If you asked me to heft 200 lbs of dead weight from the ground right at this moment, I could not do it! If you told me that my life would depend on my ability to heft that same load in six weeks, I could condition my body and strengthen my muscles for that task. It would require discipline and consistent training but it is not impossible. Christians tell me all the time, "I just cannot do what God wants me to do. It's impossible!" They're not talking about a call to go to Papua New Guinea as a missionary, either. They are claiming that they cannot forgive those who mistreat them, love their enemies, etc. They are right and wrong, at the same time. It is true that their spiritual life may be so out of shape that they truly cannot live the Christian life, however, it is not true that God is asking the impossible of them. What's missing? Spiritual disciplines that build spiritual strength.
Too often Christians mistakenly believe that they can 'just rely on the Spirit' to make them faithful, holy, and Christ-honoring people. There is this persistent fantasy that sincere tears shed in prayer and good intentions are all God needs to make people into solid disciples. This oft-told myth has created churches that are full of disappointed people who live in perpetual defeat, enslaved by their lusts, addictions, and emotions. Paul, the apostle who changed the world in which he lived, shows us a different way. "Run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, NLT)
Disciples who overcome temptation, whose lives are full of the beautiful, mature fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control - Gal. 5:22) are not that way because they have done things to merit God's blessings. However, they enjoy a life with those qualities when they practice disciplines that allow the character of Christ Jesus to mature in their hearts and minds. To be sure, the seed of growth comes from the Holy Spirit, who 'makes us alive with Christ.' We cannot simply engage in practices that reform our lives because naturally we are dead to God, incapable of holiness and righteousness, except in the most superficial ways. But, having received the Spirit of life, we must do the daily work of spiritual formation, that will allow the character of Christ Jesus to be formed in us.
Disciple, chose today to begin to read the Scripture, to seek time in solitude where God can speak, to serve someone in humility, to give as an act of worship. Choose submission rather than self-expression.
Mediate on this Word today. He will use the Truth to change your life, if you'll allow Him to do so!
"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ...as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (Colossians 3:5-7, 12-14, NIV)
______________________
Beautiful Lord, Wonderful Savior,
I know for sure all of my days
Are held in Your hand;
Crafted into Your perfect plan.
You gently call me into Your presence,
Guiding me by Your Holy Spirit;
Teach me, dear Lord, to live all of my life
Through Your eyes.
I'm captured by Your holy calling,
Set me apart, I know You're drawing me
to Yourself;
Lead me, Lord, I pray.
Take me, mold me, use me, fill me;
I give my life to the Potter's hand.
Call me, guide me, lead me, walk beside me;
I give my life to the Potter's hand.
Potter's Hand © 1997 Darlene Zschech (Hillsong) (Admin. in U.S. & Canada by Integrity's Hosanna! Music)
CCLI License No. 810055
Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
A turtle life?
A mommy whose 5 year old son attended our Vacation Bible School reported the following: So, I tell Jacob, "Tell me the words to that song so we can ask Mrs. Scott." "Okay," he says, "it's the one with the turtle in it.""What?" I ask perplexed "You know... God paid the price, so we can have "a turtle" life!" I went hysterical!!!! You really can't make this stuff up! So, if you could provide us with the title, or some of the "real" words that would be great.
After a bit of research, we discovered that the lyrics actually say, "Jesus paid the price so we could have eternal life!" I guess when your just 5 years old, a "turtle life" makes more sense than 'eternal' life!
The Gospel is always presented within context, and unless we take care to translate the message accurately across cultural and age boundaries, we might end up preaching an incomprehensible garble of words. To present Christ to the world we need both insight into our audience and the enabling of the Spirit!
