Archive for the ‘Works’ Category

CHRIST – YOUR LIFE

Thursday, November 11th, 2010

Day 248

“When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory”
Colossians 3:4

We will encounter Christ in all the magnificence of His Person and glory when He returns. All will see the glory of the Lord. We will share in His glory and the great day of His return. Today, though, we are preparing for His coming.

We are to work out our salvation daily and grow in maturity and love. What we have invested in our relationship with the Lord and doing the works of Christ here on earth is what will determine our place in the final glorification. Paul gives us a command; “Set your heart on things above” and, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (3:1-2). These directions imply much more than just our thoughts. It includes how we are to invest ourselves in Him, to intimately know Him more and more.

The glory of the Lord begins today in our lives. Our life and works prepare the way to that final day of the Lord.

“Who may climb the mountain of the Lord and enter where he lives? Who may stand before the Lord? Only those with pure hands and hearts, who do not practice dishonesty and lying. They will receive God’s own goodness as their blessing from him, planted in their lives by God himself, their Savior. These are the ones who are allowed to stand before the Lord and worship the God of Jacob. Open up, O ancient gates, and let the King of Glory in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, invincible in battle. Yes, open wide the gates and let the King of Glory in. Who is this King of Glory? The Commander of all of heaven’s armies!” Psalm 25:3-10

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LOVE OPPOSES US

Sunday, September 19th, 2010

Day 197

“I have come here to oppose you because
your path before me is a reckless one”
Numbers 22:33

Sometimes God opposes us.

God will not permit us to be consumed by our own devices. In our self-sufficiency and independence we often are blinded by our own thoughts, desires and plans. Balaam had that problem. Even though he sought the Lord, his motives in carrying out the Lord’s direction were wrong. Balaam was occupied with the honor and riches he was promised instead of exactly heeding God’s direction. This is a great danger.

How many of us are eager to do God’s will. We pray to get direction. We fulfill scriptural commands. Yet, in the process our motives and desires are of the flesh. Our earthliness is mixed in with God’s labor and purposes. An evangelist once announced he prayed and had a plan to convert everyone in the world. All we needed to do now was pray and get God interested! Sadly, many hearing him believed in what he said.

God loved Balaam and because He loved him, he stood in His way and opposed him. Three times he attempted to stop Balaam. Yet, Balaam resisted, blinded by his own thoughts. The donkey had served him all his life and yet Balaam didn’t see his behavior as a sign. He got very angry. Finally the Lord caused the donkey to speak! When the Lord opened his eyes, he then knew how blind he was. Yes, God’s love compelled Him to stop Balaam before he was destroyed.

Prayer

Father help us to be pure of heart in all our
labor before you so that our motives
and desires are for You only. Amen.

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THE IMPOSSIBLE

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Day 25

“With men it is impossible, but not
with God; for all things are possible with God”
Mark 10:27

A sinner cannot change themselves into being saved. The Rich Young man sadly found this to be true. Man’s religions and philosophies all have a system that requires working to attain the promise of life. It is all wrapped up in our self-strength.

The Rich Young Man asked what he had to do to inherit eternal life and the answer was that he had to be perfect in every way. That is impossible for man. Neither works nor moral purity saves us. As much as we try, we cannot change ourselves. Our nature wants to desperately lay claim to self-sufficiency. We have to have a part in it. But, it isn’t to be so with God.

It is by grace we have been saved. We were chosen in Him and God has declared that He “will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion” (Romans 9:15-16). So then it does not depend on our will, but on the will of Him who has mercy on us. It is His choice. This is the greatness of our salvation – it is He who saved us, not by works, but by grace. All the glory goes to Him and Him alone, because man’s hand has not been in his own salvation.

“In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons
through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His
pleasure and will – to the praise of
His glorious grace”
Ephesians 1:5-6

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