Philippians 3:14
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Heaven is the goal because it is that which every Christian has his eye on.
Heaven is also the prize of the upward calling; what we aim at in all we do.
Heaven is our future home, through the call of God, by the blood of Christ.
And, there is no getting to heaven as our home but by Christ as “the way.”
The Truth
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Shalom - Peace Be With You
Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Sar Shalom, in Hebrew). You may have already known that the word “shalom” means peace. But actually, it has several meanings in the Hebrew. Shalom means peace, completeness, prosperity, safety, contentment, health, blessing, and rest — and not only that. Shalom is the common word for hello and goodbye.
So, when you greet someone or bid them a farewell “shalom”, what you are actually doing is speaking all those blessings upon them — and really, speaking over them the ultimate peace, Jesus, Himself!
‘Tis the season to speak shalom over one another!
The Truth
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
So, when you greet someone or bid them a farewell “shalom”, what you are actually doing is speaking all those blessings upon them — and really, speaking over them the ultimate peace, Jesus, Himself!
‘Tis the season to speak shalom over one another!
The Truth
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
A Submitted Mind
Philippians 2:5
“Let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus.”
Simply put, we should have the very attitudes and actions that we see in Christ Jesus - selfless, sacrificial and serving. Paul is calling all of us to a daily lifestyle of maintaining a mind submitted to Jesus Christ or (as this hymn says) we could wonder away.
O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be! Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart. O take and seal it. Seal it for Thy courts above.
The Truth
May the mind of Christ, my Savior,
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and power controlling
All I do and say. - unknown
“Let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus.”
Simply put, we should have the very attitudes and actions that we see in Christ Jesus - selfless, sacrificial and serving. Paul is calling all of us to a daily lifestyle of maintaining a mind submitted to Jesus Christ or (as this hymn says) we could wonder away.
O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be! Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart. O take and seal it. Seal it for Thy courts above.
The Truth
May the mind of Christ, my Savior,
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and power controlling
All I do and say. - unknown
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
To Live Is Christ
Philippians 1:21
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
This is the single mind we need to think properly and live joyfully in this world. Anything else one might live for will leave you unsatisfied, wanting more.
Paul regarded himself as already dead to sin through the cross of Christ. He saw that “Christ IS… our life” (Colossians 3:4). He said, “I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20). Therefore, for him to die was gain, for then he would be with Christ.
“The only way to rejoice through life, to be happy in and about life, is to identify solely with Jesus.” (Jon Courson)
The Truth
“For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ (Acts 17:28)
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
This is the single mind we need to think properly and live joyfully in this world. Anything else one might live for will leave you unsatisfied, wanting more.
Paul regarded himself as already dead to sin through the cross of Christ. He saw that “Christ IS… our life” (Colossians 3:4). He said, “I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20). Therefore, for him to die was gain, for then he would be with Christ.
“The only way to rejoice through life, to be happy in and about life, is to identify solely with Jesus.” (Jon Courson)
The Truth
“For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ (Acts 17:28)
Monday, December 15, 2014
With Repentance Comes Forgiveness
Jonah 4:1
“But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry.”
We now understand why Jonah ran away from the call of the Lord in the first place. He simply did not like the Assyrians and became very angry that God had forgiven these enemies of the nation Israel. (Jonah 3:10)
Jesus commanded us to "love one another" (John 13:34) and He followed that statement with: "By this all will know that you are My disciples, IF you have love for one another" (John 13:35). Why would people trust that the invisible God loves them, if His people who are visible display no love?
The lesson to learn from the book of Jonah is that forgiveness is for everyone who repents. If God forgave the Ninevites on the basis of their repentance; if He tolerated Jonah and accepted this stubborn man who resisted Him, He will do the same for you and me and anyone else, if we repent.
The Truth
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleans us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
“But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry.”
We now understand why Jonah ran away from the call of the Lord in the first place. He simply did not like the Assyrians and became very angry that God had forgiven these enemies of the nation Israel. (Jonah 3:10)
Jesus commanded us to "love one another" (John 13:34) and He followed that statement with: "By this all will know that you are My disciples, IF you have love for one another" (John 13:35). Why would people trust that the invisible God loves them, if His people who are visible display no love?
The lesson to learn from the book of Jonah is that forgiveness is for everyone who repents. If God forgave the Ninevites on the basis of their repentance; if He tolerated Jonah and accepted this stubborn man who resisted Him, He will do the same for you and me and anyone else, if we repent.
The Truth
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleans us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Sunday, December 14, 2014
God's Gift To You - Merry Christmas
Jesus came to this earth, by Gods' plan and design.
The place of His birth, marked by a heavenly sign.
A new star above, showed the place where He lay.
The Fathers' gift, sound asleep on the hay.
So innocent and pure, this gift to man.
Would soon receive, Roman nails in His hand.
He was born to die, His life He gave.
So all might live, and their souls be saved.
One day all will answer, for what they have done.
With Gods' gift to the world, His only son.
So accept His gift, and your soul you will save.
From the wages of sin, and the death of the grave.
Chris Kinder 10'
The Truth
"For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is a "gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)
The place of His birth, marked by a heavenly sign.
A new star above, showed the place where He lay.
The Fathers' gift, sound asleep on the hay.
So innocent and pure, this gift to man.
Would soon receive, Roman nails in His hand.
He was born to die, His life He gave.
So all might live, and their souls be saved.
One day all will answer, for what they have done.
With Gods' gift to the world, His only son.
So accept His gift, and your soul you will save.
From the wages of sin, and the death of the grave.
Chris Kinder 10'
The Truth
"For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is a "gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)
Friday, December 12, 2014
Message Received
Jonah 3:6
"When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes.”
This King was touched to his soul by the message of Jonah. So much so that he put on sackcloth and sat in ashes. He was mourning his sins and the sins of his people. This king was so upset by the message he heard, that he caused not only the people, but even their animals to fast and wear sackcloth; (v.7) commanding his people to turn from wickedness and violence. (v.8)
God can change the hearts of men, even ruthless leaders like this king. As it says in Proverbs, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it whenever He wishes.” (Proverbs 21:1)
Pray for our leaders – as they can be turned from evil just as this king was.
The Truth
“Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.” (1 Kings 18:37)
"When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes.”
This King was touched to his soul by the message of Jonah. So much so that he put on sackcloth and sat in ashes. He was mourning his sins and the sins of his people. This king was so upset by the message he heard, that he caused not only the people, but even their animals to fast and wear sackcloth; (v.7) commanding his people to turn from wickedness and violence. (v.8)
God can change the hearts of men, even ruthless leaders like this king. As it says in Proverbs, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it whenever He wishes.” (Proverbs 21:1)
Pray for our leaders – as they can be turned from evil just as this king was.
The Truth
“Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.” (1 Kings 18:37)
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Ready To Do Thy Will
Jonah 2:9
"But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is from the Lord."
Jonah, right from the beginning of this book had been running from God and the call of God for his life. He now says (after 3 days in the belly of a great fish), "that which I have vowed I will pay." Jonah is now willing to place God's will ahead of his own.
May we not have to reach the bottom in our own lives before we are willing to follow His call, as it could be too late.
The Truth
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
"But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is from the Lord."
Jonah, right from the beginning of this book had been running from God and the call of God for his life. He now says (after 3 days in the belly of a great fish), "that which I have vowed I will pay." Jonah is now willing to place God's will ahead of his own.
May we not have to reach the bottom in our own lives before we are willing to follow His call, as it could be too late.
The Truth
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
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