The nature of God's forgiveness - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 3:13, 

"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

Paul asks us to forgive others if we have a grievance against anyone. He says to forgive as the Lord has forgiven us. How has the Lord forgiven us? What does that forgiveness look like?

Several points come to mind.

The first is that we are all sinful and culpable for that sin. We all need to acknowledge, along with Paul in Romans 3:23, that we all have sinned. We also need to drop all the justifications we embrace, that our sins are not so bad. "At least I am not as bad as that person...". Read what Jesus had to say of such an attitude, "The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.'" Luke 18:11. People who harbor such misguided thinking find they do not convince God our Judge, "For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Luke 18:14. We read that the wages of sin is death, Romans 6:23. Since all sin, all will be headed to a fiery lake of burning sulfur, Revelation 21:8.

However, through no good of our own, God has reached out to us. He tells us of his love for us, for all of us, every man, woman and child, John 3:16. It is while every man, woman and child is caught up in sin, and guilty for it, God expresses his love. To understand how the Lord has forgiven us, we need to realize that it was right in the middle of our sinful condition, thinking, saying and doing those things that grieve the heart of God that he reached out to us! Paul observes, "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8. To make it even more clearly, he says, "For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!" Romans 5:10.

This brings me to another thought. God's love, something we did not earn, something we do not merit, something clearly not due us for anything we may have done (indeed, what is due us is that fiery lake of burning sulfur) was manifested in an incomprehensible act of God: he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to take the punishment due us upon himself! God is a just God and his sense of justice had to be satisfied if he were to offer us his forgiveness. He sent his Son to die on that miserable cross to pay the penalty for your sins and my sins. God's forgiveness flows from his love for us, a love we do not deserve, a love we did not earn.

Another thought that comes to mind is that God's forgiveness results in a full restoration of our relationship with him. He does not offer a "partial forgiveness" where he holds his nose around us. God's forgiveness is a complete forgiveness! Paul puts it this way, "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." Ephesians 1:4. Look at that verse... Paul says before time began God decided that he would forgive us sinners in such a way that we would be held in his esteem as holy and blameless!

God forgave those he considered his enemies - out of his love for them. God's forgiveness came at a great price he paid. God's forgiveness is freely given, not earned, not deserved. God's forgiveness restores our right relationship with him. He does not hold us at arm's length, but embraces us freely, just as if we had never sinned! What a forgiveness this is!

This is how we are to forgive one another!

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

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Jesus Christ is coming back! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 3:4,

"When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

Jesus Christ is going to appear again. Paul tells us Jesus is in heaven at the right hand of God, "Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." Romans 8:34. Also here in Colossians 3:1, "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." Jesus Christ is in heaven, where he will remain until the appointed time. Jesus Christ is coming back!

The writer of Hebrews tells us, "Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Jesus Christ is coming back!

Jesus taught about his second coming to earth, "As lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." Matthew 24:27. He went on to say, "Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." Matthew 24:30-31. Jesus Christ is coming back!

Paul described the event in a spell-binding manner, "We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17. Jesus Christ is coming back!

James asks us to be patient while waiting for the return of Jesus Christ and consider it as something that is near, "Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near." James 5:7-8. Jesus himself desires us to consider his second coming as something imminent for every generation, "Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." Revelation 22:12-13.  Jesus Chris is coming back!

Here is an event that cannot be stopped. It cannot be delayed and it cannot be detoured. Jesus Christ is coming back, it is a scheduled event of earth-shattering importance and nothing will prevent it. Like a massive freight train barreling down the tracks right at us, nothing can stop it till it reaches its appointed destination at the appointed time. Given this, how might this reality impact your life, your choices today?

Jesus Christ is coming back!

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

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Compelling God Through Prayer - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 4:2-3,

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains."

Believers are to pray. Here Paul tells us to be devoted to the activity of pursuing God in prayer. Paul gave himself to prayer on behalf of other believers, Romans 1:9-10 and Colossians 1:3, 9. In Ephesians 6:18 he tells his readers to pray, "Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people." Ephesians 6:18.

We see that in addition to thankfulness and gratitude, Paul's prayers included specific requests of God, asking him for the ability to do things, either for himself or in behalf of others. Here in Colossians 4:2-3 Paul asks that "God may open a door for our message", a request asking for God's involvement in his work as an apostle, a door he felt he needed in making inroads, taking the gospel to certain people.

The notion of God responding to our requests, something Jesus exhorted his followers to seek, is predicated on the realization that God may respond to our requests if we pray, when he may otherwise not act. This is why there are exhortations to do so. This realization speaks to the issue that fatalism, "what will be will be", that all things have been predetermined, is a faulty concept. If we have been exhorted to pray and ask for certain things, then thoughts about what we might want to do or see happen become very important, as those very things may be what God would like to see happen as well. God can be persuaded by our requests when he may not otherwise act.

I'm certain those things we request of God have a favorable reception by him if they are consistent with his own agenda. I can ask for a personal fortune, but God is not going to be persuaded. Just because I am persuaded on something doesn't mean God is as well. On the other hand, Paul asked God to "open a door for our message", something consistent with with God's agenda of populating his family through the gospel enterprise.

One event that is truly  remarkable in this regard was Moses' plea to God on behalf of Israel at Mt. Sinai: 

"'I have seen these people,' the Lord said to Moses, 'and they are a stiff-necked people. Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.' But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. 'Lord,' he said, 'why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.' Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened." Exodus 32:9-14.

Is that a fascinating example or what?! Some may attempt to twist this account by saying God never intended to destroy Israel in the first place. They reduce this account to nothing more than God manipulating Moses to request what it was he really intended to do all along. While this may satisfy the theology of some, I'm not in the least convinced. I let the passage speak for itself and leave my theology at the door. God said what he intended to do and we are told that following Moses' plea, "the Lord relented." God was going to destroy Israel and was persuaded by Moses to not do so. From the teaching of Jesus, we know that God can be persuaded within the confines of his own righteousness and holiness. See the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8.

