Loving the Brethren

I love our family and the members God has put in it. I love our church and the joy that exudes from the families that call it home. I love seeing the smiles on children's faces as they play with their friends. I love it when brothers dwell together in unity. I love the brethren though I do not always show it in my thoughts, words and deeds. So on this, the last day of 2011, in the waning hours of a too-short year, I hereby resolve to spend and be spent for the souls of others, for the glory of God, for the sake of Christ.

Magnifying the Lord Jesus

According to God it is good to magnify Him. See Ps. 34 and Luke 1:46-47 for prime examples. When you magnify something you either exaggerate it's size (like using a microscope) or you see it more like it really is (like using a telescope). The latter is my heart's desire with God. You cannot over exaggerate God's true identity. I want to see Jesus as He truly is.

Colossians 1, Hebrews 1 and a host of other places give us a God's eye view of Christ. But daily living with its temptations and my sinful choices equates to a downsizing of Jesus in my life. When do I magnify the Lord?

1. I magnify the Lord when I expose myself to His Word, receive it, internalize it, practice it, speak it and let it have it's way in my heart, mind, soul and relationships.

2. I magnify the Lord when I trust and obey Him, setting aside my self-will for His perfect will. When I say no to the inclination to accuse, curse and condemn and yes to His desire to forgive, bless and free. When I walk in wisdom not foolishness. When I resist the urge to jump to conclusions and lash out, or if I do, to quickly confess and repent of it.

3. I magnify the Lord when I rest, abide, dwell, and rejoice in Him. When I pray, sing, speak, live to Him. When I do all things in the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, joyously giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

May Jesus Christ be praised. May the Lord be magnified.

Seeing Christmas in its True Light

The spiritually blind see Christmas in pagan, materialistic , secular ways. The spiritually shortsighted see Christmas in stunted ways. Often the believing will mistakenly slice and dice God's redemption program into seasonal occasions to be remembered annually and taken almost as separate entities. At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Christ. At Easter we remember the death, burial and resurrection. It is only fitting and proper they say. Any deviation from the norm is seen as almost sacrilege. Says who?

Let's do some Scripture searching. Where in Scripture are we instructed to celebrate the birth of Christ annually or ever? What truths are we to commemorate, remember and proclaim not just once a year but on a regular basis?

Seeing the Light at Christmas and Beyond

Jesus opens blind eyes. He illumines darkness. He is the light of the world. What kind of light? One that reveals, cleanses and strengthens all He chooses to shine upon. He reveals the truth about Himself and us. He cleanses us from sin's defiling effects. He grows His Church as He sees fit.

It is interesting to me that Jesus, the light, makes lights of His chosen ones. "Let your light so shine", He says, so that others may glorify your Father in heaven when they see your good works. As the prophet Isaiah spoke, "Arise, shine, for your light has come". We are lesser lights, reflecting the glory of "the true light coming into the world that enlightens every man". So, as God illumines us, we "shine like stars in the universe", one among many reflecting the glory of the true Light.

Often, because we are weak and burdened by sin's effects, we are tempted to set the dimmer switch on low, hiding from the world and obscuring the light of the gospel. When we do that we hinder the work, we get in the way, and make it difficult for others to see the "light of the gospel seen in the face of Christ.

Forgiveness, Home Repair and 1 Peter 4:8

I noticed an interesting phenomena as I applied joint compound (aka "mud") on several walls in our home as I got it ready for paint. As I would cover over a bad spot, restoring it ts usefulness and asctetic beauty, I would notice other flaws and cover over them as well. I was not looking as a critic but a compassionate restorer. I had the best interests of my home and household in mind.

God wants His family, Christ's Church to operate in a similar fashion.

1 Peter 4:8 says "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."

What it Takes to Find Your Deepest Joy in Jesus

Finding your deepest joy in Jesus means not finding your deepest joy in anything else. Not finding your deepest joy in anything else is painfully hard work that only Jesus can accomplish in you.

Find your deepest joy in something or someone other than Jesus and you will have your heart broken by false suitors that pretend to have your best interests at heart but really want to destroy you. Stand your ground against all attacks of the enemy of your soul. Let the fool's gold wash down the drain with the other refuse of a thousand idolatries. Love Jesus and cling to Him. Find your deepest joy in Jesus and live.

What it takes is a resolve to do what God wills and does in you.

What God wants

God wants us to...seek and find true wisdom and understanding in Christ and let nothing stand between us and Him.