No, You May NOT Sin to Glorify God

Romans 3:1-8 is the Biblical answer to those who want to blame God for their sins or those who want to say they didn't have the opportunity that someone else may have had to know God. Our unrighteousness serves to show God's righteousness. If our sin leads to the glory of God and His righteousness, it doesn't mean that sin is okay or that the sin itself glorified God. It's the fact that sin can point to other attributes of God's righteousness and holiness. We will still pay the consequences for our sins and without Christ we would die for eternity in Hell.

I think this section of scripture is for people who are more philosophical than I am. I can't really get my mind to think that God is responsible for sin. I can agree that He allows it. I can agree that He orchestrates events that lead men to sin and that he uses man's sins to bring glory to Himself and work out His will and plan. But God is holy, perfect, pure. He does not sin and does not allow sin in His presence. Sin points to how complete and perfect His holiness and righteousness are. Sin also allows us to understand His mercy, grace, and love.

Praise God for His Righteousness.

Live As God Desires, Not As You Do

Romans 2:14 -29 needs to be read. It's hard to break down into my own words, so I'm going to broadly explain it. This section of scripture talks about Jews and Gentiles. I'm going to talk about it as though it is all men because the gospel is for all men. Gentiles did not have the law and Jews did. But salvation doesn't come from knowing the law. Men who live as the law requires become a law unto themselves. On judgment day, God will judge the secrets of men. Men who do have the law often preach it and talk about it but don't live it themselves. Verse 23, "You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law."

Don't be a hypocrite! Don't claim to know God's law and then live the opposite way. YIKES!!!! I need God's hand in this. I am nothing but a hypocrite. I am realizing more and more that my life is being wasted. I'm not a light in this dark world. I make things even darker with my life and methods of living. I desperately need God to rule my life, my thoughts, my actions. Only giving myself over to God fully can effect the changes I need to make. Only God can effect that change.

"God, You are Holy. You are Righteous. You are Perfect. You are Pure. You are The Judge. God, I need forgiveness of sins. I need You in my life. I need Your hand on my heart, and I need one over my mouth. I need You to fill all my thoughts and control all my actions. I am desperate for You to rule in my life every minute, every day. Fill me with Your Spirit. Mold me into the man You desire me to be. Use me to draw people to Your amazing grace. Grant me patience, grace, humility, and LOVE. Give me a love for people and a longing to lead them to Your grace."

Pardon the Interruption

Man, I'm having a hard time writing these days. It's not from lack of trying. But I can't seem to make sense with what I'm trying to write.

I have to find a different time to try and write. Sorry, this blog is struggling lately. Bare with me as I try to figure out what to do.

God's Judgement and the Law

I've written two updates to my last prayer request and not posted them. But I can't seem to move on with my devotions without saying something. So, ask me in a private email and I'll tell you all about it.

Romans 2:12-13 talks about judgment and the law. The Jews had the law (plus another set of traditions they had to follow), and the Gentiles didn't have the law, as they were not God's chosen people. But Christ saved both Jews and Gentiles according to their faith in Him. At judgment, we are going to be judged not on whether we heard the law and knew it, but rather if we lived the law and did what the law requires. Now, the law in this case is God's moral law or the ten commandments. Those people who had access to it, both Jews and some Gentiles, will be judged based on there knowledge of the law. Those who did not have access to the law will be judged on the actions of their heart, as God has revealed His truths to all in nature. We, here in America, know the 10 commandments pretty well, as this our country was founded on similar principals and by spiritual people. This was, and still is, a Christian country.

Exodus 20
The Ten Commandments
1And God spoke all these words, saying,
2"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3"You shall have no other gods before me.
4"You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
8"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
13"You shall not murder.
14"You shall not commit adultery.
15"You shall not steal.
16"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17"You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s."

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Remember these commandments apply today too. After reading them, I feel convicted.

Praise God for the Law.
Praise God for His Righteous Judgment.
Praise God for His Grace.

A Prayer Request - 2

Today I have a meeting with the Captain of the jail. It's not necessarily about "getting my job back" but it has more to do with figuring out what happened and trying to learn from that. He was kind enough to set a meeting with me to discuss what happened and what I need to do for the future. Obviously I still miss that line of work and would like to be there again, but this is just the beginning of trying to figure out what went so wrong.

I ask that you pray that God reveals His will for my life in the meeting today. I'd love to know what direction to head in. If it's with the bank, I need help in enjoying my job. If there's something I can do with law enforcement, I would like to feel confident in that. And, if God has another plan for my life, pray that He reveals it to me. I want to do God's will. I want to live a life that is pleasing to Him. However I can do that best with my career, I need God's help in knowing where that is.

For now, enjoy this Psalm sent to me by a friend. It fits with the Romans study and is an old testament look at God's character with similar wickedness. God never changes.

Psalm 73
BOOK THREE
God Is My Strength and Portion Forever
A Psalm of Asaph.
1Truly God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
2But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
my steps had nearly slipped.
3For I was envious of the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4For they have no pangs until death;
their bodies are fat and sleek.
5They are not in trouble as others are;
they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.
6Therefore pride is their necklace;
violence covers them as a garment.
7Their eyes swell out through fatness;
their hearts overflow with follies.
8They scoff and speak with malice;
loftily they threaten oppression.
9They set their mouths against the heavens,
and their tongue struts through the earth.
10Therefore his people turn back to them,
and find no fault in them.
11And they say, "How can God know?
Is there knowledge in the Most High?"
12Behold, these are the wicked;
always at ease, they increase in riches.
13All in vain have I kept my heart clean
and washed my hands in innocence.
14For all the day long I have been stricken
and rebuked every morning.
15If I had said, "I will speak thus,"
I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
16But when I thought how to understand this,
it seemed to me a wearisome task,
17until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then I discerned their end.
18Truly you set them in slippery places;
you make them fall to ruin.
19How they are destroyed in a moment,
swept away utterly by terrors!
20Like a dream when one awakes,
O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.
21When my soul was embittered,
when I was pricked in heart,
22I was brutish and ignorant;
I was like a beast toward you.
23Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
24You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
25Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
28But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.

God's Righteous Judgment - Part 2

Today's passage is a little toned down from yesterday. Romans 2:6-11 begins by telling us God will "render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, He will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury." I first thought "seek for glory and honor and immortality" sounded a little like searching for self gratifying things. But after reading further and seeing that self-seeking people are going to receive wrath and fury, I looked harder at what it meant to seek glory and honor and immortality. It is so important to put the whole thing into perspective with the rest of God's Word and the context of the passage. First, we know that salvation is not by works but by faith and the grace of God's calling. So, those who are believers by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality. The only true glory and honor is Heaven in the presence of God for eternity as immortals. We must seek that out. Otherwise, we would live as unbelievers, self-seeking and not obeying the truth. And from that comes wrath and fury...Hell.

Verse 9 "There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil..." Verse 10 "but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good."

God is great and judges without partiality. He is our great God and Creator. Honor Him with your life.

Praise God for His Word.

God's Righteous Judgment - Part 1

So far Romans has been a wake-up call. Today it get plain scary. Chapter 2 starts by telling us that we have no excuse for our sin. We pass judgment on others when we are involved in the same sins. If we think back to the list from my last entry on God's Wrath, we all fall into sins listed in Romans 1:28-31. And we all pass judgment on someone else and that/those persons' sin. If it seemed as though I was passing judgment on homosexuals in the past few blog entries, although homosexuality is a sin and is wrong, it is no worse than the sin I commit. In the same passages about dishonest passions and homosexuality, comes the list of things Paul said are decreed by God to lead to death. "They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless." Envy, deceit, gossip, slander, haughty, boastful, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. There's a list of sins proving I'm deserving of death, yet I pass judgment on others and their sin.

That's why I said chapter 2 is "plain scary." Verses 3-4 says, "Do you suppose, O man - you who judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself - that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" I think far too many "Christians" presume on the riches of God's kindness, forbearance, and patience. I think too often we use the, "my sins are forgiven" card and allow ourselves to continue in sin. WE WHO LIVE WITH HARD, IMPENITENT HEARTS STORE UP WRATH FOR OURSELVES ON THE DAY OF WRATH, WHEN GOD'S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT WILL BE REVEALED. That's a paraphrase of verse 5, but it's a wake up call to think that I sin, but pass judgment on others and their sin, to make myself look as though I'm better. If we are not broken over our own sin, we are probably not saved. If we remain in a life of sin, we are probably not saved. And without brokenness, without turning from sin, we are storing up wrath and on that day of judgment where We will hear, "depart from me, I never knew you." STOP living a lie. Turn from all your sin and lean on God. Realize God's patience and kindness is given for a time, to lead you to repentance. God's judgment will fall on those who do not turn from their own sin, but instead, sit back in judgment of others.

