Religion cannot Restrain Sensual Indulgence - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Colossians 2:23,

"Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence."

While considering the new life we have in Jesus Christ, Paul makes an interesting observation about religious do-gooders. He tells his readers that the religion these folks peddle is worthless in its stated goal - it cannot restrain sensual indulgence. All religion is predicated on the idea that humankind is flawed, and its adherents maintain their religion to fix it.

Paul had apostolic insight into the massive religion industry that has been developed and refined over the centuries since Paul penned these words. He knew what all these religious do-gooders should know from their own experience. If we are concerned about sin in our lives as believers, religion simply won't get the job done.

Sin, and the temptation that brings it, is existential. When we are confronted with the temptation to sensual indulgence, it needs to be met and dealt with in that sphere. Theology and theories just won't do, as they are ineffective in the reality of where life happens, where the rubber meets the road. This is perhaps why I simply have no use for do-gooders. While they may be well-intentioned, they are people promoting useless religion that has no hope of accomplishing what they so confidently claim. Religion does not work for the do-gooder and his initiates.

Here is Paul's more complete comment on what the religious do-gooders have to offer: "Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 'Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!'? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence." Colossians 2:20-23.

However, Paul does go on to tell us how to deal with restraining sensual indulgence. He says, "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. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:1-3. Rather than promoting religious sanctions against all the evils we are drawn to, Paul tells us to set our hearts and minds on Jesus Christ. When we do so, when we are awed by his many-splendored perfections the view provides, the Lord himself impacts us in ways that the "thou shalt nots" never can.

Recall the last time you were caught up in meaningful, passionate personal worship of the Lord. As your view of him was vibrant and alive, how much of a struggle were you experiencing with sin at that moment? Paul invites us to extend that moment into a lifestyle. In another letter Paul tells us of the escape God provides us during temptation, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13. How does God do it? Through Jesus Christ!

In that we all continue to struggle with sin following our conversion to Jesus Christ, in that we still have to deal with that sinful nature until we leave these bodies behind, (and, by the way, all the do-gooders struggle with sin just as the rest of us), this becomes very important to us as we desire live our lives in a manner pleasing to the Lord. I heartily endorse Paul's perspective: forget about religion and set your heart and mind on 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!

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Only One Is Proclaimed! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Colossians 1:28,

"He [Jesus Christ] is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ."

When it comes to God, there is one and only one message that is to be proclaimed, the message of Jesus Christ! Paul said "He is the one we proclaim..."

I don't see Buddha here, I don't see Joseph Smith here, I don't see the Pope here, I don't see Confucius here and I don't see Muhammad here. Jesus Christ is the one Paul proclaimed.

I don't see the Baptist church here, I don't see the Lutherans here. I don't see Oral Roberts here and I don't see the folks on the PTL channel here. I don't see Augustine here and I don't see Calvin here. I don't see Jacobus Arminius here and I don't see Mary here. Jesus Christ is the one Paul proclaimed.

It is the gospel message, and that message alone that has the power to save. Paul said, "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. That message is not about a religion, it is not about politics, it is not about some alleged "spiritual diet", it is not about your church or mine. The gospel is about a person - one person and one alone, Jesus Christ. Faith in him and faith in him alone brings eternal life, a place at God's table in the next life.

We have all kinds of things to detract from the simple gospel message of Jesus Christ. Some tell us you have to do it this way, others tell us we have to do it the other way. It is my perspective we tune out all the surrounding fuzz and buzz and distractions and focus on the only one Paul proclaimed: Jesus Christ.

When you have Jesus Christ, you don't need anything else!

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!

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All Bad or All Good? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Philippians 4:22,

"All God's people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household."

Paul, during his imprisonment in Rome, was busy evangelizing Caesar's household.

Paul was falsely accused of bringing Gentiles into the temple in Jerusalem and causing a riot, see Acts  21:27-36. After a plot by the Jews to murder Paul and various legal proceedings, Paul appealed his case to Caesar and to Rome he went as a prisoner.

One might think things had spun out of control for Paul as he was serving the Lord as his apostle to the Gentiles and that his circumstances had deteriorated to a place where one might ask "Why?" in the unfairness of it all. As the Lord's apostle to the Gentiles it might seem his imprisonment had put Paul out of business. Not Paul. Paul knew something many of us need to know ourselves.

