1 Timothy 5:10 "Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work."
The Bible makes it very clear that good works are to be an integral part of a Christian's life. We are called unto good works, we were created in Christ Jesus unto good works, doing good works is part of our maturity and fullness in Christ.
Obviously, these works are not necessary for salvation. However, they are a natural result of true salvation. As James says, faith without works is dead. It's just like when you're in a relationship with someone you love, serving them comes naturally. The ability to help them in some way is a joy and a privilege. You're always on the lookout for a need that you could meet. This is how it should be in our relationship with God.
This verse provides a small sample list of good works. But Paul really sums up good works in 1 Timothy 6:18 "That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;" It's about helping those in need and telling the truth.
Do I view all my goods as belonging to God? Am I willing to give them freely to help those in need? Is my mouth ready with the truth, to share the Living Word with those in spiritual need?
Monday, September 11, 2017
Friday, September 8, 2017
Noteworthy Faith
Romans 1:8 "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world."
Faith is a word that gets thrown around a lot. The definition of the word is: "conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it."
A conviction of the truth that the whole world was talking about. That is incredible. When you think about it, people all over the world are convicted of certain "truths". Ask pretty much anyone, and you will find they are convicted of the truth of, say, gravity, or the roundness of the earth. However, no one is talking about that conviction, that faith. There was something about the Roman church's faith that made it noteworthy for the whole world.
I believe the noteworthiness is found in the last part of the definition: "holy fervour born of faith and joined with it." This faith in God and Christ is living, powerful. It exists, but it also builds. This holy fervour is what causes us to put our faith into action. This holy fervour is the drive behind our good works. And it is these good works that cause others to see our faith, and praise God.
Does my faith have a holy fervour behind it? Is my faith something people are talking about? In order to talk about it, they first have to see it. Is my faith even visible?
Faith is a word that gets thrown around a lot. The definition of the word is: "conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it."
A conviction of the truth that the whole world was talking about. That is incredible. When you think about it, people all over the world are convicted of certain "truths". Ask pretty much anyone, and you will find they are convicted of the truth of, say, gravity, or the roundness of the earth. However, no one is talking about that conviction, that faith. There was something about the Roman church's faith that made it noteworthy for the whole world.
I believe the noteworthiness is found in the last part of the definition: "holy fervour born of faith and joined with it." This faith in God and Christ is living, powerful. It exists, but it also builds. This holy fervour is what causes us to put our faith into action. This holy fervour is the drive behind our good works. And it is these good works that cause others to see our faith, and praise God.
Does my faith have a holy fervour behind it? Is my faith something people are talking about? In order to talk about it, they first have to see it. Is my faith even visible?
Thursday, September 7, 2017
Jesus Christ, Calling Us to Sainthood
Romans 1:6-7 "Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ."
Jesus Christ does not ask us if we would like to be saints. He calls us to be saints, and waits patiently for us to answer that call. It is an invitation, a divine selection that we must not ignore.
Contrary to popular thought, being a saint does not mean perfection. Rather the word means: "sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated), holy." This is what Jesus Christ calls us to. However, we know quite plainly that this calling is unattainable in and of ourselves. And that's the whole point.
Being a saint is a work Jesus Christ accomplishes in me through sanctification after salvation. Everyday, I surrender a little more. Everyday, He chips off a little more of the "old me". It is a process where we grow in grace, becoming more and more like Him by His grace.
How is the process of sanctification going in my life? Do I view myself as a saint today?
Jesus Christ does not ask us if we would like to be saints. He calls us to be saints, and waits patiently for us to answer that call. It is an invitation, a divine selection that we must not ignore.
Contrary to popular thought, being a saint does not mean perfection. Rather the word means: "sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated), holy." This is what Jesus Christ calls us to. However, we know quite plainly that this calling is unattainable in and of ourselves. And that's the whole point.
Being a saint is a work Jesus Christ accomplishes in me through sanctification after salvation. Everyday, I surrender a little more. Everyday, He chips off a little more of the "old me". It is a process where we grow in grace, becoming more and more like Him by His grace.
How is the process of sanctification going in my life? Do I view myself as a saint today?
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Servant, Called and Separated
Romans 1:1 "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,"
A servant, called and separated. Each Christian's call may look a little different in substance, however in form I believe they are all very similar. We are all servants of Christ. We must surrender our own will and surrender to His will. This is very clear.
The next step is our calling. Ephesians 4:11 "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;" There are different gifts that God gives His followers in order to complete the body that is the Church.
And finally, separation. We cannot be of the world and of Christ. The world may surround us, yet we must separate ourselves. The word means to mark off the boundaries around something, to appoint, set apart for a purpose.
Would someone, knowing the intimate details of my life, call me a servant of God? Am I seeking to fulfill God's calling on my life? And am I separated from this world, setting my life apart for God's purposes?
A servant, called and separated. Each Christian's call may look a little different in substance, however in form I believe they are all very similar. We are all servants of Christ. We must surrender our own will and surrender to His will. This is very clear.
The next step is our calling. Ephesians 4:11 "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;" There are different gifts that God gives His followers in order to complete the body that is the Church.
And finally, separation. We cannot be of the world and of Christ. The world may surround us, yet we must separate ourselves. The word means to mark off the boundaries around something, to appoint, set apart for a purpose.