Praise God for His Patience and Kindness.

Dinner Train Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from the Sacramento Dinner Train.

Before you book your trip, talk to me in private.

Happy Thanksgiving

I should try to write something very spiritual about how we have so much to be thankful for in Christ. But I'm leaving to go on a train ride and spend Thanksgiving with my little family on a Choo-choo (as Caleb would say).

So Happy Thanksgiving.

I Keep Saying This

I know I've said this before, but once in a while I read my own blogs to see if I made any sense and I see huge errors. There are a lot of errors in my blog entries. I'm not super smart. It's early. I don't proof read. I just type my thoughts, hit the "post" button, and go.

Please excuse the errors and try to understand the points I'm trying to make. Don't judge my entries based on the grammar, typos, and spelling issues. Be encouraged to study hard, know God, and glorify Him with your life.

Here's a video my dad likes. It's pretty cool. The Names of God.

God's Wrath - Part 5, Conclusion

"And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done." Romans 1:28

And now Romans 1:29-31 gives a list of some of the things a debased mind is involved in. "They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless." I can't really do anything to make this more clear. If you are involved in anything on this list, it's time to really look at your life. And, I'm sure we all are struggling with at least one thing. I remember hearing this passage when I was in high school. It was funny to me that a list with "haters of God," also had "disobedient to parents."

I look at where our society is right now, and it is a scary thing. This list almost defines our society. People live exactly this list. Envy, covetousness, gossip, slander, haters of God, boastful, faithless, heartless, these are all things I see and hear everyday. The whole list is lived by people I come in contact with. Or I'm struggling with it. The last verse of this wrath section says, v32 "Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." All we do is justify each other with approving statements. IF someone wrongs you, you look to others for approval to wrong them back. Instead of forgiveness and love, attributes God requires, we try to get even. We always want what's "fair".

What's fair? Do we really want what's fair? I don't think so. We want what benefits us. Look at Matt 20 and the vineyard grower parable to see how we don't want what's fair but are selfish and want what benefits us. Because "fair" for us would be Hell. We all deserve Hell. Only by God's grace do we receive salvation and Heaven. God gave some over to their debased minds to satisfy His wrath. He can not allow sin into Heaven. He can not even look on sin or allow it in His presence. God is Holy. God is Righteous. God is Perfect. God is the Judge. Guess what's coming in the next verses. God's Righteous Judgment. YIKES!!!!

We will get into the judgment that is coming from God in the next verses but to conclude my "God's Wrath" series, I want to recap in just a few words. God's wrath is real. It is revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness of men. All mankind can see the invisible attributes of God in nature. But man rejects that knowledge and creates his own images to worship. God gives some over to that lust and the dishonorable passions. This leads to more sin, shameless acts, unnatural acts, a debased mind. And man continues these sins and gives approval for it to each other. Without God, sin continues and grows. Mankind IS hopeless without God.

Something I've been thinking about through this wrath study, God giving people over to sin sounds like He doesn't love those people and it seems to go against the grace of God. On the contrary, God's grace is realized by understanding the level of depravity that is in all mankind. Without God, when men are given over to sin, we see that they do not make better choices without God. Mankind sinks further into disgusting horrible sin without God. Look at that list. So much filth and evilness is a result of man's desire to do things without God. Our society slips further and further away from God and true righteousness. The battle going here in California over Prop 8 (the right for gays to marry) is just a small example of that. San Francisco tried to pass a bill to legalize prostitution. Marijuana is practically legal these days. Our society is slipping further away from God's demand for righteousness.

Without God's grace we can not avoid sin. We so often think we can do things on our own, but look at what our society is becoming. And this country started with a strong Christian belief. How quickly man's sin has turned this country so horribly wrong. We Christians need to be working so much harder in our lives to stand out as lights in this dark world. All to often we blend right in. Do your co-workers know you are saved? Do they want the joy you have that only God's grace provides? Can they see you are complete because you are living your life to glorify the true and living God? I'm afraid it's a big NO for me. We must make that our life's goal. We are the method God uses to spread the gospel. Only God can save, but we are His messengers of hope.

Praise God for He is Holy, Righteous, Perfect, Grace.
Praise God for the Perfect Hope we have in Him.

God's Wrath - Part 4

Sin would literally destroy the world without common grace from God. But God's wrath must be satisfied too. And God does give people over to the desires of their hearts and the sins that really do consume them. As we suppress the truth of God and worship things created instead of the Creator, God wrath is released on the unrighteousness of man, as He gives some over to their "dishonorable passions." Romans 1:26-27 begins to tell us of where sin takes people who turn from God's grace. "...Women exchange natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for on another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error."

Sex is the next best thing to God. And when sex doesn't fill the emptiness in a persons life that only God can, they continue to seek it out. Some are given over to the lust and passions, and seek for that satisfaction in homosexual relationships. God is NOT okay with this. HE is what should be sought out to fill any void in our lives. John Piper talks to this in this video; not to the homosexual part, but He tells us that God is greater than sex.

This was a video I saw on Reckless Raging Fury. Thanks Jarrett.

I can only speculate that when it says, "and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error," Paul was referring to STDs and other illnesses. God's wrath must be satisfied when we sin. So, those that do not repent are given over to that sin. Ultimately, they will pay an eternal price for denying God.

But God is love too. And God provided a way of escape from sins eternal penalty. Jesus' death on the cross provided that way. We can all turn from our sin and live in the grace God gives. Even those who are given over to their dishonorable passions can know the grace of God by repenting and turning from their sin.

Praise God for His Grace.

A Prayer Request

I don't really like putting this kind of request up on the WWW, but I feel like it's an important thing that I desperately need God's guidance in. I've been told to re-apply to my old job as a deputy for the county. I would have to go through the field training portion, a 4 month patrol training period. I would have 18 months of probation, putting me at risk of easily being terminated under the flag of "probationary employee." And more importantly I'd be burning the bridge with the bank, at least the bridge with the current bosses. The job also has elements that I am very unsure of. If I was truly a Godly man, leading my family, witnessing to my co-workers and customers, and trusting God with everything, I could probably handle the job and the elements that I didn't enjoy before. But in my weak faith, I'm not sure I would be able to handle the duties of a deputy the way God would have me do them.

Writing this blog might even come up in background again, and it may show weakness rather than the desire to do what God would have me do. That's not my point. I do believe God gave me the skills, intelligence, and common sense to be a cop. But I need the spiritual maturity to do it the way He would have me do it. I want to glorify Him in whatever job I'm in. Whether it's at the bank still, or I pursue the deputy job again, I want to start glorifying God with my life. I want those around me to be positively affected by the light I shine on the truth.

So the request is: I want God's direction in my life and how I can best glorify Him with it. Do I pursue the job with the sheriff's office do I stay at the bank and continue to work through the positions and duties there? And, pray that in everything I glorify God with my life. Pray that sin is absolutely removed from my life, so that I can be used by God every day.

God's Wrath - Part 3

I'm sure this whole section I'm calling "God's Wrath" is something that could be more easily gone through as one quick read through, but that's not how I'm doing it because I want to focus on each of the verses in this section more closely.

Verse 24 of chapter 1 begins with "therefore." It ties the previous verses to the next few. 24-25 tell us because man turned from trust and glorifying God to that of the images resembling man and birds and animals and reptiles, "God gave them up in the lust of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!"

This is the scary part of it for me too. I so often turn from the truth of God and believe I can handle this life and it's problems and situations on my own. Yesterday at church, our pastor talked about this. He said if you think you've got this life handled, you better have the next one figured out too. If God is not the one you have placed on the throne of your life, your not going to be with Him in heaven in the next. If we don't trust Him now, why would be enjoy Him in eternity?

It is time to realize that God is the only one who can answer every question and solve every problem in our lives. God is the only one to be praised. He is the immortal God of glory, the Creator. We should always work to glorify Him. He is our salvation from the sins that disqualify us from heaven. Romans tells us in 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Be through faith we receive the gift of God's Son Jesus, as the sacrifice for sin, so that we may know God and enter into His kingdom. Do not ignore God. Do not worship the created rather than the Creator. Do not long for things of this world, but those of the next. Glorify God with this life so that you may enjoy Him forever in Heaven in the next.

Praise God the Creator.