In Romans 8:28 Paul says, "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." There he speaks specifically of how God uses the difficulties we experience in this life to conform us into the image of his Son. He builds character qualities within us that our old natures simply precluded.

We can likewise clearly see from Paul's experience of being falsely accused and imprisoned, God worked that for good as well. Sent right into the "belly of the beast" Paul now had the opportunity (and took it) to evangelize Caesar's own household! In what may have initially appeared as nothing but personal disaster, God used it to bring what might be considered the ultimate evangelistic accomplishment of the day.

It causes me to think that whatever I may encounter that might appear to me as all bad, might just be God's way of bringing my way what is all good! After all, "in all things God works for the good of those who love him..." God did this in Paul's life and I'm certain he does it in ours as well. I need to be mindful that when things look bad, they really may be looking very good.

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!

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Resurrection: Headed Our Way!- Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Philippians 3:20-21,

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."

As Paul speaks of the resurrection of believers, he speaks of the power of Jesus Christ. Some may feel the renewing of our bodies, the "transformation" of our bodies in the resurrection is a somewhat fanciful idea. I would respond that the current life we live in, our current bodies that exist today, is no less remarkable. Our lives here, our bodies here, where there was once nothing is no less astonishing! Who or what brought that about?

Fools, who attempt to cling to an incomprehensible notion that there is no God, come up with even more fanciful ideas as to how we all got here and have no clue as to where we are all headed. Not me. Recognizing our Creator is simply the most straightforward, lucid and perspicuous of any possible explanation. I'll leave the more fanciful ideas for others, as David says, "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'" Psalm 53:1. They are lost in the dark.

Of what we know of the Trinity, we know the Son of God is the creative agent within the godhead. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:1-4,14. Jesus Christ is the Son of God and is that member of the Trinity most closely associated with the creative acts of the Trinity.

Not only did the Son of God create all things, he keeps all things in existence, from moment to moment. He maintains the creation, sustaining it, "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." Hebrews 1:1-3a. Jesus Christ's maintenance of the creation is through "his powerful word", that same powerful word of creation we read of in Genesis 1, "God said, 'Let there be ...'"

The astonishing reality that we exist now, that we have bodies that ultimately came from nothing, that we have been created by our Creator, impinges greatly on the notion that our coming resurrection is fanciful. No matter the cause of death and the disposition of the state of any one's body, at any point in human history, has no bearing on our Creator's ability to reunite our souls with transformed bodies!

Here is what Paul says about our resurrected bodies, "So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory;it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body."

I will be there in the resurrection in a renewed, transformed body, looking for you. I look forward to seeing you all there!

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!

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Wacky Ideas About the Things of God - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Philippians 2:27-30,

"Indeed he [Epaphroditus] was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me."

The church in Philippi sent Paul aid in his imprisonment in Rome. Probably money for expenses he might have as well as other items that may have been helpful to him. They sent it with Epaphroditus, who was also sent to serve him in whatever it was he had need of.

As it turned out, in his service to Paul, Epaphroditus got sick and almost died. What Paul says here is instructive for us as it seems many today have some pretty wacky ideas relative to illness, the gifting of the Holy Spirit, and apostolic empowerment.

I note that Epaphroditus was a godly man. The apostle Paul counted him a brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, verse 25. He was to be welcomed back to the church in Philippi with joy and was to be honored by the folks there, verse 29. He was held up as an example by Paul. It was while he was in the employ of Paul, contributing to his apostolic work when he got sick. Here is one wacky notion some folks have today: God loves us and doesn't want us sick or suffering. When we get sick it is an indication of a lack of faith on our part or some sinful condition we are not dealing with. After all, we are to have "authority" over illness as believers. And, certainly, when we are in the midst of doing God's will and serving him, we should not ever get sick.

I have been in the position of having to comfort different ones at times who were ill or had a loved one that was ill and who were confronted by their "fellowship" for an assumed sinfulness or lack of faith. Just how does the account of Epaphroditus fit in with that assumption? And, where do I go in Scripture to read that illness is always due to a sinful condition or lack of faith? Sadly, I note that those who subscribe to this wacky notion get colds and the flu as much as anyone else. And, their graveyards are just as full as well.

