Month: July 2021

Alive in Christ or Spiritual Drought

He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth.

Hosea 6:3

I woke up this morning to the sound of rain!  Normally I would not be excited about that, but after many weeks of 90+ degree weather and no rain, I’m delighted!  Many days have been so hot I haven’t wanted to be outside at all!  Too hot for hiking or a bike ride – my favorite outdoor activities.  The surrounding wheat fields are so dry that it will be an unprofitable year for the farmers.  Worst of all, many fires are raging around the country destroying many homes and thousands of acres of land.

Even more concerning than drought from lack of rain is the spiritual drought that is evident in our nation. But God’s Word has the solution for that – “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.  The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:38-39). Jesus was speaking of the Holy Spirit whom believers would receive after He had been crucified, buried, resurrected and ascended into heaven.

As I was thinking about how important lifegiving water is for our physical lives, I was reminded of the many Scriptures that speak of “living” for our spiritual lives. As you read these, ask God to make these words new and fresh and lifegiving.  Notice the aspects of living.

God is alive!

Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

1 Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves report about us as to the kind of reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God…

Jesus is alive!

 Acts 1:3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of things regarding the kingdom of God.

God’s Word is alive!

Heb 4:12 For the Word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

1 Peter 1:23 For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring Word of God.

As His followers, we are alive in Christ!

Romans 6:11 So you too, consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness

Colossians 2:13 And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings.

Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

We have a living hope!

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…

God asks us to respond to Him by presenting ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice!

Rom 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Would you describe your life now as filled with the Spirit and living water, or are you experiencing a spiritual drought? If you are experiencing living water, thank Him!

If you are experiencing spiritual drought, God invites us to come to Him in faith and trust Him for the abundant spiritual life He desires to give us.  He longs to “lead us by still waters and restore our soul” (Psalm 23:1-6). 

Ask Him for specific choices you can make to respond to His invitation?

Beyond All We Ask or Think

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

The first thought that came to mind as I awakened this morning was about the abundant blessings God has given me.  I thank Him above all else for His love and for the incomparable gift of salvation!  The words “abundant” and “lavish” came to mind, and I began thinking about the Scriptures that use those words to describe God’s love and His actions toward those who belong to Him.

Eph. 1:7-8 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. (Notice especially the word “lavished.”  The dictionary defines lavish: “bestow something in generous or extravagant quantities on.” 

In order to forgive and redeem us, it cost God the death of His Son on the cross! (John 3:16) Nothing could show us greater love than that!

John 10:10 I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Matthew 14:13-21 Jesus asked the disciples to provide food for the multitudes that had followed them.  An impossible task!  But with the five loaves of bread and two fish that were available, Jesus miraculously provided food for thousands of people with food left over!  He is able to take what little we have to offer Him and turn it into more than enough for the task He has called us to do. 

Psalm 86:5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.

Psalm 86:15 But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.

I am reminded today to be grateful for all God has done for me, and to give Him the praise!

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Whatever is going on in your life right now, even if the situation seems impossible, I pray that you will be encouraged as you are reminded of God’s Word and His love for you.

Maybe you are in a season in which you are experiencing God’s lavish blessing.  Thank Him for that!

Remember that He is able to do “far more abundantly beyond what we ask or think!” 

Lord, we give you all the glory!

God’s Sovereignty – Our Responsibility

Last week I shared author Mark Buchanan’s definition of God’s sovereignty: “God made all, rules all, and overrules all that stands in his way” (“The Rest of God,” p. 74).  I also shared the definition I learned from a Bible teacher years ago: “God can do anything He wants, any time He wants, any way He wants, for any purpose He wants to accomplish.”

That could lead us to believe that God is in charge, and what we do with our lives, the choices we make, ultimately makes no difference.  Nothing could be further from the truth, especially as it relates to salvation and eternal life. 

Several years ago, I did an extensive study of Scripture so I could understand for myself what to believe about this mystery of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility to choose to receive or reject His offer of salvation.  It is true that God is sovereign and has chosen or predestined some for salvation. But it is also true that He has given everyone free will to receive or reject His offer.  This is a difficult doctrine, but there are many Scriptures to support both.

Here are just a few of the verses that tell us we are chosen by God:

Ephesians 1:4 …He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.  In love, He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself…

1 Peter 1:1-2 …chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father

John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you…

And here are a few verses that teach us about our free will to choose God:

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved…

Romans 10:13 Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.

After studying the Scriptures for myself, I have come to strongly agree with this explanation from the Believer’s Bible Commentary on Romans 9:

“In His sovereignty, God has elected or chosen certain individuals to belong to Himself.  But the same Bible that teaches God’s sovereign election also teaches human responsibility.  While it is true that God elects people to salvation, it is also true they must choose to be saved by a definite act of the will.  The divine side of salvation is seen in the words, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me.”  The human side is found in the words that follow: “and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37) …

How can God choose individuals to belong to Himself and at the same time make a bona fide offer of salvation to all people everywhere?  How can we reconcile these two truths?  The fact is that we cannot.  To the human mind they are in conflict.  But the Bible teaches both doctrines, and so we should believe them, content to know that the difficulty lies in our minds and not in God’s.  These twin truths are like two parallel lines that meet only in infinity.”

One final thought from Romans 1:19: That which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

            I pray this will help you as it has helped me.

God’s Sovereignty

I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning; …My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure… Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass…

Isaiah 46:9-10

I love this simple definition of God’s sovereignty from author Mark Buchanan: “God made all, rules all, and overrules all that stands in his way” (“The Rest of God,” p. 74). 

Another Bible teacher years ago taught us that “God can do anything He wants, any time He wants, any way He wants, for any purpose He wants to accomplish.”

That would not be good news unless we also understand the character of God.  We know from His Word that He is love, and that He is good.  He gave His Son Jesus to die for the sins of the world so that we could have eternal life with Him.  Our part is to believe Him and personally receive this gift of salvation by faith.

For those who belong to Jesus, this is a truth that provides a firm foundation for our life, no matter what we are going through. We can be absolutely secure knowing that God is sovereign over every detail of our life.  He is all knowing, all powerful, nothing is impossible or outside of His control.  If He has allowed something in our life, it is because He has a purpose for it.  We may not understand, but we can trust Him.

I pray that whatever you are experiencing right now, you will be encouraged as you remember that God is in charge.  He can change circumstances at any time.  But if He does not, He promises to walk through them moment by moment with you.  He offers strength, peace, wisdom, comfort to those who belong to Him and seek Him with all our heart.

There are many Scriptures that assure us of God’s sovereignty.  I’ve chosen just a few for today:

Isaiah 44:24, 27 The LORD of hosts has sworn saying, “Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand…:

Is 46:9-11  I am God, and there is no other; …no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning… My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure… I have planned it, surely I will do it.

Daniel 2:20-23 He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, and knowledge to men of understanding…

Proverbs 21:1 A king’s heart is like streams of water in the Lord’s hand.  He directs it wherever He chooses.

John 19:10-11 Pilate said to Jesus, “Do you not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?”  Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me unless it had been given you from above…”

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Are there circumstances in your life right now that seem “out of control?” How are you encouraged by the truth of God’s sovereignty?

In the Psalms we read of people crying out to God in times of trouble.  We are assured that God hears.  Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him (NASB).

Write a prayer to God.  Ask Him to make this truth real in your life today.