YOUR NEW LIFE

In these times of such unspeakable violence, let us stop and listen to what God's Word says to his followers regarding our behavior. Before you stop reading thinking you know, listen to Paul:

“So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.

Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.

And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That’s a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. It’s because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. It wasn’t long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it’s all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.

Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Wives, understand and support your husbands by submitting to them in ways that honor the Master. Husbands, go all out in love for your wives. Don’t take advantage of them. Children, do what your parents tell you. This delights the Master no end. Parents, don’t come down too hard on your children or you’ll crush their spirits.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:1-21‬ ‭MSG‬‬
http://bible.com/97/col.3.1-21.msg

Now, where do you require God's forgiveness? Where do you require the help of the Holy Spirit to change?

WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?

Jesus asked this question of his disciples after a confrontation with the Sadduces and Pharisees. Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
A few years ago, while traveling in northeastern Oklahoma in my motorhome some fellow RVer friends joined me for a visit. While visiting different towns in the area, the wife would see a street sign with a person's name and she would wonder aloud who the individual was or what he/she had accomplished to have the honor of a street being named for them. Sometimes I knew of the individual and knew why the street was named after this person but remained silent, fearful of providing the wrong information or appearing foolish.
This made me question, if the name "Jesus Christ" was on a street sign and someone asked who He was, what had He done to have a street named for Him, what would we answer? Would pride get in our way preventing us from providing any type of answer to the question. If Christ asked us, "Who do you say I am?" , what would we answer? Hopefully,  God will give each of us the confidence and boldness required so like Simon Peter we too will say, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

ARE YOU HUNGRY?

For several years I did cat-sitting for friends while they went on vacations. My friend once informed me,  “Sunny wouldn’t get any exercise if he didn’t have his canned food in the afternoon.” I quickly discovered what she meant. Starting around mid-morning, Sunny would begin gently asking for his canned food and he would progressively get more and more insistent the closer it came to his 3 p.m. feeding time.

At this time, my friends had two very comfortable leather easy chairs in their living room. When I wasn’t busy doing other things, I would sit in one as I worked on my computer or read.  As soon as I would sit, no matter what time in the morning it would be, Sunny would start his routine by jumping in my lap or in the chair beside me. In the early stages, Sunny would be satisfied with being petted and loved on. When he realized nothing was going to happen, he would jump down. A short time would pass and then, once again, Sunny would jump on my lap or beside me and again I would pet or love on him. When this method didn’t work, he would jump to the back of the chair and nudge me with his head. Next step was to sit beside me and lay his head on the side of my computer making it difficult to type. Seeing he was getting nowhere with that, he would move his head further onto the keyboard. Each time ended with him getting gently shooed away. The closer it was too feeding time, the more insistent his behavior until he was literally in my face.

I wonder what would happen if we were that insistent about asking God to feed us? How would it change our lives?  Psalm 42:1 tell us “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” Psalm 81:10 says, "I am the Lord your God who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouths and I will fill it." 

ARE YOU HUNGRY?

For several years I did cat-sitting for friends while they went on vacations. My friend once informed me,  “Sunny wouldn’t get any exercise if he didn’t have his canned food in the afternoon.” I quickly discovered what she meant. Starting around mid-morning, Sunny would begin gently asking for his canned food and he would progressively get more and more insistent the closer it came to his 3 p.m. feeding time.

At this time, my friends had two very comfortable leather easy chairs in their living room. When I wasn’t busy doing other things, I would sit in one as I worked on my computer or read.  As soon as I would sit, no matter what time in the morning it would be, Sunny would start his routine by jumping in my lap or in the chair beside me. In the early stages, Sunny would be satisfied with being petted and loved on. When he realized nothing was going to happen, he would jump down. A short time would pass and then, once again, Sunny would jump on my lap or beside me and again I would pet or love on him. When this method didn’t work, he would jump to the back of the chair and nudge me with his head. Next step was to sit beside me and lay his head on the side of my computer making it difficult to type. Seeing he was getting nowhere with that, he would move his head further onto the keyboard. Each time ended with him getting gently shooed away. The closer it was too feeding time, the more insistent his behavior until he was literally in my face.

I wonder what would happen if we were that insistent about asking God to feed us? How would it change our lives?  Psalm 42:1 tell us “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” Psalm 81:10 says, "I am the Lord your God who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouths and I will fill it." 

