Get out of this sick and stupid culture

Peter said, "Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away - whomever, in fact, our Master God invites." He went on in this vein for a long time, urging them over and over, "Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!" Acts 2:37-40 MSG

God invites us to be part of His kingdom, His way of doing life. His ways are different to ours. He is full of grace and unconditional love. Whereas we are so often driven by our own selfish desires. Jesus didn't waste words when He spoke about the sinful nature.

And He said, What comes out of a man is what makes a man unclean and renders [him] unhallowed. For from within [that is] out of the hearts of men, come base and wicked thoughts, sexual immorality, stealing, murder, adultery, coveting (a greedy desire to have more wealth), dangerous and destructive wickedness, deceit; unrestrained (indecent) conduct, an evil eye (envy), slander (evil speaking, malicious mispresentation, abusiveness), pride (the sin of an uplifted heart against God and man), foolishness (folly, lack of sense, recklessness, thoughtlessness). Mark 7:20-22 AMP

That is quite a list! What's more, none of us are innocent when it comes to that list! We are sinners.

As it is written, None in righteous, just and truthful and upright and conscientious, no, not one. Romans 3:10 AMP

But as Peter said in the above scripture, the promise of having our sins forgiven is targeted to us, our children and all those far away. We have the opportunity through Jesus to be in right-standing before God.

Yet, God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. Romans 3:24-25a NLT

So now, knowing we have the opportunity to be in right-standing with God through Jesus, let's take heed of the last part of Peter's speech, "Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!" Let's take a moment to think about our culture, and ask ourselves some questions. Does our culture promote seeking right-standing with God? Does our culture promote God's forgiveness for our sins? Or does our culture promote a lot of self-gratifying behaviour, especially amongst the youth of society? Here is a very thought-provoking scripture, from Ecclesiastes, probably written in the 3BC! How relevant is it for today?

Here's a piece of bad business I've seen on this earth, An error that can be blamed on whoever is in charge: Immaturity is given a place of prominence, While maturity is made to take a back seat. I've seen unproven upstarts riding in style, While experienced veterans are put out to pasture. Ecclesiastes 10:5-7 MSG

Questions for today, do we just 'go along' with our culture, without questioning how it fits with God's ways? Do we take time to analyse our 'thinking and doing', ensuring we are not just 'thinking and doing' things just because it is the trend of our culture? Are we using God's word as our benchmark for our thoughts and actions? Let's ask God to help us to do a 'stock-take' of our thoughts and actions, and show us where adjustment is necessary. Let's choose to fix our attention on God, and not be sabotaged by our 'me-focussed' culture.

Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings out the best of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. Romans 12:2 MSG

Listen and understand

Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand! Luke 14:34-35 NLT

How do we remain salty (a true disciple) so we can be good for seasoning (effective for Jesus)? One part of the answer to this question is given to us in the very next sentence, 'listen and understand'. Are we good listeners? Do we spend more time talking to God, telling him our problems, than being still and listening to what He wants to say to us?  God wants us to listen to Him, hear what He is saying and obey His voice.

But this thing I did command them: Listen to and obey My voice, and I will be your God and you will be My people; and walk in the whole way that I command you, that it may be well with you. Jeremiah 7:24 AMP

I have found that it can be challenging to sit and listen to God. I want to keep talking, not necessarily telling Him about my worries and concerns, but also thanking Him for all He is, all He has done and all He is going to do. It is almost as though I have to put my hand over my mouth to stop the words coming out. Then once I have stopped talking, the next challenge is to slow my mind as it rattles through all the thoughts of this day, and tomorrow. I have to literally speak to my mind, telling it to be quiet, and listen for God's words.

But listening is not enough, we need to get the understanding too. As Jesus tells us,

He who has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him consider and perceive and comprehend by hearing. Matthew 11:15 AMP

Consider, contemplate mentally; perceive, apprehend with the mind; comprehend, grasp mentally. From my experience in listening to God, considering, perceiving and comprehending doesn't usually happen in a matter of minutes. It take time!  Specific time set aside for the purpose of hearing from God.  Specific time set aside from the interruptions of every day life. Specific time set aside, that I cannot do without, if I want to live my life successfully for Him. How can I know what God wants me to do today if I don't take the time to listen to Him and understand what He is saying to me? I want to be salt that is good for seasoning!

