"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18
In order for something to be transformed from one thing to another, there is a process that must take place. The process isn't always an easy one, neither is it always pleasant either. Before a lump of coal can become a diamond it has to be put under pressure. Before batter can become a cake it has to bake in the oven. Before sand can become glass it has to go through the fire. Before clay can become a vessel it has to be shaped through pounding and spinning and then placed in an oven.
The same principle applies spiritually. If there is going to be a change in us- a change into the image of Christ our Lord- we are going to have to go through a process as well. It doesn't just automatically happen. It happens as we are put under pressure. It happens as we fellowship with Christ's suffering. It happens as our faith is tried by fire. It happens through times of difficulty and weakness. It happens through the battles we face. It happens through times of persecution and trouble (2 Corinthians 4:8-10).
There is no "magic formula" and there is no easy road or short cut to being changed into His image. We like to hear about the "from glory to glory" part, but we don't like to hear that this glory part comes through "crucifixion"-- it did for Jesus. (John 17:1)
If you are going through something- the fire, trials, suffering for righteousness' sake, pressure, etc.- don't be discouraged. Remember this- all things are working together for your good. The good in this, though you may not feel like it or see it, is that it is part of the transformation process and once it is complete, it will have helped to change you so that you look a little more like Jesus.
Have a great day. Change always involves a process, and that process is not always easy, pain free or pleasant, but it is well worth it in the end.
For further reading:
James 1:2-4
Psalm 105:17-19
Job 23:10
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Philippians 3:10
Romans 8:28
Monday, December 14, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
"Savior Or Example"
"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:17
In skimming over an article that I want to read, a sentence grabbed my attention. It said that through our teaching and preaching we have minimized Jesus to just a "good example" instead of the "Savior". True, He left us an example to follow- how to have victory over sin, how to commune with the Father, how to live in obedience, how to live by faith in this world. But just being our example was not His plan or the purpose for which He can. He came to redeem mankind from their sins. He came to die so that we might live. He came to be the Door to salvation. He told Pilate as he stood before him awaiting crucifixion that what He was about to face was the whole reason why He came.
We are getting ready to celebrate Christmas-- the birth of our "SAVIOR", not our example. If we forget that He is the Savior then we have no reason to celebrate- Christmas becomes to us the same thing that it is to the world... just a holiday. If we forget that He is the Savior, we have no reason to follow His example of good deeds and good works because without salvation the example means nothing. Following His good deeds doesn't save you. Accepting Him as Savior because you are a sinner and can't save yourself does save you. After He becomes Savior then you strive to follow the example that He left by walking in His footsteps.
If this babe that was born in a manger, if this Jesus who died on the cross is just an example to you of how you should live but He is not your Savior, then you are still lost in sin and are making Him just another religious avenue in hopes of saving yourself. Making Him your example won't save you... making Him your Savior will... then make Him your example to follow.
Have a great day. Jesus did not come just to be an example, He came to be our Savior.
For further reading:
John 18:37
1 Peter 2:21-25
Matthew 1:20,21
John 3:16
Acts 16:31
Revelation 1:5,6
In skimming over an article that I want to read, a sentence grabbed my attention. It said that through our teaching and preaching we have minimized Jesus to just a "good example" instead of the "Savior". True, He left us an example to follow- how to have victory over sin, how to commune with the Father, how to live in obedience, how to live by faith in this world. But just being our example was not His plan or the purpose for which He can. He came to redeem mankind from their sins. He came to die so that we might live. He came to be the Door to salvation. He told Pilate as he stood before him awaiting crucifixion that what He was about to face was the whole reason why He came.
We are getting ready to celebrate Christmas-- the birth of our "SAVIOR", not our example. If we forget that He is the Savior then we have no reason to celebrate- Christmas becomes to us the same thing that it is to the world... just a holiday. If we forget that He is the Savior, we have no reason to follow His example of good deeds and good works because without salvation the example means nothing. Following His good deeds doesn't save you. Accepting Him as Savior because you are a sinner and can't save yourself does save you. After He becomes Savior then you strive to follow the example that He left by walking in His footsteps.
If this babe that was born in a manger, if this Jesus who died on the cross is just an example to you of how you should live but He is not your Savior, then you are still lost in sin and are making Him just another religious avenue in hopes of saving yourself. Making Him your example won't save you... making Him your Savior will... then make Him your example to follow.
