The Lord doesn’t want us to long for the past. When we keep going back to the comfortable…the things from our past, we will never move forward. God wants us rather to focus on His vision for today and the future in our life. Oswald Chambers said it best, “Beware of paying attention or going back to what you once were, when God wants you to be something that you have never been.”
Tag: Lord Jesus Christ
Philippians 3:12 ” Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
You are still running your race. You are still fighting the good fight of faith. So forget about the mistakes you made yesterday and instead reach for the goal before you…and you will find it.
John 2:4 ” ‘Dear woman, why do you involve Me?’ Jesus replied. ‘My time has not yet come.’ “
Jesus and His mother Mary had a very special and totally unique relationship. They shared the traditional Mother-Son bond…but because of the miraculous way Jesus was conceived, Mary had insight into just how life-changing His time on earth would be. When the wine ran out at the wedding in Cana, Mary knew Jesus could do something about it. But why did He change the water into wine if His time had not yet come? He did it because He loved and honored His Mother more than any time-table or schedule.
Psalm 109:4 “In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.”
Taking the high road is often very difficult…especially when your good intentions are met with anger and resentment. But it’s when we’re attacked and slandered that people are watching us the closest for our reaction. Do we answer back as the world would…or as Jesus would?
II Peter 3:18 ” But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
But grow in grace and knowledge…what does that exactly mean to you? Is your life a shining example of Christ’s love within? Do you exhibit the same virtues and excellence you have on Sunday at Church as in the Board Room on Monday? Does the holiness you strive for follow you everywhere, or just to certain places? Growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord is a process…hopefully, an ongoing, ever-growing process…so that when people look at you…they just see Jesus.
Malachi 3:2 ” But who can endure the day of His coming? Who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire or a launder’s soap.”
Evil will no longer be able to prevail here on earth on the great and dreadful day of the Lord. All wickedness and darkness will be purged from His sight as the Lord comes in His Father’s glory. In the blink of an eye, all will be purified and cleansed.
Revelation 3:3 ” Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.”
In other words…be ready! Don’t think that maybe next year you’ll get serious about this God thing…the time is now! Be ready today, because you may not have tomorrow. Wake up! Jesus and the eternal gift of salvation is waiting.
Philippians 1:13 ” As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.”
Yes, Paul did have a “captive” audience to preach to…soldiers, guards, and other prisoners. But his example and love of Jesus shone through the dismal and wretched conditions. Paul simply loved people and built bridges of encouragement and trust with anyone he came in contact with.
Luke 6: 48-49 ” He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears My words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
What is your life built on? Is it the bed-rock of Jesus, or something else? When our purpose and source is the foundation of Christ no storm of life can move us…for we are firmly established in Him.
Galations 2:21 ” I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the Law, Christ died for nothing!”
To paraphrase in another area of Galations…Is the Law opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! The Law can’t impart life…only Jesus can give us the gift of eternal life. The Law is just that…laws to live by, but only Jesus can save us from our sins.