I also note that the episode of the illness of Epaphroditus generated anxiety for Paul, verse 28. What was the source of his anxiety? Paul had no idea how Epaphroditus' illness would turn out. Paul could not bear the thought of the gift of Epaphroditus, as a servant for his needs, costing his life! Not at Paul's expense. Paul's anxiety was not only for Epaphroditus' sake, but also for the sake of the Philippians who had sent him. But Paul had apostolic authority. Paul had been given the gift of healing others, see Acts 28:7-10 as an example. A wacky notion some folks also have today is that those who have had authentic gifts of healing others were able to exercise them whenever and wherever they wanted. Where do we get that idea? Where do I look in my Bible to find that notion? The cause of Paul's anxiety lay in the reality that Paul had no idea how things would turn out for Epaphroditus, despite his apostolic authority and gifting from God.

Lots of wacky ideas abound today. What makes them wacky is that they lack grounding in the Scriptures and they spring from the imagination of folks who circulate them till they are accepted and assumed to be truth. I suspect most who hold to these ideas do so with sincerity and a devotion to the Lord. Certainly most would be horrified to think they harbor ideas that have no basis. This is why Paul told us, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17. It is only through a commitment and an effort in the Scriptures we can avoid mistaken notions about the things of God.

I'm certainly not going to be too hard on folks who subscribe to wacky ideas. I've held plenty of my own and I am not so confident it won't be long before I stumble over another one I may have. Maybe you can help me... but it will require some time in the Scriptures...

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!

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God Brings Suffering - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Philippians 1:29-30,

"It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have."

As Paul speaks of his imprisonment and the challenges he faced in his ministry, he acknowledged that God not only provided the Philippian church the opportunity of salvation based on faith, he provided a season of suffering. Paul takes up this as a concern because it was his desire that the Philippian church stand firm "with one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel" and not be frightened as they endured the suffering.

From this, I learn for myself that God can bring or allow suffering to his children he loves. These believers had turned to Jesus Christ to be rescued from the coming wrath of God in his judgment for sins committed. Now, as his children, God is allowing these believers to suffer. This is not suffering for no cause. Paul points out that the church in Philippi was going through the same struggle he had. Of his sufferings Paul says that it served to advance the gospel, verse 12. This was suffering to further the purposes of God, his agenda of advancing the gospel in one fashion or another.

For myself, as soon as I hear "God loves you. He doesn't want you sick, he doesn't want you poor - he blesses his children with health, he provides abundantly (thinking in terms of $$ here) for his children", I just turn the other way. Paul was an apostle, Paul was faithful in his ministry to God promoting the gospel. He gave his life to it. And, yet, here he is imprisoned. He has opposition from false brothers. He had anxiety over Epaphroditus, the man the church in Philippi sent to help him - he almost died in his service to Paul! Paul speaks of knowing what it is to be in need, 4:12. He speaks of hunger and being in want. There is a huge disconnect between those of the "health and wealth gospel" persuasion and what Scripture really teaches us about God.

What does this tell me? God can and does call his loved ones at times to suffer for him. Does God have the right to allow me to suffer? Shouldn't I find myself free of all pain, sickness and suffering? Shouldn't I be well off financially if I am loved by God? God loves me and certainly all things, good and bad, come to me for good, Romans 8:28. 

The words of Job shout to me loud and clear: "My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." I am quite certain that all of us will have a completely different idea of what we should have expected in this life and what the real love of God means when we see him face to face. In the meantime, I feel a need to keep my hand over my mouth, accept whatever it is that God sends my way, and believe what the Bible really has to say about God - not the "stuff" that gets passed around these days. After all, he is the Almighty! He is the Eternal One! He is the transcendent God who lives in such majestic splendor and glory that I could never survive its exposure in this life!

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised… Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Job 1:21, 2:10.

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!

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A Loving Heart on Display - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Ephesians 6:23-24,

"Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love."

In his closing of this letter, Paul offers this benediction to his readers. He expresses his desire for peace, love and grace to those of his readers who love Jesus Christ with "an undying love". All these from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

While in the past I have often sifted through these kinds of salutations, benedictions and doxologies as just so much "window-dressing" (how could I ever have done so?!) in order to get past them to get to the "meat of the text", I have now learned a very important truth. These kinds of statements are all here in the Scriptures for a very important reason. They express both the very heart of God as well as the hearts of those who are animated by him.