FISHERS OF MEN

The first people Jesus chooses to follow him are four fisherman: Peter, Andrew, James and John sons of Zebedee. Why fisherman rather than scholars of Scripture, people of stature and position, people qualified to better fulfill his ministry. Maybe Paul gives us a clue when he writes the Corinthinians and says, "But God chose the foolish things of this world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things to shame the strong. God chose the lowly and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him." Jesus called to Peter and Andrew and said "Follow me!" Then turned to James and John and again said, "Follow me!" Has He called to you, "Follow me"? How did you answer? Were you like me and said, "I want to Lord but I'm not qualified." Or, how about one of these reasons: I don't have the education, the degree, the experience, the whatever to complete the task You ask of me. Let me get the qualifications and then I'll follow You.
Maybe if we look at some of the characteristics of fishermen we may better understand why Jesus chose four to help in his ministry. Fishermen are patient. These fishermen spent hours throwing out their nets to catch fish. Even when their nets came up empty, they continued to cast them out again and again. They had a goal and they were steadfast until their goal was attained.
These fishermen were willing to alter there plans. They were not insistent on having their own way. After casting out their nets all night and catching no fish, Jesus asks Simon to take his boat and "put out a little from the shore" so He can speak to the masses that were following Him. Simon did so and in the process learned this was no ordinary man. This man was "special". After speaking to the crowd this man tells Simon (called Peter) to "Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch." To which Simon says, "Because you say so" and from that point on Simon was never the same. When Jesus said "Follow me!" Simon dropped everything. After witnessing these things Andrew, James and John dropped everything to follow this man. They were willing to change their plans and in doing so, there lives were never the same.
The characteristic I most admire is their excited anticipation and quiet confidence in the knowledge that "next time" they would achieve the goal they so greatly desired. As these fishermen walked with Jesus they acquired the knowledge, the experience, the tools they needed to accomplish the tasks Jesus put before them.
In observing these four fisherman, one can observe a few of the traits necessary in accomplishing the mission of "fishing for men". It becomes apparent Jesus is more interested in the person than wealth, power, education, criminal record, your past, or your present circumstances. Why? Because He knows when you drop everything and respond to His "Follow me" your life will be transformed from that day forward. You see, Jesus is in the transforming business. As Paul says to the Philippians, "...I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
Jesus is calling, "Follow me", will you drop everything and do what He asks? Whatever He is asking you to do He will give you the necessary tools to complete the task. I know firsthand. He has taken this lowly sinner with no degree in journalism or theology to spread the word that His love, His salvation, His grace, and His transformation are available to anyone.

FISHERS OF MEN

The first people Jesus chooses to follow him are four fisherman: Peter, Andrew, James and John sons of Zebedee. Why fisherman rather than scholars of Scripture, people of stature and position, people qualified to better fulfill his ministry. Maybe Paul gives us a clue when he writes the Corinthinians and says, "But God chose the foolish things of this world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things to shame the strong. God chose the lowly and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him." Jesus called to Peter and Andrew and said "Follow me!" Then turned to James and John and again said, "Follow me!" Has He called to you, "Follow me"? How did you answer? Were you like me and said, "I want to Lord but I'm not qualified." Or, how about one of these reasons: I don't have the education, the degree, the experience, the whatever to complete the task You ask of me. Let me get the qualifications and then I'll follow You.
Maybe if we look at some of the characteristics of fishermen we may better understand why Jesus chose four to help in his ministry. Fishermen are patient. These fishermen spent hours throwing out their nets to catch fish. Even when their nets came up empty, they continued to cast them out again and again. They had a goal and they were steadfast until their goal was attained.
These fishermen were willing to alter there plans. They were not insistent on having their own way. After casting out their nets all night and catching no fish, Jesus asks Simon to take his boat and "put out a little from the shore" so He can speak to the masses that were following Him. Simon did so and in the process learned this was no ordinary man. This man was "special". After speaking to the crowd this man tells Simon (called Peter) to "Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch." To which Simon says, "Because you say so" and from that point on Simon was never the same. When Jesus said "Follow me!" Simon dropped everything. After witnessing these things Andrew, James and John dropped everything to follow this man. They were willing to change their plans and in doing so, there lives were never the same.
The characteristic I most admire is their excited anticipation and quiet confidence in the knowledge that "next time" they would achieve the goal they so greatly desired. As these fishermen walked with Jesus they acquired the knowledge, the experience, the tools they needed to accomplish the tasks Jesus put before them.
In observing these four fisherman, one can observe a few of the traits necessary in accomplishing the mission of "fishing for men". It becomes apparent Jesus is more interested in the person than wealth, power, education, criminal record, your past, or your present circumstances. Why? Because He knows when you drop everything and respond to His "Follow me" your life will be transformed from that day forward. You see, Jesus is in the transforming business. As Paul says to the Philippians, "...I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
Jesus is calling, "Follow me", will you drop everything and do what He asks? Whatever He is asking you to do He will give you the necessary tools to complete the task. I know firsthand. He has taken this lowly sinner with no degree in journalism or theology to spread the word that His love, His salvation, His grace, and His transformation are available to anyone.

DEATH CAN BE LIFE

The week-end of June 11 and 12, 49 people started their day like any other day; I heard of a person who went to sleep one night totally expecting to wake up the next morning--he didn't. One person gave a concert fully expecting to return home. Forty-nine individuals decided to spend an evening of music and relaxation with the expectation of returning home. Fifty people didn't return home, one didn't wake up in the morning. The truth is most people believe when they wake in the morning they will see their bed that night; most people fall asleep believing they will wake the next morning. The attack in Orlando, Florida, is poignant to Americans because this is not the norm for life in these United States. In other parts of the world atrocities such as this is a daily occurrence.
My heart is heavily burdened for these peop le and for others facing these atrocities throughout the world. Every individual is and will be held accountable when the time comes for us to go before God. Some, like Mohammed Ali, believe if they are good-go to church on Easter, Christmas and a few Sunday's in between; donate clothes, money, even time-maybe God will allow them to enter heaven. The answer is NO. Many believe God, Jesus, the Bible is a huge fairy tale to keep the masses under control. The answer is NO. Unfortunately, our churches are filled with ones who are regular church attendees but are deaf and blind to what is spoken. For these people the answer is still NO.
The "good news" is out of death comes life. The song Glorious Day by Casting Crowns says it succinctly. Meditate on the message this song delivers:

One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwell among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day.

One day they led Him up Calvary's mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day.

If something happens to you before you slip between the blankets tonight, where will you spend eternity? What will you answer to God be when you meet Him face to face? You have a choice. You can choose His Son, Jesus Christ. You can make Him Ruler of your heart, mind, and soul. Ask Jesus to forgive you for your sins, ask Jesus to take up residence in your heart this very moment before your time is no more. Die to sin. Rise to eternal life. Out of death comes life, life everlasting.