God's Warth - Part 2

Warth is one of those things that we as humans really have a hard time doing without sinning or without being selfish is some capacity. God, on the other hand has full perfection in His wrath; wrath without sin. God is without sin.

Romans 1:21-23 starts to explain why God's wrath needs to be satisfied and what mankind does or doesn't do that leads to God's just wrath. Again, I'm just going to insert the verse here because I can't say it any better or clearer than it's said in this text. "For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles."

When we do not do what we were created to, which is to honor God and praise and glorify Him, we call down His wrath. When we worship man made things, TV, cars, money, beauty, sports, music, possessions, positions, accomplishments, we exchange the glory of the immortal God for things with no value at all. We reject the true and living God and turn to things we consider tangible. What foolish people we are. And it gets worse. God gives us over to the futility of our minds.

Praise God for His Immortal Glory.

God's Wrath - Part 1

We all know the truth. I believe every man knows the truth. Even the ones living in the jungle, far away from our westernized world, they know the truth about God. God's wrath is revealed against all ungodliness and the unrighteousness of men, "who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." The truth is suppress. It doesn't say they don't know the truth. This is Romans 1:18 and verse 19-20 go on to explain this even more.

"For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. They are without excuse."

God shows Himself in His creation. His eternal power and divine nature are perceived in the things he made. And the scariest part of this is, "They are without excuse." We are without excuse. It is the unrighteousness and the ungodliness that reveals the wrath of the known God. And the more unrighteous, ungodly, sinful our life and life style, the more suppressed that knowledge of God is. I know when I'm not reading the Bible and studying God's word, I become lazy and apathetic in my relationship with God. And as time goes on and I get further and further into my own things, I begin to suppress the knowledge I have. I begin to suppress the knowledge of what God demands from my life as a believer.

God's wrath is not a joke. The end result of it is death eternally in Hell, where pain and suffering are going to be so far beyond what we can even imagine here. And, total separation from God is going to be void of even common grace that everyone experiences here on earth. That alone is going to be a horrible loss. We must work so hard to grow in our knowledge and relationship with God. We must work hard to help others know Him.

Praise God for the Revealing Power of His Creation.

God's Wrath - Intro

I don't really know what keeps happening in the mornings but I can't seem to make time for my devotions. I'm actually really frustrated with myself. And today's passage is too deep and impacting for me to just blow through in 10 minutes of writing.

God's wrath is a scary thing. It's something that most churches aren't talking about. I'd love to have a pastor teach on the next several verses in Romans. Paul opens up a fairly detailed account of some real world sins and struggles we a face or see in our society today. The Romans and the church at Rome were involved in things that we are seeing people fall into today.

Romans 1:18 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." God's wrath is real, and it is going to continue to be revealed in the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.

Just a question, have you thought about the "rights" of gays in our society? Prop 8 in California is still in the news right now. That was a prop where a "yes" vote would stop gay marriage in CA. Without getting political, because that's not my point in this, from a spiritual stand point, have you thought about what rights gays should have? Should they have rights? Spiritually speaking, they are sinners living in sin. Verse 26 is going to show us that God "gave them up to dishonorable passions." And there are penalties for these acts.

We can not justify sin or begin to accept it. I do believe that God is love as well, (read all about his grace in my Ephesians entries) but God's wrath must be satisfied too. Sin is wrong and the wages for it is death. There is the gift of God, salvation. But without a turning from the sinful life, there is not hope but death eternally in Hell.

Praise God for His Grace and the Gift of Salvation that comes from hearing and believing.

Righteous Shall Live by Faith

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16 is a familiar verse to many Christians. But it really is a powerful verse that sums up salvation. The gospel, which is Christ's life, death, and resurrection, is the power of God for salvation to those you believe. Believing something that you did not witness with your own eyes takes faith. And verse 17 goes on to tell us "the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith..." which took me a minute to understand. From faith God's righteousness is revealed, giving more faith. From faith comes more faith as we see God's righteousness revealed (I know that's the same sentence worded in different order but it helps me). The verse ends with a reference to Habakkuk 2:4 "The righteous shall live by faith." If we are to be righteous or called righteous, we must place our faith in God.

I think I might have skipped over the first part of this passage too quickly. I just re-read the verse I started this blog with, and I can't help think that sometimes I act and live as though I am ashamed of the gospel. I live to much like the world and not anything like Jesus Christ, my Savior and the ultimate example we have to follow. Too often I suppress my knowledge of God's word and follow the desires of my sinful heart. This is so scary. Being ashamed of the gospel means my faith in the power of God is so weak that I think my human strengths are enough to get me through any situation I face. How foolish. And God, in all His wisdom, continues to prove to me I desperately need Him. He draws me back to Him as his child. I really need to get my faith together. I wanted to say "act together" but it better not be an act. Faith in so important. Knowing God has the power to save and the power to help and the revealing power to make me righteous through faith, is the answer to living a life worth of His calling. By faith I am saved. By God's power I am made righteous.

Praise God for His Power.

Where is Your Ministry?

Romans is an interesting book. I've read through the first few chapters before, and I know what's ahead. Paul drops the hammer on the church and Rome and sin surrounding them. But Paul is really good at first reminding the churches he writes that he loves them and misses them and wants to come see them. Romans 1:8-15 is exactly that. Paul longs to go to Rome but he can't make it because of other ministry things...that or another prison sentence.

He does point out some fundamental things. Paul is ALWAYS praying for the church at Rome, and praying that he can go to Rome to strength them through spiritual gifts and to be encouraged by them. This is one of the reasons God designed churches for believers. We need that encouragement and strengthening through the Word. The life of a Christian is not an easy one. Prayer and accountability, encouragement and continued study of God's Word are important parts of a healthy Christian life. Paul's love for his fellow believers was something we all should have for our Christian brothers and sisters. We should be in prayer for them, longing to impart wisdom and knowledge of God's truth to each other, and helping one another in times of struggle.

God's Word is powerful; Paul's ministry, it was an example of true sacrifice to God. For the first time, that word sacrifice made sense in a different way just now. I think about men who go to war. They purposely place themselves into dangerous situations where life is not comfortable, safe, or easy. They do it for no glory of their own but for their country. How much more discomfort, harm, and difficulty should we as Christians face in this short life for the glory of God. There is a GREAT reward for us; an eternal one. Heaven with the Creator is going to be a reward beyond understanding. John couldn't even describe it in Revelations in a way we could understand. This short life is nothing. We should be sacrificing everything here for God's glory, and gain that great reward later for eternity.

I'm 32. That's the age of Jesus when his ministry was strongest. Where is my ministry? Where are the people I've affected for God? Where is the church I'm longing to go and service as well as be encouraged by? Now is the time, today is the day, to live life to glorify God. I want to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant." I've earned, "Depart from me, I never knew you." That is so scary.

Praise God that His grace is sufficient for me.

Romans, Paul's Long Intro

December of 2005, Lisa and I went on a cruise with some friends. While on the cruise I started a study of the book of Romans. When I got back from the trip I intended to start posting my notes from that study. Here we are almost 2 years later and I haven't done that. I'm not even sure where those notes went. So, I will start fresh today. But first, a few reminders about this blog: It's a journal of my thoughts on something I'm reading, it's a random spilling out of those thoughts that my not always make sense or flow nicely, there are probably spelling and grammar errors because I don't re-proof my work, it's my attempts at understanding what I read better so add your comments.

Romans 1:1-7 starts in a similar why to all of Paul's letters. Paul starts by acknowledging his understanding that he is a servant or bondservant meaning slave to Christ Jesus, as he was called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God. He realized that he was nothing without that calling to salvation through Jesus, which God promised us through His prophets in the Old Testament. And he believed the accuracy of the OT and that Jesus was in fact God because He did come through the line of David as was prophesized, and He did rise from the dead by the power of God. Paul goes on to explain that through Jesus comes the grace and apostleship or membership in His family to go out and spread the news of His grace. All this was done for God's glory. He called us to Himself to belong to Him.

How awesome to be so confident in God's grace. Paul closes the greeting to the church at Rome with his standard, "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

So far, Ephesians and now Romans seem to talk about grace in a huge way. I fear that I don't realize the extent of God's grace for me and allow myself to get discouraged in my faith. Instead of feeling unsatisfied with my life due to sin, I need to work harder to realize God's grace is there because I can't earn salvation. I can't earn His favor, but he gives it to me because He loves me.

Praise God for His Grace.

