"For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, 2 Cor 5:1-2
It is no secret to any of us that we are but mortals. None of us in our current form will live forever. In fact, death is as much a part of life as living is. Though we experience fear, mourning, despair and sorrow at the thought of passing from this life, we also know that it is necessary in order to gain the next. The interesting thing is that as much as we may fear leaving this life, so many of us are dissatisfied with it.
Beloved, Jesus has told us that he has gone to prepare a place for us. Paul has informed us that the "perishable must put on the imperishable" in order to gain heaven. These to facts alone should fill us with confidence that where we are now is not where we will ultimately be. Though we were placed on this earth for a time and given things we must accomplish in the service of the Lord, this life is nowhere near what is meant for the Christian.
Let us remember that these fallible bodies, subject to all kinds of defects and breakdowns are temporary vessels to one day be replaced with perfect ones. The pains of this world will not last always. Let us remember that this fallible existence full of all kinds of discomforts, temptations and unwholesome desires will be replaced by the presence of the Father. Let us look forward to an upgrade that is out of this world.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Monday, October 24, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
Our Protector-10/21/2011
"Since the Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp to deliver you and to defeat your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy; and He must not see anything indecent among you or He will turn away from you." Deut 23:14
It is important that we know God is intimately involved in our individual and corporate lives. We are his people and He is our God. He knows all, can do everything and is everywhere at all times. Having created us, He has chosen to provide for us, forgive us, extend His grace and mercy to us and even take on flesh to live among us. He indeed is in the midst of our very lives.
In this context, His purpose is revealed in one of His many names, Jehovah-Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts, our Protector, Psa 46:7. Not only is He present, but He is actively engaged in establishing a hedge of safety around us. You will recall, however, that where God is, sin cannot be. Moses was required to remove his shoes when He was on holy ground. When Jesus asked, "Why have you forsaken me?" it was because God could not be where sin was, even to comfort His own son on whose shoulders the sins of the world hung.
Beloved, we should not be under any illusion that anything has changed. God is still holy and still requires holiness of us. We must be ever diligent as it relates to our individual lives and the lives of our congregations. God will not be where sin is and where God is not actively protecting, the enemy can walk right in and destroy. Do not be caught dead without Him.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
It is important that we know God is intimately involved in our individual and corporate lives. We are his people and He is our God. He knows all, can do everything and is everywhere at all times. Having created us, He has chosen to provide for us, forgive us, extend His grace and mercy to us and even take on flesh to live among us. He indeed is in the midst of our very lives.
In this context, His purpose is revealed in one of His many names, Jehovah-Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts, our Protector, Psa 46:7. Not only is He present, but He is actively engaged in establishing a hedge of safety around us. You will recall, however, that where God is, sin cannot be. Moses was required to remove his shoes when He was on holy ground. When Jesus asked, "Why have you forsaken me?" it was because God could not be where sin was, even to comfort His own son on whose shoulders the sins of the world hung.
Beloved, we should not be under any illusion that anything has changed. God is still holy and still requires holiness of us. We must be ever diligent as it relates to our individual lives and the lives of our congregations. God will not be where sin is and where God is not actively protecting, the enemy can walk right in and destroy. Do not be caught dead without Him.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The Invitation-10/20/2011 (rp)
"Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor and maimed and blind and lame." Luke 14:21
This passage of scripture immediately follows an effort by a certain man to entertain guest at a fabulous feast. In this analogy of heaven, each of the invited guest had an excuse as to why they could not make it. One had just bought land he needed to survey, another bought oxen that had to be tried and still another had just married a wife.
Beloved, the cares of this world will cost many their heavenly reward. God has invited us to the biggest banquet imaginable. Can you imagine not being willing to go because of materialism? You will recall the rich young ruler that walked away from the heaven he sought because of the earthly possessions he was unwilling to leave behind.
Those who do not live a life of opulence have no such hindrances. The certain man commanded that the less fortunate be sought to attend the banquet, ensuring that it would not go to waste. I observed on a mission trip last year that it was not the well to do that were coming to the Lord, but those who have no one else on whom to depend. The maimed, halt, hungry and blind lined up for hours to get medical and dental attention. They also received the word of God. It is amazing how many of them believe.
As for those who would make excuses, "For I say unto you that none of those men that were bidden shall taste of my supper." Luke 14:24
Loving Like Jesus
Lee
This passage of scripture immediately follows an effort by a certain man to entertain guest at a fabulous feast. In this analogy of heaven, each of the invited guest had an excuse as to why they could not make it. One had just bought land he needed to survey, another bought oxen that had to be tried and still another had just married a wife.
Beloved, the cares of this world will cost many their heavenly reward. God has invited us to the biggest banquet imaginable. Can you imagine not being willing to go because of materialism? You will recall the rich young ruler that walked away from the heaven he sought because of the earthly possessions he was unwilling to leave behind.
