Thankful

Something to think about.

Thankful

A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:1-5 ESV

It is not Thanksgiving it is not Christmas it is not Easter.  Its October 24th. It is not a holiday, a miracle has not occurred. As a matter of fact it is 6: 49 in the morning and the only other thing that has happened today is the dog is whining. 

The word for today is thankful. I am thankful because God is. Just like He said in the old testament "I Am." I am grateful for His plan and the fulfillment of His plan of salvation. I am thankful to Him for allowing me to serve Him. I am thankful I can come into His presence singing. I am thankful that He made me. I am thankful the He is my shepard. I am thankful that I am allowed to praise Him. I am grateful that He allows me into His presence. I am grateful that He is good, that His love endures forever. I am thankful for His forgiveness, redemption, restoration, justification, and sanctification. I am thankful for all He has done. I am thankful that He is all powerful and unassailable.  I am thankful that he is forgiving. I am thankful that He will never change. I am grateful that He loves me forever. I am thankful the He is faithful through all generations. I am thankful that He has given me the capacity to love Him. I am grateful he has prepared a place for me in heaven. Sometimes you just have to say thank you, God just because he is worthy of our gratitude.

Leia Mais…

The Prize

Something to think about.

The Prize

“Brothers and sisters, 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 3:13-14 NIV

We like to quote this scripture, for reasons of inspiration, motivation, and self-assuredness in the righteousness of our work.  But I ask you do you even know what the prize is? It is not salvation, salvation can not be earned, It is not righteousness as "our righteous acts are like filthy rags" it not justification as we are "justified by faith." 

What is it then, what is the prize? The prize is fulfilling the purpose that God created you for. The prize is fulfilling the call of a servant. The prize is hearing God say to you in person well done "good and faithful servant." To be a servant of God, you must forget all of your past, your hurts, victories disappointments, and successes. You must change the paradigm of your life and press forward in the work the Lord has prepared you for. So you can look forward to the prize of  "well done good and faithful servant."   

Leia Mais…

Salvation, Justification, Reconciliation

Something to think about.

Salvation, Justification, Reconciliation 

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:9-11 

We have been saved and spared from the wrath of God by the atoning death of Christ. We are justified by the shedding of His blood. The only possible reconciliation with God was made possible for us by the death of Christ, even while we were still in our sin. Because of His death, we have salvation. Christ sacrifice gives us reason to rejoice in what He has done on our behalf; we have been saved, justified, reconciled, and reclaimed by God our creator.

Leia Mais…

Injustice

Something to think about.

Injustice

He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities. Psalms 103: 10

I am glad ecstatic that God is unjust. Some of you may be offended that I have written that, but think for a moment. If God is just and He holds me responsible for my sins, iniquities, and transgressions what hope would I have? If he required the full payment for my sins against man not to mention my transgressions against Him, what would be my end? If it were not for the justification I received through the sacrifice of Christ on my behalf, I would have to face the justice, God.  Encountering God on my own when He requires payment for my life is something I would fear more than anything else.  Because of Christ, I am not afraid of the day of justice. 

Leia Mais…