You Are In Christ

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

“You are in Christ” is an awesome theme of the New Testament. When Paul wrote his letter to the Christ followers in Ephesus, he mentioned it about 40 times, making it the critical element of your spiritual identity. But we have a serious problem; we were not born in Christ. The Bible is clear about that. That’s why Jesus taught we must be born again (John 3.3). A spiritual life, being in Christ, can only be experienced through spiritual birth (John 3:36).

“Christ in you” is not merely escaping future eternal judgment; it is a transformed life—HERE and NOW! Living out “Christ in you” will please God in every respect. Paul said it was a life to God’s complete delight (Colossians 1:10—“please [God] in every way”).

“Christ in you” is full and abundant life now (John 10:10). As a Christ follower, believe it, rejoice and enjoy it!

Idols—American and Otherwise

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Do you recognize any of these names?

·      Owen D. Young

·      Harlow Curtiss

·      James F. Byrnes

·      David Ho

·      Pierre Laval

·      Andy Grove

·      Harlow Curtis

·      Hugh Johnson 

·      Jeff Bezos

Here’s a hint: TIME MAGAZINE

OK, having said that, you still probably don’t know how these people rose to fame, but they are world-changing people. Since 1927, Time Magazine has promoted their “People of the Year.” Each of the names above is people judged by Time Magazine as having the greatest impact on humanity during a given year.

Most of us, if we would honestly admit it, want to think that, in some way, we are special. Perhaps that is why the business of “celebrity” is so successful—we revel in their fame by proxy.

Even our TV shows reflect that. Among the highest rated shows include: American Idol, The Celebrity Apprentice, Survivor, Dancing with the Stars, The Great Race and other “reality” shows. With rapt attention, we can hardly wait to see who the winners will be.

Add to that the “award” shows, which also get high ratings: Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, CMA Awards, American Music Awards, S.A.G Awards, People’s Choice Awards, need I go on?

Do you find yourself at times wishing to be like, or having what these “celebrities” have? If your answer is, “Yes,” the Psalmist offers this reality check for you—for all of us, really. It’s found in Psalm 102:11-12. In part it says, “My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass.”

One of my seminary professors took it a step farther. He was fond of saying, “According to the Bible, mankind was made from the dust of the ground. Whenever you sense any degree of pride in your life, remember you’re nothing but a living dirt clod.”

Let me finish the quote from Psalm 102 because the Psalmist made a remarkable comparison in verse 12, “But you, O LORD, are sovereign still, always and ever sovereign.”

Christ followers understand that when we have the God of the universe before us, there is no need for the exaltation of man. Here is J. I. Packer on this matter:

The Christian's instincts of trust and worship are stimulated very powerfully by knowledge of the greatness of God.  But this is knowledge, which Christians today largely lack; that is one reason why our faith is so feeble and our worship so flabby.  We are modern men, and modern men—though they cherish great thoughts of man—have, as a rule, small thought of God.

My former pastor and mentor, Dr. Richard Strauss of Emmanuel Faith Community Church, repeated over and over, “Walk low before the Lord. He is sovereign—the highest and best, and does what He pleases in heaven and in earth.”

We would do well to care less about the details of the lives of celebrities, stars, and yes, idols, and ponder, “BUT YOU, O LORD…”

I Can't Believe That!

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Have you ever read Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll? You may know of it or the characters as Alice in Wonderland. Here is an excerpt from it that piqued my thoughts for today’s devotion. It involves a conversation between Alice and the Queen:

"How old are you?" asked the queen.

"I'm seven and a half, exactly."

"You needn't say ‘exactly'; I can believe it without that. Now I'll give you something to believe: I'm just one hundred and one, five months, and a day."

Alice protested, "I can't believe that!”

"Can't you? Try again—draw a long breath, and shut your eyes," the queen urged.

Alice roared, "There's no use trying; one can't believe impossible things!"

To this the queen responded, "I daresay you haven't had much practice. When I was your age, I always did it half-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

I’m of the opinion that many Christ followers look at faith like that… “Try again—draw a long breath, and shut your eyes…" then, just try to believe. If that is a description of you today, perhaps a fresh look at faith will help you.

Biblical faith is more about the object of our faith than the results of our faith. In other words, you can have a lot of faith in the wrong thing and accomplish little, or conversely, you can have a little faith in the right thing and accomplish a lot!

The Psalmist agrees, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7).

The author of Hebrews points out that the fruit of faith is substance and evidence—that which shows (substance) in our lives and proves (evidence) what we believe. For a Christ follower, his or her faith will give evidence to:

• Complete trust in the character and motives of God

• Complete certainty in what God can do

• Complete confidence in the work of Christ for our salvation

• Complete surety in God’s care of our soul—eternal destiny

Here are some Scriptures intended to bolster your faith.

Psalm 9:10 - And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Psalm 18:30 - As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

Psalm 31:19 - Oh how great is your goodness, which you have stored up for them that fear you; which you have worked for them that trust you before the sons of men!

Psalm 37:5 - Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

If we walk by faith and not by sight, we are probably praying the same as the disciples, “Lord, increase our faith” (Luke 17:5).

The Treasure of Wisdom

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

The Bible speaks about wisdom as a treasure to be sought after. But from where? A popular spiritual guru offers her advice:

Our real power comes from knowing who we are . . . and that begins with looking inside ourselves in silence. I've always believed you really need no gurus, no leaders, no guides—just yourself. You have all your own best answers. What you're trying to find is already there. Be still and know it.

If I hear her correctly, the advice is, “Be still and know yourself.” How different that is to the Psalmist’s claim, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

Are the answers to life deep within your own heart, as the guru contends, or deep within the heart of God, as the Psalmist proclaims? A prophet long ago said, "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can know it" (Jeremiah 17:9). This prophet leaves no doubt in his answer; because of sin and our fallen nature, wisdom does not dwell within us. Rather, it must come from outside of us.

God has not abandoned us to go through life without wisdom and understanding. He has a provision for it. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him" (James 1:5). The Psalmist also tells us where we can find it. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105).

We live in a world of “darkness” and foolishly think we can discover light inside of us. May I suggest that you look to God. One apostle said it like this, “God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1st John 1:5).

When we seek Him with all our heart, we find Him, and in Him, we discover wisdom.

Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; for if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2:2-6).

What A Friend We Have In Jesus

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Joseph Scriven was a man who knew a great deal about suffering and loss. When a lifeless body was pulled from the dark waters of a lake near Dublin, Ireland, his world fell apart. It was his fiancée, the woman he was supposed to marry the following day.

Later, and still heartbroken, he decided to leave his hometown and family to move to Canada with the hopes of building a new life in a new land. It took some time, but he fell in love again. And as unlikely and unthinkable as it may sound, his new fiancée got pneumonia and died shortly before their wedding.

Sorrow upon sorrow, while carrying out the funeral plans, he received news from Ireland that his Mother was seriously ill. Since he had little money, he wasn’t able to return home to see her. He did the best he could by writing a poem for her, which he titled, Pray Without Ceasing. That poem wasn’t discovered until a friend was visiting Scriven shortly before his death. The neighbor asked him about the origin of the poem and Scriven humbly answered, “The Lord and I did it between us.”

After his death, which, coincidentally was by drowning, attorney and songwriter Charles Crozat Coverse set the poem Scriven had written to music. He renamed the poem, WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear,

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer.

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged;

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge;

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer,

In His arms He'll take and shield thee;

Thou wilt find a solace there.

If you are His disciple, you also have a friend in Jesus…in every circumstance of life, and forever!