In the book of Acts, we read of Paul's visit to Athens. In a masterful illustration of cross-cultural communication, he went to the Areopagus to talk about Christ Jesus in the philosophy forum there. He started this way. "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands." (Acts 17:22-24, NIV) He set the message of Jesus Christ into the context of the audience. He then, preached a brilliant message about the God who knows who we are and Who can be known through the Resurrected Lord Jesus. Some mocked, but there were converts that day. He was willing to leave his comfort zone to carry the Good News to others. He said, "Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. ... When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings." (1 Corinthians 9:19, 22-23, NLT)
Disciples are called to share the hope and life of Jesus Christ with their world. If people are not responding to our message, if we're not helping others find the Truth of Jesus, we must not assume they are uninterested in what we have to say. It might be that we need to check how we're saying it; taking time to determine if our words are comprehended as we intend. Imagine being without a working knowledge of the Scripture and being challenged to come to be 'washed the Blood of the Lamb!' That is one scary picture if the words are taken literally without a grasp of the metaphors intended! It only means something if a person knows the story of the Passover, something of the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, and about the Cross! For those who do, being 'washed in the blood of the Lamb' is a beautiful way to speak of God's mercy and grace, that is offered freely, but at a terrible expense, by the One who gave His life to take away our guilt so we can know and love a Holy God.
Thanks, Jacob, for a great lesson in communication. I hope that your Mommy can help you re-work that song in your mind so that 'turtle life' becomes 'eternal life.'
After a bit of research, we discovered that the lyrics actually say, "Jesus paid the price so we could have eternal life!" I guess when your just 5 years old, a "turtle life" makes more sense than 'eternal' life!
The Gospel is always presented within context, and unless we take care to translate the message accurately across cultural and age boundaries, we might end up preaching an incomprehensible garble of words. To present Christ to the world we need both insight into our audience and the enabling of the Spirit!
In the book of Acts, we read of Paul's visit to Athens. In a masterful illustration of cross-cultural communication, he went to the Areopagus to talk about Christ Jesus in the philosophy forum there. He started this way. "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands." (Acts 17:22-24, NIV) He set the message of Jesus Christ into the context of the audience. He then, preached a brilliant message about the God who knows who we are and Who can be known through the Resurrected Lord Jesus. Some mocked, but there were converts that day. He was willing to leave his comfort zone to carry the Good News to others. He said, "Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. ... When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings." (1 Corinthians 9:19, 22-23, NLT)
Disciples are called to share the hope and life of Jesus Christ with their world. If people are not responding to our message, if we're not helping others find the Truth of Jesus, we must not assume they are uninterested in what we have to say. It might be that we need to check how we're saying it; taking time to determine if our words are comprehended as we intend. Imagine being without a working knowledge of the Scripture and being challenged to come to be 'washed the Blood of the Lamb!' That is one scary picture if the words are taken literally without a grasp of the metaphors intended! It only means something if a person knows the story of the Passover, something of the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, and about the Cross! For those who do, being 'washed in the blood of the Lamb' is a beautiful way to speak of God's mercy and grace, that is offered freely, but at a terrible expense, by the One who gave His life to take away our guilt so we can know and love a Holy God.
Thanks, Jacob, for a great lesson in communication. I hope that your Mommy can help you re-work that song in your mind so that 'turtle life' becomes 'eternal life.'
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
"Ah, that's good enough!"
Imagine if the Creator had become bored or weary and decided that instead of making the universe all 'very good,' (Genesis 1:31) He had settled for good enough! We observe that God went for design that is wondrous, full of beauty, and marked by excellence. Since this is how our God chose to prepare the world for us, isn't it sad then that so many choose to serve Him with mediocrity? Might this be because we are more committed to our kids' education, passionate about our sports, fanatic about our football team - than we are dedicated to the God we say that we love and serve with our whole heart?
In the Old Testament stories, excellence stands out again and again as a trait God commends.
Joseph was not only faithful through the years that he waited for the plans of God to take him from the prison to the palace. He also worked hard to do his best in every situation.
Daniel was taken from Jerusalem to serve an oppressor king in Babylonia as a slave. Did he slack and look for the easy way? Read the book. Here's how his reputation is summed up: "Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom." (Daniel 6:3, NIV)
We try to create a climate of excellence throughout our local congregation because God is worthy of our best efforts, not our leftovers! Here are a few examples.. and I could add more.
-I never approach the pulpit without extensive preparation of my mind and heart through prayer and study. God is listening to what I say and will hold me accountable on that Day for how I 'handled the Word of Truth.'
-Our grounds team mows the grass and tends the landscape with an eye towards honoring the Lord with a neat lawn!