Have a great day. Jesus did not come just to be an example, He came to be our Savior.
For further reading:
John 18:37
1 Peter 2:21-25
Matthew 1:20,21
John 3:16
Acts 16:31
Revelation 1:5,6
Thursday, December 10, 2009
"It's Just A Thing"
"For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me." Job 3:25
Have you ever heard the saying, "It's just a thing"? What that means is it's just a thing- something that really isn't that important, something that won't always last, something that doesn't have more power than we do.
It's amazing how many "things" we let defeat us, upset us, frustrate us and steal our joy and peace. Most of these things are so small and insignificant yet we give them a lot of "authority" in our lives by letting them dictate the way we feel, the way we respond, the way we act and react.
I knew that we were going to talk about this subject this morning and as I sat down to start typing the devotional, I had an encounter with one of those "things". I tried to pull up my new messages and it kept timing out and would not connect to my server. I was able to go online and open my messages there but not in my inbox. I tried several different things to make it work and finally- thank the Lord- it did. As I was "working" on it I kept reminding myself- "it's just a thing". Therefore, I was not going to let it bother me; I was not going to let it make me anxious; I was not going to let it steal my peace; I was going to give it to God and do whatever I needed to do to get it working and if it still didn't work, I wasn't going to let it upset me. (As you can see it's working.)
When those "things" come up, and they do and will, we have to make a choice about what we are going to do. Are we going to allow them to cause us to get in the "flesh"? Or are we going to overcome them before they overcome us? We do not have to be overcome by things- by situations- that arise. We have the peace of God that establishes our hearts and minds, we can do all things through Christ's empowerment, we are more than conquerors in all things.
So when these "things" come against you-- whether they come in the form of computer problems, rebellious teenagers, obnoxious co-workers, the loss of a job, an appliance that quits working, a vehicle accident, a bad report-- remember that it is "just a thing". A thing that is not greater than God. A thing that is not more powerful than His word. A thing that is temporary and not eternal. "It's just a thing".
Have a great day. Don't let "things" defeat you, because that's all they are... things.
For further reading:
Romans 8:37
2 Corinthians 4:18
1 John 4:4
Philippians 4:6,7
Have you ever heard the saying, "It's just a thing"? What that means is it's just a thing- something that really isn't that important, something that won't always last, something that doesn't have more power than we do.
It's amazing how many "things" we let defeat us, upset us, frustrate us and steal our joy and peace. Most of these things are so small and insignificant yet we give them a lot of "authority" in our lives by letting them dictate the way we feel, the way we respond, the way we act and react.
I knew that we were going to talk about this subject this morning and as I sat down to start typing the devotional, I had an encounter with one of those "things". I tried to pull up my new messages and it kept timing out and would not connect to my server. I was able to go online and open my messages there but not in my inbox. I tried several different things to make it work and finally- thank the Lord- it did. As I was "working" on it I kept reminding myself- "it's just a thing". Therefore, I was not going to let it bother me; I was not going to let it make me anxious; I was not going to let it steal my peace; I was going to give it to God and do whatever I needed to do to get it working and if it still didn't work, I wasn't going to let it upset me. (As you can see it's working.)
When those "things" come up, and they do and will, we have to make a choice about what we are going to do. Are we going to allow them to cause us to get in the "flesh"? Or are we going to overcome them before they overcome us? We do not have to be overcome by things- by situations- that arise. We have the peace of God that establishes our hearts and minds, we can do all things through Christ's empowerment, we are more than conquerors in all things.
So when these "things" come against you-- whether they come in the form of computer problems, rebellious teenagers, obnoxious co-workers, the loss of a job, an appliance that quits working, a vehicle accident, a bad report-- remember that it is "just a thing". A thing that is not greater than God. A thing that is not more powerful than His word. A thing that is temporary and not eternal. "It's just a thing".
Have a great day. Don't let "things" defeat you, because that's all they are... things.
For further reading:
Romans 8:37
2 Corinthians 4:18
1 John 4:4
Philippians 4:6,7
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
"Go Get A Drink"
"And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb." Revelation 22:1
(This morning's devotional is one I sent out in July, but I feel the Lord wanted me to resend it this morning.)
What do you do when you are thirsty? You go get a drink of water. How refreshing water is- it's a thirst quencher. What do you do when you are feeling spiritually thirsty? You do the same thing. You go get a drink of water.
