A Promise.
Probably my favorite verse in the entire bible that gives me so much hope in the toughest of times is Romans 8:18. It says, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us." In this verse, I see a promise that offers so much hope in heaven. All that consumes my life, day in and day out, isn't even worth comparing to the greatness of standing in the presence of God. There are so many things that we will never understand...why can I not seem to overcome this struggle?...why am I the parent of a wayward child?...why did I have to endure the death of a close relative?...why do bad things happen to good people?
Even though we can't answer our questions, God will always be faithful. Sometimes it seems that God allows for trials to come, but we can blame sin and our fallen nature for that. Bad things happen because of the fall of man when sin entered into the world. We can blame ourselves. The good news is that Jesus died for all of our past, present and future sins and even though we have to endure the hardships that come along with consequences of sin, we have the promise of heaven. All of the crappy times are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us one day. Sin doesn't deserve our attention--we need to keep our head up and our focus on the One who has overcame sin and death for His glory, on our behalf. Our lives should constantly be lived to honor Christ. When we spend time dwelling on the worst of times, we lose moments that He deserves to be lifted up.
The entire chapter is great. If you haven't read chapter 8 of Romans or if it's been a while, I encourage you to take less than 5 minutes, read 39 verses and see what God will say to you. He longs to have a deeper relationship with you. It's your obligation to give, to sacrifice, of your time to strengthen your relationship with Abba, your Dad, your Creator, your loving Father. I remember our Lead Pastor, Neil Perry using a tagline concerning parenting. He said, "rules without a relationship, equals rebellion." Now, because of the catchiness of this phrase, it stuck with me. So, the other day I remembered this phrase and realized how it applies to our spiritual walk. God gave us Jesus. That's enough. Jesus is enough. And always God is giving to us. We are able to wake up every day He allows, breathe and honor Him...that's what's expected. He's done enough on His part of the relationship. Now, it's up to us. We need to see that God is working for us. A lot of times we try to do things on our on. We are brainwashed into thinking that we have the ability to live life and carry on without God. Well, whether you like it or not, whether you know it or not, God never leaves. He's always there. But because we think we can do it on our own, it puts distance between us and God. We can't do it on our own. We can't fight our battles on our own...we ABSOLUTELY can't win them on our own. Submit to Him today and let Him guide you. Spend time with Him. We can be comforted in the midst of our present sufferings. Just fall into His everlasting arms.
And finally, since I'm the music guy, here's a song to have to assist in your worship today. The words are giving all glory to Jesus. It's so good when you can just close your eyes and experience the peace of knowing Jesus is all you need. It's called, Jesus At the Center. I love all of you guys at Element Church. I hope and pray you are blessed today.
--Caleb
Showing posts with label caleb. Show all posts
Showing posts with label caleb. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Friday, July 27, 2012
Devotion: July 27
Grace.
Currently I'm reading a book by Brennan Manning called The Ragamuffin Gospel. It is a reminder of how the grace of God reaches to the broken-hearted, the hurting, the dirty, and bedraggled. No matter what we've done, He gives us His grace willingly. It's such an amazing concept. As big of a failure as I am, I can always find rest and "the peace the surpasses all understanding" in the thought of His marvelous grace. I'm reminded of 2 Corinthians 12:9 that says, "But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me." This speaks loudly to me because God is saying to us (the dirty, bedraggled, ragamuffins) that in the lowest of our lows, God is glorified and made greater because we can't pick ourselves back up. Since God is full of grace and He wants to extend it to us, it would make sense that He would be offended at the fact that we want to negate the power of His grace by trying to polish up ourselves and put make-up over our proverbial bruises. That's what His grace is for! So many times, I come to God as an impostor of who I want myself to be, not who I really am. I believe it may be as a slap in the face of God by trying to represent myself as better than I actually am. He wants to run to us as we return home like the prodigal son. I attempt to iron my robe of self righteousness, polish my crown of earthly achievements, lace up my sandals of popularity and use holy Listerene to cover up the scent of an untamed tongue. When, in reality, my wounds and disease that I hide underneath the sin of a mask are screaming for a healer. I should come to God as I truly am: a weak and damaged sinner who can't save himself. I need to repent daily of this. I encourage you to examine where you are and what you're "hiding" from God. It is the most shameful of sins that He wants to wipe clean. Give it up to Him, as you are. There is no need to try and clean up who you are before repentance. That's what His grace is for! A phrase I want you to ponder on and remember is one I tell myself over and over: "Grace, not guilt!"
