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 heart and mind in 2 Timothy 1:9-10,
"He [God] has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."
"He [God] has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."
Here is God's agenda. If anyone ever wanted to know "what's up with God?"... this is it! No mystery here, no guessing, no secret. God's purpose on planet earth is to save us, to invite us into his family that we might live our lives as family members.
Why is this God's agenda for us? Paul tells us that the salvation he offers us comes from "his own purpose and grace." Grace calls to mind God's incomprehensible love for mankind, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son..." John 3:16.
It is this agenda that drives all that happens in this short and temporary life. Real life begins following this life. Life following this life, resurrection life, will be different in that it is forever. Those who embrace Jesus Christ in faith will be raised to eternal life with all of the blessings that belong to the Son of God as he shares those with his family members. Those who fail to embrace the Lord in faith in this life will be raised for damnation, an eternity in what Revelation 21:8 describes as a "fiery lake of burning sulfur."
Expectations, assumptions, all that we pursue in this life, if we recognize what it is God is doing and pursue those things that are consistent with his "purposes and grace", will result in life well lived, a satisfied life lived here "under the sun". It is when we fail to recognize God, it is when we misunderstand what he is doing here, it is when we reject his agenda for our own is when we find unhappiness, disappointment, discouragement in this life.
So, what are you pursuing today?
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
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
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