Galatians 5:6
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."
Galatians 5:13-14
"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Matthew 22:36-40
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Philippians 2:3-4
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
The Obvious Thing To Do
I was going to make a point to stick to discoursing for a bit on grace, as it has taken time for it to start sinking in to both my head and heart. But I came across something along a different topic that I believe is relevant for today.
Many people may not like the current President, feeling his policies and and strategies will do more harm to the country rather than help. Even if that were the case, there is an obvious thing to do...
Pray.
I was reading in Jeremiah, but before I proceed, let me set the stage. Israel is in captivity. And the Lord is planning on keeping them there for a while. False prophets would tell the people, "very soon you will be liberated!" But the Lord told Jeremiah to tell the people the truth; they would be held captive for seventy years. As such, this is what the Lord told the people...
Jeremiah 29:4-7
4 This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."
Thankfully, I as an American am not finding myself in bondage to another nation; I am still in the most free country that I know of. But if the instruction for slaves and captives is to pray for their city, to pray for God to prosper where they live... how much more so should we do the same, who live in a free nation!
If the Lord prospers Knoxville, we will prosper. If the Lord prospers Tennessee, we will prosper. If the Lord prospers America, we will prosper... Even though I disagree with the policies of the President (certainly a captive would certainly disapprove of the nation holding them...), the obvious thing is to pray the Lord blesses and prospers our land.
The Lord told His people, in essence, "don't worry about the current state of things... keep growing in number. Build houses for yourselves, raise families and look forward to grandchildren. Don't let the current state of things keep you from continuing to increase! Rather realize that if I bless these cities that hold you, I will be blessing you too!" (Justin's Paraphrase)
So what to do about the current state of things... Sheila said it a while back at church... the saints need to be praying for the Lord to bless Knoxville! That is the will of the Lord. And it is also His will to pray for our leaders, which includes the President.
Sheila said it a while back, but I'm now seeing it myself. This is the will of God, to pray the Lord bless the President and our cities... And plus, it really does seem like the obvious thing to do.
Many people may not like the current President, feeling his policies and and strategies will do more harm to the country rather than help. Even if that were the case, there is an obvious thing to do...
Pray.
I was reading in Jeremiah, but before I proceed, let me set the stage. Israel is in captivity. And the Lord is planning on keeping them there for a while. False prophets would tell the people, "very soon you will be liberated!" But the Lord told Jeremiah to tell the people the truth; they would be held captive for seventy years. As such, this is what the Lord told the people...
Jeremiah 29:4-7
4 This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."
Thankfully, I as an American am not finding myself in bondage to another nation; I am still in the most free country that I know of. But if the instruction for slaves and captives is to pray for their city, to pray for God to prosper where they live... how much more so should we do the same, who live in a free nation!
If the Lord prospers Knoxville, we will prosper. If the Lord prospers Tennessee, we will prosper. If the Lord prospers America, we will prosper... Even though I disagree with the policies of the President (certainly a captive would certainly disapprove of the nation holding them...), the obvious thing is to pray the Lord blesses and prospers our land.
The Lord told His people, in essence, "don't worry about the current state of things... keep growing in number. Build houses for yourselves, raise families and look forward to grandchildren. Don't let the current state of things keep you from continuing to increase! Rather realize that if I bless these cities that hold you, I will be blessing you too!" (Justin's Paraphrase)
So what to do about the current state of things... Sheila said it a while back at church... the saints need to be praying for the Lord to bless Knoxville! That is the will of the Lord. And it is also His will to pray for our leaders, which includes the President.
Sheila said it a while back, but I'm now seeing it myself. This is the will of God, to pray the Lord bless the President and our cities... And plus, it really does seem like the obvious thing to do.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
My Thoughts Today - Response to Grace
For months now all Pastor Tim has been preaching and teaching is the doctrine of grace. Having heard nothing but that, my thoughts can't help but ponder what grace truly is and what it means in my life. Today, these have been my thoughts.
First, a definition. Grace is an undeserved gift; it is receiving something even though you haven't earned it or deserved it. More specifically, God's grace is His gift of His righteousness, given to us freely through faith in His Son. "God's love is demonstrated in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
How does one respond to such a gift? That God Himself would give His own life in order to buy our freedom...
To turn back to sin and live there shows this: a lack of appreciation or understanding of the gift given. "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free," not that we could continue to do as we please.
Picture this. Imagine a man in so much debt that he could never work his way out of it. He is without hope, without a job, without any resources... he has nothing in and of himself that could contribute to getting himself out of the hole he's in.
But in spite of this, a rich friend freely gives him enough money to pay his debt, and more so. How should the former debtor live? Surely not in such a way as to squander the extra money or to get into debt again. But the man does anyways... And again, the rich man pays the debt in full, and with extra money. And the debtor goes off and squanders it again... What would this say? That the debtor doesn't appreciate the gift of his friend. Or, that the man doesn't appreciate his friend, only his friend's money.