Would someone, knowing the intimate details of my life, call me a servant of God? Am I seeking to fulfill God's calling on my life? And am I separated from this world, setting my life apart for God's purposes?
Monday, September 4, 2017
The Sacrifices of Righteousness
Psalm 4:5 "Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD."
We should be careful to not indulge in the fantasy of easy righteousness. Once we are a Christian, the war is won, however there remains a daily battle against our sinful flesh. This battle makes certain types of righteousness hard at times.
I say certain types, because we all have our own individual struggle. For some, righteousness in one area of life may be easy, however for another, that same righteousness may be a difficult struggle. Righteousness in one area of life may require sacrifice for some, while it's nearly second nature for another.
All that to say, there will be a certain area in your life where righteousness will require sacrifice. In the New Testament era, we no longer offer rams on an altar. Rather, we offer our own pleasure, our own will and instead live for God's will and God's pleasure. This is the sacrifice of righteousness.
However, unlike any other sacrifice, the sacrifice of righteousness gets easier and easier as we consistently make that choice. In what area of my life does righteousness require sacrifice? Have I been consistently sacrificing?
We should be careful to not indulge in the fantasy of easy righteousness. Once we are a Christian, the war is won, however there remains a daily battle against our sinful flesh. This battle makes certain types of righteousness hard at times.
I say certain types, because we all have our own individual struggle. For some, righteousness in one area of life may be easy, however for another, that same righteousness may be a difficult struggle. Righteousness in one area of life may require sacrifice for some, while it's nearly second nature for another.
All that to say, there will be a certain area in your life where righteousness will require sacrifice. In the New Testament era, we no longer offer rams on an altar. Rather, we offer our own pleasure, our own will and instead live for God's will and God's pleasure. This is the sacrifice of righteousness.
However, unlike any other sacrifice, the sacrifice of righteousness gets easier and easier as we consistently make that choice. In what area of my life does righteousness require sacrifice? Have I been consistently sacrificing?
Saturday, September 2, 2017
Keep Yourself From Idols
1 John 5:21 "Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen."
This is almost like a P.S. at the end of a letter. It seems to just strike John at the very end that he needs to include this. At first it may seem like this, however the verse before John was going over what it means to understand the One True God and have life through that understanding.
This verse naturally follows that thought. An idol is anything that prevents us from worshiping the True God with a whole, undivided heart. In John's time it was definitely wooden or stone images. However, today we know that an idol doesn't necessarily have to be a graven image. It can be anything that we place above God. Whether it is money, self, a relationship, a job, or fame, there are many, many things that can attempt to replace God on the throne of our hearts.
The word "keep" means to watch over, guard carefully so that something doesn't escape. Our sinful flesh will constantly be warring to escape to serve sin. We must daily wage war to keep ourselves from the sin that so easily besets us.
Are there any idols in my life? They're easy to spot - they control my joy. Am I willing to repent, turn back to God, and daily fight to keep myself from idols?
This is almost like a P.S. at the end of a letter. It seems to just strike John at the very end that he needs to include this. At first it may seem like this, however the verse before John was going over what it means to understand the One True God and have life through that understanding.
This verse naturally follows that thought. An idol is anything that prevents us from worshiping the True God with a whole, undivided heart. In John's time it was definitely wooden or stone images. However, today we know that an idol doesn't necessarily have to be a graven image. It can be anything that we place above God. Whether it is money, self, a relationship, a job, or fame, there are many, many things that can attempt to replace God on the throne of our hearts.
The word "keep" means to watch over, guard carefully so that something doesn't escape. Our sinful flesh will constantly be warring to escape to serve sin. We must daily wage war to keep ourselves from the sin that so easily besets us.
Are there any idols in my life? They're easy to spot - they control my joy. Am I willing to repent, turn back to God, and daily fight to keep myself from idols?
Friday, September 1, 2017
Light of Understanding
1 John 5:20 "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life."
Jesus came to earth for very specific reasons. He was the bridge between us and the Father, His sacrifice is our salvation making a relationship with a Holy God possible. In order to make this happen, He had to bring us out of the darkness of sin and ignorance, into the light of His righteousness and knowledge.
1 John 12:46 "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness."
He is the Light that brings understanding to our darkness. Darkness attempts to hide the Truth, but it cannot stand when confronted with the Light. Darkness attempts to keep us from the true God, and thereby from eternal life. But if fails every time when pitted against His Light.
Have I experienced the Light of God's Truth and understanding? Am I daily walking in that Light? How does it influence my choices and way of life?
Jesus came to earth for very specific reasons. He was the bridge between us and the Father, His sacrifice is our salvation making a relationship with a Holy God possible. In order to make this happen, He had to bring us out of the darkness of sin and ignorance, into the light of His righteousness and knowledge.
1 John 12:46 "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness."
He is the Light that brings understanding to our darkness. Darkness attempts to hide the Truth, but it cannot stand when confronted with the Light. Darkness attempts to keep us from the true God, and thereby from eternal life. But if fails every time when pitted against His Light.
Have I experienced the Light of God's Truth and understanding? Am I daily walking in that Light? How does it influence my choices and way of life?
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