The Ephesians Sign-off

Ephesians 6:21-24 is Paul's closing the the people of Ephesus. He tells them he's sending Tychicus to tell them about how Paul and his ministry are going, and so he can encourage them. Paul then concludes with "Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love out Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible."

We have no idea of the battles Paul and the early church faced. We have the freedom worship God. We have established churches where we can go together and corporately gather to learn from God's word, praise God with fellow believers, and grow in faith. Paul offers comforting words to the church at Ephesus to encourage them to continue in their faith. He offers them peace and love with faith from Jesus. He reminds them of the grace that comes from the love of Jesus and how incorruptible that love is.

Praise God for His Son.
Praise God for His Grace.

The Armor of God

The armor of God is one of those "christian summer camp" things that I remember learning from Ephesians 6:13-20. We had to memorize the different pieces of armor and why Paul paired certain piece of armor with the specific attribute of God's strength. We learned that most of these pieces were defensive pieces except the sword which has become synonymous for the Word of God. In a list here are the parts:

Belt of Truth
Breastplate of Righteousness
Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
Shield of Faith
Helmet of Salvation
Sword of the Spirit

The interesting thing that I don't remember from this passage is verse 18-20 which continue from the same thought in my Bible's translation. It says, "praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplications. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me (Paul), that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I out to speak." Part of the armor to "withstand in the evil day" is prayer; prayers for our needs, for the words to say, for boldness to proclaim the truth of God.

And now I'm out of time. Darn.

Praise God for His Armor, the protection we need from Satan and the evil day.

Be Strong in the Lord, in the Strength of His Might

I actually spoke to a friend yesterday about how I felt like God did hear my cries for help lately. He reminded me that I can't allow feelings to run my life or my relationship with God. I have to rely on truth and knowledge. How true. Feelings are easily affected by situations or circumstances. And Satan would love for us to be easily persuaded to feel like God wasn't listening to our prayers.

Today, I returned to my study in Ephesians and I picked up right where I left off in chapter 6. Verse 10-11 start, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." Verse 12 goes on to tell us we don't wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, powers over this present darkness, against spiritual forces of evil.

We are fighting something that is so powerful that the Bible calls it the ruler and authority over this present darkness. But we have the strength in the Lord our God. The schemes of the devil can only be thwarted by the strength of our God. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 says, "For the weapons of out warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete."

Praise God for His Word.
Praise God for the knowledge gained from His Word.

Work As Though It's For God

Ephesians 6:5-9 is quickly summed up by saying, "work hard at your job." I feel like I do that. I've always been known as a hard worker, a good employee. But I think there is a level I don't work at that this passage points to. I work to "please people." I work to please my bosses and the customers. I don't work as a "servant of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord."

We need to be working as though we are working and serving God. Our mind set need to be that we are doing our best for God not man. Work hard. But work for God. Don't work to please man so you can get that raise or promotion. Work to please God and glorify Him with your hard work and great performance.

Praise God for His Leadership.

I Want to be a Good Dad and Son

As a parent and a son, the next section of Ephesians takes on two meanings for me. The relationship of parents and children is a unique picture of our relationship with God. At face value Ephesians 6:1-4 is mainly about the human relationship. Children are to obey and honor their parents. And Fathers are to bring their children up in discipline and instruction of the Lord without provoking them to anger. But there is more.

God makes a promise to us that if we honor our parents we will live long and prosper (Sorry, I worded it that way because I'm a huge Star Trek fan, which I actually watched all the time with my dad). God also instructs fathers to raise their children with discipline in a Godly home. But, this is really a picture of the rewards of being a child of God. By living a life of obedience to God we will understand and live a life of joy and happiness based on the understanding that all we do and go through and experience is for His glory and the furtherance of His kingdom. There is nothing better than obeying God and honoring Him with our lives.

I do want to mention my dad. After all, I mentioned my mom in a past entry and it seems only fair to mention my dad. He is a quiet person; slow to anger and quick to listen. Although my sister and I did make him mad at times and we were disciplined, I NEVER thought he reacted out of anger. I always knew that his discipline was deserved and necessary for the wrong we'd done. I was spanked for things and I had things taken away or suspended, but it was always explained to me in love and patience and concern for my life. My dad raised my sister and I to understand our responsibility as Christians and as adults participating in life. We both still call him for advice and help in times of struggle, and we know he will listen and always turn us back to the Word of God. I actually find it amazing how much of the Bible he knows by memory and understands to explain and apply to any situation. He also set a good example for us in how to glorify God in the things we do. Sometimes I still wish I could be under his rule and guidance more. I often feel I was held more accountable for my actions and I was less likely to make bad choices. I know that he would say God is always watching and the Spirit is guiding, but I do love my parents and the way they brought us up.

Praise God for My Parents.
Praise God our Father.

Husbands, Love Your Wives, as Christ Loved the Church

Again with the commands that seem impossible. Ephesians 5:25-33 is a long discription of how Christ is the ultimate example for husbands in how to love their wives. Not that I don't want to love my wife this much, but I don't think humans have the capacity for the amount of love shown by Christ. Although, I'd say I would die for my wife, I'm not sure it translates the same as the saving sacrifice Christ made for His chosen. How about an easier seen failure as an example...

There are times my wife wants to do something or go somewhere I don't want to. I make "sacrifices" of my own plans to participate in the things she wants. I don't; however, do this without grumbling and complaining. I whine about it; sometimes behind her back to my friends. That is not loving or respectful. That is not the love Christ lavishes on us. But, I'm commanded to love my wife.

Christ (God's Son, God as man) came to earth, lowering himself to the level of a man, releasing some of his Godly powers and abilities, to save men from sin. He was mocked, beaten, and killed on a cross for us. That is love. That is sacrifice for His bride. What are we as husbands doing to sanctify, cleanse, and prepare our wives to be presented before God in all His glory? That is love. Christ prepares us for presentation before the mighty God. We must do the same for our wives.

Praise God for Him Example.
Praise God for His Love.
Praise God for my wife.

Head of the House...Too Much for Me

Well, I almost skipped these next verses, not wanting to be considered a sexist or a womanizer. But hey, its in the Bible so it's important. Ephesians 5:22-24 tells wives to "submit to your husbands, as to the Lord." Now if the passage ended there, men could really take advantage of this passage. But it doesn't.

Verse 23 says, "For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, the body, and is himself its Savior." As a husband I look at my role from the perspective of this verse. I'm to lead by the example of Christ. Christ came to earth, lived a perfect sinless life, glorified God as His sole purpose, and then died for sinners. So as a husband I'm to live a life without sin, glorifying God in all I do, and sacrifice even my life to help my wife. Sounds like too hard a job for me alone.

As the wife submits to the husband, like the church submits to Christ, she should be willing and understanding of the importance of that duty. I remember my mom saying once that it was easier for her to submit and follow my dad's decisions because she knew that it was how God designed, and God would protect the decisions they made if they were done according to God's design. She also took comfort in knowing if the decision was not the appropriate one, God would still bless her life for submitting to my dad. Ultimately, my mom and dad worked together to make the decisions in my family but my mom was such a respectful woman. And even when my dad did things she did not agree with, there was NEVER a fight or loud argument. She knew the decision would be blessed by God if she submitted to God's will and under the authority given to my father as the husband.

I hope that in my marriage, Lisa and I can work together on everything. I am overwhelmed by the responsibility God gives to the husband. I pray that I lead my family by example. I want them to see a man who's number one desire is to glorify God in everything I do. I pray that out of that desire stems a life without sin and a love for people and a desire to fulfill my responsibility to spread the good news of God's gift of grace.

Praise God for His Son, the ultimate example of a leader.

Give Thanks and Submit to One Another

Ephesians 5:20-21 tell us to give "thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." Sometimes it's hard to find things to be thankful for. I'm still sad about losing my job with the sheriff's office. But right here this passage is saying to always and for everything give thanks. And if I think hard enough about it, I do have things to be thankful for in this situation. I have a new job, one I know and understand, in a market where people are having trouble finding jobs. I have a family I love. I have bills I've been able to pay. And Sunday, I went to a church service that I truly enjoyed. The music was a good mix of hymns and songs, the pastor was well spoken and explained the text very well, and I felt like I was able to corporately worship God again.

Sure there are negative things in life too, but we need to find God's purpose for placing those things in our lives. We need to find ways to turn them into ways to glorify God. I think someone like me, who tends to be arrogant and dominating, faces these negative times more often. And after reading verse 21 and seeing we all need to be submissive, I believe God puts these hurdles in my life to bring me back to a place of submission. God works all thinks for His glory.

