Category Archives: Salvation: A New You

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December 31, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Faith & Hope, Holy Spirit, Knowing Him, Obedience, Salvation: A New You, Today: Make it Count, Wisdom & Guidance

I AM WHAT?

This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus. [2 Timothy 1:1 (NLT)]

This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. [Titus 1:1 (NLT)]

julia butterfly- NBG2122aweb“I am….” How would you finish that statement? I recently came across an Internet article by Mark Papadas in which he posits, “How a person finishes that statement defines who they are, their beliefs about themselves and the world, and the standards they live by.” While we commonly say that people will live up or down to our expectations, Papadas writes that, in reality, they will live up or down to their own expectations and adds that people rarely give conscious thought to what it is they expect from themselves.

The Apostle Paul certainly knew who he was and what he expected of himself. I wonder if the rest of us are that clear about our identity and purpose. Who am I? Am I a wife, mother, grandmother, homemaker, writer, volunteer, photographer, retiree, senior citizen, or friend? Yes to all but, while those words may describe me, none of them define me. We’re not our roles, resumes, paychecks, pasts or pedigrees and we mustn’t let those define us. We’re human beings and not human doings.

Who am I? I am a child a God and a follower of Christ. As such, I know He expects me to love Him completely and my neighbor as myself. As a child of God, what do I expect of myself? I should love God and man, repent and forgive, study God’s word and pray, be part of the church and spread the gospel, live an upright life and do God’s will. I want to be as much like Christ as humanly possible. Can I live up to my expectations? Probably not completely but, with the power of the Holy Spirit, I can sure try. Why? Because I am a child of God.

What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God. [Hans Urs von Balthasar]

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. [Galatians 3:26-27 (NLT)]

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December 21, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Church & Worship, Fruit of the Spirit, Holidays & Holy Days, Salvation: A New You

KEEPING “CHRIST” IN CHRISTIAN

Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. [Mark 8:34 (NLT)]

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. [Matthew 5:16 (NLT)]

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I opened the paper this morning to read an article about a school district in Kentucky that is being sued for not including a biblical reference in a school production of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Apparently, due to a single complaint, one of Linus’s lines had been deleted by the school. The suit, filed by an attorney for the Alliance Defending Freedom, attests that when there is an educational purpose (in this case teaching theater, music, and the origins of Christmas), every court has said religious elements can be included. The contested words in the script come from the gospel of Luke: “Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in the manger. And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’” Linus later adds, “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.” After all, the play is not titled “A Charlie Brown Holiday.” It is about Christmas and there can be no Christmas without that little baby, the Christ child, in a manger.

In 1st Corinthians, the Apostle Paul reminded the church at Corinth to resolve their differences with one another outside of the secular courts. This situation (and many like it), however, is not a difference of opinion between believers; it is a difference between those who believe and those who don’t. Something tells me that Paul, who appealed to the legal system more than once to exercise his rights as a Roman citizen, would applaud this law suit.

On the same page as the article about keeping mention of Christ in a Christmas play was another mention of Christ. Sponsored by area businesses, it was a religious message that is written by a different local pastor each week. This week’s message was titled “Putting ‘Christ’ Back in Christian”. The author pointed out that it is not the responsibility of our secular society to keep Christ in Christmas; rather, it is the responsibility of every follower of Christ to put “Christ” back into being a Christian. In effect, while we call ourselves Christians, we seem to talk the talk far better than take the walk. Unfortunately, our lives often bear little resemblance to the Christ we are called to emulate.

While displaying nativity scenes rather than Santa’s sleigh or snowmen in our yards is a way of keeping Christ in Christmas, let’s be sure our priorities are correct. Perhaps we should put more effort into displaying Christ in our lives rather than on our lawns.

Rather than pressing to have our secular society put “Christ” back in Christmas, we who know Christ should concern ourselves with putting ‘Christ” back in Christian, beginning with our own lives, striving to be “little Christs.” [Pastor Michael Bannon]

Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. [1 John 2:6 (NLT)]

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. [Ephesians 5:1-2a (NLT)]

Copyright ©2015 jsjdevotions. All rights reserved.
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December 15, 2015

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Challenges & Difficulty, Faith & Hope, God's Grace & Love, God's Promises, Salvation: A New You

SAVED

The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. [John 6:18-20 (ESV)]

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. [Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)]

Lifeguard rescue boat
Several months ago, two young men were fishing from shore at a nearby Florida beach. Seeing a sandbar further out and thinking better fishing might be found there, they swam out to it. Unfamiliar with the ocean, they hadn’t taken into account the rising tide. When they arrived at the sandbar, they found it to be ten feet under water. With no way to stand and rest, the exhausted men panicked and started to swim back to shore. One managed to save himself but the other young man couldn’t and drowned.

If a lifeguard had been present, perhaps this story would have had a better ending. Our southwest Florida beaches, however, have no lifeguards. Although onlookers did their best to find the man in the murky water, they were unsuccessful.

