Who Do You Know?

I know there are times when you just want to give in to the flesh and give up. Let me encourage you with a little bit of Romans,

“By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise. There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!” v 1-5

Furthermore:

“Now that we are set right with God by means of this sacrificial death, the consummate blood sacrifice, there is no longer a question of being at odds with God in any way. If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of his Son, now that we're at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of his resurrection life! Now that we have actually received this amazing friendship with God, we are no longer content to simply say it in plodding prose. We sing and shout our praises to God through Jesus, the Messiah!” v 9-10

Obviously, our worst refers to our former, sinful lives outside of Christ, but since we are now IN Christ we are new creations, not obligated to the desires of the old, but redesigned within our hearts to crave the things of the Spirit. Not that we do not continue to battle, because we do, but now we have strength and power that only comes from Jesus to continue to redeem us from that life that so easily entangled us; it limited us. In the days ahead, let us be encouraged by the power that Christ offers us. As Paul states, “that I may know Him and be found in Him”. Let the lyrics of this song resonate within your heart today as you strive, as I strive to know Him more and make Him known:

All I once held dear, built my life upon
All this world reveres, and wars to own
All I once thought gain I have counted loss
Spent and worthless now, compared to this

Knowing you, Jesus. Knowing you.
There is no greater thing!
You're my all, you're the best!
You're my joy, my righteousness!
And I love you, Lord.

Now my heart's desire is to know you more
To be found in you and known as yours
To possess by faith what I could not earn
All-surpassing gift of righteousness

Oh, to know the power of your risen life
And to know You in Your sufferings
To become like you in your death, my Lord
So with you to live and never die.

I Make My Own Decisions

Post NFL-Owners meeting, issues were addressed regarding the leagues rules and policies; some of which were trivial, while others were created to enforce player safety. I cannot say that I really care about some of the rules to be included in the 2008-2009 season, however, while I was reading the update on www.espn.com I was reminded that as humans we too attempt to meet with God to discuss our lives and the rules set out. Some of which we think are fair and just, while others we struggle to compute relevance within our own realm of influence. Many people assume that there is a certain level of moral uprightness that we must consistently aspire to live by, while others stick their moral finger in the wind and follow the guidance of their good feelings. The moral compass guided by the character and righteousness of the Almighty is the standard by which we should live or find our eternal security. Abraham's faith was accounted to him righteousness, and that righteous came from only one source: Yahweh. The same righteousness is available to us through an unblemished sacrifice that was made many years ago. This sacrifice is what merits you favor in the eyes of a moral, just, and loving Creator, who without such has every right and is obligated in the truth of His character to uphold a righteous standard.Instead of deliberating your "inalienable rights", submit to the Giver of such rights, whose blood paid the penalty of death we all owe. Find within yourself the faith to believe in the One who able to save you from sin and death. Trust in Him who is unshakable!