Question for today, how is your saltiness? Are you full of flavour, listening and understanding God's will for you each day so you can live out His purpose for your life? If not, ask God to help you make that specific time each day to listen and hear His voice. Ask him to help you to quiet your mouth and your mind, making space to hear from Him. He wants to instruct you and teach you.

I [the Lord] will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eyes upon you. Be not like the horse or the mule, which lack understanding, which must have their mouths held firm with bit and bridle, or else they will not come with you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trust in, relies on, and confidently leans on the Lord shall be compassed about with mercy and with loving-kindness. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you [uncompromisingly] righteous [you who are upright and in right standing with Him]; shout for joy, all you upright in heart! Psalm 32:8-11 AMP

Saving is all his idea

Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it! It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and the saving. Ephesians 2:7-9 MSG

As I read this scripture, all I can do is say, 'Thank you God for all you have done for me and are going to do for me. Thank you God for all you have bought me through and are going to bring me through. Thank you for all the grace and kindness you have showered on me and are going to shower on me.' 

These words of thanks barely seem enough in response to the amazing gift of salvation, and His grace and kindness. But I guess it is not so much the words, but the attitude of our heart towards Him. Jesus tells us to love God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength.

Jesus answered, The first and principal one of all commands is: Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord; And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment. Mark 12:29-30 AMP

So why do we love God? 

We love Him, because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19 AMP

His love for us is perfect. There is no fear or condemnation when we are in Christ Jesus. 

There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection]. 1 John 4:18 AMP

So when we are in Christ Jesus, experiencing God's love and grace, we have the authority to shut the door on fear. We the power of the Holy Spirit to move us from bondage to fear to the freedom of salvation. 

For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! Romans 8:15 AMP

We are God's children. He made us and saved us. He has a plan and a purpose for us.  He wants to shower us with kindness and grace. As the scripture says, all we do is trust him enough to let him do it.

Questions for today, Are you able to trust God enough to let him shower you with grace and kindness? Can you love God purely because He loved you first? Are you living as though you are God's precious child, whom He made and saved?

Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born again child of God enjoys His favour and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied! Matthew 5:6 AMP

Transients in this world

Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that - heavenly country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them. Hebrews 11:13-16 MSG

We are all transients in this world. As Job describes it, our life is merely a breath, 

'Oh remember that my life is but wind (a puff, a breath, a sob); Job 7:7 AMP

But so often we go around with the perception that this earth is our final destination, living for now, making decisions for 'here and now'  rather than focusing on the eternal consequences of our actions. We all have choices to make about what we do here on earth. Choices about the priorities in our life, where and what we sow into.

For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality), will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.  Galatians 6:8 AMP

We have choices to make about our attitudes too. Are we going to choose to believe in God's goodness and faithfulness despite not yet 'seeing' what He has promised? Are we able to fight the good fight of faith, have patience, knowing that there is an eternal prize?

But as for you, O man of God, flee from all these things; aim at and pursue righteousness (right standing with God and true goodness), godliness (which is the loving fear of God and being Christlike), faith, love, steadfastness (patience), and gentleness of heart. Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned and [for which] you confessed the good confession [of faith] before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:11,12 AMP

Questions for today, what choices are you going to make today that show you are laying hold of your eternal life? What actions will you take to show that you are fighting the good fight of faith while waiting for Jesus to bring you into eternal life? 

Thank you Jesus that we are indeed transients in this world, and that there is a better place waiting for us. Thank you for your word that instructs us on how to navigate through this earthly world and still believe. Please help us to guard and keep ourselves in your love. Please give us an abundance of patience to wait for your mercy. Thank you loving Saviour. Amen.