I think about the story of the children that were being turned away until Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19:14). I believe that Jesus wouldn't say things He doesn't mean. He says that the children belong in heaven. I think this was a lesson to the disciples. We've heard of having childlike faith. Jesus says in the chapter prior, "Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:4). Again, in heaven are children. If we can think about the mannerisms of most children, we know that kids act on impulse, a lot. A little boy playing out in the yard, giving himself a spa treatment with dirt and mud pies isn't going to think twice about jumping in the car as he is when mom yells out that it is time to go to McDonald's for a happy meal and ice cream. In his eyes, the reward is greater than worrying with who he is at the present moment. Let's take a mental note about the insight of children. If they weren't important, then the God of creation in human form wouldn't have mentioned their innocence and compared it to the means necessary for receiving entry into the kingdom of heaven.
God is love and gives us His grace willingly. Finally, there is a solution to our problem. His name is Jesus and He endured the wrath of God so that we could experience paradise and be with Him forever.
I want to close with a few verses from Ephesians chapter 2 (with my own emphasis added).
"…you were DEAD in the trespasses and sin in which YOU once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--among whom we all once lived (past tense) in the passions of OUR flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. BUT GOD, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us ALIVE together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable RICHES OF HIS GRACE IN KINDNESS toward us in Christ Jesus. For by GRACE you have been SAVED through faith. AND THIS IS NOT YOUR OWN DOING; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD, not a result of works so that no one may boast. For we are his WORKMANSHIP (or masterpiece), created IN Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:1-10)
Grace isn't, however, a license or a freedom to give in to sin. "What shall we say, then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may abound? How can we who died to sin still live in it?" (Romans 6:1-2)
Let's glorify our God by accepting grace as it was intended! He loves us.
--Caleb, worship pastor
Currently I'm reading a book by Brennan Manning called The Ragamuffin Gospel. It is a reminder of how the grace of God reaches to the broken-hearted, the hurting, the dirty, and bedraggled. No matter what we've done, He gives us His grace willingly. It's such an amazing concept. As big of a failure as I am, I can always find rest and "the peace the surpasses all understanding" in the thought of His marvelous grace. I'm reminded of 2 Corinthians 12:9 that says, "But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me." This speaks loudly to me because God is saying to us (the dirty, bedraggled, ragamuffins) that in the lowest of our lows, God is glorified and made greater because we can't pick ourselves back up. Since God is full of grace and He wants to extend it to us, it would make sense that He would be offended at the fact that we want to negate the power of His grace by trying to polish up ourselves and put make-up over our proverbial bruises. That's what His grace is for! So many times, I come to God as an impostor of who I want myself to be, not who I really am. I believe it may be as a slap in the face of God by trying to represent myself as better than I actually am. He wants to run to us as we return home like the prodigal son. I attempt to iron my robe of self righteousness, polish my crown of earthly achievements, lace up my sandals of popularity and use holy Listerene to cover up the scent of an untamed tongue. When, in reality, my wounds and disease that I hide underneath the sin of a mask are screaming for a healer. I should come to God as I truly am: a weak and damaged sinner who can't save himself. I need to repent daily of this. I encourage you to examine where you are and what you're "hiding" from God. It is the most shameful of sins that He wants to wipe clean. Give it up to Him, as you are. There is no need to try and clean up who you are before repentance. That's what His grace is for! A phrase I want you to ponder on and remember is one I tell myself over and over: "Grace, not guilt!"
I think about the story of the children that were being turned away until Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19:14). I believe that Jesus wouldn't say things He doesn't mean. He says that the children belong in heaven. I think this was a lesson to the disciples. We've heard of having childlike faith. Jesus says in the chapter prior, "Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:4). Again, in heaven are children. If we can think about the mannerisms of most children, we know that kids act on impulse, a lot. A little boy playing out in the yard, giving himself a spa treatment with dirt and mud pies isn't going to think twice about jumping in the car as he is when mom yells out that it is time to go to McDonald's for a happy meal and ice cream. In his eyes, the reward is greater than worrying with who he is at the present moment. Let's take a mental note about the insight of children. If they weren't important, then the God of creation in human form wouldn't have mentioned their innocence and compared it to the means necessary for receiving entry into the kingdom of heaven.
God is love and gives us His grace willingly. Finally, there is a solution to our problem. His name is Jesus and He endured the wrath of God so that we could experience paradise and be with Him forever.
I want to close with a few verses from Ephesians chapter 2 (with my own emphasis added).
"…you were DEAD in the trespasses and sin in which YOU once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--among whom we all once lived (past tense) in the passions of OUR flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. BUT GOD, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us ALIVE together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable RICHES OF HIS GRACE IN KINDNESS toward us in Christ Jesus. For by GRACE you have been SAVED through faith. AND THIS IS NOT YOUR OWN DOING; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD, not a result of works so that no one may boast. For we are his WORKMANSHIP (or masterpiece), created IN Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:1-10)
Grace isn't, however, a license or a freedom to give in to sin. "What shall we say, then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may abound? How can we who died to sin still live in it?" (Romans 6:1-2)
Let's glorify our God by accepting grace as it was intended! He loves us.
--Caleb, worship pastor
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