parents exercise authority over their children. Teachers exercise authority over their students. Officers exercise authority over the soldiers.

Toward each authority in our lives we must exercise submission. It is the way life works. It is the way God designed life to work.

And all of us face it. Even the most powerful tyrant operates under some kind of authority – as most of them found out when finally the people or another ruler arose to overthrow them. And even when they were never overthrown, they faced another Authority when they died!

How can we live in a world in which we must submit to authorities with whose policies and rules we do not agree? There is only one good answer to that question. It’s the one under which Jesus lived His life – “He entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:23)

Submit to the proper authorities in your life and trust God. Even Jesus did that and left us His example to follow.

His, by Grace,

Steve 

Tuesday Thought -- May 28, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” (1 Peter 2:9-12)

Peter presents a stark contrast in these verses.

To God, those who are in Christ are --

A chosen people – When we make a choice, we select what we want, what is special to us, what we love. Those who are in Christ are the ones God wants, we are special to God, we are loved by Him. He has made us so by His own choice.

A royal priesthood – Priests are those who have a special relationship with God and special access to God. To God, those terms describe those of us who are in Christ. We have a special relationship with God – as His beloved children. We have special access to God – we can come confidently into His presence, right to His throne. And we are royal priests –

those who have a special relationship to the King!

A holy nation – The word holy simply means set apart as something different and for something special. God has done that for us. He has set us apart as special to Him. He has set us apart for something special – to be His co-workers, His servants, His partners.

A people belonging to God – a people commissioned to praise God – a people called by God out of the darkness – a people granted mercy by God.

Those are the descriptions of who we are to God.

But to the world, we are aliens and strangers. We are special to God, but strangers to the world. We don’t fit in – and God doesn’t want us to! And for my part, I’d rather fit in with God than fit in with the world!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- May 27, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him - you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious.  But to those who do not believe, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,’ and, ‘A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.’ They stumble because they disobey the message - which is also what they were destined for.” (1 Peter 2:4-8)

It amazes me how differently people view Jesus. Some embrace Jesus as God and Savior. Some see Jesus only as a great teacher and a moral example, but not a savior. Others view Him negatively, as intolerant of those who don’t accept His narrow views on life. And, no doubt, there are many other opinions about Jesus that people hold.

That’s always been the case.

It was that way in Jesus’ day. The rich young ruler considered Jesus a good teacher, but was unwilling to surrender to Him as Lord. The Pharisees saw Him as a danger to their position and someone to oppose, to deal with, to get rid of. Some saw Him only as a miracle-worker – someone who would meet their needs and when they didn’t have needs, to ignore. And others, like the apostles, looked at Him, His life, His teachings, and His works and saw God.

Peter reminds us that Jesus was “rejected by men.” So when we see people rejecting Him now, it shouldn’t surprise us. It certainly doesn’t surprise God! But though He was ignored or rejected by the majority during His own life and is being ignored or rejected by the majority today, God’s perspective is quite different. Rejected by men – chosen by God. Declared useless by men – not worth building a life on. Chosen by God as the cornerstone of His own Kingdom!

It amazes me how differently people view Jesus. How do you view Him? I choose to see Him like God does – the only One worth building a life on!

His, by Grace,

Steve 

Friday Thought -- May 24, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, ‘All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.’  And this is the word that was preached to you.” (1 Peter 1:18-19 and 23-25)

Peter writes of two things that will not perish and have made an eternal impact upon our lives.

The blood of Christ will not perish. Jesus existed before the foundation of the world. He was involved in the creation, along with the Father, making everything that exists. And Jesus will exist past the end of the universe, too. His days will never end. He lived in eternity past and will live in eternity future. And there is no person, no power, no force that can change that! What that means is that what Jesus has done for us can be counted on for eternity. There will never come a time when Jesus, or His work, will be obsolete or ineffective.