Those who do not live a life of opulence have no such hindrances. The certain man commanded that the less fortunate be sought to attend the banquet, ensuring that it would not go to waste. I observed on a mission trip last year that it was not the well to do that were coming to the Lord, but those who have no one else on whom to depend. The maimed, halt, hungry and blind lined up for hours to get medical and dental attention. They also received the word of God. It is amazing how many of them believe.
As for those who would make excuses, "For I say unto you that none of those men that were bidden shall taste of my supper." Luke 14:24
Loving Like Jesus
Lee
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Just Believe-10/19/2011
"If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?" John 3:12
God's wisdom is so amazing. Though He is a God whose ways are as higher than ours as the heaven's are above the earth, He has always chosen to communicate and relate to us in ways that we could understand. In fact, John 1:14 states that He even put on flesh and dwelt among us. He has done everything to equip us to know Him.
In His fleshly state, He often taught in parables. The commonly understood definition of a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Even a cursory examination of the parables involve things such as sheep, farming, relationships between relatives, banquets, the poor, etc. These were all things that were then and in some cases now. We all come into contact with most of them almost daily. These stories, however, were designed to relate the principles of Christianity and godliness.
There was one small problem. There were some who either could not or would not understand. When the apostles asked why he even spoke in parables, he replied, "Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. " In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, 'YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING,BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.' But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear." Matt 13:13-16.
Beloved, on our personal journey to both a meaningful relationship with our Savior and to heaven, the first step is believing what we have been told about him. We must believe he gospel message. We must believe that He is. We then can go on to spiritual maturity which will allow us to shed the earthly in favor of the heavenly. Let us not disdain our eternal inheritance by wrestling over that which should be obvious, Rom 1:20.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
God's wisdom is so amazing. Though He is a God whose ways are as higher than ours as the heaven's are above the earth, He has always chosen to communicate and relate to us in ways that we could understand. In fact, John 1:14 states that He even put on flesh and dwelt among us. He has done everything to equip us to know Him.
In His fleshly state, He often taught in parables. The commonly understood definition of a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Even a cursory examination of the parables involve things such as sheep, farming, relationships between relatives, banquets, the poor, etc. These were all things that were then and in some cases now. We all come into contact with most of them almost daily. These stories, however, were designed to relate the principles of Christianity and godliness.
There was one small problem. There were some who either could not or would not understand. When the apostles asked why he even spoke in parables, he replied, "Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. " In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, 'YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING,BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.' But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear." Matt 13:13-16.
Beloved, on our personal journey to both a meaningful relationship with our Savior and to heaven, the first step is believing what we have been told about him. We must believe he gospel message. We must believe that He is. We then can go on to spiritual maturity which will allow us to shed the earthly in favor of the heavenly. Let us not disdain our eternal inheritance by wrestling over that which should be obvious, Rom 1:20.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Excuses of the Equipped-10/18/2011
"Then Moses said to the LORD, "Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue." Exo 4:10
You may recall that Moses, having escaped from Egypt, found himself in Midian. Through the course of time, he was called by the Angel of the Lord to the mountain of the Lord before the burning bush and introduced to God in a most unique and memorable way. He was then given marching orders to free God's people from the yoke of slavery. It is at this point that Moses began to offer excuses.
Beloved, we have the same problem to this day. God, through the sacrifice of Jesus has called us out of darkness and saved us from everlasting spiritual death. He has restored us to a right relationship and standing with him despite the fact that we deserve death. He then asks us to play a role in freeing others from the slavery of sin and darkness and we begin making excuses. "I'm too busy." "I don't know what to say." "I'm not really a people person." "I don't know enough."
When Moses began offering excuses, God said, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?" Exo 4:11. Moses was to understand that he was being charged by an omnipotent God who can accomplish all things. His feeble excuses were nothing to overcome for the Creator.
Regardless of what we think our abilities and shortcomings are, God has made and equipped each of us for His work. He requires nothing of us that is outside of the abilities He has given us. In short, "If God brings you to it, God will bring you through it."
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
You may recall that Moses, having escaped from Egypt, found himself in Midian. Through the course of time, he was called by the Angel of the Lord to the mountain of the Lord before the burning bush and introduced to God in a most unique and memorable way. He was then given marching orders to free God's people from the yoke of slavery. It is at this point that Moses began to offer excuses.
Beloved, we have the same problem to this day. God, through the sacrifice of Jesus has called us out of darkness and saved us from everlasting spiritual death. He has restored us to a right relationship and standing with him despite the fact that we deserve death. He then asks us to play a role in freeing others from the slavery of sin and darkness and we begin making excuses. "I'm too busy." "I don't know what to say." "I'm not really a people person." "I don't know enough."
When Moses began offering excuses, God said, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?" Exo 4:11. Moses was to understand that he was being charged by an omnipotent God who can accomplish all things. His feeble excuses were nothing to overcome for the Creator.
Regardless of what we think our abilities and shortcomings are, God has made and equipped each of us for His work. He requires nothing of us that is outside of the abilities He has given us. In short, "If God brings you to it, God will bring you through it."