Guard and keep yourselves in the love of God; expect and patiently wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) - [which will bring you] unto life eternal. Jude 1:20 AMP

Do not fret

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, but prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 AMP

This is one of the first scriptures I learnt when I became a Christian. My husband told me about it. It has been one of the key scriptures in my life since I was my salvation in November 1996. Even this morning as I think about the next couple of weeks and all that has to be done, I could feel myself starting to fret and become anxious.  So how true to God's form, should He direct me to this scripture this morning.

I have just spent time writing down all the things I am feeling anxious about, the aspects of these events that I am thankful for, making it all known to God. I have in essence handed them all to Him to take care of. I don't want end up like the ones sown among the thorns.

And the ones sown among the thorns are the others who hear the Word; Then the cares and anxieties of the world and the distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless.  Mark 4:18-19 AMP

Having surrendered my worries, I am now in a place of being able to trust God with all the activities of the next two weeks. The anxiety has gone. I have a peace in my heart, my worries have been displaced, just as The Message bible says,

Before you know it, as sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life. Philippians 4:7 MSG

Thank you Jesus! In fact, I am now wholeheartedly expecting a fantastic two weeks. I am expecting two weeks where everything will come together for good, including effective therapy and a strengthening of family relationships. The Holy Spirit has reminded me that God is faithful and trustworthy.

God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on); by Him you were called into companionship and participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9 AMP

Thank you Jesus, that I am participating with you in life. Thank you Jesus, that you are my companion wherever I go. I do not go alone. Thank you Holy Spirit that you have reminded me of these truths this morning.

Question for today, are you fretting and anxious about some aspect of your life? Why not try surrendering those worries to God, with thanksgiving, and in return receiving that awesome peace? And have an expectant heart for what He is going to do in your life.

And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favour, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]! Isaiah 30:18 AMP

My rescuing knight

I love you, God - you make me strong.
God is my bedrock under my feet,
the castle in which I live,
my rescuing knight,
My God - the high crag
where I run for dear life,
hiding behind the boulders,
safe in the granite hideout.
I sing to GOD, the Praise-Lofty,
and find myself safe and saved.
Psalm 18:1-3 MSG

We have a God who wants to rescue us. He wants to rescue us from things we don't even know that we will need rescuing from. Today I want to share an excerpt from a book, One thousand gifts by Ann Voskamp. I read this book earlier this year, and there have been some key thoughts that have stayed with me, including this passage. 

Voskamp is recounting a conversation with her brother-in-law about the passing of their two your sons at a very young age, both with the same terminal diagnosis. 

"And in this scratchy half whisper, these ragged words choke - wail. "If it were up to me ..." and then the words pound, desperate and hard, "I'd write this story differently." I regret the words as soon as they leave me. They seem so un-Christian, so unaccepting - so No, God! I wish I could take them back, comb out their untangled madness, dress them in their calm Sunday best. But there they are, released and naked, raw and real, stripped of any theological cliche, my exposed, serrated howl to the throne room.

"You know..." John's voice breaks into my memory and his gaze lingers, then turns again toward the waving wheat field. "Well, even with our boys ... I don't know why that all happened." He shrugs again. "But do I have to?... Who knows? I don't mention it often, but sometimes I think of that story in the Old  Testament. Can't remember what book, but you know - when God gave King Hezekiah fifteen more years of life? Because he prayed for it? But if Hezekiah had died when God first intended, Manasseh would never have been born. And what does the Bible say about Manasseh? Something to the effect that Manasseh had led the Israelites to do even more evil that all the heathen nations around Israel. Think of all the evil that would have been avoided if Hezekiah had died earlier, before Manasseh was born. I am not saying anything, either way, about anything."

He's watching that sea of green rolling in winds. Then it comes slow, in a low, quiet voice that I have to strain to hear. 

"Just that maybe... maybe you don't want to change the story, because you don't know what a different ending holds."