I want to live a thankful life and a submissive life style for God's glory. God is the ruler of all things. I will strive to glorify Him in all I do.

Praise God for All Things.
Praise God the Ruler and King.

Know the Word, Address One Another with It

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of time, because the days are evil." Don't be foolish. Understand what the will of the Lord is. Don't be drunk with wine, it's debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.

That's a quick summary of Ephesians 5:15-18. I really wanted to get to verse 19. We are to "address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart..." The Word of God should be so abundant in our lives that we can just start gushing it when we talk to each other. Just like the Word of God should fill any worship service through the singing, preaching, reading, and praying; our lives should be fill with the Word of God. It is the only source and authority over our lives. It is the key to understanding the character of God and what he demands from us. It is God's words for us to read and live and know. As Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." The word of God will reveal the sin in our lives and direct us in the way God would have us go.

Praise God for His Word.

Expose Unfruitful Works of Darkness

It seems like time speeds up in the mornings. Even if I wake up 30 minutes earlier, I seem to run out of time to blog my devotions. I have read this passage a few times and feel like it really does ring true in my own life. I work with a lot of non-Christians who all seem to have "drama" in their lives. Ephesians 5:11-14 seems to be a sort of reminder to me to stay away from the "drama" or conversations about it. This passage tells us to "take no part in unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them."

There are opportunities for me to get wrapped up in unfruitful works of darkness every day. But God's Word tells me to expose them. By exposing them, they become visible. And when they are visible, they become light. They are light because they are now knowledge of unfruitful works of darkness, avoidable as sin.

What I'm trying to say with all the distractions from all the people in my house right now, is that exposing sin can free you from that sin. If you are involved in sin, and you confront the sin, you become aware of the sin and the Holy Spirit works with your conscience to help you flee that sin in the future. If you are involved in sin, confront the sin, expose the sin, know that it is sin. Then turn from the sin, remove yourself from the temptation, flee from the sin.

The Holy Spirit is our guide. God provided a helper at salvation; the Holy Spirit works in conjunction with our conscience to help reveal sin. God does not want us to sin, and He provided a way of escape.

Praise God for His Holy Spirit.

The Olympics

Sometimes family is important. This morning my wife and I caught up on some of the swimming events of the Olympics. And we are really into it. Michael Phelps is really an amazing swimmer.

What is Acceptable to the Lord?

Ephesians 5:10 is the next verse, and I can't quite decide where to go with it. I wish I had included it with yesterday's section because it seems to fit better with those verses. I'm not sure why I didn't. It's a continuation of the sentence in verse 9. 10 says, "and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord." We are told to walk as children of the light and then to try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. The word try seems like it gives us an out. But, after 20 minutes of re-reading the verses around this one and trying to discern its meaning, I turned to my John MacArthur study Bible for some help.

My daily Bible is the ESV translation, and the JMac is New King James Version. The NKJV says, "finding out what is acceptable to the Lord." And the commentary notes explain it well. It says, ""Finding out" carries the idea of testing or proving to learn by clear and convincing evidence what is truly honoring to God," and "as believers walk in the light of the truth, knowledge of the Lord's will becomes clear."

Well, I can't say it any better than that. It's funny to think of one verse causing me such an issue, but having such a great meaning. It is good to know that as we live our lives according to our calling, we will gain the knowledge of the will of God.

Praise God for His Will.

I Wanna Be in the Light

Back in 1998 DC Talk had a song called "In The Light." I was helping the Youth Group at First Baptist Church in Auburn under Kirk Welch. We planned a "summer camp" with the Jr. High Group in Monterey, CA, where there was a Christian concert event called "Spirit West Coast." Our theme was developed around living in the light.

Now, 10 years later I sit hear and read Paul's letter to the Ephesians and I'm reminded that I need to be living in the light, as a child of the light. According to Ephesians 5:8-9 we were "at one time...darkness, but now (we) are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light..." The next part of verse 9 is what struck me today. it says, "for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true." What is good and right and true in my life? What about yours? We have an opportunity to be lights in our daily lives. I have a Christian boss who I see being a light in her work. I know she spends time every morning in the Word and praying for the people she works with. And she is a light at work.

I want to be in the light that God called me into. I want to be part of everything that is good and right and true. I don't want there to ever be any doubt that I am different and set apart from the world. I want to be a light shining out of the darkness of the sin that surrounds us. I want to stand out from the rest of my co-workers and make known the grace of God to all of the people I come into contact with everyday. I pray that the truth of grace and our desperate need for a Savior is so evident in my life. I want walk as a child of the light.

Praise God for His Light.
Praise God for all that is good and right and true.

Lectio Continua Bible Reading

An essay by my uncle Terry L. Johnson on reading the whole Bible here.

Also, check out more about his church in Savannah, GA here.

A Primer on Reformed Worship Part 1

Today for church, we listened to Part 1 of a series by Terry L. Johnson called "A Primer on Reformed Worship." Terry happens to be my uncle as well, but he is a published writer and the senior pastor at Independent Presbyterian Church in Savannah, Georgia.

Part 1 of this 3 part series was more a background of his studies and how he came to believe the way he does. A quick overview of his philosophy of worship, from this first part of the series is to Sing the Word, Preach the Word, Read the Word, Pray the Word, and Administer the visible word – Communion. The focus being on worship of God through the Bible. It is such a simple plan with such a deep and powerful outcome. What better way to worship God than to use the living and active Word of God?

Again, this was part 1 of the series and was a background of how my uncle came to believe this is such a powerful way to worship God. Having first learned of the reformation in a Reformation History class at USC and reading such great books as J.I. Packer's "Knowing God", Terry decided to go to Trinity College in England to study under Packer and his faculty. During his college years, Terry also went to Scotland. He learned a great deal about the history of the reformation and Covenantal theology.

He watched and learned how churches in both England and Scotland were using the Bible in all parts of their worship services. One church sang from a book of Psalms which were rhymed and metered back in the 1650s. It was the whole book of Psalms but to music. They were singing the Word.

At one point in his studies he learned under John MacArthur at Grace Community Church in Southern California. John taught verse by verse through the Bible, also known as expository preaching. Terry said it was powerful and he felt like a new person every time he left one of John's sermons. John preached the Word.

Another time while in England, Terry attended a church where scripture was read during the service. Not part of the preaching, but it was a different passage of scripture read in a slow and deliberate manner. The comparison between lectio selecta vs. lectio continua was made, meaning the practice of selecting passages vs. reading verse by verse through the whole of scripture. Terry found this to be much more powerful and said, the whole Bible is the whole character of God. They were reading the Word.

Finally, Terry attended a prayer meeting were he was impacted by the deep and powerful prayer meeting he was part of in Scotland (I think). He said the prayers of these men were God centered, God dependent, scripture rich prayers. Use scripture in prayers. The language of scripture is God's centered, God glorifying, and more powerful than anything man could ever say on his own. These men Prayed the Word.

Sing the Word, Preach the Word, Read the Word, and Pray the Word. This is the method to a God centered worship service, rather than a man centered service. The church services I've been to lately are not God centered. They are man centered and can not be called worship services. The fact that the Word of God is not the center focus of a church worship service is a frightening thing in what is called the church today.

Even in my own life, I see myself looking for a church that has all the things I want. Instead, I should be looking for a church that has what God desires/demands from our lives. We are here to worship God, to glorify Him. That is our purpose and our design. Church should NEVER be about what we are getting out of it, but what we are giving God through it. Church should be a place to publicly and corporately worship God.

Praise God for His Word.
Sing the Word. Preach the Word. Read the Word. Pray the Word.

Don't Let It Be Named Among You

Okay so here we go with too little time and way to much to write about. Ephesians 5:3-6 strikes right at the heart of my life for the past year. I'm not going to be able to go into great detail as to why I feel these verses apply to me so strongly, but the jail was a rough place, with foul language, crude conversation, and filthy talk. I did, for my first year, stand out from the group. They all knew I didn't cuss or participate in the joking and dirty talk. Things like, "Hold on, Burch is here and won't want to hear this one," were said a lot my first year. Then I started to let my guard down. The second year I started to laugh at the jokes and even started adding to conversations I should not have been part of.

