grace

The delight of being His by His will.

/ Craig / Leave a comment

“But to all who did receive, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13

It is possible to convince ourselves that we do not need to be loved, to be chosen, to be cared for. It is a lie. This lie is fueled by the illusion of our achievement and the illusion of our domination of the forces of nature. But like all illusions they are ultimately confronted with death.

John was convinced that what God did through Jesus at the Cross actually breathed life into people who would receive Jesus Christ as Lord. Not an illusion. But an actual reality giving birth to people as children of God, with the rights and responsibilities of children of God. All accomplished by His will.

Not by force. We do not become lovable by our own force. We are lovable by God’s will.

The Gospel brings us into the joy of new birth by God’s grace.

Confidence in the Gospel

/ Craig / Leave a comment

Confidence in the Gospel

Is it possible to locate“content” that can change your life? As I listen to students in our  community I hear their hope tinged with cynicism. Perhaps rightfully so. The degree is not enough.

The Apostle Paul had great confidence in the Gospel of Jesus. He trusted the content of the Gospel as the “word of truth” capable of transforming lives and generating love.

Check out what he said in Colossians 1:3-7

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

The Gospel informs and the Spirit transforms.

The Gospel travels on the tracks of relationships.

The Gospel invites us into new relationships with Jesus and His people.

The Gospel transforms as we hear and understand the grace of God.

The Gospel must be animated in the lives of Jesus’ disciples.

The Lessons of Jericho

/ Craig / Leave a comment

It really wasn’t about Israel.

When asked about sides, the commander of the Lord’s army, said, “No… I’m here now.”

It was about God judging.

We can build up our walls against God, now.

We can try to create “safe rooms” in our heart against the knowledge of God, now.

Now it seems like God and “his people” are circling around you.

But someday.

The walls will come down by the Lord’s command as if they were startled by the blast of a trumpet.

And God will move in.

Now.

Or.

Later.

The difference for now is that Jesus went outside the city walls in humiliation and took on all the judgement of God for you at the Cross.

The difference for later is that the commander of the Lord’s army will return with an all-consuming glory.

Its better to be with Jesus now by His grace.

May the walls come down.

May the Lord come in.

Self-Righteousness always exceeds our grasp of grace.

/ Craig / Leave a comment

Scripture:  2 Peter 1:1-2

1Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

2May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Observations:

Peter builds up those receiving his letter by addressing them as equals in the faith:  they have “obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

He blesses them in his greeting, praying that grace and peace would be theirs through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

Application:

Peter did not treat those who came to faith after him as “seconds” in the faith.  Rather, those who came to faith in Christ after the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus have obtained it the same way:  through the grace and peace of God abundantly poured out on them.  This faith comes not by any righteousness of their own but only through the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  So becoming an insider in the Kingdom of God comes not by being good, or by race, or by gender, or by status, or by education, or by proximity to the time and sites of Jesus’ ministry.  Rather this faith and “position” comes by God’s grace.  This righteousness in Christ demands equality.

There is level ground at the foot of the cross.  All come to Jesus by grace.  All are elevated into His kingdom through the righteousness of Jesus, not by their own “goodness. “ You can be sure, that self-righteousness always exceeds our grasp of grace.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I pray again with Peter.  Would you please multiply grace and peace in my life and in the life of your church through the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord.  AMEN.

Healing for the Sin-Sick

/ Craig / Leave a comment

Scripture:  1 Peter 2:24-25

24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Observations:

Jesus bore our sins on the cross.

So that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

His wounds bring healing to us.

We were like lost sheep.

But now, we have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.

Application:  Healing for the sin-sick.

Jesus said He was the good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. (John 10)  He is healing our hearts so that we can die to sin and live to righteousness.  Righteousness has to do with our relationships.  Independence from God infects our relationships with sin and brokenness.  The consequences of sin can leave people washed up in a wake of destruction.  The “straying sheep” is living independent of God and for sure is leaning into his or her own way rather than the way of God (Proverbs 3:5-6).  The image of Jesus dying on the cross that we might live is a picture of enduring grace for our lives.  When I sin and infect my relationships with death, Jesus can lead me and the other person into the grace necessary for the healing of our souls.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, you have raised up Jesus as the Shepherd and Overseer of my soul.  Lead me into your grace for relationships today.  May I with you be a source of healing and life.  AMEN.