Simply God

GodJohn the Baptist said, “He who comes from heaven is above all.” It’s a simple, yet loaded statement. John was losing supporters to this new Rabbi at an alarming rate…and he was okay with it!
One of the reasons he gave in John 3:22-36 was that the new Rabbi was God. People should be listening to and following Him.
Why should you? For the same reason, Jesus is God. DON’T run by that statement. Of course He is; and yet, why do we act like He isn’t?
Seriously, what does it mean that Jesus is God? Jesus fans keep godhood to themselves. They thank Jesus for what He did, but keep the controls of their life. Why listen to and follow those from below, including ourselves; is our track record really that good? Jesus followers give Jesus control of their daily decisions because He is above all, and has proven Himself more than worthy to be followed.
Make 2016 a year of simply letting Jesus be your God by filtering all thoughts through Him and His Word and then through the Spirit’s becoming more like Jesus with each decision.
Se“T” Free Nowww

Life is an Art

lifeMy family and I were watching one of our favorite Christmas movies when I heard a line that struck me. One of the characters said, “Art is not about the artist, but about life.” Art is a way of expressing what the artist was experiencing. Though art can take many forms, it’s all about communication.
Believers are communicating every single day, but what are they saying? Is life about them and what they’re doing or about who Jesus is and what He’s doing in them?
I recently spoke about whether we were followers or fans of Jesus. A fan cheers Jesus on where a follower is cheered on by Jesus. The life you’re living is a work of art in progress. What are you communicating to the world around you?
Each day is a fresh opportunity to start talking about Jesus. Let today be a day where He’s cheering you on to become more like Him.
S“E”t Free Nowww

Before You Needed Him

sunrise 2Today we celebrate the day Jesus came to earth. But, did you know He was coming to that stable to be wrapped in cloth strips and laid in a manger long before humanity ever needed Him?
Paul writes, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.” (Eph. 1:3-4)
Before you ever needed Jesus, God was providing. Before you ever messed up, God had your back. Jesus was coming to rescue you long before Adam and Eve were ever thought of, let alone you.
Christmas is about the Solution coming long before things went sour in your life. Jesus has a greater commitment to your holiness than you do. Think on that truth the next time you feel like quitting on your walk with Him. Have a blessed Christmas – the Solution is already present!
S“E”t Free Nowww

Birth Gifts

gift wrappedIt doesn’t matter that Jesus wasn’t born on December 25. What matters is that He was born! And when He came as a baby in Bethlehem, He brought gifts with Him. Two such gifts were confidence and joy, something we all need in times like ours, especially our brothers and sisters in the Middle East, France and here in California.
Fear is the opposite of confidence and joy. Fear of what others think and do or of what might happen can turn even the strongest into cowards and smiles into frowns. Joseph was “afraid to take Mary home” as his wife. We get our word phobia from this word fear. He was terrified at what could happen to him, Mary and the child.
Yet the answer to his fear was that very child, whom he was told to call Jesus or God saves and would be called Immanuel or God is with us. Joe was reminded of God’s promises. He was told that God would be with Him. He was told this child would save him and others from their sin.
These truths allowed him to exchange his fear with confidence and joy as he took Mary home. Ray Stedman wrote, “The chief mark of the Christian ought to be the absence of fear and the presence of joy.” Jesus is with you! In the “interesting” days in which we live, let confidence and joy truly reign in your thoughts, words and actions! You as well as those around you need to see Jesus in you.
S“E”t Free Nowww

No Middle Ground

follower“Jesus wants all or nothing. The thought of someone calling himself a Christian without being a devoted follower of Christ is absurd.” (Francis Chan)
Jesus Himself said, “My sheep listen to My Voice; I know them, and they follow Me.”  He didn’t say those who can quote the Bible back to Him nor those who did a lot of “good works”. He said He knows those who listen and follow. And Scripture definitely says you want to be known by Jesus.
On the other side of the grave there will be many who will say to Jesus, “I sure did a lot of ‘good stuff’ in Your name;” and yet, Jesus will say to them, “Get away from Me as I never knew you.” May that never be said of you!
Perfection comes on the other side of the grave when we see Jesus face to face. On this side of the grave, however, His followers, those He knows, will make steady progress at listening and following Him each day everywhere they go.
S“E”t Free Nowww