Knowing Him

Philippians 3:8-10 ESV

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 

Knowing Jesus as Lord is truly knowing Him. Knowing Him as less than Lord makes us less like Him. It is difficult to say we are disciples if we have trouble saying we follow after Him. 

Our right standing with God depends on faith. Jesus placed His faith in the Father, coming to live as man only to die, knowing He would be raised by the Father. We are to have that same faith, placing it in the Son, which is the righteousness of God.  We will certainly die, but we can share in His resurrection. 

The cup was set before Him. He drank all of it, the full wrath of God met by the power of His love and mercy. His next cup will be lifted at the marriage feast with His bride the church. 

Paul trades everything for Christ. It was easy for him to do so when he saw everything as rubbish when compared to the treasure revealed in Christ. 

A Thing To Be Grasped

Philippians 2:5-8 ESV

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant,   being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

Jesus did not think His divinity something to hold on to, but instead came for us. We should be all the more eager to let go of our flesh for the form of Jesus. 

We are to be humble and obedient as a new creature in Christ. 

On The Abundance

Psalms 36:7-9 EVS

7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! 

The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 

8 They feast on the abundance of your house, 

and you give them drink from the river of your delights. 

9 For with you is the fountain of life; 

in your light do we see light. 

In the shadow of His love, it is His light we see.   We drink and find our rest in His abundance. 

Conversion

Conversion is only the beginning of conversion. We are made whole in Christ, but not wholly what we will come to be. When we accept Him, the journey begins.

Pleasing Fragrance

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 EVS

14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 

Love exercises all that is pure, holy, and just. It is the summation of God's message to us, of how to live and truly live. It is the path to God, shown by His Son Jesus the Christ, the perfect image of the Father. 

This love is selfless. The opposite of Godly love is self love. Yet Godly love is the only way to find the true self. 

More than a concept, it is an action, not to be done now and then, but integrated in all we do. Our yielding to love becomes a living sacrifice, as the flame of His Spirit works with our spirit. It rises as a pleasing fragrance to God. 

Preparing A Place

John 14:2 ESV

2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 

Each of us becomes the dwelling place, a temple of the Lord. The Father's house is where He is. We change in His presence as we take Him in our hearts. He performs a good work within us. Jesus leaves to make room for the Spirit, given to seal us in the kingdom. He prepares us, guiding and building His body the church in the way of eternal life.

In His Image

Genesis 1:26 (New International Version)

 ²⁶ Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

How is it that we can do good things, have a sense of right and wrong, love, feel compassion and empathy for our fellow man, and have a sense of justice?

These are a result of our Father, for we are made in His image. 

Coloring With Crayons

Scientists have have embraced the big bang theory for the origin of the universe, but are unable to consider something similar for life, despite the evidence and lack of another viable explanation. They are still coloring with crayons.  

The Same

The Old Testament came before the New, but both rest on the same foundation and give voice to the same story. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Same Old Tune

Luke 7:29-35 ESV

29( When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just,   having been baptized with the baptism of John, 30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.) 

31 “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, 

“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; 

we sang a dirge, and you did not weep. ’ 

33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon. ’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! ’ 35 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children. ” 

The Pharisees rejected the idea that repentance applied to them. They were above that. They trusted in their religion and had become blind, more comfortable with the idol of their own making than with the Son of God standing before them. In the marketplace of the world, they had traded the wisdom of God for the wisdom of man. But some people, even tax collectors, were not confounded by their own thinking and desires, but responded to God's call.

Jesus likens the generation that rejects Him to children singing and playing a familiar tune. The lyrics of the songs mostly have the word "me" or "I" in them. They either never evolved beyond self, or sank into a muddled pool of futile thinking.

The Time Is Fulfilled

Mark 1:14-15 ESV

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. ” 

Jesus continues and expands on the message of John. John prepared the way by calling the people to repent. Repentance allows access to the gospel of God. Believing the gospel opens the gates to the kingdom of God. 

This is the way of salvation. It is available now. "The time is fulfilled," 

The Least

Luke 7:24-28 ESV

24 When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings'courts. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written, 

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, 

who will prepare your way before you. ’ 

28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. ” 

As blessed as John was to be the messenger that would prepare the way of the Lord, Jesus says the least in the kingdom of God is greater. The least of that kingdom walks in the presence of the Lord. Their feet are no longer confined to the path of this world, no longer subject to the chains of death, but are made alive and free in the grace of Jesus.

Those born of women, when reborn in the Spirit become children of God.

We have been given the privilege of pointing the way for others, and even more, walking in the way.

We will see more of John one day. I expect we'll find him in a pretty good place. Hope you'll come out to see him.

In The Midst Of You

Luke 17:21 ESV

21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is! ’ or ‘There! ’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you. ” 

We move from being near the kingdom, to being the "here" of the kingdom when we accept Christ. It is one step away, one heartbeat given to Him. It is where two or more gather, even as it is with each one sealed with the Spirit, the body of Christ. It is His light that burns in the lamp stands of Revelation and He is in their midst.

Are You The One?

Luke 7:18-23 ESV

18   The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another? ” 20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another? ’” 21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me. ” 

John begins to doubt what he has seen. Even though he announced the Son of God to the world, he now sits in a prison facing execution. I imagine it was dark and lonely, Satan's preferred playground. This may not have been what John was expecting. 

He sends two disciples to ask of Jesus, "Are you the one?"

Jesus answers using Scripture and points to the evidence of it being fulfilled. Just as John fulfilled prophecy as the voice in the wilderness, Jesus was fulfilling all that spoke of the Lamb of God. The two disciples would see and hear for themselves this wonderful new thing being done by God. 

Listening to the disciples report upon their return, I can see a smile growing on John's face and a burning in his heart. He knows. He can close his eyes and rest. The waiting is truly over.

Jesus is the One. He blesses each one who accepts Him. 

Lord, Lord

Matthew 7:21-23

21"Not everyone who keeps saying to me,'Lord, Lord,'will get into the kingdom of heaven, but only the person who keeps doing the will of my Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day,'Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name, drove out demons in your name, and performed many miracles in your name, didn't we?'23 Then I will tell them plainly,'I never knew you. Get away from me, you evildoers!'"

Sobering words for anyone who claims the name of Jesus but does not have a relationship with Him. There will be no faking it when our time comes to stand before the Lord. He Who searches the heart is not fooled or deceived. He tells us plainly now. He will judge plainly then. 

What Possesses You?

Mark 10:20-22 ESV

20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth. ” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. ” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 

This young man had wealth and did all the right things he thought, but his perspective and trust was in what he had done and what he would do. His treasure was in himself and his earthly possessions. 

Jesus saw the lack in this man's life, his poverty of spirit. His good fortune here meant nothing in heaven. His own efforts and judgement would not deliver him into the kingdom of God. 

Faith and trust in Jesus lead to eternal life. This is what the young man lacked. It is not what we have or done that means anything, but in whom we have believed. 

In love Jesus says to all, "come". Don't stay where you are and don't turn back. 

Don't let possessions possess you. Come.