Romans 12:3 "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you."
Paul says that we should not think too highly of ourselves. We should instead look at ourselves with sober judgment and do so in accordance with the measure of faith God has given us.
This past weekend, Ryan spoke on pride and talked about how we all too often put ourselves number one in our lives instead of Christ. We forget to put him in the big chair and we seat ourselves there in his place. Pride is just so easy to slip into. It's so normal to think highly of myself and think I am doing things right all the time. My views are right, my opinions are right, what I do is best, what I think is best...and on and on it goes. I like the idea of judging ourselves with sober judgment. I like that phrase. Sober judgment may mean calmly, humbly, truthfully, examining my motives and actions. I should use sober judgment when reflecting on who I am and what I am doing daily.
Dear Jesus, help me use sober judgment when I look back on my thoughts and actions. Amen.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Belief Over Law
from July 21
Romans 10:4 "Christ is the end of the law, so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes."
Paul says that Christ is the fulfillment of the law. Jesus kept the law completely and became a perfect sacrifice in our place. This way we can be declared righteous, not through the law but through belief in Christ.
Our righteousness and salvation is through our belief in Jesus. Belief is what is central to our faith. Christ was the end of the law. The law is over, and we are no longer ruled or bound by the law. Our faith rests in our belief in Christ. This is not a belief that he exists, but rather a belief in him as Savior and Lord of our lives.
Dear Jesus, help me believe. Amen.
Romans 10:4 "Christ is the end of the law, so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes."
Paul says that Christ is the fulfillment of the law. Jesus kept the law completely and became a perfect sacrifice in our place. This way we can be declared righteous, not through the law but through belief in Christ.
Our righteousness and salvation is through our belief in Jesus. Belief is what is central to our faith. Christ was the end of the law. The law is over, and we are no longer ruled or bound by the law. Our faith rests in our belief in Christ. This is not a belief that he exists, but rather a belief in him as Savior and Lord of our lives.
Dear Jesus, help me believe. Amen.
Thanks Paul!
from July 20
Romans 9:18 "Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden."
Paul is explaining God's sovereignty and how God shows mercy on some and hardens others hearts. This entire chapter makes a great case for predestination and election.
This is kind of a tough passage to read. It makes it sound like God purposely makes people to have hard hearts. He does this to display his power and glory. In fact, Paul practically says this in verses 22-23. I have to wonder where free will exists if at all? Do we have a choice? Are we puppets? Where does evangelism and prayer fit in? These are age old debates and age old questions. I do love that God is quite mysterious though and I don't know everything. The questions and tensions force me to think and question more. This is good.
Dear Jesus, thank you for showing me mercy. Please have mercy on others. Amen
Romans 9:18 "Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden."
Paul is explaining God's sovereignty and how God shows mercy on some and hardens others hearts. This entire chapter makes a great case for predestination and election.
This is kind of a tough passage to read. It makes it sound like God purposely makes people to have hard hearts. He does this to display his power and glory. In fact, Paul practically says this in verses 22-23. I have to wonder where free will exists if at all? Do we have a choice? Are we puppets? Where does evangelism and prayer fit in? These are age old debates and age old questions. I do love that God is quite mysterious though and I don't know everything. The questions and tensions force me to think and question more. This is good.
Dear Jesus, thank you for showing me mercy. Please have mercy on others. Amen
Friday, July 17, 2009
No Condemnation
Romans 8:1 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
Paul says that there is no condemnation or punishment for those who are in Christ. There is condemnation for those outside of Christ, but if we are found in him, we are free.
God does not want us to live a guilt ridden life. He wants us to live as free people. If we are in Christ we are free. Free from sin, from shame, from guilt and from condemnation. Satan wants to remind us of our sins, our wrongdoings, and our shortcomings. And it's easy to be weighed down by those things. It's so easy to look in the rear view mirror and remember how awful we are. But in Christ, we are free. There is no condemnation for us anymore!
Dear Jesus, thank you for the freedom and peace I can find only in you. Help me remember this freedom each day. And help me to actually live in this freedom each day. Amen.
