“Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” [1]
Hope is anticipating a future that is better than the present. Hope is good for us.
Christian hope is different than optimism. Optimism can amount to a baseless belief that somehow things will always get better. Christian hope is based on a person: Jesus Christ.
Paul believed that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay our sin debt. Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day. Paul’s hope was based in the victory of Messiah over death and in His promise to resurrect all who believe in Him.
Jesus will transform our lowly bodies to conform to His glorious body. Our miracle working Savior does this miracle. This is the prize. This is the hope He has given to us. Our heavenly citizenship that is not based on our works, race, social class, or gender, but based on what Jesus Christ did for us. He is our blessed hope!
[1] Philippians 3:13-14, 20-21
Sunday, June 28, 2020
Monday, June 8, 2020
Grace That Makes Rich
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” [1]
“...as poor, yet making many rich...” [2]
“Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” [3]
There’s a different kind of wealth that the Lord gives to those who walk with Him, namely the wealth of faith and spiritual fruits and gifts.
Jesus went to the cross to take away the sins of the world. We just need to receive this gift by faith. Once sin is removed, Jesus gives us another gift, namely the gift of His indwelling Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit enriches those who have Him with faith in God and fruits of God’s character such as love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. The Holy Spirit gives gifts such as words of wisdom, words of knowledge, words of faith, gifts of healing, miracles, prophetic utterances and discerning of spirits. [4] These fruits and gifts of the Spirit empower the one who has them to enrich the lives of those around him or her. The Christian might be poor and uneducated by the world'’ standards, but in truth, do more to enrich the lives of others than many millionaires combined.
“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for becoming poor for us so that we could receive You and the fruits and gifts of Your Holy Spirit. Please enrich the lives of others as we depend upon Your grace to work in and through us. For it is in Your Name that we pray. Amen.”
[1] 2 Corinthians 8:9
[2] 2 Corinthians 6:10
[3] James 2:5
[4] Galatians 5:22-23 & 1 Corinthians 11:8-10
“...as poor, yet making many rich...” [2]
“Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” [3]
There’s a different kind of wealth that the Lord gives to those who walk with Him, namely the wealth of faith and spiritual fruits and gifts.
Jesus went to the cross to take away the sins of the world. We just need to receive this gift by faith. Once sin is removed, Jesus gives us another gift, namely the gift of His indwelling Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit enriches those who have Him with faith in God and fruits of God’s character such as love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. The Holy Spirit gives gifts such as words of wisdom, words of knowledge, words of faith, gifts of healing, miracles, prophetic utterances and discerning of spirits. [4] These fruits and gifts of the Spirit empower the one who has them to enrich the lives of those around him or her. The Christian might be poor and uneducated by the world'’ standards, but in truth, do more to enrich the lives of others than many millionaires combined.
“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for becoming poor for us so that we could receive You and the fruits and gifts of Your Holy Spirit. Please enrich the lives of others as we depend upon Your grace to work in and through us. For it is in Your Name that we pray. Amen.”
[1] 2 Corinthians 8:9
[2] 2 Corinthians 6:10
[3] James 2:5
[4] Galatians 5:22-23 & 1 Corinthians 11:8-10
Saturday, June 6, 2020
The Fellowship of Christ's Sufferings
“We commend ourselves as ministers of God:
In much patience,
In tribulations,
In needs,
In distresses,
In stripes,
In imprisonments,
In tumults,
In labors,
In sleeplessness,
In fasting;
By purity,
By knowledge,
By long-suffering,
By kindness,
By the Holy Spirit,
By sincere love,
By the word of truth,
By the power of God,
By the armor of righteousness...
By honor and dishonor,
By evil report and good report;
As deceivers, and yet true;
As unknown, and yet well known;
As dying, and behold we live;
As chastened, and yet not killed;
As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;
As poor, yet making many rich;
As having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” [1]
Paul the Apostle wrote of a different kind of divine validation from which to speak for Christ to the world. His credentials to speak for God included a long list of sufferings that he incurred while sharing the Good News of Christ with others. He told the Philippians that he wanted to fellowship in Christ’s sufferings and be conformed to Messiah’s death. [2]
I thank God for all who paid a great price to bring me to Christ.
“Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your servants who go through so much to keep Your light, Your love, Your joy, and Your peace flowing in this cruel world. Please continue to grace our world with such servants as these. And please grant us the grace to join in this unique fellowship. It is in the Name of Your Son Jesus that I pray. Amen.”
[1] 2 Corinthians 6:5-10
[2] Philippians 3:10
In much patience,
In tribulations,
In needs,
In distresses,
In stripes,
In imprisonments,
In tumults,
In labors,
In sleeplessness,
In fasting;
By purity,
By knowledge,
By long-suffering,
By kindness,
By the Holy Spirit,
By sincere love,
By the word of truth,
By the power of God,
By the armor of righteousness...
By honor and dishonor,
By evil report and good report;
As deceivers, and yet true;
As unknown, and yet well known;
As dying, and behold we live;
As chastened, and yet not killed;
As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;
As poor, yet making many rich;
As having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” [1]
Paul the Apostle wrote of a different kind of divine validation from which to speak for Christ to the world. His credentials to speak for God included a long list of sufferings that he incurred while sharing the Good News of Christ with others. He told the Philippians that he wanted to fellowship in Christ’s sufferings and be conformed to Messiah’s death. [2]
I thank God for all who paid a great price to bring me to Christ.
“Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your servants who go through so much to keep Your light, Your love, Your joy, and Your peace flowing in this cruel world. Please continue to grace our world with such servants as these. And please grant us the grace to join in this unique fellowship. It is in the Name of Your Son Jesus that I pray. Amen.”
[1] 2 Corinthians 6:5-10
[2] Philippians 3:10
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