What things might you bring before the Lord, that you might request of him? What are those things on your heart that might become realities if you requested them of God and persuaded him? What might he be waiting to collaborate with you on? Bring your requests to God and see some things happen!

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

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To be hidden with Christ in God - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 3:3,

"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."

When Paul says "you died", he is speaking of what we once were before we embraced the Lord in faith, before we became children of God. It is a reference to what we were, alienated from God, dominated by our "earthy nature", verse 5, and facing his certain judgment. Now that we know God and are known by him as his children, we are renewed, changed, different. Before we were objects of God's wrath awaiting his judgment, now we are forgiven our sins, filled with God's Holy Spirit. Now we have an eternity in heaven to look forward to. That old person we once were is now dead and what we are now is "hidden with Christ in God."

What does it mean to be hidden with Christ in God? 

The Scriptures tell us that all will have to give an account of themselves before God, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:13. In Paul's admonition to not be judgmental, he says, "Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God." 1 Corinthians 4:5. We are told that our lives are being evaluated and that there will come a time when the Judge comes and we have to give an account of all the things we think, do, and say. Feelings, what captures our imagination, even those "secret thoughts" are exposed to the Lord and he will demand an accounting. The purpose is to demonstrate that he is entirely just and fair when he casts all sinners into that fiery lake of burning sulfur, Revelation 21:8.

To be hidden with Christ in God brings to mind that Jesus Christ died to take our punishment on himself. It reminds me that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1-2. All but those who are "hidden with Christ in God" will have to stand, all alone, without any of those things they attempt to justify themselves in this life (because God really knows the truth, the whole truth) before the Judge, without any defense, and facing certain judgment, give an account of themselves.

Not so believers. Even when believers sin they have an advocate, "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One." Our lives are hidden with Christ in God. "Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." 1 Corinthians 5:7. Because of this, God's judgment will "pass over" us. Our lives are hidden with Christ in God.

To me, having our lives hidden with Christ in God speaks of the secure place we have in Jesus Christ. We are secure from sin and its ultimate consequences. We are secure from God's just judgment. We are secure from the evil one and his intentions of destroying those who are God's. We are secure in our future, with our wonderful hope ahead of us, the redemption of our bodies for an eternity in heaven. We are secure as heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus Christ, Romans 8:17. We are secure in God's love, we are secure in God's acceptance, we are secure in God's forgiveness.

Surely a wonderful place to be: our lives hidden with Christ in God.

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

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Looming on the horizon: the dark clouds of God's horrific wrath! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating,intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 3:5-6,

"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming."

Since the fall of mankind in the garden, mankind has been driven by what the Scriptures call our "sinful nature" or here, "earthly nature." It is that part of our hearts that prompts us in the things we think, do and say that are contrary to and at odds with God. It is that rebellious streak that rears its ugly head in our lives at times. It is what prompted Israel to drift from God to idol worship. It is what has prompted mankind in acts of sinfulness and depravity. It is that part of our hearts that tug at us to do that which we know is at odds with God and brings his wrath against us. It is a bent every man, woman and child has been born with as the offspring of Adam and Eve.

Even when there has been no restraining laws from God, no "rules and regulations" from God, that sinful nature has been present and has brought all of us, every one of us, under God's judgment. Consider Paul's observation, "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned— To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone's account where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come." Romans 5:12-14. The death of all from the time Adam sinned to the time the law was given and up to today demonstrates that sin is embedded within our hearts and propels us directly under God's judgment.

All mankind is enslaved by this sinful nature. However, those of us who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith have been set free from its domination in our lives. That sinful nature remains but no longer has the upper hand in controlling us. We now have the Holy Spirit which frees us. In chapter six of Paul's letter to the Romans, he explains this reality and what it should mean in our lives. Here he speaks of the need we have to cast off those things in our lives that are prompted by the sinful nature, things like sexual immorality, evil desires and greed.

Paul's point is that we should cast aside the expression of our sinful natures because this is this very thing that causes the coming of God's wrath. While mankind continues on his way since his fall in the garden in sinful rebellion against God, many simply do not realize the horrific event that is gathering on the horizon. God's wrath is coming! There is no maybe about it, no uncertainty of it, there is no possible yes/no question to it. God's wrath is coming. It is just as certain as the reality we all die physically. God told Adam that if he sinned, he would die. The physical death that every soul has met, down through all generations, is the proof that an even greater, more horrific, more terrible, more appalling, dreadful and frightful event is on the way: the wrath of God!

We read of this horrifying event that is coming mankind's way in Revelation 21:8, where we read, "The cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." When God's word tells us we can be "saved", it is this very event that it speaks of being saved from. It is from the coming wrath of God for sin that we need to be saved.

The wonderful news is that through Jesus Christ, our sins can be paid for such that we do not need to fear the wrath of God. When Jesus died on that cross he took on himself the punishment for all the sins of all people for all ages. If we embrace him in faith, his payment for our sins gets credited to our account with God in his court. We no longer need to fear the coming wrath of God. If this were not enough, the standing we receive with God if we embrace him in faith is that we become members of his own family, his children: heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus Christ. He gives us a place at his table, he gives us eternal life, he gives us access to himself, he blesses us in ways we will yet discover!

The wrath of God is on its way... make certain you have availed yourself of God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Got peace? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 3:15,

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace."

What is this "peace of Christ" Paul speaks of here? 

It has been often observed that what people seek in life is peace and prosperity. This kind of peace fits in with: "I want my stuff and I don't want to be disturbed." This is not the kind of peace Paul is looking at. We know the peace of Christ Paul has in mind fits into a context where we will be disturbed. The Lord told us, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline." Revelation 3:19. Believers have exchanged the pursuit of peace and prosperity for something much greater - righteousness. Those who pursue righteousness are going to be disturbed, they are going to have their lives disrupted. 

