One Chance

ONE CHANCE

BLOG HOST, 12-15-2010

HOST:  JAY MARTIN

REVELATION 22

            In today’s reading, Jesus reminds John the Revelator of a simple truth—“Yes, I am coming soon.”  The writer of Revelation echoes a response—“Come Lord Jesus.” 

            In so much of Jesus’ teachings, there is a theme that lies just under every concept—the time to build on the solid rock of Jesus’ teaching is limited.  Jesus is coming soon.  We have one chance—

One chance to follow

One chance to repent

One chance to love

One chance to pray and fast

One chance to discover our identity in Christ

One chance for unity

One chance for His power for His purposes

One chance to celebrate relation with Him

            One chance for compassion

One chance to accomplish the

            Great Commission.

            We have one chance!

Jesus is coming soon!

Our Greatest Asset

OUR GREATEST ASSET

BLOG HOST, 12-8-2010

HOST:  JAY MARTIN

ACTS 23 AND 26

            In today’s reading, Acts 26, we read the third time Paul repeated his conversion experience on the Damascus Road.  This may seem repetitive, but I think it is a good lesson for us. 

            Part of God’s plan for each of us is to share with unbelievers the good news that Jesus forgives sin!  My prayer is that God will use my life to see more people in heaven and less people in hell. 

            What is our greatest asset for sharing with others?  Our greatest asset is our story!  We must review it to personally chart our growth, and we must also share it with others.  We all have a Damascus Road experience—every Christ follower has that moment of intervention where the Lord got involved in our lives personally.  Do not be intimidated to share your story!  Paul gave us the example!  Let’s find opportunities to share our story with unbelievers!

            Dear Lord, give me opportunities to share with others, my personal story of Your work in my life!  Thanks for being so active in my life!  I desperately need Your hand upon me. Help me to chart my growth by remembering what you have already done in my life!  Thanks for Your love!  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

But, but...I don't wanna go!

It amazes me how I've seen different sides to Bible stories while doing this blog. Acts chapter 9 tells the story of Saul's conversion. Reading it this time I took away something totally different than I had in times past. Jesus speaks to Saul on the road to Damascus, and this is a very powerful thing. I think what He says to Ananias is even more powerful. Jesus basically says Hey, there's a guy coming, and you're going to lay hands on him and his sight will be restored. Oh by the way, it's Saul of Tarsus. At that point I imagine Ananias started to freak out! I think his heart started racing and he started sweating. I mean, did Jesus REALLY know about this Saul guy? The one locking up all the Christians? Today it would be like Jesus appearing to you and saying "Kim Jong Il has been struck with blindness and you will be the one to place hands on him." If Ananias wasn't scared, then I'm sure he was angry about all the stuff Saul had done. I have to admit I would be the same way if I was told to go and see Kim Jong Il. But you know what? A meeting with Jesus changed Saul. A meeting with Jesus will change ANYONE. And look at the difference one person made in the world. I need to remember that no matter what I think about someone, no matter what that person may have done in the past, Jesus changes people. And it's our job to spread His Name so that people can be changed!

Unity in our Day

UNITY IN OUR DAY

BLOG HOST, 12-1-2010

HOST:  JAY MARTIN

JOHN 17

            I recently heard a political commentator talking about the fact that divisiveness and debate is part of our heritage as Americans—it is in our national DNA.  He pointed out that throughout American history, there have been two and sometimes three sides to many very important national debates.  To the suggestion that Americans want political leaders who compromise and work together, the commentator’s answer was simple—we want to be right, not get along!

            If we are not careful, this divisiveness can creep in to the church, also. Actually it already has.  As a matter of fact, like American history, the history of the church has been one of division and debate.  We can see it in the multiple denominations in our nation and world today. 

            While things weren’t that different in Jesus’ day, Jesus had a simple idea—complete unity!  As He approached the weekend of torture and crucifixion, Jesus took time to pray for unity!  Verse 23: “I in them and you in me.  May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

                This teaching goes beyond the mandates to forgive, even leave the altar to make it right with others—this is calling for the same kind of unity that God the Father and God the Son have with the Holy Spirit, as they make up the Trinity.  This is pretty heavy stuff.  As a matter of fact, I believe it is one of the core concepts Jesus taught—unity! 