There was a time when Paul, then known as Saul, a Pharisee from the tribe of Benjamin and a pupil of Gamaliel, was a violent man and a blasphemer, 1 Timothy 1:13. In his misguided attempt to do "the Lord's work" he persecuted those who had given themselves to Jesus Christ, raping the bride of Christ, so to speak. But now, look at what kind of man Paul has become! It is not Paul that astonishes me, however, it is the One who has brought such a change to such a hardened heart as Paul's!

This is the nature of our Lord. He changes us from within. Not just that, but the nature of the change is lavishly exquisite. Paul emulates the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control) as he wishes wonderful things for those who love the Lord: peace, love and grace.

Here in these two verses we see the very heart of our loving Savior and our heavenly Father on full display as the Holy Spirit does his work!

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!

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Intimacy Between Jesus Christ and the Church - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Ephesians 5:31-32,

"'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church."

As Paul discusses the nature of the relationship between husbands and wives, he points to the relationship of Jesus Christ with the church. Just as a man cares for his own body, so it is as if the wife has become a part of his own body, he should care for her - just as the church has become the body of Jesus Christ and he cares for her. Using this metaphor, he speaks of the posture of submission wives are to assume as the church is submissive to her Lord and of the love the husband is to express to his wife just as Jesus Christ laid down his life for the church.

No greater example of love can be provided than that which was expressed by Jesus Christ.  He left his exalted position in heaven to come and live as a part of his own creation that we might have a place at his table. He died a horrible death willingly in order to save us from God's own wrath for our sins. He died that we might live.

No greater grounds for submission can be leveraged than the gratitude and appreciation that should be expressed in the willing submission of those who have received the wonderful love of Jesus Christ: the church to her Lord and Savior.

What is striking about this analogy is that Paul's metaphor also carries with it, in the reverse direction, the unmistakable nature of intimacy within the relationship the church enjoys with her Lord. The marriage relationship is the most intimate of all. Ideally, it is within this relationship that happiness and fulfillment are found. It is this relationship that carries trust, loyalty, honesty and closeness above any other. Such is the relationship between Jesus Christ and the church.

How remarkable for those of us who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith, that we be known as both the children of God and members of the bride of 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!

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The Nature of God's Forgiveness - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Ephesians 4:31-32,

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

Here is an interesting observation. We are to forgive one another just as God has forgiven us. In painting a picture for us as to what a life lived worthy of the invitation we have received from God, 4:1, Paul presents us with the manifold aspects of taking off the sinful "old" person we used to be and to put on the "new" person, "created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Verse 24.

My experience is that these kinds of passages seem to be almost universally ignored by so many of us believers. How many fellow believers do you know are given to what Paul asks of here in this chapter? (How about you and me?) Not many I suspect. A precious few to be sure. We find much of the same material in Colossians 3:12-14, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Another passage we seem to "skip" over in our Bible reading. I don't think I'm being overly cynical here, just honest. We seem to pick and choose what we feel is important in Scripture and ignore the rest.

But... I digress. Paul says to forgive others as God has forgiven us. Just what does God's forgiveness look like? When we forgive others (a rarity in my observation) we often hold something in reserve. "Cross me once, shame on you, cross me twice, shame on me." Does God hold something "in reserve" against us when he forgives us our sins? What we are told is astonishing to me. In chapter 1, verse 4 Paul tells us that God chose to hold us "holy and blameless" in his sight. He decided this before he even created the world that his forgiveness would reach this far! In Jude's wonderful doxology we read, "To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy..." Jude 24. "Without fault"!

This isn't because we haven't had any. God has chosen to forgive us as though we had never done anything wrong! Amazing to me...!

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!

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God Often Works Through Others - Ruminating in the Word of God

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

"Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that
was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by
revelation, as I have already written briefly."

It is fascinating to me to see how God works. Everybody does their
work after their own way, their own pattern, their own method and
strategy. God has his own way of doing things and it is very different
than how many of us might seek to accomplish what we desire.

What I see in Paul's comment here is that God had given Paul an
"administration of God's grace". God gave Paul something. But what he
had given Paul, a Jew, was something God desired to give others: his
grace for those who were most distant from God of all - the Gentiles.
God employed Paul to take his message of grace to those who were
foreigners to the covenant of promise God had made to Israel.