Do we show the same kind of unthankfulness, by trying to take advantage of grace? That we would continue to try to use the relationship with the Father as a means to enjoy sin more? That makes no sense whatsoever!! What great insult that must be to God when we only want to take advantage of his generosity!
So how then should we live? Thankfully.
Thankful for the life that Jesus Christ gave and the blood He spilt for our sins. Thankful that he paid our debt in full, once and for all! Thankful that we have been set free from sin, and set free to live for God. And thankfulness will not take a generous gift in vain, but with gratitude and love for the one who gave it.
I need to dwell further on the Cross of Christ, on the gift of the Father. To make myself feel guilty for my sins? No. But that I may come to better understand and appreciate all the Father has given me.
It has been in hindsight that I've come to appreciate my parents more and more for all their sacrifices. Here again, I will look back at the gift of Jesus Christ, and do it again, and love the Father even more for it.
First, a definition. Grace is an undeserved gift; it is receiving something even though you haven't earned it or deserved it. More specifically, God's grace is His gift of His righteousness, given to us freely through faith in His Son. "God's love is demonstrated in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
How does one respond to such a gift? That God Himself would give His own life in order to buy our freedom...
To turn back to sin and live there shows this: a lack of appreciation or understanding of the gift given. "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free," not that we could continue to do as we please.
Picture this. Imagine a man in so much debt that he could never work his way out of it. He is without hope, without a job, without any resources... he has nothing in and of himself that could contribute to getting himself out of the hole he's in.
But in spite of this, a rich friend freely gives him enough money to pay his debt, and more so. How should the former debtor live? Surely not in such a way as to squander the extra money or to get into debt again. But the man does anyways... And again, the rich man pays the debt in full, and with extra money. And the debtor goes off and squanders it again... What would this say? That the debtor doesn't appreciate the gift of his friend. Or, that the man doesn't appreciate his friend, only his friend's money.
Do we show the same kind of unthankfulness, by trying to take advantage of grace? That we would continue to try to use the relationship with the Father as a means to enjoy sin more? That makes no sense whatsoever!! What great insult that must be to God when we only want to take advantage of his generosity!
So how then should we live? Thankfully.
Thankful for the life that Jesus Christ gave and the blood He spilt for our sins. Thankful that he paid our debt in full, once and for all! Thankful that we have been set free from sin, and set free to live for God. And thankfulness will not take a generous gift in vain, but with gratitude and love for the one who gave it.
I need to dwell further on the Cross of Christ, on the gift of the Father. To make myself feel guilty for my sins? No. But that I may come to better understand and appreciate all the Father has given me.
It has been in hindsight that I've come to appreciate my parents more and more for all their sacrifices. Here again, I will look back at the gift of Jesus Christ, and do it again, and love the Father even more for it.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
The River is Here
Here are the lyrics to the first song on my playlist. I personally love it. I hope you find it most joyfully relaxing.
The River Is Here
Down the mountain the river flows
And it brings refreshing wherever it goes
Through the valleys and over the fields
The river is rushing and the river is here
The river of God sets our feet a-dancing
The river of God fills our hearts with cheer
The river of God fills our mouths with laughter
And we rejoice for the river is here
The river of God is teeming with life
And all who touch it can be revived
And those who linger on this river’s shore
Will come back thirsting for more of the Lord
Up to the mountain we love to go
To find the presence of the Lord
Along the banks of the river we run
We dance with laughter giving praise to the Son
The River Is Here
Down the mountain the river flows
And it brings refreshing wherever it goes
Through the valleys and over the fields
The river is rushing and the river is here
The river of God sets our feet a-dancing
The river of God fills our hearts with cheer
The river of God fills our mouths with laughter
And we rejoice for the river is here
The river of God is teeming with life
And all who touch it can be revived
And those who linger on this river’s shore
Will come back thirsting for more of the Lord
Up to the mountain we love to go
To find the presence of the Lord
Along the banks of the river we run
We dance with laughter giving praise to the Son
Saturday, June 6, 2009
My Thinking Is Turned Upside Down
Before I say what is on my mind, I must begin with this. I, by nature, am a teacher. Furthermore, I also love to learn. It's just a part of me. But what is never all that lovable is having to back-track and re-learn things.
You may ask, "Re-learn what kinds of things?" And if you didn't just ask that, I will answer that particular question anyways.
Growing up, I was always taught, "Jesus fulfilled the law; he never abolished it." But now I am beginning to re-think that statement.