The words I choked out that dying, ending day, echo. Pierce. There's a reason I am not writing the story and God is. He knows how it all works out, where it all leads, what it all means. I don't.  (Page 20,21)

This passage has 'stuck with me' because it reminded me that God always knows best. When we don't understand a situation, and want answers, we have to get to a place where we can trust God. We have to be able to live abundantly without the answers. 

We need to understand that how and when God rescues us may not be how we thought he would. We need to know in our heart that His rescue plan is always the best plan. We need to get to that place in our hearts and minds where we can trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times.

He only is my Rock and my salvation; He is my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be moved. With God rests my salvation and my glory; He is my Rock of unyielding strength and impenetrable hardness, and my refuge is in God! Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is refuge for us (a fortress and a high tower). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! Psalm 62:6-8 AMP

When things haven't gone the way you expected them to, it can be very difficult to trust God and believe that He has the best plan. I know this from my own experience. Why did the brain tumor grow back in Victoria? Why didn't it shrivel up and die as we had so often prayed for? These are questions I asked God for a few days when we first received the news of the re-growth. I knew I couldn't go on asking these questions as it was tearing me up emotionally. I did have to accept the circumstance and make a decision to either move forward with God, or stay in an abyss of self-pity and go down that destructive path. I chose to move forward with God, to make him my refuge and my Rock. I chose to trust in Him, despite the circumstances. It has been a long journey, but I know I made the right choice, sticking with God, trusting that He is my rescuing knight, and our daughter's rescuing knight.

Question for today, is there a circumstance in your life that you want answers for, but know you probably won't get them? Are you at a place where you can live your life abundantly despite not knowing the answers? If not, ask God to help you to trust Him more, and bring you to a place where you can declare

I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust! Psalm 91:2 AMP

Keep asking Him to show you how to confidently trust Him, in every day, don't give up on Him. He wants to be your rescuing knight too.

The goal and purpose of my life

"You've heard me tell you, 'I'm going away, and I'm coming back.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I'm on my way to the Father because the Father is the goal and purpose of my life.

"I've told you this ahead of time, before it happens, so that when it does happen, the confirmation will deepen your belief in me. I'll not be talking with you much more like this because the chief of this godless world is about to attack. But don't worry - he has nothing on me, no claim on me. But so the world might know how thoroughly I love the Father, I am carrying out my Father's instructions right down to the last detail. "Get up. Let's go. It's time to leave here. John 14:28-31 MSG

Jesus had no doubts about the goal and purpose of his life. He was meticulous in ensuring that He did exactly what His Father asked him to do, carrying out his instructions right down to the last detail.  He was the ultimate example of obedience and faithfulness, culminating in the act of sacrifice for us.

And going a little farther, He threw Himself upon the ground on His face and prayed saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will [not what I desire], but as You will and desire. Matthew 26:39 AMP

Jesus knew that the path He was on was not going to be all smooth sailing. He was very aware of that the chief of this godless world was roaming around, looking for someone to devour. 

Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.  1 Peter 5:8AMP

But Jesus also knew the authority and power He had over Satan. The Amplified bible puts it this way.

I will not talk with you much more, for the prince(evil genius, ruler) of the world is coming. And he has no claim on Me. [He has nothing in common with Me; there is nothing in Me that belongs to him, and he has no power over Me.] John 14:30 AMP

Questions for today. What about us, do we have a clear understanding of the goal and purpose for our lives? Do we know without doubt what God has purposed for us now and in the future? What are we doing to fulfill that purpose? And equally important, what preparation are we doing for when the attack from Satan comes to slow us down? What are we doing to ensure that we stand firm in our faith, knowing in our heart of hearts that Satan has no power over us?

In answer to these questions, there are four words that come to mind, humble, repent, grace, love. Two actions for us to do, humble ourselves and repent. Two actions that God always does, gives us grace and shows us  unconditional love.

So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you. Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognise that you are] sinners, get you soiled hands clean; [realise that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery]. [As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep [over your disloyalty]. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection and heartfelt shame [for your sins]. Humbler yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant. James 4:7-10 AMP

By humbling ourselves and repenting, we put ourselves in a position where we can start to understand God's love for us and His purpose for our life. We will have a desire to be obedient and faithful, to carry out His instructions right down to the last detail. He will lift you up and make your life significant.