-Our Christian School maintains high standards, not just to please parents. The team members there know that it is the Lord they serve, first and foremost. It shows!
-Our praise and worship team is devoted with a capital "D." They are on site early on Sunday morning, preparing themselves to lead us to worship of our God. They rehearse timing and strive for the right tone - why? Because they want to look good? Not so much. They know that what they do reflects on God, that if they fumble their way through a service with missed notes and bad timing, that many people will be distracted from focusing on the Lord. Our church is so accustomed to their high level of excellence, both musically and in the Spirit, that we often take it for granted!
How do you love Jesus Christ?
Are you just content to say, "that's good enough?" or are you ready to do your best?
Does God get the first and best of your life, or is He relegated to time, energy, and resources that are leftover when you've done the things you want to do? Consider that, disciple. Don't be one of those Christians who is content to just get by.
In the book of Malachi, there is a record of some priests who offered cheap offerings, who used inferior sacrifices. In response God said,
"A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name! "But you ask, 'How have we ever shown contempt for your name?' "You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar.
"Then you ask, 'How have we defiled the sacrifices?' "You defile them by saying the altar of the Lord deserves no respect. When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn't that wrong? And isn't it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!" says the Lord of Heaven's Armies. ... "How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you," says the Lord of Heaven's Armies, "and I will not accept your offerings. But my name is honored by people of other nations from morning till night. All around the world they offer sweet incense and pure offerings in honor of my name. For my name is great among the nations," says the Lord of Heaven's Armies."(Malachi 1:6-11, NLT)
Here's a word from the Word. Take it with you through this day.
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God." (Philippians 1:9-11, NIV
In the Old Testament stories, excellence stands out again and again as a trait God commends.
Joseph was not only faithful through the years that he waited for the plans of God to take him from the prison to the palace. He also worked hard to do his best in every situation.
Daniel was taken from Jerusalem to serve an oppressor king in Babylonia as a slave. Did he slack and look for the easy way? Read the book. Here's how his reputation is summed up: "Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom." (Daniel 6:3, NIV)
We try to create a climate of excellence throughout our local congregation because God is worthy of our best efforts, not our leftovers! Here are a few examples.. and I could add more.
-I never approach the pulpit without extensive preparation of my mind and heart through prayer and study. God is listening to what I say and will hold me accountable on that Day for how I 'handled the Word of Truth.'
-Our grounds team mows the grass and tends the landscape with an eye towards honoring the Lord with a neat lawn!
-Our Christian School maintains high standards, not just to please parents. The team members there know that it is the Lord they serve, first and foremost. It shows!
-Our praise and worship team is devoted with a capital "D." They are on site early on Sunday morning, preparing themselves to lead us to worship of our God. They rehearse timing and strive for the right tone - why? Because they want to look good? Not so much. They know that what they do reflects on God, that if they fumble their way through a service with missed notes and bad timing, that many people will be distracted from focusing on the Lord. Our church is so accustomed to their high level of excellence, both musically and in the Spirit, that we often take it for granted!
How do you love Jesus Christ?
Are you just content to say, "that's good enough?" or are you ready to do your best?
Does God get the first and best of your life, or is He relegated to time, energy, and resources that are leftover when you've done the things you want to do? Consider that, disciple. Don't be one of those Christians who is content to just get by.
In the book of Malachi, there is a record of some priests who offered cheap offerings, who used inferior sacrifices. In response God said,
"A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name! "But you ask, 'How have we ever shown contempt for your name?' "You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar.
"Then you ask, 'How have we defiled the sacrifices?' "You defile them by saying the altar of the Lord deserves no respect. When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn't that wrong? And isn't it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!" says the Lord of Heaven's Armies. ... "How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you," says the Lord of Heaven's Armies, "and I will not accept your offerings. But my name is honored by people of other nations from morning till night. All around the world they offer sweet incense and pure offerings in honor of my name. For my name is great among the nations," says the Lord of Heaven's Armies."(Malachi 1:6-11, NLT)
Here's a word from the Word. Take it with you through this day.