The peace Paul points to is what we should pursue in our interaction with others. The Lord has provided us what we need to live peaceably with others. In another place Paul said, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." Romans 12:18. In the Colossian context Paul speaks of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We are asked to bear with others, forgive what grievances we may have with others, and love others. Colossians 3:12-14. The toolbox that makes possible living with others peaceably contains these tools. We should note that his exhortation is for when it "depends on you." I suspect this is the case more often than we might wish to admit it. 

The equipping we have as believers for living peaceably with others is found in several passages. Two of them are, Galatians 5:22-23, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" and 2 Peter 1:3, "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." This would include living peacefully with others.

While the Lord may use others in our lives in very uncomfortable ways to mold us into the image of Jesus Christ, he nevertheless provides us with all we need to live peaceably with others. This is just simply the way our Lord is.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

"Christ is all and is in all": What's that? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 3:11,

"Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all."

As Paul speaks of the ability believers have to "put to death" what it is that belongs to our sinful nature and to "put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator", he makes the observation that Christ is all and is in all. What does it mean that "Christ is all and is in all"?

These are the thoughts that strike me this morning:

God sent his one and only Son to earth to die for sinners. Jesus Christ died to take the punishment due us upon himself that we might have the opportunity of eternal life. All who have eternal life have obtained it only through Jesus Christ and so he is in all who are saved.

Paul's point is that God only sent one Son, his only Son. He is the only means by which we may find an ability to take off that old sinful nature and put on the new nature he has for us, the very likeness of Jesus Christ himself. The only path, the only way, the only One, the only prospect or possibility is Jesus Christ. As he said himself, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6. Jesus Christ is all there is. There is none other. Christ is all. He is simply all there is.

Paul also says Christ is in all. From the context, we know he is speaking of believers. All believers have one and the same Jesus Christ dwelling within them through the Holy Spirit. Jesus himself is in heaven, but he has sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within all believers and thereby dwells within all of us. Not some of us. I have heard all kinds of groups taking for themselves some notion of superior standing with God because they have the inside scoop. You and I don't have it because we are not in their group - but they have it. Whether it is the "I'm special because I got the Holy Ghost baptism" group, or the 144,000 big-boy witnesses, those with Vatican imprimatur for the priesthood or whatever, it is always the same thing: they have something the rest of us don't.

It kind of mystifies me why people need a special status. I have Jesus Christ. What need is there for attempting to embellish that with something else? Paul says "Christ is in all". All believers have one and the same Son of God, Jesus Christ dwelling within them. What do I need of anyone else's "I've got something special you don't"? In Paul's day he looked at the demographics people loved to use to distinguish themselves: are you Jew or Gentile? Are you circumcised or uncircumcised? Are you barbarian or maybe Scythian? Are you slave or free? It is my persuasion that the notion of being a "completed Jew" or anything along those lines is misguided and reflects a poor understanding of what it means to be a child of God.

Unlike our federal government that has an obsession with demographics: gender, age group, race, ethnicity (yes, race isn't enough), income group, marital status, sexual orientation - when it comes to being a child of God and all it brings, none of that stuff counts. "Christ is all and is in all."

No, we don't need to look to see what demographic saved folks are to know whether they have an ability to take off that old nature and put on that new one made in the image of the Lord. "Christ is all, and is in all."

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Setting our hearts and minds on things above - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 3:1-2,

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."

How exactly are we to set our hearts and minds on things above where Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God? I'm certain there are many ways. This morning I noticed the psalmist had some guidance: "Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord." Psalm 107:43.

In Psalm 107 great and mighty acts of the Lord are recounted. Such things as those he redeemed from "the hand of the foe", verse 2, saving others from hunger and thirst, verses 4-9, freeing prisoners held in darkness, verses 10-16, and so forth. 

It seems to me there is plenty I can ponder on of the "loving deeds of the Lord." The greatest is Jesus Christ dying on the cross to take my punishment for my own sins upon himself. I don't think I could ever exhaust the consideration of it! Pondering what will be ours in the resurrection of eternal life certainly has no limit. Pondering the Lord's decision to have the Holy Spirit dwell within our hearts, equipping and maturing us, being a constant companion and illuminating the Scriptures for us is definitely worth pondering.

Those are things we can all point to. Then there are those things the Lord has done in each of our lives to demonstrate his love toward us - wonderful things we can ponder. Who cannot say the Lord touched them in a special way on a certain occasion? Who cannot say the Lord gave them a loving nudge to remind them of his presence in their lives? Surely there is much to ponder here. 

What kinds of things might you ponder on as you "ponder the loving deeds of the Lord"? Certainly this will be helpful as we set our hearts and minds on things above.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Where is Jesus? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 3:1,

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God."

What does it mean when Paul says that Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God? Clearly, this refers to the position God the Father was pleased to place his one and only Son, Jesus Christ in. It reflects the position, the power and the authority Jesus Christ has in heaven and on earth. He is supreme next to the Father.

The writer of Hebrews makes much of this point in Hebrews 1:3b-4, "After he [Jesus Christ] had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs." Also Hebrews 1:8-9, "About the Son [Jesus Christ] he says, 'Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.'" In this quote of Psalm 45:6-7, the writer of Hebrews uses the language of the Sons of Korah to express the lofty position of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is there - in heaven with this stature God the Father has placed on him. Having paid the penalty for all mankind's sins for all time, satisfying God's sense of Justice and making available the opportunity for the Father to bring us into his family, God has shown his approval and his delight in Jesus Christ for what he did to redeem us. Since we belong to Jesus Christ, since we will never be separated from the love of Jesus Christ, how nice it is to know he holds this lofty position?! We read the question in Romans 8:35, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" The answer: nothing. Nothing in all creation! "... nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:39.