Strength is for service

Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?" Romans 15:1-2 MSG

The words, 'Strength is for service, not status' really stood out to me today. With all I have experienced over the past 3 or so years, people have often said to me, 'you are so strong'. As I reflect on that time now, yes it would seem as though I have been strong most of the time. However it has not been my strength getting me through each day, it has been Jesus' strength in me. And there have certainly been many days when I have felt completely hopeless and powerless, devoid of any strength to make it through the day. On those days I have experienced the truth of Isaiah 40:29-31

He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. The will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:29-31 NLT

On those days of faltering, those who were strong and able in their faith did step in and lend a hand to me, who was faltering. I am forever grateful for their spiritual wisdom and practical support that upheld me in a time of great need.  

Now my life circumstances are stable, God has been revealing more and more to me, His purposes for the new strength and understanding I have gained during that season of trial and testing. It has not just been so I can say 'Hey look what we have faced and made it through'. No, rather it has been an 'education process', the output of which is to now be used to serve and share with others. This strength and learning is to be used to help others, as emotionally difficult as that sometimes is.

That's exactly what Jesus did. He didn't make it easy for himself by avoiding people's troubles, but waded right in and helped out. "I took on the troubles of the troubled," is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it's written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. Romans 15:3-5 MSG

As the scripture says, Jesus didn't take the easy route, he waded right in and helped out. For us, if we choose to do the same, we need to remember we have the Holy Spirit with us. The Holy Spirit will help us to understand where, when and what help is needed.

So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weaknesses; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will. Romans 8:26-27 AMP 

Questions for today, has there been some experience in your life that resulted in you gaining new strength and understanding from God?  Have you asked God what He wants you to do what you have learnt? Be bold and courageous in His Name. Use the strength He has given you for service. You are not alone, the Holy Spirit is willing and able to help you. 

Live full lives

My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent father who parcels our all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit - not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength - that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19 MSG

How often do we physically, not just metaphorically, get down on our knees before God? The times in worship and prayer when I have physically knelt before God, have been extremely humbling experiences. The action of kneeling has been a physical demonstration of my yielding and surrendering to God. The Catholic Encyclopedia explains it this way, 'a gesture: involving, like prostration, a profession of dependence or helplessness, and therefore very naturally adopted for praying and for worship in general.'

Dependence and helplessness, yes, kneeling before God is showing Him my heart attitude of being completely reliant on Him. Arriving at a place where I am completely trusting my Heavenly Father to strengthen me by His Spirit, with a glorious inner strength. A place where I know that He will not forsake me.

for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on You)! [Assuredly not!] Hebrews 13:5b

God promises not to leave us helpless or let us down. His love for us is immense. He wants us to become all that He has purposed for us, a life of abundance in every area. Accepting and embracing Christ's love positions us for living our lives to the full. Christ's love enables us to become all that God planned for us to be.

Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grown down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:17-19 NLT

Questions today, when was the last time you physically knelt before God and surrendered to Him? Why not open your heart to Him and try it today? Whilst in that attitude of surrender, ask God to give you the power to understand Christ's love for you, it's breadth, length, height, depth. So that you can carry out His purpose's for your life.

[That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] - To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it). Ephesians 3:19-21 AMP

The one-of-a-kind God Expression

John pointed him out and called, "This is the One! The One I told you was coming after me but in fact was ahead of me. He has always been ahead of me, has always had the first word." We all live off his generous bounty, gift after gift after gift. We got the basics from Moses, and then this exuberant giving and receiving, the endless knowing and understanding - all this came through Jesus, the Messiah. No one has ever seen God, not so much as a glimpse. The one-of-a-kind God Expression, who exists at the very heart of the Father, has made him plain as day. John 1: 15-18 MSG

Jesus, the one-of-a-king God Expression. He showed God's heart when He gave His life for us, the ones who are in trouble, the sinners.