The word of God is imperishable. Peter’s words repeat the truth spoken by Jesus, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matthew 24:35) The word of God will be eternal. The word of God reveals God’s character and His plan. Those things will not change, not for eternity. As certainly as God will never change His mind, so the word of God will never change. Reading and studying the word of God is an eternal pursuit. What you learn here from God’s Word will stay with you into eternity. It’s the only subject of study that will have real significance after we leave this world.

Our faith is based upon two things that stand forever -- Jesus and His Word. Those are things you can count on!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- May 23, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5)

We have so much for which to give praise to God. Peter reminds us of just a few of the marvelous blessings we enjoy in Christ.

God has given us a new birth. A birth is always something that happens to someone and not something that anyone can do for themselves! Our parents have the responsibility and receive the credit for our physical birth. And God has the responsibility for our new birth and He deserves the credit for it. It is a gift from Him. A new life – and not just a second life like the first one, the new birth is to a totally new kind of life. The first life was in the flesh and the new life is in the Spirit!

We have been born into a living hope. It is a living hope because it is a hope that is absolutely founded in the life of a Person. Our hope is based solely on Jesus Christ. And it’s a hope that we have been born into – the new life is not just about what happens here in this world, there is something more – something so much more! It’s something to look forward to. It’s something to keep our eyes fixed on in anticipation.

We are awaiting an inheritance. Streets of gold, gates of pearl – the splendor of heaven is a part of the inheritance we await. But there’s more – a world not marred by sin. Relationships characterized by pure love. Unhindered service to the God of all grace in precisely the ways He designed us to serve. Those are just a sampling of the inheritance that awaits us. And no one can take it away from us, it will never wear out or spoil, nothing can be done to diminish it in any way – it will never perish, spoil or fade.

We are shielded by God’s power. There is a bubble of protection around us that is as strong as God is strong! There is no power that can penetrate it and no force that can overcome it.

Those are all blessings that come from God and are given to us because of our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Recognize them. Enjoy them. Praise God for them.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- May 22, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:” (1 Peter 1:1-2)

According to God those who are in Christ are special – chosen and elect by Him. We’re not chosen because of what we’ve done or who we are, but chosen by Who we know and Who we allow to know us. To be chosen means to be God’s favorites. It reminds me of how the angel addressed Mary when he came to tell her that she would bear the Christ child. He said to her, “Greetings, you who are highly favored!” (Luke 1:28) She was highly favored because God had chosen her to be His special instrument to accomplish His will. You and I, too, in Christ, are highly favored – special – chosen – to be God’s special instruments to accomplish His will.

Special to God – but peculiar to the world. We are strangers in this world. We’ve all probably known some folks who were not citizens of this country, who were raised in a foreign land and in a foreign culture. Sometimes they don’t talk like us. Sometimes they don’t act like us. Sometimes they don’t seem to understand what people in this country think and do. They are just different. And that’s how the world sees us – just different. Sometimes our language is different. Sometimes our actions are different. Sometimes we look at things from a different perspective from the rest of the world. Special to God – peculiar to the world.

Scattered all over. It’s not like God’s people are all in Oregon or all in America. God’s special people live in every area of the world and have lived in every epoch of time. Every skin color is represented among God’s special people – every language is spoken – every culture is represented. We’re all scattered, although that is but a temporary situation. There will come a day when God will gather His special people and we’ll all live together in eternity – but for now we are scattered so that the whole world can be impacted by God’s special people.

And we are an “in process” people. The Spirit is sanctifying us and the blood of Jesus is sprinkling us. God is working in our lives to change us to be more and more like Him. It’s not a work that is immediately done when we first come to Christ and it’s not a work that will be done even though we know Christ for 50 years or more in this world. We await the day when this life is over – that’s when God’s work in us and on us will be finished.

Special to God – peculiar to the world – scattered all over – and in process toward Christlikeness. That’s us – in Christ.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- May 21, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:7-10)

It is a principle that God built into the world: you reap what you sow. Sow corn, reap corn. Sow wheat, reap wheat. What a weird natural world it would be if you sowed corn and did not know what kind of crop you would be able to reap at harvest time!