Some theologies have attempted to define who Jesus Christ is, but have failed to recognize the full meaning of Colossians 3:1 in their formulations. Some have thought that Jesus Christ was a good man, a wonderful spiritual leader in the mold of Mohammed, or Buddha or some other spiritual leader. Others feel that Jesus Christ is only one of many paths to God.

There is only one position at the right hand of God. That position is held by Jesus Christ who is seated there. He and he alone occupies that position!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Raised with Jesus Christ? I'm still here! - Ruminating in the Word ofGod

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 3:1,

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God."

What does it mean "you have been raised with Christ"? It seems like I am still here!

I am reminded of another passage of Scripture, Romans 6:3,5, "Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?"... "If we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his." In this passage Paul speaks to those who had been enslaved to sin (that would be all of us) and are now free from that enslavement (all who have embraced Jesus Christ). He points to a figurative death our old selves experienced when we were baptized in Jesus Christ, thus freeing us. Where our old selves were enslaved to sin we now experience freedom from the domination of sin over our lives. In this passage, Paul points back to a figurative death we have experienced and points to a future resurrection we will share in with Jesus Christ.

While we have not yet experienced our physical resurrection (and resurrection is all about the physical), we have been figuratively raised with Jesus Christ together with him in his resurrection. The instant we embraced Jesus Christ in faith, we were raised with him from God's perspective. In Colossians 3:3, Paul goes on to say, "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." This speaks to me of the reality that our position with Jesus Christ is a done deal, and, being as good as done, we need to consider it an accomplished fact. We are already saved and already occupy our position with Jesus Christ in heaven, though we are still here on planet earth. This is Paul's reasoning as to why we should set our hearts and minds on things above.

One day the resurrection will take place and all believers will be there to celebrate. For now, those of us who remain need to be reminded that we have been raised with Jesus Christ who is seated at God's right hand. What a great place to be!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you abouthim from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Chosen by God! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 3:12,

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

Paul tells his readers that those who are God's, his "chosen people", are to comport themselves in a manner that manifests the fact they are. The image Paul provides is of the believer going into his changing room and taking off the sinful old nature that controlled him prior to becoming one of God's own, and putting on the new nature that reflects we are, in fact, one of his chosen ones. What makes this possible for us, what empowers us to do so, is our focus on things above, on the Lord who is seated at the right hand of God, Colossians 3:1-4.

What captures my thoughts this morning is the reality that we believers are chosen by God. We are chosen by him to be his children, we are chosen by him to be members of his family, we are chosen by him for new life, we are chosen by him to have a place at his table, we are chosen by him to live with him and our brothers and sisters in the faith for an eternity, we are chosen by him to share in the inheritance Jesus Christ receives from the Father as co-heirs with him. We are chosen!

What makes us God's chosen, what places us into that group considered God's elect?

Something that baffles me is the prevalence today of so many who fail to understand the connection between faith and being chosen by God. God has chosen for himself all who will embrace him in faith! How simple is that?! "To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God..." John 1:12. And, sadly, many who have embraced him in faith fail to see that it was their faith that brought them into God's family as one of his chosen ones. When asked, they respond with a mysterious look in their eye to the sky to explain that we really don't know why God chooses one and not another... "It is all a mystery bound up in the eternal purposes of God's salvation", or some other non-statement.

Really?! Is that what the Scriptures say?

Paul put it very simply in Romans 10:9-10, 17. "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, 'Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame."... "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message [the gospel], and the message is heard through the word about Christ."

Leaving the Scriptures behind, many get all bound up in notions of our sinful natures rendering us incapable of responding to the gospel, therefore God decides for himself who he wants, apart from faith, and manipulates their hearts to embrace him. It is a theology of salvation by appointment. However, the Scriptures tell me, the gospel tells me, that salvation is by faith and that the gospel itself has the power to step right past our sinful nature and tug on our heartstrings, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile." Romans 1:16.

God has chosen for himself all who will embrace him in faith. He has not chosen the top percentile of intelligent folks, he has not chosen the "goodest" of the do-gooders, he has not chosen the most erudite of theologians, he has not chosen the most cool, the best pop stars, the most popular, the richest, the strongest or the prettiest among us. He has chosen all who choose him, all who will, of their own choice, embrace him in faith - not having been manipulated into doing so, but of their own free will. Jesus makes this clear in his talk with Nicodemus as to why some will not choose him. He said, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." John 3:19-21. Their choice, their will.

Think of it! Chosen by God! How wonderful a position to be in! I may not be chosen for the job I want, I may be turned down for a date, I may be overlooked as the next great pitcher of the Cardinals baseball team - but, I am chosen by God! Because I placed my faith in him, he has chosen me for himself!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

What does your inheritance look like? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 3:23-24a,

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward."

In his admonition to workers, Paul tells them to work "with all your heart" as if they were working for the Lord himself. He provides, in view as their reward for doing so, the observation that they will receive an inheritance from the Lord.

As we learn in the Scriptures, all who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith have an inheritance awaiting them - an inheritance from the Lord himself. I am reminded of what Jesus taught when speaking about the future event when he will separate believers from non-believers in the resurrection, "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.'" Matthew 25:31-34. Take your inheritance!

In Paul's farewell to the Ephesian elders he ended his encouragement to them, along with other comments, these words, "Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." Acts 20:32. We will be given an inheritance!

Paul told these Ephesian believers their inheritance was secured by the deposit of the Holy Spirit God had given them, "When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:13-14. Our inheritance is guaranteed! Paul's perspective on this inheritance was quite remarkable, "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people..." Ephesians 1:18. Imagine... "the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people"! Not something to view lightly!

In Paul's wonderful focus on the Lord in Ephesians 1, he makes the observation that is was God himself who has qualified us for this inheritance, "... giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:12-14.

The writer of Hebrews tell us that Jesus Christ is the one who mediated this inheritance with the Father, "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant." Hebrews 9:15. Jesus Christ has arranged that we share in this "glorious inheritance"!

