Christ LIVING in Me

S. "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
(Galatians 2:20, NLT)

O. I have always loved this verse, but last night and this morning, I have been reflecting on the truth of these words. The truth is...As a person who has chosen to to follow Jesus Christ, a person who knows for certain that I have been forgiven of my sins...I am the one who is no longer in control. My life has now been "hidden" in Christ. I don't own or control my body, Christ does. To be honest, I haven't been acting that way. I have been trying to control areas of my life for many years, and for the first time, I feel that God is teaching me and reminding me that he wants and needs to be in control. I just have to live by faith...that means living and believing what I cannot see, but what I know is truth...that Christ is alive in me and wants to lead my life in every way. Just a simple lesson, but one that is so hard to live out. But one that I am committed to working through and making a reality in my life and relationship with Jesus Christ.

A. Today, I want to see all that I do in light of the reality that Christ is in control of my life. I will pray when I come to a point of wanting to control my life. I will seek the face of God today when I want to be in control.

P. I am reminded of the old hymn and want to make this my prayer today..."All to Jesus I surrender, I to him I freely give. I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live."
Amen

Continued Thoughts on Surrender

S. "Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" Philippians 3:7-14 (NIV)

O. The apostle Paul talks about one of the most important aspects of our growth as a disciple of Jesus Christ. It involves surrendering my life and my ambitions for the sake of knowing Jesus Christ. There should be nothing more important in my life than my relationship with Jesus Christ. I must make my relationship with God a priority in my life daily. With our relationship with God in line, then the other areas of my life will begin to be aligned with God's plan and will. This is all about growing in spiritual maturity. And in this life, I will never attain to the pinnacle of spiritual maturity, that will only happen when I will one day be face to face with Jesus. But in this life, I must never stop working toward becoming more like Jesus Christ daily.

A. Knowing that my personality is one that likes to be in control, surrendering areas of my life is one of the most difficult things that I do as a Christian. But at this time in my life, there are some areas that I really need to turn over to the Lord. It will take all of my concentration, mental and emotional energy, but I am determined!

P. "Lord, I give you my life and ask for the strength and determination to become a person of surrender" Amen

Seeking God

S. “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the survivors whom the LORD calls. Joel 2:28-32 (NIV)

O. On this day, when I intentionally seek the face of God, I am reminded that my God has promised to pour out his spirit upon me and all those in our church. I don't know if I have a real good concept of what it is like to experience an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in my life. I certainly know that the Spirit is part of me, but I am not so sure that I have any memory of a true "outpouring" of the Spirit. I am seeking that in the days ahead, as I turn my focus to the Lord in these days of preparation for the New Testament Challenge. I am excited to be part of a congregation that is seeking God's Spirit together and I pray that this will be a time in the life of our church that will be filled with awe and wonder as we experience all that God will do in and through us.

A. Today, I choose to keep my focus on the Lord Jesus. I pray for strength and follow through with the commitment to keep my eyes focused on Him.

P. "Lord Jesus, thanks for meeting me this morning. I give you this day and ask for your eyes to see the world, your strength to care for those who come into my path, you compassion to those who are hurting and your peace at the end of this day. I love you Lord. Amen"

Restoration

S. In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the year Evil-Merodachbecame king of Babylon, he released Jehoiachin king of Judah and freed him from prison on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month. He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honor higher than those of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table. Day by day the king of Babylon gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance as long as he lived, till the day of his death. Jeremiah 52:31-34 ( NIV )

O. I love these verses that are the conclusion of Jeremiah's prophecy. They are words of hope and words that refer to the anticipated restoration of Jerusalem. Jehoiachin is released from captivity after 37+ years. He is given some of his dignity back by removing his prisoner clothing and sitting at the kings table. Why are these verses given to us? What do we hear this this act of kindness and mercy? I believe it is to reassure each of us and for me personal to be reassured of God's love and mercy and that in the end he will bring restoration. How many times have I been down when there seemed like no way out. I'm sure those in captivity had a hard time seeing beyond their circumstances. They were held in a foreign land, in a culture that was very different for them...in a place where idol worship was revered over worship and the true living God. They were stuck and didn't know if they would ever get out. I have felt that way before...a seemingly hopeless situation. But we have a God who is in the restoration business. We have a God who can see the entire picture of our lives...so that requires a bit of faith in the future, even when we don't see the outcome. This story has a great ending...we know that the people of God returned to Jerusalem, rebuilt the temple and their homes and began "life" once again. I must have the same hope and faith in my God who knows my life and circumstances. I just believe that there is a great reward for me in eternity and in my life here on earth. I must trust in a God who knows me and knows what is best for my life. What a God I have!!!

