This month I am going to try to use the famous story of Joseph (Genesis 37-50) to encourage someone who may be facing difficult times...
When Joseph was 17 years old his brothers sold him into slavery. He was taken to a foreign land (Egypt) where he was imprisoned and mistreated for 13 years! (Can you imagine being a slave in a foreign land at the age of 17???). Joseph was alone in a foreign land. No one searched for him (His father believed he was dead). His was wrongfully imprisoned and no one defended him. However...
In the middle of Joseph's story the Bible says, "The Lord was with Joseph" (Genesis 39:2, 39:21). Jospeh had absolutely nothing going for him except the fact that the Lord was with him! In reality, that is all he needed! In the end, Joseph was delivered from prison, exalted to the position of 'vice-president' in Egypt, and reunited with his father and his family. Today, he is remembered as a hero of the faith!
In Hebrews 13:5 the Lord promised every believer, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." At times we all find ourselves in situations that appear to be bleak. We may not have a lot "going for us". Times may be difficult. We may be alone. No one may seem to care. However, the one thing that never changes is that the Lord is with us (if you are his child). In reality, that is all we need! A job, savings account, education, home, family, and friends are all great things, but if I had to choose between having all those things, and having the Lord be with me, I would choose the Lord every time.
Today, I hope it lifts your spirit to simply be reminded that no matter where you are, and no matter how difficult and hopeless life may appear to be, if you are a child of God the Lord is with you! He has not forsaken you. Have a blessed August with the Lord!
Friday, August 5, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Remember... and get excited!!!
What makes you want to be a "better Christian"? There are a lot of possible answers to that questions. Today, I am going to highlight one answer. 2 Peter 1:8-9 states,
"If you possess these qualities (goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love) in increasing measure, they willl keep you from being ienffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."
The easiest way to become "ineffective and unproductive" is to forget that you have been cleansed from your past sins. Just a few quick points...
#1 We all have a sinful background. If we are honest, we would all fail a "background check." We all, like sheep, have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6). The sins you committed may be different from the sins I, or someone else committed, nevertheless, we all are GUILTY. The Bible simply says, "There is no one who is righteous" (Romans 3:10).
#2 If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ you have been cleansed from your past sins. The good news the Bible contains is that God is willing to forgive us, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Isaiah 1:18 states, "Come now let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet I will make them white as snow. Though they are red as crimson I will make them white as wool." That is great news. God is willing to wash/cleanse/forgive/blot out the crimes we committed. This is possible because of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 3:19-28). In order to be forgiven a person must confess his guilt and place his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When one does this, he is forgiven of his past sins, and he has peace with God (Romans 5:1).
#3 The key to Christianity is remembering that we are pardoned criminals.
In reality, every Christian is a pardon criminal. According to Peter, if someone lacks goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and/or love (and if they are unproductive and ineffective in their personal life) it is because they have forgotten that they have been pardoned! If you disagree please go back and read 2 Peter 1:5-9. Peter really says that a poor memory is the problem!!!! To put it another way, the person who remembers that Christ died for him, and that God has forgiven him, is the one who is going to be willing and eager to serve the LORD.
Christianity is not complicated. A sinner is granted a pardon by God, then, in response to receiving the pardon, he serves (and loves) the King. The key is remembering (everyday) that we are pardoned. Its not good enough to have this in the back of our minds. It must be in the front, or else, as time passes, we will become unproductive and ineffective. In conclusion, I will offer you some very practical (and very easy steps) to help you remember that you are forgiven of your past sins.
1. Attend a Church where someone is preaching the gospel on a regular basis!
2. Celebrate the Lord's Supper on a regular basis (the purpose is to remember).
3. Read the Bible, particuarly the New Testament, on a regular basis.
4. Listen to extra preaching (radio, internet, etc.)
5. Find a good daily devotional.
6. Go out of your way to talk to other believers about the Lord.
Until next month, remember you are a pardoned criminal!
"If you possess these qualities (goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love) in increasing measure, they willl keep you from being ienffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."
The easiest way to become "ineffective and unproductive" is to forget that you have been cleansed from your past sins. Just a few quick points...
#1 We all have a sinful background. If we are honest, we would all fail a "background check." We all, like sheep, have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6). The sins you committed may be different from the sins I, or someone else committed, nevertheless, we all are GUILTY. The Bible simply says, "There is no one who is righteous" (Romans 3:10).
#2 If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ you have been cleansed from your past sins. The good news the Bible contains is that God is willing to forgive us, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Isaiah 1:18 states, "Come now let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet I will make them white as snow. Though they are red as crimson I will make them white as wool." That is great news. God is willing to wash/cleanse/forgive/blot out the crimes we committed. This is possible because of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 3:19-28). In order to be forgiven a person must confess his guilt and place his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When one does this, he is forgiven of his past sins, and he has peace with God (Romans 5:1).
#3 The key to Christianity is remembering that we are pardoned criminals.
In reality, every Christian is a pardon criminal. According to Peter, if someone lacks goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and/or love (and if they are unproductive and ineffective in their personal life) it is because they have forgotten that they have been pardoned! If you disagree please go back and read 2 Peter 1:5-9. Peter really says that a poor memory is the problem!!!! To put it another way, the person who remembers that Christ died for him, and that God has forgiven him, is the one who is going to be willing and eager to serve the LORD.
Christianity is not complicated. A sinner is granted a pardon by God, then, in response to receiving the pardon, he serves (and loves) the King. The key is remembering (everyday) that we are pardoned. Its not good enough to have this in the back of our minds. It must be in the front, or else, as time passes, we will become unproductive and ineffective. In conclusion, I will offer you some very practical (and very easy steps) to help you remember that you are forgiven of your past sins.
1. Attend a Church where someone is preaching the gospel on a regular basis!
2. Celebrate the Lord's Supper on a regular basis (the purpose is to remember).
3. Read the Bible, particuarly the New Testament, on a regular basis.
4. Listen to extra preaching (radio, internet, etc.)
5. Find a good daily devotional.
6. Go out of your way to talk to other believers about the Lord.
Until next month, remember you are a pardoned criminal!
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