Peter tells us this inheritance of ours will never fade, never age, will always be ours, kept in heaven for us, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice..." 1 Peter 1:3-6a. We are shielded by God's power while here, protecting us for our inheritance!

Paul points out that since we are God's children, he has made us heirs, Galatians 4:7. As such we are identified as co-heirs with his own Son, Jesus Christ, "Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Romans 8:17.

If this does not get you excited, its time to take a pulse!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Are you an insider? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 4:5,

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity."

Paul refers to unbelievers as "outsiders." Necessarily then, believers are "insiders." This points to a reality that needs underscoring from time to time. As an "insider", I consider myself a member of God's family, his kingdom. I have an inheritance following this life that designates me as a co-heir with Jesus Christ, Romans 8:17.

As insiders, believers enjoy God's love and acceptance. To be sure, God loves the entire world, but not in the same way he embraces those who are his. John makes an observation relative to insiders versus outsiders, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us [the "insiders"], that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world [the "outsiders"] does not know us is that it did not know him." 1 John 3:1. In the same chapter John divides all humanity into two groups, and only two: "This is how we know who the children of God ["insiders"] are and who the children of the devil ["outsiders"] are...", verse 10.

Figuratively speaking, insiders live in God's tent and outsiders are at a distance. Insiders dwell with God and God's people, outsiders remain on the outside and can only peer into God's family from a distance. You can imagine the hostility, the relative deprivation, the rejection those on the outside may feel from time to time. They have no connection to the Creator, they have no connection to the hub of the cosmos, they dwell at a distance fumbling about either masking the gap that makes them an outsider or venting hostility because of it.

John points to the story of Cain and Abel as an example of this hostility of outsiders toward insiders. In 1 John 3:12-15, Cain represents the perspective of the outsider, "Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him." Notice the observation, "his [Cain's] own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. Why did it disturb Cain that Abel was right with God? Because Abel was a living reminder that he was an outsider, unlike his brother. Don't discount this animosity, this hatred, this malevolence. John doesn't and warns insiders that the world, the outsiders will hate them.

Of course, any outsider can become an insider. It is just that they cling to their sin and prefer to stay where they are as an outsider. An unfortunate and poor choice on their part. They have made their choice and live in hostility toward those who dwell within God's tent as insiders.

How wonderful to be an insider! How wonderful to know that since we have embraced Jesus Christ in faith, we are God's children, members of God's family, that we have a place at God's table, that we have connection with the Source and Originator of the cosmos, we have access to the mainstream of life, that we will dwell with God for an eternity! As such we will no longer consider ourselves as "insiders" versus "outsiders" as all who remain will be members of God's family following judgment day. This, of course, is our motivation to help as many outsiders become insiders as we can today through the gospel message.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Considering the glory of the Lord - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 3:4,

"When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

There is something of a progression in Paul's thinking as he penned Colossians, chapters two and three in regards to how the glory of the Lord impacts our lives. Paul tells us we will appear with the Lord in glory! 

In chapter two he observes that religion is not capable of providing us the kind of life we would like to live, lives that are marked by a restraint of our sinful nature in our efforts to live for God. He starts chapter three with what will: setting our hearts and minds on Jesus Christ who is in heaven at the right hand of God. Here there exists a glory that emanates from him that impacts us. Such an impact, it does what religion cannot do, it frees us from any tendency to sin in such a way that we are capable of putting off our "earthly nature" and putting on godly qualities, like compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, the ability to bear with one another (even in their ugliness!), forgiveness and love.

What is this glory we see, we experience as we set our view on the Lord? What is it about this glory that impacts us so?

Among the definitions of glory, Merriam-Webster provides the following, "praise, honor, or distinction extended by common consent... worshipful praise, honor, and thanksgiving... something that secures (it), great beauty and splendor, something marked by beauty or resplendence... a state of great gratification or exaltation." What I like about Merriam-Webster's entry is that it points to the two different aspects of glory that are actually present when we behold a significant view of the Lord. There is that which is inherent in the person of the Lord: his resplendence, the radiance of his many perfections, the beauty, those objective qualities of the Lord we see when we avail ourselves of the view of him. Secondly, there is the subjective aspect that is captured in the definition of "praise, honor, or distinction extended  by common consent." It is that impact he has on us as we view him, that which takes our breath away, stops us in our tracks, sears in our memories a moment when we beheld something beyond our wildest dreams or imaginations: a beauty of perfection, a beauty of pristine character, a view of awesome power, wisdom and stature... the Lord!

As I think about these two aspects of the glory of the Lord, that which is objectively his, what it is that impacts us so, and then the impact itself, resulting in the expressions of worship, the acknowledgement of his character and nature, the acknowledgement of his awesome deeds, I can't help be reminded of the some of the scenes provides us in the book of Revelation. Consider some of these:

Revelation 1:12-18,

"I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: 'Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.'"

The view of the Lord in heaven is expressed by millions of angels, Revelation 5:12,

"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"

And then all creatures everywhere, Revelation 5:13,

"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"

Again, all the angels in heaven standing around the throne exclaim, Revelation 7:12,

"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"

Consider the exclamation of the saints as they consider the acts of the Lord, Revelation 15:3-4,

"Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations. Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."

We are treated to a great "roar of a multitude in heaven shouting..." Revelation 19:1-2,

"Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants." 

Followed by the observation of "what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting", Revelation 19:6-8,

"Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear."

These are just a few of the passages that are available to us to help us begin to understand the glory of the Lord, that which we will behold for an eternity. What we view in him finds its expression in the impact in our lives, in our celebrations of him and our acknowledgements of what a wonderful God he is that moves us so.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

The Lord Almighty is with us! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 46:7,

"The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." 

Psalm 46 is a psalm of assurance for those who have embraced the Lord in faith. While written by the son's of Korah as a psalm for Israel, the theme is unmistakable as assurance for those who belong to the Lord. As an encouragement during difficult, and even desperate times, we are reminded twice in these short eleven verses that "the Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." We find it in verse seven and also as the closing verse eleven.

