Friday, April 10, 2009
The Knowledge of Him
(Ephesians 1)
Personal faith in Christ marks the beginning of one’s relationship with the Savior. As such, we should hallow the moment of our personal salvation, never losing the wonder of simply being saved by the grace of God. Beyond salvation, however, there is the all-important matter of Christian growth.
Having come to hear of their faith in Christ, Paul prayed that the church at Ephesus would experience the “spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge” of Christ (17). You see, Paul viewed personal salvation not as an end but as a beginning. In fact, after one has come to Christ, the real work of grace has just begun!
Why should believers grow in their knowledge of Christ? The answer is given in verse 18. Paul explains that full knowledge of Christ brings an enlightened understanding. How we desperately need understanding in our day! Confusion, it seems, is the watchword of the hour; though it is cloaked in many terms: toleration, pluralism, political correctness, etc.
Knowing Christ also brings hope. In addition to saving us, God calls us with a hopeful purpose for our lives. The fact that God has a specific purpose for our lives gives us hope through difficult times. We can make it through anything if we know that God has a plan and is in control!
From our text we may intimate that revival is all about knowing Christ in a deeper way. Is that the desire of your heart? Are you willing to pay the price for a deeper knowledge of Him?
Showing posts with label Christian life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian life. Show all posts
Friday, April 3, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Motivating Gospel Work - 6
Friday, March 13, 2009
The Unbroken Circle
(Rev. 21:1-27)
An old Gospel song asks the haunting question, “Will the circle be unbroken?” By an “unbroken circle,” the songwriter was referencing the family circle. His question, simply stated, is this: Will your family circle be complete in Heaven? Will everyone you loved be there? Through the din of worldly distraction, will we faithfully and loving have won our children and other loved ones to Christ?
It goes without saying that Heaven is a wonderful place. The Apostle Paul, who actually visited Heaven (II Cor. 12:2), tells us that Heaven is so wonderful as to be indescribable (I Cor. 2:9). Suffice it to say, Heaven is beyond our wildest imagination! It will be a place of beauty and joy beyond anything even dreamt of on this sin-cursed earth. Nothing we know here can compare to the glory over there!
That being the case, wouldn’t it be wonderful if all your loved ones were there to share it? Most of us would never think of excluding a son or daughter from the family vacation. We wouldn’t (at least we shouldn’t) consider leaving our dear spouse out of the “trip of a lifetime.” Why, then, do we sometimes neglect to get folks “on board” for heaven?
Rather than wait until the “right moment” arises, lets create that moment by boldly and lovingly sharing Christ with those who matter most to us. Make it your life’s goal to have a complete, unbroken circle of loved ones over in the glory land!
The Unbroken Circle
(Rev. 21:1-27)
An old Gospel song asks the haunting question, “Will the circle be unbroken?” By an “unbroken circle,” the songwriter was referencing the family circle. His question, simply stated, is this: Will your family circle be complete in Heaven? Will everyone you loved be there? Through the din of worldly distraction, will we faithfully and loving have won our children and other loved ones to Christ?
It goes without saying that Heaven is a wonderful place. The Apostle Paul, who actually visited Heaven (II Cor. 12:2), tells us that Heaven is so wonderful as to be indescribable (I Cor. 2:9). Suffice it to say, Heaven is beyond our wildest imagination! It will be a place of beauty and joy beyond anything even dreamt of on this sin-cursed earth. Nothing we know here can compare to the glory over there!
That being the case, wouldn’t it be wonderful if all your loved ones were there to share it? Most of us would never think of excluding a son or daughter from the family vacation. We wouldn’t (at least we shouldn’t) consider leaving our dear spouse out of the “trip of a lifetime.” Why, then, do we sometimes neglect to get folks “on board” for heaven?
Rather than wait until the “right moment” arises, lets create that moment by boldly and lovingly sharing Christ with those who matter most to us. Make it your life’s goal to have a complete, unbroken circle of loved ones over in the glory land!
Motivatig Gospel Work - 7
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Great and Precious
(II Peter 1:1-14)
We live in a needy world. The secularization of our society has left people seeking for answers in spurious places. Popular psychology leaves men confused, atheism leaves men empty, and hedonism (the love of pleasure) leaves men degraded. The secular world offers no significant meaning for life. Their credo: “Eat, drink, and be merry—for tomorrow we die.” And for some, death appears a welcome relief to their meaningless existence.
The great tragedy in all of this is that it doesn’t have to be! Believers approach life from an entirely different standpoint. Life for the dedicated Christian is an adventure, a journey, a race, and a purpose. Peter tells believers that God has given us “all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of [Christ].” We are fully equipped in Christ to handle every challenge, every crisis, every vicissitude life throws at us.
Not only that, but we possess great and precious promises that make us partakers of Christ’s nature and allow us to escape the corruption of this world (4). Think about it: In Christ we are new creations with new natures and a new inoculation against the contagions of the world. That which ultimately causes the secularist to sicken and die can leave no mark upon believers! We have new life, abundant life, in Christ. Now, that’s what this weary world needs!
Great and Precious
(II Peter 1:1-14)
We live in a needy world. The secularization of our society has left people seeking for answers in spurious places. Popular psychology leaves men confused, atheism leaves men empty, and hedonism (the love of pleasure) leaves men degraded. The secular world offers no significant meaning for life. Their credo: “Eat, drink, and be merry—for tomorrow we die.” And for some, death appears a welcome relief to their meaningless existence.
The great tragedy in all of this is that it doesn’t have to be! Believers approach life from an entirely different standpoint. Life for the dedicated Christian is an adventure, a journey, a race, and a purpose. Peter tells believers that God has given us “all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of [Christ].” We are fully equipped in Christ to handle every challenge, every crisis, every vicissitude life throws at us.
Not only that, but we possess great and precious promises that make us partakers of Christ’s nature and allow us to escape the corruption of this world (4). Think about it: In Christ we are new creations with new natures and a new inoculation against the contagions of the world. That which ultimately causes the secularist to sicken and die can leave no mark upon believers! We have new life, abundant life, in Christ. Now, that’s what this weary world needs!
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