It works in the spiritual world, too. Sow those things which come from our own sinful nature and you reap the natural harvest from them, and it is not good. Sow those things which come from the Spirit, and you reap the natural harvest from them, and it is very good. This is not a works oriented salvation, it is just a natural principle. We’ve all seen it at work. Give in to the temptations toward sin and you reap more and more trouble. Pursue the spiritual disciplines, the direction of the Lord, and obedience to Him and you reap more and more spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with God.

There’s one more area Paul mentions in which this principle works: personal relationships. Do good to others and the general rule is that you will reap good back from them. Do evil to others and the general rule is that you will reap evil back from them. We’ve all seen and experienced exceptions to the rule, but the general principle is still valid. Treat others like you would want to be treated, and generally you will find them reciprocating.

You reap what you sow, it is a general principle of life. So, the key question is, what are you sowing?

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- May 20, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.” (Galatians 6:1-5)

There seems to be a contradiction in these few verses. In verse 2 there is the admonition to “carry each other’s burdens.” Then in verse 5 the instruction is for “each one should carry his own load.” So which is it, carry each other’s burdens or each be responsible for his own?

It’s actually both. The word “load” in verse 5 refers to a small load that one person is capable of carrying – like a soldier’s backpack. It is his individual responsibility. The word “burden” in verse 2 speaks of something larger, a burden that is too heavy for one person to carry, a load that must be shared with others or it cannot be handled.

Both are true and needed admonitions. We each do have our individual responsibilities. We must learn to carry them for ourselves. It’s not healthy to take the tasks away from others that they need to learn to handle on their own. Learning to handle them on their own is a part of the growing process in Christ.

But there are also burdens too large for a person to carry by himself. If they are not shared, they will either be dropped or crush the one trying to carry them. I need help from my brothers and sisters in Christ when faced with those burdens! And I’m thankful for others who help when I need them.

It’s not a contradiction, but it is a tough balance to keep in our own lives and to apply to the lives of others.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- May 17, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (Galatians 5:22-26)

A tree doesn’t have to work to produce its fruit. The fruit is the natural product of a living, healthy tree. A tree that is firmly planted in good soil and that receives adequate water, food, and light will grow and produce its fruit.

So, too, a Christian does not have to work to produce our fruit. The fruit is the natural product of a living, healthy Christian. A Christian who is firmly planted in good soil, a solid relationship to Jesus Christ, and who receives adequate water, food, and light will grow and produce its fruit. Water, food, and light include such things as the intake of the Word of God, a life of prayer, worship, service, and obedience to the Lord.

Spiritual growth is not rocket science. It’s not complicated. Spiritual growth requires just the simple things that we already know about. And through those things, the Spirit works in our lives to produce the most marvelous fruit possible, the changing of our very character into more and more of the character that Jesus demonstrated.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- May 16, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:16-21)

The list of sins above is depressing. What a horrible list of activities for people to be involved in. And, in fact, the list is a pretty good description of the world without Christ. It’s not that people go out of their way to be involved in such things, it is that these are the natural inclination of all of us human beings.

By nature we are not kind, sweet, and pure. Allowed to act without restraints, these are the paths we will voluntarily and naturally choose. “There but for the grace of God, go I.” is an old saying, and absolutely true. If God had not intervened in our lives, we too would be given over to what our sinful nature dictates. Only the intervention of God’s grace through His Holy Spirit makes a difference.

I cry out with Paul, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24) And must proclaim the same answer that he did, “Thanks be to God -- through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25)

Rescued from my own sinful nature.  No longer bound by its path of degradation. By the Spirit, I’ve been freed by God to live a new life! Thank God!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- May 15, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” (Galatians 5:13-15)

It has been said that the church is the only army in the world that shoots its own wounded. The point is that when Christians are down the church often responds by turning its back on them until they can get themselves straightened out. Sometimes it seems like we come into the kingdom by grace, but that’s where grace ends and we have to stay in the kingdom by law, by following the rules and keeping the traditions.

