2 Cor. 1: 3-4 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."
It is taking my wife, along with thousands of other commuters this morning, hours to get to work. As I type this, Erin is still driving! I'm sure she could use some comfort right now! It is awesome to know that we have a God who will comfort us in our times of stress, need, and suffering. He doesn't always alleviate the problem right away, but he does bring comfort. He is there with us in the thick of it...even when it's the thick snow that ails us!
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
Temptation
1 Cor. 10:13 "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
In life we will be tempted. Death, taxes, and temptation are sure bets in life. Jesus himself was tempted. But in the middle of every temptation, God offers us an escape plan, or a way out. So when I am tempted, I ought to stop and look for that way out. It will be there every time.
In life we will be tempted. Death, taxes, and temptation are sure bets in life. Jesus himself was tempted. But in the middle of every temptation, God offers us an escape plan, or a way out. So when I am tempted, I ought to stop and look for that way out. It will be there every time.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Whether Hybels or Driscoll or Olsteen
1 Cor. 3:21-23 "So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future-all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God."
Paul is addressing the growing factions and splinters within the church. Some follow Paul, others Apollos and others Cephas. Paul claims that they are all built on the one foundation of Christ. Therefore, all these leaders and teachers belong to us all. We should not be segregated but rather united under Christ.
I'd like to think that his means for me today that where there is truth, claim it. Where there is beauty, claim it. Where there is grace and hope and love, take it and celebrate it. If something praiseworthy and true happens under someones elses banner or flag, it is mine just as it is theirs. If the Pope says something true, if the Buddhist's do something loving, if the Mormons create something beautiful and if the atheists do something noble, all are to be celebrated and all are mine. This doesn't mean everything everyone does or says is true or right or theologically correct, but what is true and right should be acknowledged. All truth is God's truth. All beauty is God's beauty. All of creation is his. And as his children it is ours.
Paul is addressing the growing factions and splinters within the church. Some follow Paul, others Apollos and others Cephas. Paul claims that they are all built on the one foundation of Christ. Therefore, all these leaders and teachers belong to us all. We should not be segregated but rather united under Christ.
I'd like to think that his means for me today that where there is truth, claim it. Where there is beauty, claim it. Where there is grace and hope and love, take it and celebrate it. If something praiseworthy and true happens under someones elses banner or flag, it is mine just as it is theirs. If the Pope says something true, if the Buddhist's do something loving, if the Mormons create something beautiful and if the atheists do something noble, all are to be celebrated and all are mine. This doesn't mean everything everyone does or says is true or right or theologically correct, but what is true and right should be acknowledged. All truth is God's truth. All beauty is God's beauty. All of creation is his. And as his children it is ours.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Weak and Strong
Romans 14:23 "...and everything that doe snot come from faith is sin."
Paul explains that there are those with weak faith and those with strong faith. Those with weaker faith may choose to abstain from certain things and those with strong faith participate. Either way, Paul says everything must be done according to faith. God doesn't give us all the answers. Right now we see things poorly. We don't understand all of the mysteries of God. This is where faith comes in. Sometimes I am not sure of the exact right thing to do, so I must have faith and trust that God will honor my decision. If everything were black and white there would be no need for faith.
Paul explains that there are those with weak faith and those with strong faith. Those with weaker faith may choose to abstain from certain things and those with strong faith participate. Either way, Paul says everything must be done according to faith. God doesn't give us all the answers. Right now we see things poorly. We don't understand all of the mysteries of God. This is where faith comes in. Sometimes I am not sure of the exact right thing to do, so I must have faith and trust that God will honor my decision. If everything were black and white there would be no need for faith.
Thursday, January 09, 2014
Conquerors
Romans 8:37 "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."
Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Nothing else can overcome us. Nothing else wins. God wins. Every time.
Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Nothing else can overcome us. Nothing else wins. God wins. Every time.
Wednesday, January 08, 2014
Pre-Snip
Romans 4:11 "And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised..."
Abraham was credited righteousness before he was circumcised. He was declared right in God's eyes before he had followed one letter of the law, obeyed one commandment, or lifted a tiny finger for God! God credited righteousness to him because of his faith, not due to his good works, deeds or accomplishments! My righteousness and salvation is a complete gift from God. I can't earn it or add to it. That is awesome!
Abraham was credited righteousness before he was circumcised. He was declared right in God's eyes before he had followed one letter of the law, obeyed one commandment, or lifted a tiny finger for God! God credited righteousness to him because of his faith, not due to his good works, deeds or accomplishments! My righteousness and salvation is a complete gift from God. I can't earn it or add to it. That is awesome!
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