The first part is clear; Jesus fulfilled all the requirements for righteousness found in the law. And that I believe with all my heart. His fulfillment of the law and death on the cross is my only means of obtaining righteousness; and I have received it. But now that I have been made righteous in the sight of God through faith in Jesus, what about the law? Here's what Paul wrote to the church...
Col. 2:13-14 "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross."
What is the written code? Isn't that the law, given to men by God through Moses?
What does it mean to be canceled? It has been done away with. It is nullified. On what grounds? The cross of Christ; through Christ all of our trespasses are forgiven, and the written code condemns us no longer if we are found in Christ.
What was I taught was Jesus fulfilled the law, but the law is very necessary. But what I find is that Jesus fulfilled the law, and canceled it and all its requirements. Why? So I could be free to live however I choose? No. Rather, that I may live for God, knowing He has already made me righteous in His sight through His own blood. And this is true freedom, not living for my own pleasures. But I am free to grow in my relationship with God without worrying about my standing with Him. And I'm loving it.
You may ask, "Re-learn what kinds of things?" And if you didn't just ask that, I will answer that particular question anyways.
Growing up, I was always taught, "Jesus fulfilled the law; he never abolished it." But now I am beginning to re-think that statement.
The first part is clear; Jesus fulfilled all the requirements for righteousness found in the law. And that I believe with all my heart. His fulfillment of the law and death on the cross is my only means of obtaining righteousness; and I have received it. But now that I have been made righteous in the sight of God through faith in Jesus, what about the law? Here's what Paul wrote to the church...
Col. 2:13-14 "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross."
What is the written code? Isn't that the law, given to men by God through Moses?
What does it mean to be canceled? It has been done away with. It is nullified. On what grounds? The cross of Christ; through Christ all of our trespasses are forgiven, and the written code condemns us no longer if we are found in Christ.
What was I taught was Jesus fulfilled the law, but the law is very necessary. But what I find is that Jesus fulfilled the law, and canceled it and all its requirements. Why? So I could be free to live however I choose? No. Rather, that I may live for God, knowing He has already made me righteous in His sight through His own blood. And this is true freedom, not living for my own pleasures. But I am free to grow in my relationship with God without worrying about my standing with Him. And I'm loving it.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
June is here, and so am I
Welcome back Justin!
May has passed, with all of its glories, and now my mind is returning to me.
I'll go ahead and admit it. Sometimes I tend to have a proud streak. Before the wedding, everyone told me that it would all be a blur. I believed them, partially. Surely I'd be able to remember more than they say... But June is here, and I do believe I hardly remember the month of May.
But that is just fine with me! I am now happily (very happily) married to the love of my life, and we are starting our new adventure together. I couldn't be happier, having reached this stage in my journey with the Lord. This is part of the journey with the Lord.
Right now I am still in school and I work at Chick-fil-a. Hannah lost her job earlier this year before the wedding, so we're still waiting for the Lord to bring the right job for her. It really is a time of faith and growth for the both of us, together. But I wouldn't have it any other way. We are exactly where the Lord wants us.
Sure, we could have waited for me to be totally done with school, or waited til Hannah had the job she wanted. But that's just not where we're supposed to be. The time to get married was May 15th, and my beautiful bride was given to me by her parents. (Thank you thank you thank you!!)
So May flew by, June is here, and I am very excited two and a half weeks into our journey.
==================================================================================
Also, I want to say thank you to our many family members for the beautiful wedding (note, Harvest Church is family; we are blessed with a very large family). We couldn't have done it without you. We are still being blessed by the generosity of everyone.
May has passed, with all of its glories, and now my mind is returning to me.
I'll go ahead and admit it. Sometimes I tend to have a proud streak. Before the wedding, everyone told me that it would all be a blur. I believed them, partially. Surely I'd be able to remember more than they say... But June is here, and I do believe I hardly remember the month of May.
But that is just fine with me! I am now happily (very happily) married to the love of my life, and we are starting our new adventure together. I couldn't be happier, having reached this stage in my journey with the Lord. This is part of the journey with the Lord.
Right now I am still in school and I work at Chick-fil-a. Hannah lost her job earlier this year before the wedding, so we're still waiting for the Lord to bring the right job for her. It really is a time of faith and growth for the both of us, together. But I wouldn't have it any other way. We are exactly where the Lord wants us.
Sure, we could have waited for me to be totally done with school, or waited til Hannah had the job she wanted. But that's just not where we're supposed to be. The time to get married was May 15th, and my beautiful bride was given to me by her parents. (Thank you thank you thank you!!)
So May flew by, June is here, and I am very excited two and a half weeks into our journey.
==================================================================================
Also, I want to say thank you to our many family members for the beautiful wedding (note, Harvest Church is family; we are blessed with a very large family). We couldn't have done it without you. We are still being blessed by the generosity of everyone.
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