Even in cataclysm, "though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging", the Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress! When "nations are in uproar" and "when kingdoms fall" the Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress!

We are reminded at the beginning of the psalm that God is our refuge and strength, "an ever-present help in trouble." No need for fear! In verses 8-10 we are invited to observe the awesome acts of God, "Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'"

When it is all said and done, no matter how horrific things look to be, there is no need for fear, no need for anxiety. God will bring his own resolution to all events that transpire on earth, no matter how desperate things look. The outcome of all will be that he will be "exalted in the earth" and since we belong to him, there is no cause for fear of the outcome of things. The ultimate outcome of everything is that God will bring us safely into the resurrection, into his family where we will enjoy him for an eternity. As Paul observes, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31b.

Fear and anxiety should be reserved only for those who have not embraced the Lord in faith. It is there we find a real and certain cause for fear and anxiety. For all who have not fled to Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, the certainty of a fiery lake of burning sulfur awaits... Revelation 21:8.

Blessed are we whose refuge and strength is God! Blessed are we who have him as an ever-present help in trouble! How blessed we are that he, the Lord Almighty is with us! How blessed we are that he is the fortress we safely reside within!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Got encouragement? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 4:8,

"I am sending him [Tychicus] to you for the express purpose... that he may encourage your hearts."

Paul also said he was going to send Tychicus to Colossae bring them news as to what was happening in his neck of the woods. However, it is this second part of Tychicus' mission that captures my thoughts this morning: encouragement.

Here is something I think we all need from time to time. Encouragement brings refreshment to the soul, a renewed resolve to wrestle those things that need wrestling in our lives, renewed vigor and strength in times of need. Encouragement can bring fresh commitment and determination where we may otherwise falter. Encouragement is what we need when we are down, when we are depressed, worn out, tired, or when we are just a hot mess.

Merriam-Webster defines "encourage" as: "to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope". We read in Romans 12:6-8 that the gift of being able to encourage others is a something God gives to certain ones for use in the lives of others. Our loving and caring God knows we all need encouragement from time to time and it is just like him to enable and empower certain ones for that purpose in our lives.

There is an emphasis on encouragement in the life of the church. In the Scriptures Paul tells his readers to encourage one another, 2 Corinthians 13:11. He tells the Thessalonian believers to encourage one another with his words, 1 Thessalonians 4:18. Paul also sent Tychicus to Ephesus to encourage the believers there, Ephesians 6:22 and Timothy to Thessalonica to encourage the believers there. In his charge to Timothy, Paul reminded him to encourage all those he ministered to, 2 Timothy 4:2, as well as Titus, where he told him to do so with "all authority", Titus 2:15. So important is this need for encouragement, the writer of Hebrews says, "Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." Hebrews 3:13.

This acknowledgement from God in the Scriptures of our need for encouragement, as well as his provision of enabling and empowering many to minister to us in this way within the ranks of the church speak to me of God's loving care and concern for those who are his.

Be encouraged! The Lord is sending someone our way!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

What fullness from the Lord looks like - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 2:10,

"...in Christ you have been brought to fullness."

This letter of Paul to the Colossian believers, folks he had yet to meet, contains one of what I view as "premier" passages about Jesus Christ. Of course, all Scripture is inspired by God and therefore vastly important. But there are several passages that have focus on our Lord that I find are helpful for us to know him, pointed directly at who he is and what he is like. Passages such as John 1, Philippians 2, Hebrews 1 and here in Colossians 1. While this letter has its wonderful focus on Jesus Christ, it also has its focus on what he does in our lives. He brings a "fullness" to our lives.

Consider this list of things culled from this letter:

Faith, love, hope, knowledge of God's will, wisdom and understanding from the Spirit, bearing fruit in every good work, growth in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all power, great endurance, joyfully thankful, fully mature in Christ, encouraged in heart, united in love, full riches of complete understanding, knowledge of the mystery of God, disciplined, rooted and built up in Christ Jesus, strengthened in faith, overflowing with thankfulness, fullness in Christ, circumcision of the sinful nature, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with others, forgiving others, peace of Christ, gratitude, submissiveness, obedience, not embittering, sincerity of heart, reverence for the Lord, devoted to prayer, watchful, wise in actions, capitalizing on opportunities to further the Lord's agenda, graceful conversation seasoned with salt.

Not an exhaustive list from this letter - can you find a few I missed? These are things we have, or should have, or are things we should be in the pursuit of obtaining. These are all things from the Lord. Things he gives us, things he builds into our lives, and as I say, things we should have or things we should have expectation of receiving from him. Some of these things are ours outright as members of his family and some are contingent upon our pursuit of them. As I look at this list, I consider my own life. How many of these things mark my life? To what degree do they mark my life? How many of them am I in pursuit of? Each and every one of these things are ours to possess. As a group, they create a very good barometer to measure our new life in Jesus Christ. Imagine us being filled to fullness with them all! It is my belief that is exactly what the Lord desires and intends for us - get ready to be stretched!

What kind of impact do these things bring to our lives? What kind of difference do these things make for us personally? These are the reflections that bring an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the Lord, for the wonderful things he brings to our lives.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Losing connection with the head and regaining it - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 2:19,

"They have lost connection with the head [Jesus Christ], from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow."

Perhaps it is painfully obvious, but I can't help but point out that you can only lose something you had. Paul speaks of folks who had a connection with Jesus Christ and have now lost that connection. 

I am not saying, as Paul does not, that they have lost Jesus Christ and therefore a salvation that was once theirs. I firmly believe there is plenty of Scriptural support for the truth that God will faithfully see we enter into our resurrection with him once we have embraced him in faith. See 1 Corinthians 1:8-9. 

