Category Archives: Salvation: A New You

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September 19, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Holy Spirit, Love & Works, Salvation: A New You

BUSTED!

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? [James 2:14 (NLT)]

While enjoying lunch with a group of church women, the person across from me asked if I could deliver “Meals on Wheels” the following week. Knowing how busy my life has been of late, I reluctantly looked at my calendar, secretly hoping every day was booked between 11 and 2. Monday through Thursday were, but Friday was open. I wanted to say, “I’m sorry, but it just won’t work!” I was sorely tempted to do so until the Holy Spirit pointed out the irony of the situation. You see, I’d just finished writing yesterday’s message about sharing God’s love and compassion and there I was: unwilling to share even a few hours. Rather hypocritical, to say the least! Yes, I was busy, but if I had time for a “Boot Camp” class that Friday morning, I could certainly find time to deliver some meals in the afternoon. Granted, I had lots to do but so did the “Meals on Wheels” chairperson. She has a family with youngsters still at home yet, for twenty years, she’s spent countless hours lining up drivers and delivering food to shut-ins! We’re all busy, but God is never too busy when we call on Him. After that rebuke from the Holy Spirit, I cheerfully said I’d do it.

We “Christians” can be the worst hypocrites of all. We may say all of the right things, but often don’t live them. We preach forgiveness, but hold grudges. We speak of generosity, but only give our leftovers to God and those in need. We say we love, but hold prejudices. We say “judge not” but act as judge and jury when it comes to the behavior of others. We say we pray, but frequently don’t; we say we trust God, but let fear and despair lead us; and we say we read the Bible, but rarely do. Being a Christian, however, is not just talking like Christ; it is being like Him!

Father, forgive us when it’s only our words that are “Christian” and not our behavior. Fill us with your Holy Spirit, point out the errors of our ways, and transform our lives so that we carry the message of Christ in all we say and do.

Why is it that a community that talks so much about supernatural transformation shows so little of that transformation? We will have to be men and women who embody the message that we are preaching, whose lives are faithful to the claims we are making. [Ravi Zacharias]

If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. [1 John 2:4-6 (NLT)]

 

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September 17, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Salvation: A New You

FORGET THE BOTOX!

For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation and adorn the wretched with victory. [Psalm 149:4 (AMP)]

Forget the facials, Botox, facelifts and tummy tucks; forget the trips to the gym, spa, and beauty salon. This news could put the personal trainers, plastic surgeons, barbers, beauticians and aestheticians out of business! The work God can do on us sounds like the best make-over ever. Anyone for a trip to God’s spa?

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. [Romans 12:2 (NLT)]

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August 31, 2014

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Obedience, Salvation: A New You

WHO WILL YOU SERVE?

But if you don’t want to serve the Lord, you must choose for yourselves today whom you will serve. You may serve the gods that your ancestors worshiped when they lived on the other side of the Euphrates River, or you may serve the gods of the Amorites who lived in this land. As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord. [Joshua 24:15 (NCV)]

I love travel but I hate packing; I stress over each item I put in my suitcase. Wanting to be prepared for every eventuality, I pack and repack several times. My husband, however, packs his suitcase in a matter of minutes but may spend ten minutes or more pondering which barbecue sauce to purchase. My mother-in-law dithers over finding the perfect greeting card and I know women who try on a dozen or more pairs of shoes before making their purchase. In our own ways, we each spend an inordinate amount of time making decisions of little or no consequence. Do we give that same amount of thought to the one decision we all must make, the most important decision in our lives, the one with eternal consequences? Who will we choose to serve today?

Then the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God, and we will obey him.” [Joshua 24:21 (NCV)]

 

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July 13, 2014

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Faith & Hope, Knowing Him, Miracles, Salvation: A New You, Trusting God

THE MIRACLE IS OUR SALVATION

Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew human nature. No one needed to tell him what mankind is really like. [John 2:23-25 (NLT)]

People were impressed by his miracles and, as long as Jesus provided them with the spectacular miracles they desired, they believed. Are we a bit like the people of Jerusalem? Is our belief predicated on the miracles of Jesus and what he can do for us? Jesus, however, knew how fickle people are and that many of those who professed belief would later call out, “Crucify him.” They wanted a messiah who would save them from Rome, not a savior who would give them eternal life. They wanted a messiah who would make life easier for them, not one who told them to turn from their sinful ways and take up their crosses.

As long as life goes smoothly, as long as God heals us and provides for our physical needs, it’s easy to believe in Him. But, if God doesn’t answer our prayers the way we want, does our faith falter? If He doesn’t produce miracles for us, do we stop believing? The reason for faith in Christ is not to get something from God but, rather, to be reconciled to God.

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval. [John 6:26-27 (NLT)]

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July 2, 2014

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God's Grace & Love, Salvation: A New You

WE HAVE TO OPEN HIS GIFT

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. [Ephesians 2:8 (NLT)]

It’s no use just looking at a beautifully wrapped gift; it needs to be opened and used to be appreciated. The gift of salvation is His; the belief in Him is our responsibility.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. [Romans 6:23 (NLT)]

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June 27, 2014

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Knowing Him, Miracles, Salvation: A New You

THE MIRACLE WORKER

This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him. … “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” [John 2:11, 3:2b (NLT)]

While some thirty-seven miracles are recorded in the gospels, many more occurred. Were Jesus’s miracles supposed to be the selling point to discipleship? If you believe, you will never be blind, sick or lame and you won’t go hungry. Better yet, you can walk on water and catch all the fish you want! If that was the case, Jesus would probably have healed everyone in Jerusalem and the doctors, bread-bakers, wine-makers and boat-makers would have gone out of business! Jesus’s miracles helped to establish his divine power; they gave him the 1st Century equivalent of “street cred.” More important, His miracles continue today to teach us lessons about forgiveness, love, and faith.

The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.[John 20:30-31 (NLT)]