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God." (Philippians 1:9-11, NIV
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Worthy and Noble
Are you a noble, worthy person? Let me clarify. Are you noted to be a person of truth, integrity, diligence, beauty of spirit, love, and grace? Or, are you a person of shaded meanings, filthy speech, laziness, and hostility? That is what I mean by 'noble.' One can be poor and be noble. A person need not have a certain bloodline to be of noble character. The transforming truth of the Gospel of Christ, coupled with the inner transformation of the Spirit, will produce a person who is truly a nobleman! Yet, often in our time, those who claim to be Christian are base, ignoble individuals. This should not be. There are few things that stir up my emotions like a pseudo-Christian! I hate the disgrace to the cause of Christ that comes when a person uses his religion as a 'cover up for evil.' (1 Peter 2:16)
Conversion is supposed to be exactly that - a profound change. All too often, Christianity is made into an ideal held up for admiration but considered impractical for daily living. This has been the curse of the faith since the beginning of the faith. Time and again the Word challenges a claim to belief without a corresponding change of practice. This is the sin of hypocrisy. Paul wrote to us saying "I beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God." (Ephesians 4:1, NLT)
Look at how the Word contrasts the nature, base life with the noble, spiritual one:
"People’s desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shameful deeds. They worship idols, practice witchcraft, hate others, and are hard to get along with. People become jealous, angry, and selfish. They not only argue and cause trouble, but they are envious. They get drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil things as well. I told you before, and I am telling you again: No one who does these things will share in the blessings of God’s kingdom.
God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires." (Galatians 5:19-24, CEV)
We must not make the mistake of attempting to live the 'life of the Spirit,' by our own will! To do so, will lead to great hypocrisy like that of the Pharisees, described by Jesus as "whitewashed tombs, full of dead men's bones." No amount of punishment, ethical challenge, or good intention can produce a Spirit-filled noble man of God. "So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, ... For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial ... You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, "Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!"? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires." (Colossians 2:16-23, NLT)
Augustine is quoted as saying, "Love God, and do as you please." He's right! Yes, he is much misunderstood, as some who claim to be disciples emphasize only the second half of his aphorism and descend into licentious behaviors which only further debase them. A noble life emerges when we love Him - with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. Disciple, do you love Him? Does it show in a life that is worthy of your high calling? Here's my prayer for you and for me today. Pray it with me, won't you?
"We have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." (Colossians 1:9-12, NIV)
__________________
Truehearted, wholehearted, faithful and loyal,
King of our lives, by Thy grace we will be;
Under the standard exalted and royal,
Strong in Thy strength we will battle for Thee.
Peal out the watchword! Silence it never!
Song of our spirits, rejoicing and free;
Peal out the watchword! Loyal forever!
King of our lives, by Thy grace we will be.
Wholehearted! Savior beloved and glorious,
Take Thy great power and reign Thou alone,
Over our wills and affections victorious—
Freely surrendered and wholly Thine own.
Frances Havergal - public domain
Conversion is supposed to be exactly that - a profound change. All too often, Christianity is made into an ideal held up for admiration but considered impractical for daily living. This has been the curse of the faith since the beginning of the faith. Time and again the Word challenges a claim to belief without a corresponding change of practice. This is the sin of hypocrisy. Paul wrote to us saying "I beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God." (Ephesians 4:1, NLT)
Look at how the Word contrasts the nature, base life with the noble, spiritual one:
"People’s desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shameful deeds. They worship idols, practice witchcraft, hate others, and are hard to get along with. People become jealous, angry, and selfish. They not only argue and cause trouble, but they are envious. They get drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil things as well. I told you before, and I am telling you again: No one who does these things will share in the blessings of God’s kingdom.
God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires." (Galatians 5:19-24, CEV)
We must not make the mistake of attempting to live the 'life of the Spirit,' by our own will! To do so, will lead to great hypocrisy like that of the Pharisees, described by Jesus as "whitewashed tombs, full of dead men's bones." No amount of punishment, ethical challenge, or good intention can produce a Spirit-filled noble man of God. "So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, ... For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial ... You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, "Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!"? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires." (Colossians 2:16-23, NLT)
Augustine is quoted as saying, "Love God, and do as you please." He's right! Yes, he is much misunderstood, as some who claim to be disciples emphasize only the second half of his aphorism and descend into licentious behaviors which only further debase them. A noble life emerges when we love Him - with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. Disciple, do you love Him? Does it show in a life that is worthy of your high calling? Here's my prayer for you and for me today. Pray it with me, won't you?