Contrast that with the way Jesus responded when one of His followers fell. Think of what He did with Peter. Did Jesus turn His back on Peter when he denied Him? No way! Instead of turning His back on Peter until he could get his life back in order, Jesus went to Peter and reached out to him, drawing him back and restoring him to leadership. That is the path of grace.

It is absolutely true that the church has to stand for what is right. But the church shouldn’t be biting and devouring each other. Rather, we should stand with each other, help each other, go to bat for one another, pick one another up when there is a fall. That is the way of love. That is the way of grace. That is the way of Jesus!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- May 14, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

Do you ever wonder what really counts in this life? What can you do with your life that will matter in the long-run, in the eternal scheme of things? Paul tells the Galatians what matters. “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (Galatians 5:6)

Making money and advancing in your profession aren’t what matters. Having a great house and fine cars aren’t what matters. Law-keeping and religious rituals aren’t what matters and aren’t worth giving a life to. What matters and what is worth giving a life to is the expression of faith through love.

Faith that demonstrates itself pleases God. That is what pleased God about Abraham and brought God’s blessing into Abraham's life. “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:3) And that phrase is quoted again in two other New Testament passages (Galatians 3:6 and James 2:23). It was, and is, an important concept.

Faith pleases God. In fact, without faith, nothing pleases God. Whatever is done that does not flow out of our trust in and commitment to God just doesn’t even count with Him. “And without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6)

“The righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:17)

“We live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

“Everything that does not come from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23)

Faith matters to God.  And without faith, nothing else matters.

So, how’s your faith and how is it being demonstrated?

His, by grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- May 13, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

Paul was deeply concerned about the Galatians. He saw a great danger in the direction they were heading. Listen to some of the pain Paul felt for them and some of the problems he saw in them.

They were in danger of being “enslaved” by the principles and laws again, losing their freedom in Christ. (Galatians 4:9)

Paul was afraid that he had “wasted his efforts on them.” (Galatians 4:11)

The joy they had come to know in Christ was gone. (Galatians 4:15)

They were alienated from Paul, he was becoming like an enemy to them. (Galatians 4:16)

Paul concluded, “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.” (Galatians 4:19)

The Galatians had gotten stuck and now were retreating in their relationship with Christ and it pained Paul deeply. What was happening in the lives of the Galatians mattered to Paul. It mattered to God, too.

What is happening in your life matters to God, too. It’s easy to stop growing in your relationship with Christ and stop moving forward in your maturity. When we stop growing, we lose so much. Our joy, our freedom, our relationships with others, even our relationship with God suffer.

Don’t be satisfied with the level of spiritual maturity you have come to. To be satisfied is the first step toward moving backward. Keep striving to move to greater levels of maturity, till “Christ is formed in you.”

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- May 10, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.” (Galatians 4:1-7)

Jesus came when the time was just right. By God’s sovereign plan, all things worked together to make the time of Jesus’ birth the perfect time for the Messiah to come. Judaism was about to end. At least its truly religious nature was. When the temple was destroyed only 40 years after Jesus’ death, Judaism effectively came to end. It has not been resurrected in the 2,000 years since then. God could not have waited any longer or there would have been no people through which to send His Son.

He could not have come earlier, either. A common language was spoken all over the world, having been established by Alexander the Great spreading Greek everywhere he conquered. Roads formed a quick route of transportation, used for goods and armies, and used, too, for carriers of the Gospel. Relative peace prevailed because the Roman Empire ensured it. It was just the right time for the Messiah and just the right for His message to go forth into the world.

What amazing foresight God demonstrated and what amazing sovereignty!

And here’s the best news, He orchestrated Jesus’ coming for you and me! So that we could be more than slaves, so that we could be His sons and His heirs! He did it all for us!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- May 9, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

"Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.” (Galatians 3:21-25)

Why was the law given if it could not save us?

Paul says it was given to “lead us to Christ.” Without the law we would not know how far we are from meeting God’s standards. The law teaches us that we are sinners and reveals our deep need for a Savior.