Fast forward to now, a new job with new people and a kind of "redo" for me. Since I didn't do what verse 7 tells me to do and "not associate with them" (the people involved in this filthiness) God removed me from the jail. But even in this business professional environment, there are still opportunities for me to fail God in these ways. The scariest part is that people involved in this sin have "no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God." We have to flee from this. Things mentioned in this passage that we need to flee from are sexual immorality, all impurity, COVETOUSNESS (dang, I want a lot of "stuff" people have), filthiness, foolish talk, crude joking (darn sense of humor crossing the line too often). These are all things we all struggle with but we need to STOP!!!!!!!! If we are still struggling with these sins, we need to take a good hard look at our relationship with God.

Do you have a relationship with God? Are you working on improving it every day? The Word of God is so important. Like the reformers of the 16th century, we need to be reading the Word, praying the Word, singing the Word, preaching the Word. And then we need to apply the Word to our daily lives.

Praise God for His Word.



***I had other issues with this post so please don't concern yourself with errors in grammar or formatting. Sometimes the Internet is a beast. (not the beast, LOL)

Be Imitators of God

Ephesians 5 starts with a task that is really impossible for us as sinful beings. We are called to "be imitators of God, as beloved children." Verse 2 goes on to tell us to "walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us." Now I say these things are impossible but the Bible is telling me to do it. So how do I?

Well, with the Holy Spirit, God's promised helper, we can. With God's help we can. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with our own ability to be successful in this. It will take the help of God. But, if we are not imitating God and loving like Christ, we are not following the command set forth here in Ephesians, and therefore we are not doing the will of God.

Check out Jarrett's blog about change. It's great. And here's another Blog for your readers. Jarrett Tonn is a good friend of mine, who has a really great ability to write about God's truths. Casey and Jay Hobbs also write on the blog. Check out Reckless Raging Fury.

Just a Quick Update for Excuse Sake

I got promoted at the bank and I'm responsible for all of the daily operations of the branch. Lots of work, earlier start time, and a complete lack of time management are my current excuses for why the blog has been neglected the last few weeks.

Lame, I know.

Do Not Grieve the Holy Spirit..Be Kind

Ephesians 4 ends with some powerful and applicable verses. Verses 30-32 really bring me back to looking at myself and seeing areas of struggle in my life as a Christian. I fear I do grieve the Holy Spirit, as verse 30 tells me not to do. I am a bitter and angry person. I am not kind to others, and it can be hard for me to forgive.

But the power of God's Word and the Holy Spirit are the only chance for change. It interesting for me to think about the phrase "do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God" because I am truly affected by that. I genuinely do not want to grieve God or the Spirit. This reminder that my sins do grieve the Holy Spirit help me realize my lack of comprehension of God's love for me.

Today, a Monday, my goal is to start this week with the goal of being kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving. I will work on not being bitter or angry. Only by the grace of God am I saved from these sins, not because I've earned it. I obviously have not. The grace of God is so amazing and should not be taken for granted. I must work hard to live a life that pleases God and brings glory to His name. Only a better understanding of this grace can do that.

Praise God for His Grace.
Praise God for His Power Over Sin.

Spread the Grace

Here we go again with the Bible always talking directly to me. Ephesians 4:29, "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." I am a pretty negative person. I'm always complaining and pointing out problems and frustrating annoyances. I corrupt the moods of others and make people feel like there is something always wrong with everything. I need to shut my month and think about what I'm going to say, why I'm going to say it, and if it needs to be said. More often than not, I'll probably not even need to talk.

I need to encourage and build up others with what I say. I need to forget the negative complaining and find ways to show grace to those in my life. I think the key to this verse is the word "grace." How much more grace has God shown me beyond what I deserve? And now I need to show others that same grace. I need to show grace to others so they can better understand God's grace through my example. I need to show grace so I too understand God's grace better. God has forgiven a multitude of sins in my life and continues to forgive sins on a daily basis. How can I not return that grace to others. Whether it's co-workers, family, friends, acquaintances, or strangers, I've been given so much grace by God for my sins, I should have an abundance of grace to shower on all others I come into contact with.

Praise God for His Grace.

I am a Thief

Today I'm almost confused by Ephesians 4:28. It's surrounded by verse that are clear in their meaning of turning from our old lives of sin and being renewed and transformed by our new lives in Christ. But verse 28 is so specific. "Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need." Why so specific to the thief? And if you think about Robin Hood, he should have done honest work with his own hands if he wanted to share with those in need.

There is something important here that I do gain. We are to work. And work hard. I've never been known in any job as a lazy or bad worker. In fact, the out pouring of praise from deputies and CO's I was working with at the jail, who all told me how much they would miss having me there because I did work so hard, has been great. And the fact that I was quickly given my job back at US Bank, because I had a reputation for hard work, was a blessing. We are to work. And we are to provide for those in need. Oh shoot. The second part becomes the convicting part. I live in a house that is too big and expensive for my current salary. I have a new car. I am well fed and comfortable in my life style. But I don't give to any one in need. I don't even have a home church right now where I give offerings. I am tight on money but God has provided for my needs and some wants. I need to remember that we are told to help those in need.

And maybe those in need are not in financial need. Maybe there are people in our lives that are in spiritual need. Instead of monetary giving, I can help people in need of a Savior. By being the best example at work I can, not only working hard but working with a proper heart and attitude, non-believers may see the light of Christ in my life. My example at work can lead people to wonder about God's grace and how they too can be filled with the joy of hope. Instead of stealing their opportunity to see Christ in me, I can work hard to show them God's truth.

I am a thief of their ability to witness God's grace in my life when I'm not working hard on my spiritual life. When I fail at living to glorify God, I steal from the non-believers, an opportunity to be changed by the power of God. I steal something more valuable than anything on earth. I am called to glorify God with my life. I need to work hard every day on that "job". It is my duty to live a life that please God and brings glory to Him. I need to work hard at this. I need to study God's word so I am equipped to work harder and longer and better in my duties as a believer. No more should I steal from the non-believers by my lazy Christian life. No longer should I be a thief. I need to provide my knowledge of God's great grace to their desperate need for it. God's grace is the only true provision for the needs of all.

Praise God for His Perfect Provision.

Jeremy's Sins Revealed (Part 1 of Millions)

All too often the Bible seems to speak directly to me. I'll read a passage on a particular day, and that passage will say something that directly relates to a situation or problem I'm dealing with. Ephesians 4:25 and verses 26-27 seem like two different messages that both apply to what I'm currently struggling with.

Verse 25 says, "Having put away falsehood," each of us need to speak the truth with our neighbors. So many times I look at my co-workers and see myself as no different. I don't often look at myself as some one who has "put away falsehood." Most of the time I don't behave in a way that would lead to a chance for someone to hear the truth if I did speak it. Instead I here, "you go to church?" Or, "you're a Christian?" How sad that this is the life I lead and live.

Verses 26-27 say, "Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil." Yikes. Since it's "Jeremy's Sins Revealed" day, I have to confess my anger last night. A tailgater actually pushed me to the point of road rage. After riding my bumper for a time, the driver passed me when I entered the left hand turn lane on my route home. As he passed me my blood went nuclear and I pulled in behind him. I gave him a few high beams and honks before turning around and resuming my normal path home. When my wife (who was in a different car ahead of me during initial tailgating) confronted me about my anger, it only fanned the flames. It took her asking me to show her where the Bible talked about my actions being acceptable, for me to realize how off I was. "Be angry and do not sin." I think that's something that humans may have a hard time doing. I definitely did not do last night.

Why does God present passages that directly speak to us. How does a book as long and as large as the Bible directly speaks to me, a sinner born 2000 years after it was written. How? Why? Because God is God. There is one true and Holy God in heaven, in control of all things. God is able to create the universe, and He is able to directly influence me meaningless life of His glory.

Praise God for His Word.

Excuses, Excuses

I woke up feeling sick today. Not fun. I can't focus.

Off With the Old, On With the New

Around 13 years ago I did a lesson for the junior high group at First Baptist in Auburn. I taught on Colossians 3 where Paul talk about putting to death the earthly things and putting off the old self. He continues by telling the Colossians to put on the new self, as God's chosen ones. I don't want to pretend that I did a good job; I never did do a good job at teaching a message, but I do remember the title, "Off With the Old, On With the New." Years later I asked the then high schoolers if they remembered what I taught on and one girl seemed to always remember that title, and then she could tell me what it meant.

In Ephesians 4:20-24 Paul talks about putting off your old self "which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires" and putting on the new self "created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." It's so impacting for me to hear the old self described as corrupt through "deceitful desires" because there are too many times I think I want something and once I pursue a specific desire, I realize there is no true joy in it. Instead, I feel as though I've failed God again. I need to be pursuing the righteousness and holiness of God. Colossians has a great list of things to help put the old and new into perspective. "Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." Colossians 3:2.