God used the intermediary, Paul. He often uses others when he has
something for someone.

Sometimes we view something from God as for us personally when in
reality he is seeking someone else through us. Peter makes reference
to this when he tells his readers, "Each one should use whatever gift
he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace
in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10. God seeks to touch the lives of
folks by giving gifts through others.

In 1 Corinthians 12:7 we read, "Now to each one the manifestation of
the Spirit is given for the common good." Paul calls these "spiritual
gifts" and tells the Corinthians that they are to be used for the good
of all, in the lives of others around his readers. This has a way of
pulling believers together, giving us purpose in this life by allowing
us to share in the work of his agenda.

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 reply
and let me know.

Life in the Penal Colony - Ruminating in the Word of God

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

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which
you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the
ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in
those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one
time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its
desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of
wrath."

Some folks, probably many, have a notion that God's relationship with
mankind, on the whole, is one likened to the parent-child
relationship. God is the perfect person, transcendent in wisdom, power
and moral perfection. above and beyond mankind, his creation. As his
creation, we look to him in our frailties and faults for his help in
this life, to aid us as we experience those challenges we find
daunting and beyond our own abilities to handle- much like the
parent-child relationship we are familiar with.

While there certainly is truth to some of this perspective, it is to
me a misreading of what we are exposed to in the Scriptures. My
perspective from the Scriptures is that life on earth is more
accurately viewed as existence within a penal colony. All of us have
sinned, we are all guilty. All of us have been condemned by God's
judgment. All of us are awaiting our final disposition in a fiery lake
of burning sulfur. As Paul says above, "Like the rest, we were by
nature objects of wrath." It is God himself who is poised to cast us
into that lake of fire!

From within this "penal colony", what was once mankind's pristine
environment, created by God for that which he delighted in, but has
now become the repository of those facing God's ultimate wrath
expressed in his judgment, there is wonderful news! News of release
and freedom! News of a way to escape our final judgment! Deathrow can
be escaped!

For those of us who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith, we read, "But
because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us
alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by
grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated
us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in
the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,
expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace
you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is
the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians
2:4-9.

How important it is to get this message passed around in this "penal
colony" so others may escape certain eternal death by embracing 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 reply
and let me know.

Pray For Amazing and Fantastic Things! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Ephesians 1:18-20,

"I pray also 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 the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms… I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
 
As we follow Paul's example in Ephesians, here is how we ought to pray for one another: we should pray that those around us have the "eyes of your heart" opened, enlightened, to know and grasp some things. Those things we need to know and grasp are wonderful, breath-taking things: the hope the Lord has called us to, "the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints and his power for us"… that power will be on full display when he raises us to life just as he raised Jesus Christ from the dead! As he raises us to life it will be to a "glorious inheritance"!
 
Another thing we should pray for those around us is the power to grasp the full dimension of the love Jesus Christ has for us. Paul's prayer tells us that to grasp how far reaching his love is for us is life changing: that we "may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
 
How exciting are the things the Lord has for us!! And here we have Paul modeling for us how we can pray for one another for these wonderful things! Our life in Jesus Christ should not be just a limited experience on Sunday mornings! There is real life here!! Exciting, thrilling and breath-taking life here!! How exciting and fantastic the things are for us in our life with 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 reply and let me know.

God's Wonderful Grace! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Galatians 6:18,

"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen."

God's grace is an amazing thing. It is that wonderful aspect of God's nature that disposes his loving intentions toward us. Jesus told Nicodemus, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son..." Why would God do such a thing? Mankind has turned his back on God in sin and rebellion. Mankind has gone his own way, rejecting God and fulfilling his acquired propensity to sin. We are told that God is a god of justice and sin has its inevitable consequences with him: death.

But, we are also told of God's great love. Of himself, he revealed to Moses, "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation." Exodus 34:6-7. God's character is rich both in justice and love. We call that most wonderfully favorable disposition of God's love toward us his grace.

In God's grace he has sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for our sins. In his grace he has made that payment of sins credited to us simply by placing our faith, our trust in him. In God's grace he has provided us a place at his table in the resurrection and provided us a wonderful inheritance!

How wonderful is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and our heavenly Father!! Surely it will always be with those of us who have embraced 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 reply and let me know.