Matthew 19: 25-26 5/29/2018*13*

"When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Jesus had just finished telling the disciples that it was harder for a wealthy man to be saved than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. Astonished, they asked the logical question…” who then can be saved?”

Jesus simply tells them that they are looking at the wrong transformative power in the equation.  It is not man’s ability that matters here. It is God’s.

The power of God is not restricted by the laws of the world He created. There are no limits on the love of a limitless God, and His ability to save us is based on His power not ours.

We tend to do the same thing as the disciples.  We think we need to be at a certain level before God can “help” us clear the hurdle to salvation. The enemy will use this to convince you that you are the one person God can’t change … that you have been so sinful that God won’t help you.

                                               

You are right…He won’t help you…He won’t make you better…but He will make you new.  His love will allow you to start over. His grace will allow you to be born again.

Stop listening to the lies of the enemy…. Stop believing that God can redeem others, but not you.

Your realization that you are not good enough, is a huge step toward your salvation. 

Take Him at His word… Drop to your knees and ask God to change the unchangeable, to forgive the unforgivable, and to make new that which was broken beyond repair. 

The fact that all of this is impossible, means that when it happens you will know God did it, and you will never again doubt the power of His amazing grace.

The invitation is open, your new life can start now… get out of the way of your own salvation and let God make you a new creation. 

“Since no man is excluded from calling upon God the gate of salvation is open to all. There is nothing else to hinder us from entering, but our own unbelief.” - John Calvin

2 Samuel 12: 5 -7 &13 5/22/2018*

"David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, 'As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.' Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man!"
.... Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

How do you respond when your sin is exposed?

These verses record the meeting between Nathan the Prophet, and David when he was confronted with his sin of adultery with Bathsheba.

David could have responded in anger at the accusation. As King, he had the power to have Nathan executed.

David also could have deflected the blame. He had a tough history.  He had been the youngest child, neglected and bullied. Later he had been pursued for no reason and tormented by Saul his king and mentor…he could have said his actions were a result of his environment.

But David did not respond in anger or self-pity.  He took the blame. He accepted the fact that his choices caused the pain in his life and acknowledged his sin.

David’s response was confession, remorse, and repentance.

How about you? How did you respond the last time you were confronted?

David makes lots of mistakes, but the title of “man after God’s own heart” is connected to one trait. David’s life is not self-centered, it is God-centered and when he fails God, it breaks David’s heart and leads him to repentance.  Does that describe you? 

Examine your life today…are there things you need to own?  Have you been dodging blame, and making excuses?

Sin grows when it is in the dark…drag it into the light….Confess it and accept responsibility and let God heal your soul.  Make His joy the most important thing in your life. That will put you on the path to becoming a man after God’s own heart.  

“A man can fail many times, but he doesn't become a failure until he begins to blame somebody else.”  John Burroughs

Romans 7: 24-25 5/15/2018*

“Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Christianity is not a “self-help” program. It is not a “help” program at all.  It is a reconstruction project.  

God is not taking what is good in us and improving upon it.  He is replacing our depravity with His holiness.

The only answer to our sin is Jesus.  If someone is preaching about self-help, they have missed the point. You cannot repair yourself.  The sin you were born in has produced an unsalvageable body of death. Therefor you must be “reborn” a new creation in Christ.

Our society has tried to “market” Christianity by minimizing the offensiveness of our sin. You don’t find many church web sites today that refer to your wretchedness and need of redemption.

But our “wretchedness” is the only reason for the Cross… and that is central point of the gospel. It is our death and rebirth through the cross that sets us free.

It is misguided to think you can find a way to be good enough to be saved.  The opposite is true.  You are bad enough to need saving.

When you accept Christ’s death and resurrection as your own, you can rest in the fact that the old is passed away and you have been reborn in the righteousness of Jesus.

Rejoice in your new life of freedom and offer others the same redeeming love and forgiveness you have been freely given.

“The greatest enemy to human souls is the self-righteous spirit which makes men look to themselves for salvation.” - Charles Spurgeon

Jeremiah 17:7-8 5/8/2018*8*

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

What is the basis of your confidence? Does your source of assurance have the ability to endure difficult seasons?

This passage doesn’t say that trusting God eliminates problems. It says it provides sustenance to get through them. Storms will come, it will get hot, and there will difficult periods of drought.  

The location of your roots will not only determine your survival, but according to this verse, will determine the level of fear, and anxiety you experience.

There are bodies of water that appear with the rain but disappear in the heat of summer.  Those who depend on these temporary superficial sources of hope will struggle with fear and worry and will eventually perish.

But if you place your confidence in God.  If you plant yourselves next to His flowing stream of love and value, you will never lack the life-giving nourishment of His holiness.

Examine your source of confidence today. 

Make sure it not a shallow momentary source that will dry up when things get difficult.  Sink your roots next to God’s eternal spring of hope which will endure all seasons. It alone, can provide you with peace and assurance, and ensure that you produce the fruit you were created to produce.

“I abound not because I have a good store of money in the bank, nor because I have skill and wit with which to win my bread, but because the Lord is my shepherd.”
– Charles Spurgeon

Proverbs 16:24 5/1/2018*21*

“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones”

Pleasant words are rare in this day of rudeness and sarcasm.

Our culture views being abrupt and impolite as intelligent and self-assured, when in truth it is the opposite. Rudeness is usually a defense mechanism used by those who cannot intellectually defend their position.

Like children at recess, an argument seldom remains about the topic and usually morphs into an attempt to build yourself up by tearing down your opponent.

What if we refused to do that? What if we believed this proverb and set out to build others up with our words?

I want to challenge you to speak three compliments at work, and three with friends and family today.  Put some thought into what you are saying and make them accurate and meaningful. Not just superficial statements but appreciative encouragements tailored to the person receiving them.

Don’t tell anyone what you are doing and watch the impact these words have on others.  My hope is you will see the healing power of this and decide it is a habit worth intentionally continuing.

The world is full of people willing to reprimand and correct, but there is a shortage in the “building up” department. Fill that vacancy today and watch the truth of this proverb be demonstrated in those around you.

 “It is in your power to increase the world's happiness by giving a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged. Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them for a lifetime.”
- Dale Carnegie