A. Today, I choose to look beyond my circumstances and see the restoration that God has for me. Today I choose to look at life from God's point of few and seeking his plan for my life today and everyday.

P. "Lord Jesus, I am overwhelmed by your presence in my life today. I am so grateful for your provision and guidance in all that I do. I am so thankful for the hope that I have in you and in you alone. Be my guide today and everyday. I place my life into your hands and ask for your peace as I hold on to your plan and purpose. I love you, Lord." Amen

Walking in His Steps

S. "...He is your example, and you must follow in his steps." 1 Peter 2:21b (NLT)

O. I love this verse. I have in Jesus Christ an example of how to live my life. It is my prayer that my life will be an example of love and forgiveness and integrity just like Jesus. However, I know myself and many times I don't come close to being an example of Jesus' life. I struggle just like anyone with selfishness, pride and arrogance, and I don't like it. It is a constant struggle to devote my life and example to the way of Jesus. But I don't think that I am alone in this struggle. It is probably the struggle of every christian to strive to be like Jesus.

So how do I do this? How do I "follow in HIS steps"? First, I must surrender daily to Jesus Christ. My will, my thoughts, my actions, my desires all need to be in the hands of Jesus. Second, I must surround myself with people who can hold me accountable and encourage me in my walk with Christ. Third, these two steps force me to live my live in intention. There should be no haphazard following of Jesus...we must follow him with intentionality and with courage to face each day for Him.

A. I choose this day to surrender my life to Jesus and to follow him in all that I do.

P. "Lord Jesus, I give you my life and ask today be a day when others see Jesus in my. I pray that through my life, others will see something different than the world offers and that I will have an opportunity to share of your live and grace with them. I love you Lord, Amen."

Faith leading to Works

S. "For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead." James 2: 26 (ESV)

O. There are many religions in the world that base their salvation and accomplishments on works. If you do certain things or reach certain levels of accomplishment in life they are rewarded. Their are also some who thing that you just have to be good and do good things to be guarnteed entrance into heaven. But the Bible is clear about such things. James especially addresses the issue of faith and works. This verse sums it up...faith in Jesus Christ that does not result in works is not true faith! Good works are extremely important in our Christian lives. My faith in Jesus Christ should push me toward doing what is right (good works)...the my good works leading salvation. My salvation is by faith...my works are a result of that faith.

Paul said it this way "For my grace you ahve been savied through faith. And this is not your won doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2: 8-9, ESV).

A. I will continue to do all that God has called me to do...knowing that he has prepared things for me in advance. I will continue to look to God daily as I live out my faith daily.

P. "Lord Jesus, I thank you for all that you are to me. I think you for my salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Please use my for your work and for your glory! I love you, Amen.

Judged by the Word of God

S. "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. " Hebrews 4:12-13 (ESV)

O. The Word of God is so alive to me day. I am so grateful to our God for revealing himself through His word. I have read these verses many times in my life. In fact, just a couple of weeks ago I shared vs. 12 with the congregation. God's Word, the Bible needs to be alive in me. I must constantly feed on God's words written for me everyday. There is so much that I gain from reading the Bible. First, it helps me to discern right from wrong. It assists my discernment in what to do in my life and keeps my on the straight and narrow. Second, it helps me discern the thoughts and intentions of my heart. The Message says it can be use for "laying us open to listen and obey". Isn't that what we really want from God...to listen and to obey all that He has for us. So why is it so important that we listen to God and respond in obedience? Verse 13 gives us good reason...we are not hidden from God's sight. We are exposed to the very God who created me and who will one day judge my life...so it is extremely important that I live by the truth of God's Word for me. As I am preparing for the New Testament Challenge at PRBC...I want all people to realize the importance of reading God's Word for themselves. It is not my responsibility to make others grow...they have to do that themselves. I must remain faithful to God in my relationship with Him and be an encourager to others to do the same.

A. Continue in my daily reading and reflection is one of the most important aspects of my Christian life and walk with God. This will never change for me!

P. "Lord Jesus, that's for being my Savior and Lord...God I am so grateful that you teach me daily from your Word for me. I love you Lord, Amen!"