But when Jesus heard it, He replied, Those who are strong and well (healthy) have no need of a physician, but those who are weak and sick. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy [that is, readiness to help those in trouble] and not sacrifice and sacrificial victims. For I came not to call and invite [to repentance] the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), but sinners (the erring ones and all those not free from sin). Matthew 9:12-13 AMP

Yes, Jesus came for us, the ones who continually get it wrong, saying the wrong thing, doing the wrong thing, thinking the the wrong thing. We are so far from perfect! But there is hope for us all. There is hope in Jesus Christ.

By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places] Ephesians 1:18-20 AM

What an inheritance we have in Jesus! Our challenge is to know and live in that hope, to really understand what has been made available to us. And then to use what is available to bless others, always giving the glory to God.

Question for today, are you living fully out of the inheritance Jesus has given you? If not, ask God to help you to do exactly that. Let's pray. 

Heavenly Father, Thank you for sending Jesus, the one-of-a-kind God expression. Please help me to know and understand that You sent Jesus for me, the sinner, the erring one. Please flood the eyes of my heart with Your light so I can know and understand the hope to which you have called me. Please help me to know and understand the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of Your power in and for us who believe. Please help me to use Your power available to me, to bless others. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.

Estranged and alienated from Him

And God purposed that through (by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His cross. And although you at one time were estranged and alienated from Him and were of hostile attitude of mind in your wicked activities, yet now has [Christ, the Messiah] reconciled [you to God] in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in His [the Father's] presence. [And this He will do] provided that you continue to stay with and in the faith [in Christ], well grounded and settled and steadfast, not shifting or moving away from the hope [which rests on and is inspired by] the glad tidings (the Gospel), which you heard and which has been preached [as being designed for and offered without restrictions] to every person under heaven, and of which [Gospel] I, Paul, became a minister. Colossians 1:20-23 AMP

I can still remember the peace I felt when I moved from that place of being estranged and alienated from God to being reconciled through Christ. In fact, I can still remember the exact place I was, on the Cowper Wharf Roadway in Woolloomooloo, Sydney, just opposite Harry's Cafe de Wheels. I was walking to work, and for months, during this walk my heart and mind had been searching for the real meaning of life. At the beginning of this search, I certainly did have a hostile attitude of mind towards God. He was definitely not on my list of things and ideas to investigate! But I was very much on His list! He knew all about me, He always had, even though I didn't acknowledge Him.

You know when I leave and when I get back;

I'm never out of your sight,

You know everything I'm going to say

before I start the sentence.

Psalm 139:3-4 MSG

After my investigations, mainly in the New Age arena, and after hearing the Gospel from people who knew and lived it, God removed the scales from my eyes and softened my heart. I do not have words to express the gratitude for that moment in my life, when I had a revelation of God and what Jesus had done for me. I am indeed blessed because I do now see.

But blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are your eyes because they do see, and your ears because they do hear. Matthew 13:16 AMP

We are blessed to have people in our lives who have shared the Gospel with each of us. People who have insight into God's kingdom and have shared that insight with us. Often this sharing has been through stories. A method of sharing that Jesus often used effectively.

The disciples came up and asked, "Why do you tell stories? He replied, "You've been given insight into God's kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn't been given to them. Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That's why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. In their present state they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they're blue in the face and not get it. Matthew 13: 10-13 MSG

We all have people in our world who are estranged and alienated from Him. We all have stories of how God has rescued us through His Son, Jesus. We all have a voice, of some type (talking, writing, song-writing, painting, poetry etc). We all know that the Gospel is designed for and  to be offered without restrictions to every person under heaven. So let's bold. Let's push away our fears, remembering that God has gone before us. He knows everything about everyone.

Question for today, are there people in your life who are estranged and alienated from God? Ask God to show you how to share with them what God has done for you. He wants them to hear about Jesus and the salvation that awaits them.

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.  John 3:16,17 AMP

God is our strength

God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable to temptation], a very present and well-proved help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear. Psalm 46:1-2a AMP

Today, lets have a look at what it means when we say, God is our refuge and our strength, starting with some definitions.

