After reading the first chapter of Ephesians I found myself becoming strangely agitated. Suddenly I realize that for the longest time the eyes of my heart are not fully open. There seems to be a fog, a mist of unbelief that obscures my vision and dampens my hope. How I long to see and speak differently, act differently, and respond differently very much like Christ did while on earth.
When my eyes are open by God's Spirit, then the understanding of God's mighty power working in my life is realized. I grow and mature in faith. The flesh or natural man will always be stirred or agitated because it wants to "perform" or "do something" other than to believe and rest in confidence that God is working to perfect me. No matter the human effort, only God can make all things beautiful!
So the key to opening the eyes of the heart to His mighty power is in Him. Notice how many times this phrase is used throughout the chapter and what it references (adoption, redemption,inheritance etc). Any life outside of Christ is no life at all. I must abide in Him to live, be fruitful and have a dynamic relationship.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Endurance
Patience is one of those words that many of us would agree we could use a greater measure in our lives.
2 Timothy 2:3-7 gives a wonderful illustration of patience using the example of the solider, the athlete, and the farmer. The word "endure" in verse 3 means to "suffer hardship or to be afflicted". Considering our American culture of comfort and convenience, we rather avoid or hide from any suffering or affliction.
The solider endures rigorous training so he or she is successful in serving their commanding officer. To endure means securing a victory on the battlefield. It also means coming home alive.
For the athlete, training and learning to play by the rules means garnishing an award. An athlete can train successfully; however, if he or she cheats by taking steroids or defraud their opponent by some other means, they are disqualified.
And the farmer, must work long hours and in all types of weather to cultivate the ground, plant and harvest the crops before enjoying the bounty in the right season.
Patience pays off in the end, but impatience will leaves us coming up short. My prayer is not just to learn to be patient, but to "endure hardness" (using the King James version), so God's character is forged deep in my spirit.
So whatever the dreams or desires God has given to me, undergoing training to receive and stand in that blessing, will be worth the wait!
2 Timothy 2:3-7 gives a wonderful illustration of patience using the example of the solider, the athlete, and the farmer. The word "endure" in verse 3 means to "suffer hardship or to be afflicted". Considering our American culture of comfort and convenience, we rather avoid or hide from any suffering or affliction.
The solider endures rigorous training so he or she is successful in serving their commanding officer. To endure means securing a victory on the battlefield. It also means coming home alive.
For the athlete, training and learning to play by the rules means garnishing an award. An athlete can train successfully; however, if he or she cheats by taking steroids or defraud their opponent by some other means, they are disqualified.
And the farmer, must work long hours and in all types of weather to cultivate the ground, plant and harvest the crops before enjoying the bounty in the right season.
Patience pays off in the end, but impatience will leaves us coming up short. My prayer is not just to learn to be patient, but to "endure hardness" (using the King James version), so God's character is forged deep in my spirit.
So whatever the dreams or desires God has given to me, undergoing training to receive and stand in that blessing, will be worth the wait!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The Recreative Hand of God
The Lord sent Prophet Jeremiah to the potter's house for an object lesson. What the Lord shows Jeremiah speaks about the recreative hand of God in a broken life.
In Jeremiah 18:3, he writes, "...and there he was making something at the wheel." At times I've felt much like the clay: formless, lacking a defined purpose, and altogether useless. Jeremiah describes the clay has being "marred" or ruined. So not only is my life much like a lump of wet clay, but the very material is ruined.
Then I noticed verse 5: "Then the word of the Lord came to me..." Despite the mess, the unattractiveness or marred places in my life, the Lord speaks. The same God who spoke the world into existence out of a formless space.
The question, "...can I not do with you as this potter?" What did the potter do? The potter made from the same clay another vessel as it seemed good to the potter to make (verse 4). From the same marred material, the potter recreates another vessel. This vessel more noble, beautiful and useful.
Why would the potter use the same material rather than toss it? And what vessel is the Lord, the Potter, shaping out of clay lumped and marred by weakness and failure? I believe He is making me a vessel of mercy (Roman 9:23). How wonderful is God to take this clay and water, this decaying body, to illustrate the riches of His glory! My challenge is cooperate and stay in His hands as He forms me.
In Jeremiah 18:3, he writes, "...and there he was making something at the wheel." At times I've felt much like the clay: formless, lacking a defined purpose, and altogether useless. Jeremiah describes the clay has being "marred" or ruined. So not only is my life much like a lump of wet clay, but the very material is ruined.
Then I noticed verse 5: "Then the word of the Lord came to me..." Despite the mess, the unattractiveness or marred places in my life, the Lord speaks. The same God who spoke the world into existence out of a formless space.
The question, "...can I not do with you as this potter?" What did the potter do? The potter made from the same clay another vessel as it seemed good to the potter to make (verse 4). From the same marred material, the potter recreates another vessel. This vessel more noble, beautiful and useful.
Why would the potter use the same material rather than toss it? And what vessel is the Lord, the Potter, shaping out of clay lumped and marred by weakness and failure? I believe He is making me a vessel of mercy (Roman 9:23). How wonderful is God to take this clay and water, this decaying body, to illustrate the riches of His glory! My challenge is cooperate and stay in His hands as He forms me.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Rehearse
It's easy to rehearse the many times when things go wrong in our lives. The missed opportunities, sins and mistakes that in hindsight we long to have avoided considering the consequences. All to often those same consequences serve as a stinging reminder of our past foolishness. In those moments of recall, it's easy to go into a tailspin, spiraling down in to despair and regret.
Or we can be challenged to rehearse God's goodness, His mercy, and His promises which are yes and amen in Christ.
Let's engage in faith and not in our emotions despite how "real" those feelings may seem presently. For three months I have not used my asthma inhaler (it's only God's mercy to heal!). There are days my body may feel discomfort or even shows signs of physical distress, but I recall faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith before fact!
Go to the Lord and take along your Bible and rehearse His promises of healing, restoration, and deliverance. Speak out loud His word! You will be surprised how it will change the atmosphere and short circuit those runaway thoughts in your mind. There is power in God's word. Though you may not see an immediate change in your life or way of thinking just remember God's word always accomplishes what He has spoken - yes, even of those things which we terribly regret and can't undo in our strength.
Or we can be challenged to rehearse God's goodness, His mercy, and His promises which are yes and amen in Christ.
Let's engage in faith and not in our emotions despite how "real" those feelings may seem presently. For three months I have not used my asthma inhaler (it's only God's mercy to heal!). There are days my body may feel discomfort or even shows signs of physical distress, but I recall faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith before fact!
Go to the Lord and take along your Bible and rehearse His promises of healing, restoration, and deliverance. Speak out loud His word! You will be surprised how it will change the atmosphere and short circuit those runaway thoughts in your mind. There is power in God's word. Though you may not see an immediate change in your life or way of thinking just remember God's word always accomplishes what He has spoken - yes, even of those things which we terribly regret and can't undo in our strength.