Paul says that there is no condemnation or punishment for those who are in Christ. There is condemnation for those outside of Christ, but if we are found in him, we are free.
God does not want us to live a guilt ridden life. He wants us to live as free people. If we are in Christ we are free. Free from sin, from shame, from guilt and from condemnation. Satan wants to remind us of our sins, our wrongdoings, and our shortcomings. And it's easy to be weighed down by those things. It's so easy to look in the rear view mirror and remember how awful we are. But in Christ, we are free. There is no condemnation for us anymore!
Dear Jesus, thank you for the freedom and peace I can find only in you. Help me remember this freedom each day. And help me to actually live in this freedom each day. Amen.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Camp: Day 5
1 Cor. 12:7 "A spiritual gift is given to each of us, so we can help others."
Paul says we all have been given a spiritual gift. And the purpose of this gift is to help others.
I love that God has given each person a spiritual gift. He has equipped everyone to serve other people. He designed us specifically to help others. These gifts were not given to us to benefit us, they were given so we could bless those around us. How am I using my spiritual gifts? I think I am doing well, but I could sure use my gifts more. I need to see my talents, abilities and gifts as tools to love and serve.
Dear Jesus, help me to use my gifts to help someone in need today. Amen.
Paul says we all have been given a spiritual gift. And the purpose of this gift is to help others.
I love that God has given each person a spiritual gift. He has equipped everyone to serve other people. He designed us specifically to help others. These gifts were not given to us to benefit us, they were given so we could bless those around us. How am I using my spiritual gifts? I think I am doing well, but I could sure use my gifts more. I need to see my talents, abilities and gifts as tools to love and serve.
Dear Jesus, help me to use my gifts to help someone in need today. Amen.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Camp: Day Four
Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast."
Paul is saying our salvation is granted to us not on the basis of our good works or of having somehow earned it, but rather via faith. And this faith is a free gift from God.
I am so glad this verse exists! There is no way I could ever even get close to earning salvation. I am so thankful for this gift. This is not however, a free license to not do good works. The works I do need to be a response to this free gift-not a means of attaining this free gift. This verse again shows us our complete dependence on Jesus our savior.
Dear Jesus, thank you. I am undeserving and I do not know why you chose me. But thank you. Amen.
Paul is saying our salvation is granted to us not on the basis of our good works or of having somehow earned it, but rather via faith. And this faith is a free gift from God.
I am so glad this verse exists! There is no way I could ever even get close to earning salvation. I am so thankful for this gift. This is not however, a free license to not do good works. The works I do need to be a response to this free gift-not a means of attaining this free gift. This verse again shows us our complete dependence on Jesus our savior.
Dear Jesus, thank you. I am undeserving and I do not know why you chose me. But thank you. Amen.
Camp: Day Three
July 8, 2009
Habakkuk 2:4 "Look at the proud! They trust in themselves and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God."
God is talking about the proud and arrogant. He says they trust in themselves and not in God. Those who do trust in God are the righteous who live by faith.
It is so easy to trust in ourselves. We always want to do things on our own, on our terms. I admit that I like to do things on my own. As they say, "To get the job done right, you've got to do it yourself." It's easy for me to go it alone and rely on myself. I must learn to trust in God and rely on Him. And if I am really honest, as much as I like to think I can do things on my own, I can't do all things on my own. I do need God to lead the way. Without him, I will fail. I must rely on him and live by faith.
God, help me to rely not in my efforts, but in you alone. Amen.
Habakkuk 2:4 "Look at the proud! They trust in themselves and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God."
God is talking about the proud and arrogant. He says they trust in themselves and not in God. Those who do trust in God are the righteous who live by faith.
It is so easy to trust in ourselves. We always want to do things on our own, on our terms. I admit that I like to do things on my own. As they say, "To get the job done right, you've got to do it yourself." It's easy for me to go it alone and rely on myself. I must learn to trust in God and rely on Him. And if I am really honest, as much as I like to think I can do things on my own, I can't do all things on my own. I do need God to lead the way. Without him, I will fail. I must rely on him and live by faith.
