Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Talk Tuesday-Boast In The LORD

Why do we boast when the things we look to for validation are temporal and as consistent as shifting sands? Jobs can be lost, wealth can vanish, power can diminish, relationships can be broken, health can be destroyed and things can be stolen. When we are in pain, GOD is there. When we sin, the blood of His Son JESUS CHRIST cleanses us from all unrighteousness. When we are weak, we can become strong if we trust in Him, for then His perfect strength will uphold us. When we are lost, we can be found if we seek Him. When we feel worthless, powerless, empty and useless, He can give us worth, strength, fill us and grant us important work in the Body of Christ. When we die, we can have eternal life if we accept His gift of salvation through JESUS CHRIST, our Lord.

In his letter to the Corinthian church, the apostle Paul reminds us that the centre of our worship must never be ourselves- but GOD alone. He writes:

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.27 But GOD chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; GOD chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 GOD chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in CHRIST JESUS, who has become for us wisdom from GOD—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 

He quotes from the Prophet Jeremiah, referencing verse 24:

This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, 24 but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24

So put your trust in Him and let your boasting be about the One who is truly able to save. Join with king David, who declared, “2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together,” Psalm 34:2-3.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Talk Tuesday-Store Up Well

From the time of our birth we are in pursuit of fulfillment. We seek to be fed, clothed, loved and nurtured. As we mature, we seek to find our own identity and stake a claim to belong somewhere of importance. We look for acknowledgment and validation oftentimes in wealth, status, power, physical beauty, material possessions, accomplishments and the size of our bank accounts. It is as though we are ever reaching, and never finding-longing for something that can fill the God-sized void in our souls. We find ourselves storing up temporal possessions, which, in the face of death and sickness, become unmasked as counterfeits to the source of true joy.

Jesus knows us in our humanity. He sees our hearts. As one who is fully God and fully man-He offers us a unique perspective, one that transcends temporal pleasures and earthly principles. He says, “31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well,'” Matthew 6:31-33. He reminds us that salvation, forgiveness and eternal life are found in Him alone; “16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him,” John 3:16-17.

 Finally, He urges us to store up well. 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy,and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” Matthew 6:19-21. So, let us live our lives with eternity in mind, as citizens of heaven who are faithful pilgrim-stewards on this journey on earth!

Blessings in Christ.