December 28, 2018

Live With The End In Mind

It is the end of a year and that allows us to look backward in evaluation but also to look forward in anticipation. One of the great freedoms the Lord Jesus has given us is the freedom to choose, to make choices as to how we invest our lives. 

We should desire to invest our lives for significance. That presupposes we know what is truly significant and actually important. I think J. I. Packer is correct as he opined "Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord."  Sage wisdom indeed.

How do you plan on knowing God better this year?

I am sure there are some people who might think privately but never state publicly; why...why should I get to know God better this year? Let me give you two reasons. The first is summed up in the Westminster Catechism that declares: "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever."  This precept is taken from Psalm 16:8-9 where David declares;"I have set the Lord always before me.... therefore my heart is glad."  Paul put it this way, "That I might know Him and the power of his resurrection." (Philippians 3:10)  There is joy on earth Knowing the Lord.

The second reason is stated by the apostle Paul as he gives us a glimpse of a significant theological truth that contains a very important implication for life. "I make it my ambition to be pleasing to Him for we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ that each man's work may be recompensed for what he has done in the body whether for good or evil. "(2 Cor. 5:9-10, see also Ecclesiastes 12:14 for the same truth from the Old Testament) There is eternal joy in eternity Knowing the Lord.

The new year is upon us.

Count the days and make the days count!

Right Now counts forever!

  

Serving Him with you

Until He comes for us,

Fred

December 21, 2018

It's Almost Christmas and Sometimes it's  Hard to Keep Focused...   Here is a Gentle Reminder Merry Christmas!! Serving Him with you Until He comes for us, Fred

December 14, 2018

Has it ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God?

  

That is good to know! That means we do not need to worry that He does not know what is going on in the world or in our life. He is fully aware of everything. God does not get surprised! Think about that next time you pray to the Lord. Difficulty, tragedy, calamity or catastrophe--He is fully aware.

The Bible describes God by virtue of His attributes. Three related attributes are the fact that God is:

Omniscient - He knows all things.

Omnipotent- He is all powerful.

Omnipresent- He is everywhere at once.

The reason God reminds us of the attributes of His essence is that it provides comfort and confidence in the midst of a world that looks out of control.

Hear the words of sacred scripture from Psalm 139:

1     O Lord, You have searched me and known me.

2     You know my sitting down and my rising up;

You understand my thought afar off.

3     You comprehend my path and my lying down,

And are acquainted with all my ways.

4     For there is not a word on my tongue,

But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

5     You have hedged me behind and before,

And laid Your hand upon me.

6     Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

It is high, I cannot attain it.

7     Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?

8     If I ascend into heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

9     If I take the wings of the morning,

And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10   Even there Your hand shall lead me,

And Your right hand shall hold me.

11   If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me,"

Even the night shall be light about me;

12   Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,

But the night shines as the day;

The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

13   For You formed my inward parts;

You covered me in my mother's womb.

14   I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well.

15   My frame was not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16   Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

And in Your book they all were written,

The days fashioned for me,

When as yet there were none of them.

17   How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

Now that is Omni-Competence!

No matter what unrest is happening with the riots in France or in England's Brexit, the socialist agenda in America, or even in our own personal lives, it is not news to God and He is certainly in control. No need to worry. Our God is an awesome God!

Serving Him with you

Until He comes for us,

Fred

December 7, 2018

First snow! The flakes,

So few, so light,

Remake the world

In solid white

~ John Updike ~

It is interesting how things that seem so inconsequential or insignificant turn out to be significant and substantial and completely consequential. Snow begins as a few frosty flakes that can build up to form a solid white.

In a sense that is what the first Christmas was, a rather common, insignificant event of a young couple looking for a room. But you know the story; there was no room at the inn. In fact all that was available was a stable. This was not a stable for thoroughbreds or Clydesdales; this was for common work animals--filthy, smelly. But in a place where you expect to find nothing special you find everything you will ever need.

That little baby was not a normal little baby. He was the one promised in eternity, prophesied throughout history and the singular person of glory that would fulfill the eternal plan of God. John reminds us of one of His significant titles; He was the only begotten of God.

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. John 1:18

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:18

We remember the baby in the cradle, and we know of the cross and crucifixion. We now await the King with His crown. He came to die that we might live. He lives and will come again and we will be with Him forever.

Until He comes - we are to worship Him and tell the story to others.

Serving Him with you

Until He comes for us,

Fred