What Paul points to here is there is always the potential we can become side-tracked, side-lined, unproductive for the Lord and unprofitable for the gospel enterprise by engaging in those things that cause us to lose our connection with the Lord. Shockingly, it is religion Paul points to! Unfortunately, some folks for whatever reason, are compelled to engage in religious activities, disciplines, forms of "worship" and so on that eventually displace that firm connection with Jesus Christ that was established in that pristine moment of faith when the Lord was first embraced by the believer. 

Paul observes the regulations fostered by an impulse to "go religious" have "an appearance of wisdom" but really lack value when it comes to "restraining sensual indulgence", the assumed motivation for doing so. Colossians 2:23. Paul's prescription is to drop the religion, which appears to include portions of Mosaic law as well as the many things that have crept into the church over the years (what seemed like a good idea at the time, and may have even arisen for the best of intentions.)

Paul does not simply leave us there. In addition to dropping the religion, he tells his listeners to set their hearts and minds on things above, that is, Jesus Christ, seated at the right hand of God. This is what extends and maintains that wonderful connection with Jesus Christ we first had when we responded to the gospel message. This is what holds value for "restraining sensual indulgence." This is the path to spiritual growth and maturity. This is where we find strength in a time of need, encouragement in difficulty, renewal of hope in our much anticipated resurrection.

May we all drop the religion and set our hearts and minds on Jesus Christ, seated in heaven at the right hand of God!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Got fullness? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 2:9,

"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness."

The Greek word here for "fullness" is "pleroma". Pleroma has its English counterpart as well. In the English, Merriam-Webster defines it as "the fullness of divine excellencies and powers." The NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon defines the Greek term as "the body of believers, as that which is filled with the presence, power, agency, riches of God and of Christ; that which fills or with which thing is filled... completeness... fulness, abundance... a fulfillling."

Paul observes that all the fullness, the "pleroma" of God exists in Jesus Christ in bodily form. Commonly referred to as the second person within the Trinity, Jesus Christ exists as fully God together with the Father and the Holy Spirit as one God in three persons. As such, there is nothing of the divine nature that does not exist within Jesus Christ. His fulness of deity is complete.

Paul uses this concept of the fullness or completeness of deity in Jesus Christ as a picture of how we are "full" in Jesus Christ. His point is not that we are God as Jesus Christ is, but that the divine fullness within Jesus Christ is like that of a fullness we have received in him.

We know the human condition we live in is fraught with shortcomings and weaknesses. Much in the way of mental and emotional problems some folks struggle with relate to important things that are found missing in their lives. These missing things, like satisfaction in relationships, a perceived meaning or purpose of life here, the acquisition of qualities and dispositions that bring happiness and fulfillment to life, often lead to difficulties. All of these kind of things, these shortcomings and weaknesses, our sinfulness, find their ultimate origin in the estrangement and distance God's judgment for sin in the garden has brought to mankind.

From my perspective, it is those things: the void, the emptiness, a lack of satisfaction, a lack of meaning, purpose and fulfillment in life that this fullness from Jesus Christ addresses in our lives. Peter makes an interesting observation, "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." 1 Peter 1:3-4. Through this divine power of Jesus Christ, he has given us everything we need for a godly life, "the divine nature." Peter goes on to tell us that believers become filled by this power with things like: faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection and love. We are encouraged by Peter, since Jesus Christ provides these things, to make every effort to avail ourselves of them.

In another place, Paul speaks of what the Holy Spirit brings to our lives as those who have embraced Jesus Christ, "love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23. These are the things that bring fulness to our lives. How many would not give whatever they have in order to have these riches of Jesus Christ manifested in their lives? These are the things, together with our confidence to approach God and our hope in the coming age that bring fulness to our lives.

Could you use some of this fulness in your life? I know I can! How wonderful it is that God has determined to replace the emptiness our estrangement with him has wrought in our lives with this fulfillment, this "pleroma" when we embrace him in faith!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

God's love greeted with hostility - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 1:21,

"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior."

The Scriptures speak of a sinful nature all mankind is born into. We inherit it as it has been passed down to us from the beginning of mankind when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden. As part of God's judgment, they, and all their progeny have been given over to this sinful nature. The writers of Scripture confess to their sinful condition from birth, "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.", Psalm 51:5. Likewise, the observation is made, "Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies." Psalm 58:3. Who are the wicked? All of us! In Paul's famous words, "All have sinned..." Romans 3:23.

Jesus told Nicodemus that the wonderful offer of eternal life was contingent upon us embracing him in faith, John 3:18. He also told him that the sinful proclivity of many would keep them from coming to him because of their sin, John 3:19-20. This helps us understand the point Paul makes in our above verse, Colossians 1:21. Sin turns our minds against the Lord.

What is horrible about this circumstance is that God loves us. He loves us so much he sent his Son to die a miserable death to pay the penalty for our sins. Unfortunately, many will cling to their sin and so maintain an adversarial attitude toward God in their minds. As it turns out, the greatest act of love ever expressed is often met with animosity. All believers have experienced this hostility from unbelievers when the conversation turns to the Lord and the gospel message.

The good news is, that animosity on the part of the unsaved is penetrated at times as they recognize the love God has for them. This was true of the Colossian believers and has become true for all those who have embraced the Lord in faith. This is why Paul calls the gospel the power of God for salvation, Romans 1:16. 

God's disposition towards us is one of love. He holds his arms wide open to all who will turn to him. To be certain, our God is that very same God who will cast all into a fiery lake of burning sulfur who reject him (see Revelation 21:8)... but at this time his kindness and love is expressed in the payment his Son made on that cross and the invitation he makes to all of us.

Right now, those who have not accepted God's offer through the gospel are enemies in their own minds. It does not have to be that way. I am reminded of the posture the Lord takes toward sinful mankind in his lament over Jerusalem, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing." Luke 13:34. Also, the Lord's observation in Isaiah 65:2-3, "All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations— a people who continually provoke me to my very face..."