            It involves conflict resolution—focusing on the essentials instead of traditions and opinions—but it goes much deeper than that.  What does complete unity look like?  For Jesus, it looked like the Cross of Calvary—for God it looked like sending His precious Son, and for the Holy Spirit, it looked like coming to earth when Jesus ascended in to heaven.  This was a difficult assignment, and yet the Trinity, because of their love for us, performed salvation’s plan.

            Are we willing to sacrifice to achieve unity of purpose?  Are we willing to forego our individual desires and identity for the cause of Christ?  Are we willing to give ourselves to each other so that the world will have an accurate picture of Jesus?  Or will we live self-centered, selfish lives, wrapped up in ourselves, and die someday having aided Jesus’ prayer not being answered?  This is hard for me, and yet I dare to believe that right here today, in a world that values debate and being right even over relationship, that we can have unity in our day.  I know that is Jesus’ will for you and me!

love to be hated?

I have spent the majority of my life striving to be loved.  Don’t get the wrong idea…..my life has always been filled with people who love me, but I couldn’t stand the thought of someone disliking me.  It drove me crazy!  At school, I went out of my way and did things I wouldn’t normally do so that people would like me.  At church, I would put on a face so people would like me.  I would spend my days paranoid at the thought of someone disliking me. 

As I read this:  ¹⁸ “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. ¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you”……..I don’t think this is saying that we should desire for everyone to hate us, but I do believe it is saying that we do not belong to this world.  It’s obvious that our world doesn’t love Christ.  So, if I am living like Christ, should everyone love me?  If the world does love me, I may need to reevaluate my life.   Shouldn’t I be focused on being more like Christ and showing His love to the world, instead of focusing on whether or not people love me?  Shouldn’t my desire be impressing Christ rather than impressing the world?  If I am being like Christ, there are people who aren’t going to like me, and I’m OK with that.

Follow Jesus---all the way Home!

"And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

I gotta say, I think I would have been just as confused as the disciples. How could they follow if they didn't know where he was going?  Looking back on it now, it's easy for us to know what Jesus was talking about.  There's a song I remember from church when I was very young. It went "Heaven is a wonderful plaaaaace. Filled with glory and graaaaaaace. I'm gonna see my Savior's face cuz heaven is a wonderful place." I'm excited that I get to follow Jesus while I'm here on Earth. But I get even more excited, giddy even, when I think about Jesus calling us all home. We talked about it tonight. No more pain and suffering. No more tears. We get to see Him face to face. Heaven is going to be a wonderful place! And I want to follow Him now, so that I can follow Him all the way home!

Ray Bob

I Know Who I Am

I KNOW WHO I AM

BLOG HOST, 11-24-2010

HOST:  JAY MARTIN

JOHN 8

            The religious leaders wanted to know—“Jesus, who are you?”  They saw the miracles, they heard Him call God, Father.  They wanted to know.  In verse 58, Jesus makes it clear—Jesus identified Himself as the Great “I Am.”  He identifies Himself with the God who told Moses to identify Him as “I Am.”  Jesus is God the Son.  He is the Messiah.  He knew His identity, and He made it clear to the religious leaders.

We can become sons of God also.  We have a choice:  Verses 31-36 make it clear:  “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free,”  Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.’”

We have the choice of being slave or sons and daughters.  Sin makes us slaves, but through repentance, and discipleship, we become sons and daughters—free to pursue all of the benefits and responsibilities of being in God’s family!

It is amazing--I know who I am!  I don't have to wonder about my identity.  I am Jesus' disciple, Jesus is my big brother!  God is my father!  Other believers are my brothers and sisters!  Glory!  Thanks Lord.  I am not perfect, and sometimes I sin.  Forgive me!  Break the tendency to move towards slavery and away from kinship with You.  I want to be free in You!  I want to be a Son of God!  I choose freedom in You.  Thanks for making that possible!  My heart is filled with thanksgiving during this season because although you were in heaven with God being celebrated as God the Son, you chose to come to earth!  You did it for me!  Thank you!  In Jesus' Name!  Amen.