God, help me to rely not in my efforts, but in you alone. Amen.
Camp: Day Two
July 7, 2009
James 1:25 "But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does."
James is instructing his readers to look into God's law and act on what it says.
I'm at camp-day two. Tonight I teach on this verse. I think I am doing a better job of looking into God's word than I have in the past. SOAP has been a big blessing in my life. But the real question is, am I applying what I am looking into and reading? I'd like to think I am, but I could always do a better job of it. And really, what value is there in reading and knowing God's law if I didn't do anything about it? I think that is James' point.
Dear Jesus, help me to read your word more often and then act on it right away. Amen.
James 1:25 "But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does."
James is instructing his readers to look into God's law and act on what it says.
I'm at camp-day two. Tonight I teach on this verse. I think I am doing a better job of looking into God's word than I have in the past. SOAP has been a big blessing in my life. But the real question is, am I applying what I am looking into and reading? I'd like to think I am, but I could always do a better job of it. And really, what value is there in reading and knowing God's law if I didn't do anything about it? I think that is James' point.
Dear Jesus, help me to read your word more often and then act on it right away. Amen.
Camp: Day One
July 6, 2009
1 Peter 1:13 "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self controlled, set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed."
Peter is instructing his readers on how to lead holy lives. He tells them to prepare their minds, be self controlled, and set their hope on Christ.
Tonight, I find myself at Covenant Pines Bible Camp speaking for the week. I just spoke on this verse to one hundred junior highers. It's a challenge for thirteen year old boys to prepare their minds, be self controlled and trust in Christ all at the same time. Why is it still so hard for me thought I am at thirty? I need to spend more time preparing for action and I could do a better job at the self control thing. And trusting in Jesus? So simple yet so difficult to do. I really wish I could meet Peter to see how he lived his life and see this holy living in action. For now, I'll have to rely on his letters.
Dear Jesus, help me this week at camp. I really need you. Amen.
1 Peter 1:13 "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self controlled, set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed."
Peter is instructing his readers on how to lead holy lives. He tells them to prepare their minds, be self controlled, and set their hope on Christ.
Tonight, I find myself at Covenant Pines Bible Camp speaking for the week. I just spoke on this verse to one hundred junior highers. It's a challenge for thirteen year old boys to prepare their minds, be self controlled and trust in Christ all at the same time. Why is it still so hard for me thought I am at thirty? I need to spend more time preparing for action and I could do a better job at the self control thing. And trusting in Jesus? So simple yet so difficult to do. I really wish I could meet Peter to see how he lived his life and see this holy living in action. For now, I'll have to rely on his letters.
Dear Jesus, help me this week at camp. I really need you. Amen.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
After the Mirror
James 1:23-24 "Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."
James is saying that we need to not just read the word of God, but we need to act on it. It is not enough to just hear God's word.
I love James' analogy here of looking in a mirror and immediately forgetting what we look like. This is exactly what it is like to hear God's truth and then never do anything about it. I don't know how many times I've read something or heard something profound and then 20 minutes later I've forgotten all about it and I never act on it. Talk is cheap. Just "believing" in something is cheap. Actions are what matters. I need to become a man of actions. I need to not forget what I look like and who I am.
Dear Jesus, help me to not forget who I am and what you've called me to. Help me to act. Amen.
James is saying that we need to not just read the word of God, but we need to act on it. It is not enough to just hear God's word.
I love James' analogy here of looking in a mirror and immediately forgetting what we look like. This is exactly what it is like to hear God's truth and then never do anything about it. I don't know how many times I've read something or heard something profound and then 20 minutes later I've forgotten all about it and I never act on it. Talk is cheap. Just "believing" in something is cheap. Actions are what matters. I need to become a man of actions. I need to not forget what I look like and who I am.
Dear Jesus, help me to not forget who I am and what you've called me to. Help me to act. Amen.
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