If there was no law, I could decide that all I need to do is compare myself with other people. If I’m better than average, perhaps that would be good enough to satisfy God. But there is a law, an objective standard by which to measure my sin and there is no getting around the verdict: I am GUILTY!

I remember when Jimmy Carter was President and revealed in a magazine interview that there was not one of the 10 Commandments he had not broken, at least in his mind. He received a good deal of flack from that statement, but he spoke honestly. If we are honest we have to admit the same thing. I may never have murdered anyone, but have been angry toward people on multiple occasions, and Jesus indicates murder and anger are the same sin. (Matthew 5:21-22) And each of the other commandments we have similarly broken.

We all stand guilty before God. The law teaches us that. But Jesus came to deal with our sin and offer Himself as our Savior. Thank God!

His, by Grace.

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- May 8, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

"You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing -- if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? Consider Abraham: 'He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.' Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: 'All nations will be blessed through you.' So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith." (Galatians 3:1-9)

How foolish the Galatians were! They received a relationship with God freely from Him by faith. Then, having received it by faith, they tried to add to that relationship by keeping the law. The law couldn't get them into a relationship with God and it could not add anything to that relationship either. Why did they think it could?

I think they went back to the law because they wanted to feel like they had earned something from God. But we never earn anything from Him, we only receive by His grace! He doesn't bless us because we are so marvelous and do so much for Him. He blesses us because He loves us and because we are in relationship with Him through His Son.

The Galatians weren't the last ones to go back to law-keeping. The temptation is always there, in every generation of believers, even among us.

Law-keeping will never get us anywhere, only trusting Him will!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- May 7, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 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. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (Galatians 2:19-21)

First, and foremost, there is no hope of right relationship with God through law-keeping. As James said, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” (James 2:10) We certainly have been guilty of breaking at least one point of the law, so we are all guilty of it all! A right relationship with God through law-keeping is possible only by perfectly keeping the whole law, and no one, except Jesus, has done that, or ever will. We are all desperately in need of grace, and God has freely given it!

Second, a right relationship with God comes through being crucified with Christ. We don’t literally have to go to a cross, but what Christ did on the cross has to become ours. Our life must become His. Jesus said, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” (Matthew 16:25) Keep your life for yourself and ultimately you lose it. Give your life to Christ, and eternally you will find it!

Third, this new life in Christ is lived by faith, by trusting God. Trust is one of the most difficult things to do, yet it is what God wants as much as anything. To trust God is the primary way we show we love Him. To believe what He said and take Him at His word. For salvation, and for all of life.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- May 6, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, ‘You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?’” (Galatians 2:11-14)

The passage today is an interesting one that deals with two important issues.

First, it deals with the question “who do you follow?” Peter would have been quick to say that he followed the Lord. He would have been proud of that fact and willing to state it with absolute assurance. That was the kind of person Peter was. But the reality wasn’t quite so certain! When put to the test, like he did earlier when he denied the Lord, Peter failed it. Peter allowed the opinions of others to influence how he followed the Lord. He knew what was right, but gave in to what he knew was the will of those who came from James. How often are you like Peter in that way? You know what is right, you’ve been convicted of it by the Lord, but you let the opinion of others influence you anyway. Who do you follow?

Second, it deals with the issue of confrontation. Confrontation is never fun, but sometimes it is necessary for the good of the individual being confronted and also good for the larger body of believers. Peter was the recognized leader among the apostles, the most outspoken and headstrong. Paul was the newcomer. Yet, Paul confronted Peter because it needed to be done. Peter needed it. And so did the church at Galatia. I wonder if we miss the mark sometimes because of our fear, our unwillingness to confront when the Lord would have us to. Confrontation shouldn’t be the characteristic of our lives, but when called upon, we should be willing to do it.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- May 3, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain.” (Galatians 2:1-2)

The attitude Paul demonstrated by the actions he describes in this passage tells us a lot about him and about the church in its early days. It tells us something about the church then that is significantly different from the church of today.