The Colossians 3 list of things to put to death:
sexual immorality
impurity
passion
evil desire
covetousness which is idolatry
anger
wrath
malice
slander
obscene talk

The Colossians 3 list of things to put on as God's chosen ones:
compassion
kindness
humility
meekness
patience
forgiveness
love
peace of Christ
thankfulness
knowledge of God's Word through teaching and admonishing
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs

It is good to see the things God desires from His chosen people. Even just reading the list brings me great joy. Sure it would seem like it's a list of things that I'm a failure at, but because I know that it is God's desire for me to work on these things, He provides joy in them. He knows what will bring us the most joy and fulfillment in our lives because He created us in His likeness. We are most pleased when we are living the way He designed and desires.

In the words of John Piper, "The chief end of man is to glorify God BY enjoying Him forever." As our main purpose for existence is to glorify God, we can do that and enjoy our existence by enjoying God forever. We should love to please Him and desire to do so. By doing this, we will have more joy in our lives.

Praise God for His Joy.

Out of the Futility of Our Minds

In preparing for my new cell phone I ended up messing up my computer and I had to format the hard drive and re-install all the programs. And, while this is my excuse for a couple of days, I've failed to study my Bible for most of those days as well. Even now I sit here, having read the next set of verses in Ephesians and my brain is struggling with what to write. It's sad to think about the state of my Spiritual life. Even these verse today (Eph 4:17-19) talk about the futility of the mind of sinners, the darkened understanding, the alienation from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, hardness of their hearts, the callousness and the giving over of themselves to sensuality, and the greedy practice of every kind of impurity. I can't help but feel that I'm struggling with these very things right now.

I do pray for strength, boldness, HELP!!!! I often feel discouraged, and I think of David. David's Psalms are a roller coaster of emotional responses to the situations he was in. From fear to frustration to praise, David turned to God in every situation, knowing he was responsible to give everything to God. And David, a man who had some "major" sins recorded in the Bible, was known as a man after God's own heart. Although we all go through ups and downs in our spiritual lives, God doesn't change. He is always faithful to the promises He's made. God listens to our prayers and the desires and needs of our hearts. He will be faithful to answer those prayers too, although the answer is not always going to be what we want it to be. God knows our heart. He knows our every action and deed. He knows when we are living in the "futility of (our) minds" and not in a manner worth of the calling. If we turn our focus to Him, we begin to lack the room in our lives for the things that darken our understanding and alienate us fro the life of God.

Praise God for His Truth.

Speaking Truth in Love

"Rather speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ." Ephesians 4:15-16 finish up this section of this book that talks about the church as a united body. "Speaking the truth in love" is a harder task then just passing on some sentimental comments about our great God to an unbeliever. The word "truth" should be bold to proclaim its importance in what is spoken. To speak the truth in love it takes a mature Christian "thoroughly equipped in sound doctrine" as one commentary states.

We are to be growing as a body towards the head, which is Christ. He is the authority and the leader. The whole body takes direction from the head. And as a united body with Christ as the head, the body will grow and build itself up in love.

Praise God for His Truth.
Praise God for His Love.
Praise God for His Son, the Head of the Body.

Tossed To and Fro

This is going to be a really hard passage for me to not feel the church has failed in. Ephesians 4:13-14 is a continuation of verses 11-12. God gave apostles, prophets, pastors, and evangelists to the believers to equip them for the work of the ministry and the building of the body of Christ. verse 13 goes on to say, "until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God..." I can't help but think about how many different churches there are, each one doing "church" their own way. There is no unity of the faith. As believers we need to wake up and realize the problem with not having unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God. We have not reached "mature manhood". Although there is a need for multiple churches in different cities, the goal should be to reach more saints, not to design a plan for more unsaved to go. The ministries at the different churches should strive "to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Looking at the ministry of Christ should be the example followed by churches today. We should follow what Paul taught to the early churches, to better equip the saints for the work of the ministry.

Why? Verse 14 tells us it "so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes." We need to look at the words of the apostles and prophets and be taught those things in church and go out and share those words with the word. Instead of having the buffet line of churches where you can choose what fits your style, we need churches and body of believers who are focused solely on the Word of God, measuring success by the stature of the fullness of Christ within that body. God gave us His Word as the ultimate and only authority for the Christian church and the Christian life. No longer should we be tossed around, tricked into believing in different people's opinions of how best to "do church" or "do ministry." The early church, the books of the apostles, Paul's letters to the churches, THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF CHRIST should be our examples of the best way for the church body to be united across the world, in glorifying God with our worship and our work of building the body. No more should we fall for "human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes." The church has the help in the Spirit and the Word of God to build the body the way God designed.

Praise God for His Word.

The Gifts for Men

Ephesians 4:11-12 gives a list of gifts God gave man. He "gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints..." The apostles were the 12 men that saw the risen Christ. Later, Paul was added to the apostles. The prophets were also given to declare God's will to the early church. Like the apostles, this position in the early church was replaced by the roles we still have in today's church. The two groups we still have in today's church are the evangelists and the pastors and teachers. The evangelists preach and teach the Word of God to unbelievers. While the pastors and teachers are the shepherds to the church, under the great Shepherd Jesus. The pastors and teachers are also known as the elders of the church.

With these gifts, the word of God can be taught to both the saved and unsaved people. The evangelists go out into the world and share God's word with unbelievers; while the pastors build up and strengthen the church from within. More often then not, we the believers need to fall into one of these categories. If we are not the pastor or elders of a church, we need to be sharing the gospel with unbelievers in our capacities in society. Why? Because as verse 12 tells us, God gave these men "to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ..." Our duty is to build up the body of Christ.

We have a responsibility to share the good news of salvation with the unbelieving world. If not for the building up of the saints, then it is for the building up of the body. If we are not called to be pastors, we need to be evangelists at work, home, and in all aspects of our lives. If we are called to be pastors and elders, we are to be studying God's word to effectively equip the believers to go out and be evangelists. The pastor/teacher role is a key role in the proper equipping of the saints. These men will be held to a higher standard and will face God for the decisions they make in leading a church body.

Needless to say, both pastors and evangelists are responsible for knowing and understanding God's word, the gospel, and the saving grace of God. To effectively present God's truth, study and prayer are going to be key to a deeper understanding of who God is. As believers, we are blessed with the Spirit to help guide us in the truth. But a deep and strong knowledge and understanding of God comes from the work of constant studying and focus on God's character from His Word\, the Bible. God is great and powerful. His plan is perfect. His wisdom is freely given to those who seek it.

Praise God for His Word.
Praise God for His Wisdom.
Praise God for His Equipping of the Saints.
Praise God for the Gifts that point to His Awesome Will and Glory.

If He Ascended, He Descended

"But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift." Paul starts Ephesians 4:7-11 this way to lead us into a verse from Psalm 68:18, which talks of Christ's ascension into Heaven and the gifts He gave. Paul goes on to say if Christ ascended He had to have descended. Therefore, Christ is the one who came to earth to provide salvation, "led a host of captives." We were once captives of sin and Satan, now we are freed by Christ's ascension into Heaven. Without the ascension, Christ would not have been God. Power over death belongs only to God, and the Son of God descended to earth, died for our sins, and ascended back to Heaven.

And while on earth Christ "gave gifts to men." Paul goes on to explain these gifts. Christ "gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints..."

More on the gifts next time.

Praise God for His Son.

One

Ephesians 4:4-6 explains there is only one God. In fact, the theme of this passage should be "ONE." So that's my title. :)

There is one body; the body of believers saved by the calling of God through the death of Christ. And there is one Spirit; the Spirit of God given to the body as a helper. And there is one hope; the hope we have in Christ. It is the hope of eternal life in the presence of the Almighty God. There is one Lord; Jesus Christ is our Lord. He came and died for the sins of His chosen people, and He was raised from the dead and seated at God's right hand. There is one faith; faith in God is the only saving faith. There is one baptism; the baptism into the family of the one true God is the only sign of true understanding of your need for Christ and your trust in His truth. There is one God and Father of all; there is no other God and no other Father. The one true God created and saved us, and he alone is God. He is the only one over all and through all and in all.

Praise God for He is the One and Only God.

Busy Week

I don't want to neglect my blog (and by "blog" I mean the journal of my devotions), but this week has been busy. With the car troubles and things we've been having in my little family, my time to sit and type is limited.