Are you feeling spiritually thirsty and dry? Then you need to go get a drink of living water. Where do you get it? At the throne of God. This morning come boldly before His throne of grace, you have been given access, and drink from those waters that are flowing from Him. Don't just get a small cup full either. Drink until you're full. Drink until your thirst is quenched. Drink until you can't hold another drop. It's a river that is flowing, not a stream, not a trickle, not a drip. There is plenty.
If you have been trying to satisfy your thirst through various sources- relationships, your career, finances, fame, even religious/church sources- it will still leave you dry and thirsty. There is only one true source that will quench and satisfy your thirst-- the river of life that proceeds from the throne of God. Take time to go get a drink today- it's freely flowing and is available to all who will come.
Have a great day. There is a river of life that proceeds from God which has the power to quench even the deepest thirst.... drink from it today.
For further reading:
Isaiah 55:1
Psalm 143:6
Psalm 42:2
Psalm 63:1
John 4:13,14
John 7:37
Revelation 7:15-17
(This morning's devotional is one I sent out in July, but I feel the Lord wanted me to resend it this morning.)
What do you do when you are thirsty? You go get a drink of water. How refreshing water is- it's a thirst quencher. What do you do when you are feeling spiritually thirsty? You do the same thing. You go get a drink of water.
Are you feeling spiritually thirsty and dry? Then you need to go get a drink of living water. Where do you get it? At the throne of God. This morning come boldly before His throne of grace, you have been given access, and drink from those waters that are flowing from Him. Don't just get a small cup full either. Drink until you're full. Drink until your thirst is quenched. Drink until you can't hold another drop. It's a river that is flowing, not a stream, not a trickle, not a drip. There is plenty.
If you have been trying to satisfy your thirst through various sources- relationships, your career, finances, fame, even religious/church sources- it will still leave you dry and thirsty. There is only one true source that will quench and satisfy your thirst-- the river of life that proceeds from the throne of God. Take time to go get a drink today- it's freely flowing and is available to all who will come.
Have a great day. There is a river of life that proceeds from God which has the power to quench even the deepest thirst.... drink from it today.
For further reading:
Isaiah 55:1
Psalm 143:6
Psalm 42:2
Psalm 63:1
John 4:13,14
John 7:37
Revelation 7:15-17
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
"My Tower"
"The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." Psalm 18:2
"My high tower". Could I just give you some definitions for "tower" this morning? 1) a structure used as or intended for a stronghold, fortress, prison, etc. 2) a tall, movable structure used in ancient and medieval warfare in storming a fortified place. 3) a person who can be relied on for support, aid, or comfort, esp. in times of difficulty.
The Psalmist defined the Lord as a tower- a strong place, a fortified place, a place where we are in a high position and can see the enemy coming from afar, a place where we are not only protected from the enemy but have the ability to advance and come against his attacks to defeat him.
The devotion this morning is going to be "short and to the point": The Lord doesn't just provide a tower for us, HE is that tower Himself. If the enemy is coming against you this morning, run to the Lord. Make Him- not a person, not another source, not anything else- your tower of refuge because He is the only place that is truly able to protect you from the enemy.
Have a great day. The Lord is your tower of protection and safety, run to Him often.
For further reading:
Psalm 61:3
Psalm 144:2
Proverbs 18:10
"My high tower". Could I just give you some definitions for "tower" this morning? 1) a structure used as or intended for a stronghold, fortress, prison, etc. 2) a tall, movable structure used in ancient and medieval warfare in storming a fortified place. 3) a person who can be relied on for support, aid, or comfort, esp. in times of difficulty.
The Psalmist defined the Lord as a tower- a strong place, a fortified place, a place where we are in a high position and can see the enemy coming from afar, a place where we are not only protected from the enemy but have the ability to advance and come against his attacks to defeat him.
The devotion this morning is going to be "short and to the point": The Lord doesn't just provide a tower for us, HE is that tower Himself. If the enemy is coming against you this morning, run to the Lord. Make Him- not a person, not another source, not anything else- your tower of refuge because He is the only place that is truly able to protect you from the enemy.
Have a great day. The Lord is your tower of protection and safety, run to Him often.
For further reading:
Psalm 61:3
Psalm 144:2
Proverbs 18:10
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