"We have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." (Colossians 1:9-12, NIV)
__________________
Truehearted, wholehearted, faithful and loyal,
King of our lives, by Thy grace we will be;
Under the standard exalted and royal,
Strong in Thy strength we will battle for Thee.
Peal out the watchword! Silence it never!
Song of our spirits, rejoicing and free;
Peal out the watchword! Loyal forever!
King of our lives, by Thy grace we will be.
Wholehearted! Savior beloved and glorious,
Take Thy great power and reign Thou alone,
Over our wills and affections victorious—
Freely surrendered and wholly Thine own.
Frances Havergal - public domain
Monday, September 22, 2008
Let your light shine!
An admirable trait every disciple needs is steadiness. One of the best inventions of the last century was the electric light bulb. The lowly light bulb extends our working and enjoyment hours of each day by several hours, before and after sunset. Did you ever notice what happens to a light bulb just before it reaches the end of its life? Often it burns super-brightly for a few seconds and then, poof!- it falls dark as the filament breaks. The steady light that comes from a bulb is what we count on to read, to converse, to do our work. We don’t want flickering light. We don’t want flashes of light. We want a steady, bright glow.
As we represent Christ, we do so, in His words, as lights. In Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message) we read: "You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. ... I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand——shine! Steady, consistent, reflecting the Light of Jesus." In the Scripture, we are taught that there are many things that can put out the light in us, or make it dim.
We deal with ...
- the sinful nature that resists the work of the Spirit;
- world systems that oppose God’s ways; and
- the Devil who organizes evil!
Remember, it’s not the glow of our personality, the brilliance of our skills or intelligence, that gives the light. "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6, NKJV)
How can we shine consistently, lighting the way for others? Walk in the Light!
"So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." (1 John 1:6-9, NLT)
So, disciple, shine brightly today. Choose wisely so that nothing dims the Light shining in you. Invite the Spirit to clear the lens of your life, wiping away the dirt of sin and Self. Keep focused on the Light. It’s about Jesus working in you, working through you, shining the Light in a dark world.
________________________
Lord, I come to Your awesome presence.
From the shadows into Your radiance;
By the blood I may enter Your brightness,
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness.
Shine on me, shine on me.
Shine, Jesus, shine.
Fill this land with the Father's glory;
Blaze, Spirit, blaze.
Set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow, flood the nations
With grace and mercy;
Send forth Your Word,Lord,
and let there be light.
Shine, Jesus, Shine
Kendrick, Graham© 1987 Make Way Music (Admin. by Music Services)
CCLI License No. 810055
As we represent Christ, we do so, in His words, as lights. In Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message) we read: "You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. ... I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand——shine! Steady, consistent, reflecting the Light of Jesus." In the Scripture, we are taught that there are many things that can put out the light in us, or make it dim.
We deal with ...
- the sinful nature that resists the work of the Spirit;
- world systems that oppose God’s ways; and
- the Devil who organizes evil!
Remember, it’s not the glow of our personality, the brilliance of our skills or intelligence, that gives the light. "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6, NKJV)
How can we shine consistently, lighting the way for others? Walk in the Light!
"So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." (1 John 1:6-9, NLT)
So, disciple, shine brightly today. Choose wisely so that nothing dims the Light shining in you. Invite the Spirit to clear the lens of your life, wiping away the dirt of sin and Self. Keep focused on the Light. It’s about Jesus working in you, working through you, shining the Light in a dark world.
________________________
Lord, I come to Your awesome presence.
From the shadows into Your radiance;
By the blood I may enter Your brightness,
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness.
Shine on me, shine on me.
Shine, Jesus, shine.
Fill this land with the Father's glory;
Blaze, Spirit, blaze.
Set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow, flood the nations
With grace and mercy;
Send forth Your Word,Lord,
and let there be light.
Shine, Jesus, Shine
Kendrick, Graham© 1987 Make Way Music (Admin. by Music Services)
CCLI License No. 810055
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