God is our refuge - our shelter from pursuit or danger or trouble. God is our strength - our capacity to withstand great force or pressure. God is mighty - possessing great and impressive power or strength, in body, mind or influence. God is impenetrable to temptation - inaccessible to ideas, influences to do something wrong or unwise.

God is very present - real, true, actual being, existing, occurring at this time or now. God is well proved - shown to have the character expected of Him, especially through one's actions.

With God as our refuge and our strength, always with us, protecting us and sheltering us, we can eventually come to the place where we, we will not fear Psalm 46:2 AMP

Fear, in this sense, meaning, to be afraid of (something or someone), to expect or worry about ( something bad or unpleasant) is one of the most debilitating emotions.  But when we get the revelation that God is for us, He is always with us, He is out helper, we can learn not to be seized with alarm. 

So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldy say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me? Hebrews 13:6 AMP

We can listen to our thoughts, and when fearful thoughts start to invade our mind, we can take those thoughts captive, replacing them with God's truth. We can put that emotion of fear in it's rightful place, under our feet.

We can use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. 2 cor 10:5 MSG

God's truth about Himself and us, His children, is what we need to get into our hearts. His truth is one of the powerful God-tools available to us every single day! So, let's use it to fight fear, and declare, the Lord is my Strength.

The Lord is my Strength and my [impenetrable] Shield; my heart trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart gladly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him. Psalm 28:6,7 AMP

Question for today, are you afraid of something or someone, worrying about something that may or may not happen? Tell God how you are feeling, and ask Him to be your refuge and strength. Ask God to show you how to fight the fear in your mind. He will help you, He is very present and well-proved.

You never looked to him

You assessed your defenses that Day, inspected your arsenal of weapons in the Forest Armory. You found the weak places in the city walls that needed repair. You secured the water supply at the Lower Pool. You took an inventory of the houses in Jerusalem and tore down some to get bricks to fortify the city wall. You built a large cistern to ensure plenty of water. You looked and looked and looked, but you never looked to him who gave you this city, never once consulted the One who has long had plans for this city. Isaiah 22:8-11 MSG

When we are faced with a challenging circumstance, how often do we look for solutions in many different places and solutions from many different people, and forget to look to God for the answer? Or leave God to be the last one on our list to consult? 

The world we live in constantly promotes independence and self-reliance. To live God's way, is to live with complete reliance on God to be your 'everything'. As Christians, we are called to become more like Jesus, and here is what He had to say about His relationship with God.

I am able to do nothing from Myself [independently, of My own accord - but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders]. Even as I hear, I judge [I decide as I am bidden to decide. As the voice comes to Me, so I give a decision], and My judgement is right (just, righteous), because I do not seek or consult My own will [I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself, My own aim, My own purpose] but only the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me. John 5:30 AMP

To live this way, I think we need to purposefully cut off the 'noise' around us. As James says, 

My dear friends, don't let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. James 2:1 MSG

We need to actively be in God's word, seeking His truth, letting it soak into our hearts, so when the testing and trials come, we don't give a second thought as to where to find the answer. We need to act on what we know is God's truth.

Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. James 1:22-24 MSG

Questions for today, do you know who you are? In times of testing and trial, who or what would you look to? Is God at the top of your list? If not, consider praying this prayer with me.

Heavenly Father, please forgive us today for letting ourselves be influenced by the world rather than by You and Your truth alone. Before the trials and tests come, please help us to understand more of Your truth. Please help us to know  in our hearts exactly who we are in You. So when the trials and tests come, we immediately look to You alone. In Jesus Name, Amen

So turn to me and be helped - saved! - everyone, whoever and wherever you are. I am GOD, the only God there is, the one and only. I promise in my own name: Every word out of my mouth does what it says. I never take back what I say. Everyone is going to end up kneeling before me. Everyone is going to end up saying of me, Yes! Salvation and strength are in GOD!" Isaiah 45:22-24 AMP