Great Message on Idolatry today

http://thegospelcoalition.org/resources/video/The-Grand-Demythologizer-The-Gospel-and-Idolatry

2 Peter 1:3 - Sufficiency of the Gospel

"His Divine Power has granted us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence."

This simple verse of scripture reverberates loudly with the sufficiency of the Gospel. I'm taken aback and chewing on two phrases in this text. The first is that God has "granted us everything pertaining to life and godliness".

What all might this entail? Well it has to be a lot to use the word everything. Nothing pertaining to life and godliness was left out or held back when we recieved the "true knowledge of Him..."

Does this mean that the things I worry about pertaining to life are already granted to me? Must be.

Does this mean that the power I need for godliness in this messed up world has been granted to me? Must be

Does this mean things spiritual as well as material provisions are granted to us as God's children?

What does everything pertaining to life entail? Does having God and being his adopted son and being a co-heir mean that I can live worry free about those things in the future that concern me?

I'm thinking that maybe I should see myself a little differently merely because through the knowledge of Him (gospel). Maybe I should see myself and my life as currently entailing exactly everything that he wants for me at this given time and trust that for tomorrow I will have everything I need according to what he wants for me tomorrow.

And what about that phrase "called us by His own glory and excellence"? I'll save this for my next post...

Glorying and Exulting in the Cross

As I'm drawing my study of the book of Galatians to a close I'm focusing on these verse from the conclusion of Paul's letter: Gal 6:14-15 But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

As a disciple of Paul myself, I see in these words both an example for me as well as a word of hope. The example is that of making the Cross my only boast. That may prove a more formidable challenge than it at first sounds.

I sometimes find myself bypassing the cross and focusing on all the wonderful things from God that the cross avails to me. Pretty soon the cross gets obscured from my mind. I need to learn to look at all the good things I see God doing as somehow connected to the cross.

The word of hope though that I see in this is that such a focus can cut the umbilical cord from my flesh to the ungodly world around me. This is something worth meditating on and thanking God for.

Bible Boot Camp

Today my second oldest, April, begins her first full day at Boot Camp in Chattanooga TN.  She is with 75 + or - other students from around the country who are serious about their faith in Christ.  Yesterday she took her first flight without mom and dad with.  Madison, Detroit, Charlotte, Chattanooga.  She will be there for 7 days of intensive training in inductive bible study. 

I can't tell you how excited I am. I've been hoping to send my kids to this ever since I heard about.  We're praying for some real God experiences in their lives that catapult them forward in owning their faith and seeing Christ work in and through their lives.  But the only way a walk with Christ can be sustained is if they learn how to experience God through His word.  Join me in prayer for April.

Good News from the story of Gideon

Judges 6:15-16 He (Gideon) said to Him, "Please, Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Look, my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father's house." "But I will be with you," the Lord said to him." 

Oh how we do overestimate what God expects from us and underestimate what God can do through us!  "But I will be with you."  The Lord is the one who closes the gap between our ability and whatever is God's will may be.  We should want it this way.  For we have been created for, saved for and deployed for God's glory.

Living Victoriously in Difficult Times - March 26-27th Baraboo WI

Have you ever wondered if there is a purpose to the trials we go through?  I have.  But I find myself constantly trying to avoid trials and difficulties.  As I read my New Testament, whether in the Gospels, Acts, Epistles or even in the Apocalypse it seems like there is trouble for anyone who is associated with Christ and God's kingdom.

John the Baptist was beheaded.  Jesus himself was crucified. James was beheaded. Peter was imprisoned. Stephen was stoned to death. Paul was stoned and imprisoned and eventually martyred.  That is just the persecution type of trials.

All the letters deal at some point with trials the churches are encountering with not only persecution but also doctrinal trials.  False teachers trying to lead their people astray from the truth. 

Its really amazing to realize how much there is in the New Testament about trials and troubles and how to navigate through them such that God is glorified.  A few weeks ago I went away for a few days to study and prepare to lead a bible study retreat focused on this very theme.  I was amazed!  Humbled! Challenged!  I didn't realize how important a role trials played in the development of Christian men and women and for the progress and glory of the Gospel.

I am excited and looking forward to spending a day and a half with about 50 of our church members in the word working through this bible study.  We will study scores of passages and interact and pray together that we might live faithfully and biblically for the Lord Jesus through whatever God may sovereignly allow to come our way.

If you are interested in joining us for this event here is a link for you to our workshop brochure.

If you desire to register for this event click here

This week in the Word

My NT readings for the week have been in Hebrews and yesterday and today has involved Hebrews 11.  The passage below is a good reminder to me that I need to choose time and time again to live not for the present or have my eyes on material gain or wealth but live in the present for the eternal reward.  Here is one example:

Hebrews 11:24-27 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the short-lived pleasure of sin. For he considered reproach for the sake of the Messiah to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since his attention was on the reward. By faith he left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king's anger, for he persevered, as one who sees Him who is invisible.

This is God's word at its best when by reading our thoughts and priorities are confronted and reordered.  I am struck by the way FAITH in Hebrews 11 is demonstrated by the decisions and actions of the individuals listed here.

Contrast this with the argument the some have made that salvation by faith through grace and doctrine of eternal security produce and void of christian works and obedience and even possibly licentiousness.  Quite the opposite.  Titus 2:11-13. The grace that brings salvation has appeared to all men and teaches us to live godly upright self-controlled lives in this present age while we wait for the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ...

No its like James says: Saving faith produces works of love and righteousness or its not saving faith. James 2:14ff

God help my faith in all your promises be what guides my thinking, my decisions and my actions as I keep my eyes looking to your return and your eternal kingdom and rewards.