Ephesians 4:1-3 has that really great attitudes and actions we are to have and take as Christians. Humility, gentleness, patience, love, peace. We are to walk in a manner worthy of our calling. This is work of me. But it's my responsibility to to. As a Christian, saved by God's calling, I must now live a life that exemplifies that calling. This list is given as a great way for us to show the love of God to others.

Walk in a Manner Worthy of the Calling

Ephesians 4:1-3 is something that I think "grace preachers" seem to forget. Paul, a man God chose to use to write like half the New Testament, urges the Ephesians to "walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called..." To me this is a command to do something in response to God's gracious choosing of you. We are to "walk in humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Quickly, "humility" should be a given if we understand the LACK of anything we've done to desire the gift of salvation. And "gentleness" would come as a result of this humbled life. "Patience" is something that will grow with our understanding of what a depraved place we've been pulled out of. We will be able to look at every situation that may cause frustration and the lack of patience and see that God has saved us from these exact situations simply because He desired to do so. Even situations with other believers, we can "bear with one another in love" if we realize our different levels of Spiritual maturity and the need to help one another through our spiritual growth. And if we can grasp this, "unity" will be achieved.

That was really too quick a break down to make much sense, the alarm for me to leave for work is BLASTING! More on these verse tomorrow, because I really do struggle with most of these areas.

Church Today

Today is Sunday, and here I am sitting at home with no plans of going to church. Why don't I have any plans for a Sunday? Frankly, I'm tired of churches and what they've become. All the churches I've gone to recently seem to be about the religion of church instead of the encouragement of the saints. It's not for the edification and preparation of believers. It's not a place where believers go and are encouraged and trained in how to live lives that glorify God. Some places don't even seem to use the Bible.

As far back as I can remember, my family has always been involved in one capacity or another in the church. Whether it was helping with music, teaching, or leadership, we've all been participants in our churches. But church really didn't seem like religion to me until a few years ago. I realized I was starting to go because I was "supposed to go". I would play the piano or the drums but not really be involved to glorify God. Participation became more about the use of my talents than about my own spiritual growth. There hasn't been a good sermon, a solid leader, a mature group of believers in my life for a some time now.

In fact, I can't remember being challenged by a fellow believer in probably 8 years. Why is that? What is wrong with the church today? Why is it that God allows so many churches to "pop" up, claiming allegiance to Him as "Christians churches", but so often not even knowing Him or His Word? Why are places like these "seeker friendly" churches so prevalent in our society? How can so many people be okay with mediocrity? Others teach a themes that allow for sin or weakness or failure in our lives. Grace is taught as the forgiveness of sins to the point where "Christian liberty" is turned into freedom to sin and freedom to fit in with the world. This is unacceptable.

Church today is leading people into a false sense of security. "If I go to church and feel good about the message, I'll be fine on judgment day." NO YOU WON'T! The relationship with God is not there. The truth and the true understanding of God is not there. There is a complete lack of the realization of what God DEMANDS from our lives. We can't live day to day in sin and think we are going to be okay because we are church going people who "believe" in God. If you don't know Him you can't believe in Him. And grace covers a multitude of sin, yes; but a life of sin is not a life that is lived with an understanding of who God is and what He demands, what His wrath will destroy. Our sin has eliminated our access to Heaven. Salvation provides the only access for us after that. Salvation takes faith in God. Faith in God requires a knowledge of the true God. Without knowing God, we have no hope.

The Bible needs to be the center teaching point in a church. But not just part of the Word of God, all of it. Not just the love of God, but the wrath too. And I'm really writing this blog entry out of frustration. The frustration I have is over the wide selection of places and the lack of selection. What I mean is, there are a lot of churches out there that don't teach God's Word correctly, if at all. Today, the realization of my own needs has come to a head. I, for the first time in 32 years, realized I don't have a church body or a prospective church body or a place I can even go to corporately worship God. HOW HORRIBLE IS THIS!? Instead of too many places to chose from, I'm faces with too many places not to chose.

For now, I continue to listen to Piper and other great teachers online. I am going to begin to pray for a church that is led first by men who desire to know the truth of God, who study all week to bring together a clear and complete picture of who God is and how He requires us to please Him. I'm going to continue to study diligently on my own, to better understand my God through His word. I'm going to continue to write my thoughts to allow others to add input and correction and encouragement to me and my walk. But I'm going to pray today that God will be glorified through the correction of the path of His church here in my county and then in my country and then in the world; that He will be taught better and more accurately, that true salvation will be realized by the so called "Christians" of the world. I am going to pray that God reveals His true self to us.

May God be glorified in all things. May He be praised through my life, that I turn each day over to Him for strength, boldness, wisdom, faithfulness, kindness, love, truth, and righteousness. May He grant me understanding beyond my own abilities, that I may witness to the unbelievers and the unsaved and the confused misled masses. May God give me a wisdom that only He can provide, and a knowledge only His Word can bring. And may His church be matured by the teaching of His Word and the faithfulness to the truth of the whole of scripture.

Praise God for His Provision. Praise the unchanging God, for He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

Strength Through Prayer

Ephesians 3:14-20 is Paul's prayer for strength. It seems like a really relevant prayer for me right now. The whole reason I re-started this blog was to give myself some accountability to reading the Bible. I need strength in my spiritual life. I need the reminders of God's grace in my life and a better understanding of what He did in calling me to salvation.

Paul asks God to grant "according to the riches of His glory...power through His Spirit in (our) inner being." God's glory is so beyond and above our understanding that there is no comparison to the riches of it. And Paul asks that this strength be granted "according to the riches of His glory." This makes me picture Tinkerbell from Peter Pan. The "magic" pixie dust flows from her all the time. But when a little is sprinkled on Michael, John, and Wendy they all can fly. How much greater is a little portion of the riches of God's glory going to strengthen us.

Another thing Paul mentions is our need to be "rooted and grounded in love." Yikes! Those of you who know me well know I'm not a very loving person. This is one of the reasons I believe God took my PCSO job away. I wasn't loving, I showed no grace in that job. I need to continue to pray "to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge," as verse 19 states. Love is an important part of the Christian's life. We are called to be set apart from the world. If we are able to show the love of God in our lives, instead of the sinful selfish desires of self love, we will bring the glory of God to all of those around us.

Finally, Paul reminds us that God "is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think." I remember always hearing people say, "You have to praise God and worship Him in your prayers. If all you are doing is asking for things, you are not praying correctly." But if you look at even the prayer of Jesus, "The Lord's Prayer" He asks God for food, forgiveness, guidance, and help. Although Jesus prayer does included great praise, He knew of God's abundant ability to provide beyond human understanding. And God's answers to our prayers are another way He is glorified.

Praise God for His Strength.

The Mystery of the Gospel

Paul explained in Ephesians 3:9-13 that God sent Christ to be the payment for our sins, both Jews and Gentiles. He brought to light the fact that it was God's plan hidden for ages. Not just Jews, but Gentiles who had faith were also saved. And through the church "the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places." Since this is the eternal purpose of God realized in Christ Jesus, we have confidence through our faith in Him.

This was a hard passage to understand and explain. But so far chapter 3 has been about the revelation of the mystery of the gospel. Paul basically explains that the salvation that comes from Christ's death on the cross revealed that the plan of salvation is for all who have faith. Prior to that, Jews believed this salvation was going to be for them only. Ultimately they rejected Christ as their Savior and His death on the cross paid for the sins of all who believe. Of course all is done for God's glory, not ours. And salvation is another way His glory is revealed.

Praise God for His Glory.

Grace to the Least

Again with the short entry.

Ephesians 3:7-8 Paul tells the Ephesians that God's grace was given to him so he could be a minister of the gospel. He tells them, "though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given..." Paul, a man how was so brave and bold in spreading the gospel he was imprisoned, beaten, and finally killed for it. What an example of humility it understanding God's grace. I haven't written any books of the Bible. You? Didn't think so.

Praise God for His Grace.

Gentiles Are Fellow Heirs

Usually, Caleb wakes us up around 6:30am and I get a start on my day. Yesterday and today my actual alarm clock has been waking me up at 7:00am. This means I don't have the time to write about what I've read.

Ephesians 3:1-6 starts with Paul reminding the readers that he is in prison for his preaching and for sharing the gospel. That is awesome faith. I don't think there are people like that today. I think their are going to be more people that sit before God and hear the worst thing that could ever be said by God. "Depart from Me, I never knew you."

Fortunately, Paul also taught that the promise of salvation is for both Jews and Gentiles. The mystery of Christ was revealed through Paul that Gentiles are "fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel."

Praise God for His Saving Grace.