Today, the church is made up of very independent, disconnected, and stubborn people. Each faction in the church believes it has a lock of truth -- it has the gospel right and all of the other factions are wrong in some aspect or another. There is so little discussion among the various factions to try to understand the different perspectives or seek to reconcile the differences in opinions.

But that wasn’t true in Paul’s day. Paul expressed an attitude of interdependence, connection, and humility of spirit. In the first chapter of Galatians, he indicated that he had received the message that he preached by direct revelation from God. Yet, when some brought what he preached into question, he sought out the leaders of the church in Jerusalem to be sure that what he was preaching was right. He was willing to submit his message to the oversight of others.

In our day, Paul simply would have ignored the questions and if people had a problem with what he was teaching they could just leave his church and start another. In today’s climate, the church would quickly have split into the Pauline churches and the other groups who disagreed with them.

Paul practiced what Jesus prayed for: “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:23)

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- May 2, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.” (Galatians 1:13)

The Apostle Paul is a clear example of the truth that a person doesn’t have to stay the way he is. Change is possible through the intervention and the power of God!

Think of the worst enemy of the church that you can imagine from the modern era. Perhaps the person who comes to mind is Madeline Murray Ohare from a few years back. Or perhaps you are immediately drawn to Osama Bin Laden. We can’t imagine Ohare in any way other than as an avowed atheist who is fighting with every ounce of energy she has to defeat the church of Jesus Christ. We can’t imagine Bin Laden in any way other than as a militant Muslim with such hatred for America and for Christians that he would mastermind something as hideous as September 11th.

For the Christians of the early church, the pre-Christian Paul was someone with a reputation similar to Ohare or Bin Laden. He hated the church of Jesus Christ and the Christians. He sought with every ounce of energy that he had to destroy it. He stood by, giving his approval, while Stephen was stoned to death. He sought permission from the leaders of the Jewish people to arrest Christians, especially their leaders, and even to execute them.

But Paul didn’t stay an enemy of the church. God had a plan and purpose for Paul’s life that wasn’t as someone outside the church. God’s plan and purpose for Paul was to be brought into the kingdom of God, to be radically changed by the power of the gospel, and to be a messenger of the gospel to others. And God intervened in Paul’s life to confront him with his sin and with the truth of the gospel – and Paul embraced Jesus and was transformed by the power of the gospel.

Paul is not the only example of a radical change in a person’s life by God’s power. You know of people in our own time who have experienced the same kind of radical change. Perhaps you are one of those whose life God has transformed by His intervention and His power.

Consider the people around you who do not embrace Jesus, His message and His kingdom. Remember that they are not beyond God’s power to change them. And God may have plans for you to be one of the instruments that He uses as a channel for His message to them. They don’t have to stay the way they are!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- May 1, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it:  rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:11-12)

The message that we’ve embraced is not a philosophy developed by man. It is a message that was given to us by God. Trace the origin of the message and be reminded of where it came from!

Abraham was called directly by God. God promised Abraham that He was calling him to be the father of a people that would be special to Him, would be given a land of their own, and would be blessed by God. It’s was God’s decision, not Abraham’s.

Moses received the Law directly from God in revelation while he was on top of Mount Sinai. The Law was not developed by men to organize and control society. The Law was God’s idea and came directly from Him.

Prophet after prophet in the Old Testament received their message directly from God and all of them pointed toward the coming of God’s special messenger, His Messiah. Isaiah was told the Messiah would suffer for the sins of mankind. Micah was told where the Messiah would be born. Daniel was given information about when the Messiah would come. God gave other prophets revelations about other aspects of the coming of the Messiah. The coming of the Messiah was God’s idea and God planned it thousands of years in advance.

Then Jesus came – not a good man who rose to become a teacher of the ways of God, but God Himself bringing God’s message to man. He proved He was from God through the miracles He performed. He taught in a way that no other man had ever taught, with authority, the authority of God Himself.

This message of the gospel that we’ve embraced is not man’s idea. It is the very message of God Himself!

His, by Grace,

Steve