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Monday, October 17, 2011
Speak Up, Speak Out!-10/17/2011
"Let the redeemed of the Lord say so..." Psa 107
So often we find our selves relaying information. In fact, our society would not be what it is (particularly in the most positive sense) without communication. These days communication is virtually instantaneous. Any major event that happens anywhere around the world can be found on cable news networks, the Internet, Facebook or Twitter within minutes. Even our television news reports are crowded with additional information streaming across the tops and bottoms of our screens.
The question must be asked, however, what really is being said? Beloved, the fruit of our lips should be professions of the goodness of God. Time and breath would not allow us to share everything the Lord has done and is doing for us, but nothing prevents us from trying. If we sat and really thought about where and what we are in the Lord versus where and what we were in the world, we could fill libraries with our testimony.
Satan gets more than enough press. Our great and mighty God's love for us endures forever. Let his redeemed make it known from the neighborhood to the mountain tops.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
So often we find our selves relaying information. In fact, our society would not be what it is (particularly in the most positive sense) without communication. These days communication is virtually instantaneous. Any major event that happens anywhere around the world can be found on cable news networks, the Internet, Facebook or Twitter within minutes. Even our television news reports are crowded with additional information streaming across the tops and bottoms of our screens.
The question must be asked, however, what really is being said? Beloved, the fruit of our lips should be professions of the goodness of God. Time and breath would not allow us to share everything the Lord has done and is doing for us, but nothing prevents us from trying. If we sat and really thought about where and what we are in the Lord versus where and what we were in the world, we could fill libraries with our testimony.
Satan gets more than enough press. Our great and mighty God's love for us endures forever. Let his redeemed make it known from the neighborhood to the mountain tops.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Friday, October 14, 2011
Lawful But Not Profitable-10/14/11 (rp)
"All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify." 1 Cor 10:23
Contextually speaking, Paul was making a case regarding the ability to eat any foods. During these tumultuous times, there was much controversy about this and other things as people transitioned from observing the law of Moses to living under grace. People had been under a set of rules for thousands of years that involved not eating meat that was unclean or had been sacrificed to idols. Many had chosen to eat no meat at all in an effort to avoid even the possibility of committing such a sin. This was a hot issue at the time because both Jews and Gentiles were converting to Christianity and they came from polar opposite belief systems. Jews worshipped the one true God and followed the Law while Gentiles often served pagan deities without the restrictions of Judaism. This, then, caused some of the controversy (See Romans 14 and 15).
The twofold point that is being made is that 1) all that God has created that serves as food is suitable to be eaten and 2) that in an effort to help preserve the faith of a brother or to attract one to Christ, it is okay, even recommended to suspend the liberty we have that we might accomplish the will of God.
Likewise today, much is lawful to us in which we need not participate because of the possible effect on those seeking God. One example would be the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Though much can and typically is said about this issue, consuming a fermented beverage is not a sin (as long as you do not do so to excess). However, there are those outside the body that may observe us enjoying libations and immediately decide that Christianity is not for them because we are hypocritical. Clearly this stance comes from a lack of knowledge, but perception is reality. So in this instance, it is lawful for us to consume but not profitable for the cause of Christ.
Beloved we have liberty in Christ. He came that we might have life and that more abundantly. We have though, the power and perhaps even the responsibility to set that abundant liberty aside for the accomplishment of the greater good. Show first then teach.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Contextually speaking, Paul was making a case regarding the ability to eat any foods. During these tumultuous times, there was much controversy about this and other things as people transitioned from observing the law of Moses to living under grace. People had been under a set of rules for thousands of years that involved not eating meat that was unclean or had been sacrificed to idols. Many had chosen to eat no meat at all in an effort to avoid even the possibility of committing such a sin. This was a hot issue at the time because both Jews and Gentiles were converting to Christianity and they came from polar opposite belief systems. Jews worshipped the one true God and followed the Law while Gentiles often served pagan deities without the restrictions of Judaism. This, then, caused some of the controversy (See Romans 14 and 15).
The twofold point that is being made is that 1) all that God has created that serves as food is suitable to be eaten and 2) that in an effort to help preserve the faith of a brother or to attract one to Christ, it is okay, even recommended to suspend the liberty we have that we might accomplish the will of God.
Likewise today, much is lawful to us in which we need not participate because of the possible effect on those seeking God. One example would be the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Though much can and typically is said about this issue, consuming a fermented beverage is not a sin (as long as you do not do so to excess). However, there are those outside the body that may observe us enjoying libations and immediately decide that Christianity is not for them because we are hypocritical. Clearly this stance comes from a lack of knowledge, but perception is reality. So in this instance, it is lawful for us to consume but not profitable for the cause of Christ.
Beloved we have liberty in Christ. He came that we might have life and that more abundantly. We have though, the power and perhaps even the responsibility to set that abundant liberty aside for the accomplishment of the greater good. Show first then teach.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
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