discipleship

The Great Struggle

/ Craig / Leave a comment

IMG_8631

1For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.   Colossians 2:1-3


All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ Jesus.

Let this truth become truth for you.

 

All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ Jesus.

Dear follower of Jesus, its going to be a struggle to fully comprehend and enjoy the wealth of God’s riches you posses through Him. This world and our old nature conspire to diminish Jesus and draw us away from Him… to anything else… but Him.

 

All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ Jesus.

Christian leaders, disciple-makers, like the Apostle Paul, struggle, strive, contend for the people of Jesus to see Jesus, cherish Jesus, value Jesus, admire Jesus, delight in Jesus, and worship Jesus.

 

All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ Jesus.

Your quiet times are meant to be a daily appraisal of the incredible and immense worth of Jesus. Its a time for digging and uncovering the beauty of Jesus in the Word of God. It is a time for asking the Spirit of God to blow back the fog of lies clouding your mind from comprehending and celebrating Jesus.

 

All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ Jesus.

Jesus is your greatest treasure.

Obedience and Christian Leaders

/ Craig / Leave a comment

IMG_2998

1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, Romans 1:1-6

A healthy church is not out to control you. But it has received grace and calling from Jesus to bring about

“the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations.”

Obedience is a response to Jesus Christ, our resurrected Lord. Obedience flows from faith. Obedience flows from the dynamic relationship you have with Jesus. The most life-giving call to obedience flows from the experience of grace.

The church is at its best when it remains a voluntary association of people graced by Jesus Christ and following Him together with an agreed upon vision of the constraints and freedoms of His holiness.

Christian leadership under the grace of Jesus is not about getting people to do what the leader imagines for his or her benefit. Christian leadership is creates the environment where people get to know Jesus, understand what Jesus wants, and gain the courage to make adjustments to be obedient to Him. That’s the obedience of faith.

What if it was raining cats and dogs?

/ Craig / Leave a comment

IMG_7840

24And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,

“‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?

26The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’—

27for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

Here’s one strange English idiom: “Its raining cats and dogs.” Meant to describe a heavy downpour it surely describes a devastating downpour.

What if life brings you a devastating downpour? What if pressure is mounting because of your faith in Christ?

The challenge under pressure is to keep our view of God large. When the church in Jerusalem experienced pressure during the arrest of John and Peter they prayed. When they celebrated their release from the authorities they prayed. They prayed not for relief but for courage. How could they do that?

They kept God large through the revelation of Jesus Christ— Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Sovereign Lord.

Creator of Heaven and earth.

Inspirer of the prophet’s message.
Promise keeper.

Messiah, Anointed one.

King.

When the downpour comes, me must remember Jesus. He shows us God’s plan that continues even through the downpour.

 

Under the Social Press

/ Craig / Leave a comment

IMG_0267

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.  1 Peter 4:1-2

The book of 1 Peter is full of Peter’s concern for Christians under pressure. The members of his churches were under social pressure generated by their choices to follow Jesus and abandon patterns of sin. The pressure produced temptation to abandon Jesus. So Peter encourages them to consider how Jesus suffered when he committed Himself to the will of God. We need to “arm” ourselves with His attitude so we can leans into the will of God. We must enlarge our view of God’s authority over all people and His judgment over all. He writes,

For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.  1 Peter 4:1-5

Isn’t it strange? Here’s how the social press works when it comes to the flood of debauchery, especially if you had been part of the “in” crowd. Non-participation is suspect. You become strange when you refuse to participate. You are judged and maligned.

But Peter reminds us we suffer with our Lord Jesus Christ and He is a greater judge. We live not for ourselves, but for Him who loves us.

Avoid Meaning Less

/ Craig / Leave a comment

IMG_2204

Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.
Psalm 111:2

When I hear UBC students talking with passion about their studies I get excited. They are delighting in the works of the Lord!

When I hear followers of Jesus talking with passion about their study of God’s Word and the Gospel, I get really excited.They are delighting in the redemptive works of the Lord! The redemptive works are the Lord are on the song-writer’s mind in Psalm 111.

“He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name! 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.

His praise endures forever!” (Psalm 111:9-10)

When you delight in God and in His restoring work through Jesus Christ, you can become a participant in His redemptive work through your studies and ultimately in your career. Your study and your work has meaning. Do it with Jesus.