God reaches out to us with open arms and is met with sinful man's hostility, unless that hostility is pierced by the gospel and the Lord's invitation is embraced in faith.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

What's blood have to do with it? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 1:19-20,

"For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him [God the Son, Jesus Christ], and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."

Paul says it was through the blood of Jesus Christ that God has reconciled to himself this lost and fallen world that has gone its own way in rebellion to him. It was through the blood of Jesus Christ that peace was established with those with whom he is pleased, Luke 2:14.

Why did it take blood? And, why the blood of Jesus Christ?

Much is said in Scripture about the blood of Jesus Christ. In Paul's farewell speech to the elders in Ephesus, he reminded them that the church of God had been "bought with his own blood", Acts 20:28. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ, to make atonement, was through the shedding of his blood, something God the Father has presented to us for the consideration of our faith. Romans 3:25. Paul tells us it is the blood of Jesus Christ that we have a good standing with God, Romans 5:9. Our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins by God was through the blood of Jesus Christ, Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19, and it is through the blood of Jesus Christ that we have been brought near God, Ephesians 2:13.

Of the blood of Jesus Christ, the writer of Hebrews says, "How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" Hebrews 9:14. Most importantly the writer tells us, "... without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Hebrews 9:22. It is because of the blood of Jesus Christ that we have confidence to approach God, Hebrews 10:19 and it is the blood of Jesus Christ that makes us holy, Hebrews 13:12.

John tells us it is the blood of Jesus Christ that "purifies us from all sin." 1 John 1:7, and frees us from our sins, Revelation 1:5. The twenty-four elders sang a song in heaven that acknowledged Jesus Christ had purchased people for God with his blood, Revelation 5:9. The voice in heaven proclaimed the saints overcame Satan, "triumphed over him" by the blood of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12:11.

A very moving depiction of our triumphant King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ, is provided us in Revelation 19:11-16, where we are told his robe is "dipped in blood".

God declares to us he is both loving and just, Jeremiah 9:24. Both find expression in his dealings with mankind. In order to express his love toward mankind, God's justice had to be satisfied. God is not to be trifled with and his judgment is horrific. Since Jesus Christ was the lone person on earth who had never sinned, he, and he alone, was qualified to make payment for sin. He tells us that is why he came, "The Son of man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:10. When he offered himself on that miserable cross he paid for all the sins of all mankind for all time. Your sins and my sins. It required nothing less than the blood, the very life of the Son of God to make a way for us to eternal life.

I have heard it said, "I won't have anything to do with your bloody religion!" Not me! I know my sin. I know my need. I love the Lord for what he has done for me, to make a way for me to sit at his table. All he asked of me was to trust in him...

What about you?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

The objective truth of the gospel - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 1:3-6,

"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God's people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God's grace."

I note that Paul's assurance of the salvation of these Colossian believers rested in his observation of something recognizable and specific: their faith and love which sprang from their hope in the gospel. Paul was not recognizing they had had some kind of religious episode expressed in their own way. He was not acknowledging some subjective expression of theirs as any kind of authentication they had come to know Jesus Christ. He acknowledged that which was consistent with all folks who embrace Jesus Christ in faith.

Paul's assurance of the Ephesian believers was rooted in their expression of the very same things, "For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God's people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers." Ephesians 1:15-16. These are the very things that caused Paul's thankfulness to God as he recognized the credentials of the Thessalonian believers: their faith, love and hope. 1 Thessalonians 1:3. In verses 4 and 5 he goes on to speak of that which was recognizable to him that they were among God's "elect". In his observations of believers, his recognition of their salvation lay not in some kind of "subjective interpretation" of a religious experience, but in what Paul found to be recognizable as that which the Holy Spirit wrought in the hearts and lives of believers. The genuine expression of faith always reflected that which the Holy Spirit manifested in their lives, not the other way around.

The notion of people defining for themselves what salvation looks, feels and smells like is foreign to the Scriptures. We live in a day where there are countless counterfeits claiming theirs is the genuine expression of salvation as they promote some subjectively unique, and at times bizarre, expression as their validation of the spiritual.

I also note in our above passage that the Colossian believers had to hear and understand the message of God's grace. This is not a message that is unique and different for each. The notion of "finding our own way", making our own path, defining "who God is for me" does not pass muster with the Scriptures. 

God is ultimately real and objective. He doesn't pass himself off as a willing participant to be defined by someone's imagination or proclivity. Although God pursues us and wants us, we have to embrace him, not some passing fancy we may make of him.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Our God brings life from nothing! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 2:13-14, 

"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross."

The heart and soul of our salvation has to do with the forgiveness we have received for the sins we have committed. Here Paul reminds his readers they were "dead" in their sins and in their sinful nature, "the uncircumcision of your flesh". Condemned to spend an eternity in a fiery lake of burning sulfur (see Revelation 21:8), we have all faced God's judgment for our sins. However, out of his love for all mankind (see John 3:16), he sent his Son to make a way for us into his family: eternal life!

Some fail to recognize their sins. Not me. I'm all too familiar with the choices I have made in this life, represented in the things I have thought, said and done. I was certainly dead in my sins, living in the graveyard of my own sinful nature. It was in this hopeless estate my God reached out to me, offered me his forgiveness and a place at his table! Imagine that! I, who deserved God's just judgment for my sins, was provided a way! Jesus Christ came and paid my penalty for me, for all mankind! All he asks is that we place our trust and faith in him.

It was in the void, the darkness, dead in my sins that God made me alive. I find that is consistent with the many acts of our wonderful God. Out of nothing and out of destruction he brings life! I am reminded of what Paul said in Romans 4:17 in speaking of Abraham and Abraham's God, "He [Abraham] is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not."

Some may struggle with the notion that their lives have no merit, have been spent in opposition to God, that the opportunity for eternal life is a reach. Not with our wonderful God who makes a way, our God of love and compassion. From nothing, just as in Genesis, chapter one, our God brings life!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved youabout him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com