When encountering difficulty in the rough seas of life, sometimes we can save ourselves and sometimes we can’t. When it comes to our final salvation, however, no matter how good we can swim, there is no way we can save ourselves. Fortunately, we have a lifeguard on duty at all times, one who can walk on water, and He is the only one who can truly save us. He offers us the only salvation we really need—all we need to do is believe in Him.

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. [Acts 4:12 (ESV)]

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. [Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)]

 

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December 10, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Forgiveness, God's Grace & Love, God's Promises, Holy Spirit, Peace of God, Salvation: A New You, Sorrow, Grief & Regrets, Temptation & Sin

CLEAN THOUGHTS

Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. … Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. … Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. [Psalm 51:2,7,10-11 (NLT)]

tropical water lily There’s a shampoo that claims, “I’m so good, I put clean thoughts in your head.” A nice idea and, if a shampoo could do that, the world would be a better place. Our heads often become filled with mind grime: worry, fear, anger, ingratitude, bitterness, envy, guilt and anxiety. That kind of dirt, while not as obvious as poor hygiene, is far worse than dirty hair. Unfortunately, no matter how you combine berry and tea extracts with orange flowers, the concoction can’t clean out the gunk that can fill our minds. There are, however, ways to put clean thoughts in our heads by availing ourselves of the Holy Spirit, prayer and scripture.

When our minds become filled with negative or troubling thoughts, we need to take a long shower with the Lord; better yet, soak in His tub and immerse ourselves in His word. Our thoughts will be cleansed with prayer, our souls reconditioned by God’s words, and the Holy Spirit will fill us with His light. We truly will emerge from that bath feeling refreshed and clean.

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
Oh, be washed in the blood of the Lamb!
[Are You Washed in the Blood? (Elisha A. Hoffman)]

Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. [Ezekiel 36:25-27 (NLT)]

But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. [1 John 1:7-9 (NLT)]

 

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December 2, 2015

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God's Grace & Love, God's Plan, God's Promises, Holy Spirit, Knowing Him, Salvation: A New You

ONLY ONE WAY

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” [John 14:6 (NLT)]

Santa Rose de Lima-Abiqui NMWhen my children were young, they sometimes balked at trying a new food that I’d prepared. After pointing out that, while I was short and could cook, I was not a short-order cook, I always offered them a simple choice: some or none. God gives us the same options regarding His son Jesus Christ: take him or leave him! Just as I didn’t offer my children a different entree, God doesn’t offer us any alternatives for salvation.

When Jesus said, “I am the way,” he was pretty clear on our lack of options. He didn’t say, “I am one of the ways.” He is the only way. He didn’t say there were several means to come to the Father; there was only one—and that was through Him. It’s not only an offer that can’t be modified, but it’s also an offer than no one else could ever make.

Moreover, there is nothing that we can substitute for belief. We can’t buy or bribe or our way into heaven. Being famous or even especially kind or generous won’t do it. Jesus is the way and he makes it abundantly clear that he is the one and only way. We must take His path and follow in His footsteps. He is the truth and the reality of God’s promises. He is the life and only with him will we have eternal life.

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. [1 John 5:12 (NLT)]

Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. [Ephesians 2:18 (NLT)]

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October 26, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Bible Stories, Church & Worship, Fruit of the Spirit, Salvation: A New You

CHAMELEONS

For you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? … Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. [1 Corinthians 3: 3,18-19 (NLT)]

CHAMELEON-Two cute chameleons have recently been featured in a national paint brand’s television commercials. While picking paint for their living room, the lizards change color to match the hue of the paint chip they’re examining. Famed for their quick camouflage ability, chameleons’ change of color also depends on their level of aggression, their mood, the temperature, and their desire to mate.

Sometimes we Christians are a bit like chameleons in that we change our behavior so that we, too, can blend into the world around us. That’s what the early Christians of Corinth did. They lived in a moral cesspool, sort of a first century combination of Rio, Las Vegas, Bangkok, Amsterdam, Tijuana, and New Orleans. Immorality and sexual sin ran rampant in this Grecian city that had a temple dedicated to Aphrodite complete with 1000 prostitute “priestesses.” Surrounded by sin, those early Christians became chameleon-like by trying to blend their new faith with their old lives. More worldly than spiritual, they argued with one another, church members took one another to court, sexual perversion was accepted, the church divided into cliques, they questioned the resurrection and people even got drunk at the Lord’s Supper. Unfortunately, the early Christian church in Corinth looked way too much like the rest of the corrupt city. Paul made it abundantly clear to the new believers that they could be Christians or Corinthians but not both! He wasn’t telling them to move, but he was telling them to separate themselves completely from the Corinthian way of life.

Sometimes, like the Corinthians and chameleons, we want to blend into the world around us; mistakenly, we think we can keep our old life even as we take on a new one. Christians, however, aren’t meant to blend into the sinful world in which we live. Unlike the commercial’s chameleons, we’re meant to clash with the world. Our love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control should make us readily recognizable. Moreover, unlike the chameleon, we should remain the same even when we feel threatened, are in a bad mood, find ourselves in hot water or want to attract a mate.

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. [Mark 8:35-38 (NLT)]