Galatians 6:1-10
Sometimes Scripture is just so direct and clear that writing a devotional thought or exposition seems less than necessary or helpful! Such is the case with today's reading.
Just a few points to highlight - "you who are spiritual" in verse one is specifically speaking of those who are born again by the Holy Spirit, because of Christ's work of grace and mercy (forgiveness) on the Cross as ordained by God the Father - Christians who are walking in the Spirit. I highlight this because in today's world the word "spiritual" often defines spiritual as one's own definition or opinion.
The second highlight is "Let us not become weary in doing good" in verse nine. The reason you and I can be encouraged when we are tired of 'doing the right thing' - in the face of ingratitude, rejection, slap in the face, and even negative consequence and unreward - is because the reward that awaits us in eternity, for eternity is a reward that we cannot even comprehend or grasp it is so awesome!!!
Thirdly, "anyone who thinks he is something" verse three. Paul recognizes that it is easy for us to think we are above a certain sin that we are helping someone else with...he reminds us that we all are vulnerable to any sin the world, flesh, or devil offers - so we need to be careful of forgetting this, as forgetting sets us up to actually carry out that sin!
Fourthly, verse six, "share all good things" reminds us not to take for granted those who preach, teach, and show us the way of the Lord.
Here is today's reading - let's munch, mull, meditate, and marvel:
"Brothers [and sisters], if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him [her] gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he [she] is something when he [she] is nothing, he [she]deceives himself [herself]. Each one should test his [her] own actions. Then he [she] can take pride in himself [herself], without comparing himself [herself] to somebody else, for each one should carry his [her] own load.
Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good thing with his [her] instructor.
Do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked. A man [woman] reaps what he [she] sows. The one who sows to please his [her] sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction, the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers" (Galatians 6:1-10).
Showing posts with label eternity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eternity. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Death Has No Victory!
1 Corinthians 15:35-58
"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?...Therefore, dear ones, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain"(vs 55,58).
Paul continues to confirm that Christ's resurrection and thus our resurrection is reality, an eternal reality, and the very reality that gives us hope, the only hope for this current world system! He explains that while we don't know, we are not told, the exact details of our resurrected bodies, when Christ returns, we can know some things. We know that we who are in Christ, will be resurrected when Jesus calls/returns and that those who are still physically alive on this earth when Christ raptures/calls for us - we will all be changed - we will have 'glorified' bodies - bodies that were physically mortal and inevitably readied for destruction through disease, decay, and death (perishable) - will be raised up and changed to imperishable bodies; bodies like the body of Jesus when he rose from the grave. Bodies that are recognizable yet will never die, will never decay, will not be destroyed! Bodies with no aliments, disabilities, or physical limitations.
And then, because of Jesus' resurrection - that which the Devil meant for death - was/is actually victory, because Jesus rose from the dead! Jesus overcame the destruction and death-wish of Satan...and so, therefore will we!!! Paul says in Romans that we are MORE than conquerors in Christ (Romans 8:37)!
And because this (present world) is 'not all there is'...because we will live on with Christ in eternity after our earthly demise, we have hope! We have a forever hope - therefore Paul admonishes, exhorts, encourages - he tells us to stand firm (in Christ). Don't let anything (of this earth/world system/the Devil) move us from our firm standing in Christ. Don't think that our labor/work/ministry in and for the Lord is in vain, for nothing. Even though we can't see the fruit, the victory right now...know that we DO have the victory and we will experience it in eternity and for eternity with Christ! God has set eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11)!
"Lord, help us to 'see' Reality, Your Reality which is also ours in Christ. Sometimes we are so weighed down by what we see and experience in these earthly bodies...life can be really hard. BUT GOD, help us by Your Spirit to see Reality - reality of eternity, here and forever with You. Lord, Help the Spiritual Reality of You and eternity be more powerful in our current lives...than our current circumstances - and the circumstances swirling around us. We have a higher calling. Help us to live it. Thank You Lord. Be glorified in our lives now, as we will be glorified in Yours for eternity."
"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?...Therefore, dear ones, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain"(vs 55,58).
Paul continues to confirm that Christ's resurrection and thus our resurrection is reality, an eternal reality, and the very reality that gives us hope, the only hope for this current world system! He explains that while we don't know, we are not told, the exact details of our resurrected bodies, when Christ returns, we can know some things. We know that we who are in Christ, will be resurrected when Jesus calls/returns and that those who are still physically alive on this earth when Christ raptures/calls for us - we will all be changed - we will have 'glorified' bodies - bodies that were physically mortal and inevitably readied for destruction through disease, decay, and death (perishable) - will be raised up and changed to imperishable bodies; bodies like the body of Jesus when he rose from the grave. Bodies that are recognizable yet will never die, will never decay, will not be destroyed! Bodies with no aliments, disabilities, or physical limitations.
And then, because of Jesus' resurrection - that which the Devil meant for death - was/is actually victory, because Jesus rose from the dead! Jesus overcame the destruction and death-wish of Satan...and so, therefore will we!!! Paul says in Romans that we are MORE than conquerors in Christ (Romans 8:37)!
And because this (present world) is 'not all there is'...because we will live on with Christ in eternity after our earthly demise, we have hope! We have a forever hope - therefore Paul admonishes, exhorts, encourages - he tells us to stand firm (in Christ). Don't let anything (of this earth/world system/the Devil) move us from our firm standing in Christ. Don't think that our labor/work/ministry in and for the Lord is in vain, for nothing. Even though we can't see the fruit, the victory right now...know that we DO have the victory and we will experience it in eternity and for eternity with Christ! God has set eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11)!
