The Things Above - Colossians 3:1

Colossians 3:1 ESV 

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

When we are raised with Christ, we have access to things above, even as we wait here below. Our life is hidden in Him in heaven and on earth. We must seek those things above to acquire them. 

 

Christ is with us, which means we are with Him. Christ brings us close to the things of God, for He is in God. Through our effort and His power, we make those things our own. 

We will be seated with Him on his throne on earth when He comes down to assume His earthly kingdom. 

Jesus Will Know - Matthew 7:21-23

Matthew 7:21-23 ESV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

How do we know Christ in such a way that He knows us?

How is it that one may do great deeds in the name of Jesus, yet have Him say, "I never knew you"?

The difference is in the knowing. Knowing results from an ongoing seeking and time with Him. Both are inherent to knowing. They involve time and movement which are critical elements of life. Following Jesus, walking with him, is an action that requires effort on our part that reflects the life He has given us.

Doing things on our own may give the appearance of righteousness, but righteousness comes from God alone. Saying his name is not the same as taking his name. Saying His name may result from hearing, yet may not translate into receiving the word of God.

Receiving the word is taking it to heart. Taking it to heart will result in doing the word. If the doing comes from the heart, Jesus will know.

The Deep Trembled - Psalms 77:16

Psalms 77:16 ESV

When the waters saw you, O God,

when the waters saw you, they were afraid;

indeed, the deep trembled.

Psalms 77:19

Your way was through the sea,

your path through the great waters;

yet your footprints were unseen.

Jesus would walk on the water. His path is through the waters of man. The waters are afraid, the darkness of the deep fears the coming light. 

His footprints are unseen by those who do not have the light. The Spirit moves like the wind leaving no tracks in its passing, yet He has come to rest in the hearts of man. 

He Breathed On Them - John 20:21-23

John 20:21-23 ESV 

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

God breathed on the body of Adam the breath of life. 

Jesus breathed on the disciples the breath of life, which would become the body of Christ. 

God breathed the Holy Spirit on each occasion. Each account foreshadows something of the future. Adam would stumble and be removed from the presence of the Lord. Israel would likewise stumble and be scattered among the nations. The disciples will later receive the power of the Holy Spirit, which is the power that raised Jesus from the grave. Christ is the Spirit and he has the keys to life and death. He alone has the power to forgive and he alone can share the keys of the kingdom. 

Matthew 16:18-20

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Doing Nothing

We can do nothing apart from God. 

It is also true if we do nothing, we do it without God. 

Dallas Willard...

According To Your Works - Revelation 2:22-23

Revelation 2:22-23 ESV 

Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.

Works performed by the hands of man will not earn salvation. Yet He judges the works of the mind and heart and will reward us accordingly. The work of the Lord and man to make man in the image of God takes place inside of us. This is the world we must overcome. 

He has brought us to the place where we can determine our destiny. By saying yes to the Lord and continuing to say yes, we will have a bright future in the light of life.

The Wedding Feast - Matthew 22:1-4

Matthew 22:1-14

And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Jesus comes to us to seek a bride. 

He came for the Jews first, and He was rejected, though they were were told to expect Him. 

Now He has gone into the world for as many as He can find among the gentiles. The number is still growing of those who answer yes to His invitation. What a grand offer to everyone on the planet. 

He will still face rejection, but the bride will be chosen and gathered.