"Lord, help us to 'see' Reality, Your Reality which is also ours in Christ. Sometimes we are so weighed down by what we see and experience in these earthly bodies...life can be really hard. BUT GOD, help us by Your Spirit to see Reality - reality of eternity, here and forever with You. Lord, Help the Spiritual Reality of You and eternity be more powerful in our current lives...than our current circumstances - and the circumstances swirling around us. We have a higher calling. Help us to live it. Thank You Lord. Be glorified in our lives now, as we will be glorified in Yours for eternity."
Monday, November 22, 2010
"Is This All There Is"
1 Corinthians 15:12-34
"If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,
'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die'" (vs 32).
There is an older pop song, you may or may not remember or have heard it - because it was before your time for most that are reading this :) The song had this refrain, "If that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing, let's bring out the booze, and have a ball, if that's all there is...." This is what the Apostle Paul is saying in this Scripture. His premise is likely different than that of Peggy Lee's rendition of, "Is This All There Is?"; but the conclusion is the same.
Peggy is singing about the tragedies of life that have befallen the subject of the song. She is lamenting that if all there is to this life on earth is heartache, sorrow, and suffering, then - why not - why not just 'live it up'? Who cares? Why not just live with reckless abandon with a lifetime of partying?
Paul is saying - if all there is, is this EARTHLY life; if there is not eternal life after this earthly body is dead, if there is no resurrection unto glorified bodies, living forever with Jesus....then why risk my life in fighting wild beasts....in risking my life for Christ? Paul says, if Christ was not raised from the dead, and thus you and I looking forward to being raised up (after this earthly life) with Christ - to live forever with Him...then, let's just continually fill our fleshly, earthly appetites; like eating and drinking until we die!
Of course, Paul is speaking rhetorically - he is chastising/rebuking those of his day who once heard and believed of Christ's resurrection, but were carried away by other (false) teachings and started believing that there was no resurrected Christ, and that neither would they be resurrected.
And so, the Lord says to us. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. As read in the Word (even vs 1-11), believe the Jesus Christ as recorded in Scripture. Believe in the testimonies of not only those who saw Jesus first hand (as recorded in Scripture) but believe present day testimonies of the saints (that is you and I who are saved!) of how God has worked in and through their (our) lives! Don't live today as if this is 'all there is.' Don't squander your lives with drinking, partying, fulfilling earthly appetites...wasting the precious life God has given you today - for the sake of Christ and others who need Jesus!
In eternity, our lives on this earth will matter. They matter today but they also matter for ETERNITY!
"Oh God, please forgive me for the ways I've squandered, lived less than who You created me to be. For the ways in which I've lived that have said, "this is all there is", instead of 'my life matters, my life counts, I count for today and for eternity...for God!' Lord, help us today to see the ways in which we are living for the things of this earth alone, rather than for You. Thank You Lord. Help us by Your Spirit. We need You today...be glorified Lord. Thank You."
"If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,
'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die'" (vs 32).
There is an older pop song, you may or may not remember or have heard it - because it was before your time for most that are reading this :) The song had this refrain, "If that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing, let's bring out the booze, and have a ball, if that's all there is...." This is what the Apostle Paul is saying in this Scripture. His premise is likely different than that of Peggy Lee's rendition of, "Is This All There Is?"; but the conclusion is the same.
Peggy is singing about the tragedies of life that have befallen the subject of the song. She is lamenting that if all there is to this life on earth is heartache, sorrow, and suffering, then - why not - why not just 'live it up'? Who cares? Why not just live with reckless abandon with a lifetime of partying?
Paul is saying - if all there is, is this EARTHLY life; if there is not eternal life after this earthly body is dead, if there is no resurrection unto glorified bodies, living forever with Jesus....then why risk my life in fighting wild beasts....in risking my life for Christ? Paul says, if Christ was not raised from the dead, and thus you and I looking forward to being raised up (after this earthly life) with Christ - to live forever with Him...then, let's just continually fill our fleshly, earthly appetites; like eating and drinking until we die!
Of course, Paul is speaking rhetorically - he is chastising/rebuking those of his day who once heard and believed of Christ's resurrection, but were carried away by other (false) teachings and started believing that there was no resurrected Christ, and that neither would they be resurrected.
And so, the Lord says to us. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. As read in the Word (even vs 1-11), believe the Jesus Christ as recorded in Scripture. Believe in the testimonies of not only those who saw Jesus first hand (as recorded in Scripture) but believe present day testimonies of the saints (that is you and I who are saved!) of how God has worked in and through their (our) lives! Don't live today as if this is 'all there is.' Don't squander your lives with drinking, partying, fulfilling earthly appetites...wasting the precious life God has given you today - for the sake of Christ and others who need Jesus!
In eternity, our lives on this earth will matter. They matter today but they also matter for ETERNITY!
"Oh God, please forgive me for the ways I've squandered, lived less than who You created me to be. For the ways in which I've lived that have said, "this is all there is", instead of 'my life matters, my life counts, I count for today and for eternity...for God!' Lord, help us today to see the ways in which we are living for the things of this earth alone, rather than for You. Thank You Lord. Help us by Your Spirit. We need You today...be glorified Lord. Thank You."
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