"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things." (v. 1)
This is so true! I am guilty of judging people. And usually I judge people about the things I am most critical of in myself. It makes me feel better to point out my flaws in other people! (And it shouldn't!) I am totally condemning myself, and I know it.
I know I need to look at the plank in my own eye first and stop judging other people. I pray that God will help me see people as He sees them - through grace and mercy and love. He hurts for their flaws and longs to help them. I need to have the same attitude towards people.
Saturday, 14 July 2007
Falling Away
Isn't it funny (maybe not funny ha ha, but funny sad) how when we get busy with life, God seems to fall by the wayside. Or maybe it's just me. Since Ian's been home for summer holidays, I've been busy with him and the kids, and my God time has just about vanished.
I heard something on the radio this morning that really struck a chord with me. It was about how there has been a shift in Christian circles in the past few years from "How can I serve God?" to "How can God serve me?" We focus on how can God bless us, help us, take care of us - all of which are true - but our focus should be on what we can do for God regardless of our comfort or circumstances.
I feel so blessed. I've felt that way for a long time. Things are going well with my family. I have two healthy children, a wonderful, loving husband, a hobby/job that are doing very well, great in-laws, great friends. We are financially stable for now. We have a nice house, two cars, lots of neat stuff. I get to be a stay-at-home mom. What more could I ask for? God has truly blessed us. So I start to wonder when the shoe is going to drop, so to speak. How long can this last before disaster strikes? I know there will be hard times in our life, but I feel like we're tempting fate (?) by having it so good for so long. I know in my head that God doesn't work that way, but I still think that disaster can't be far around the corner.
So then I start to reason that if I spend more time with God, maybe He'll keep blessing us. And if I start to slide, then He's going to punish me by making something bad happen. That's the legalistic side of me. It is so untrue. God wants to bless His children. I need to stay close to God not because of what He'll do to me if I don't, but because I love Him and He deserves my time and devotion, regardless of my circumstances.
Okay, so I now resolve to spend time with God during this busy summer. I will make Him a priority because He is worthy of it. He should be the most important priority in my life. I will honour Him as He deserves.
I heard something on the radio this morning that really struck a chord with me. It was about how there has been a shift in Christian circles in the past few years from "How can I serve God?" to "How can God serve me?" We focus on how can God bless us, help us, take care of us - all of which are true - but our focus should be on what we can do for God regardless of our comfort or circumstances.
I feel so blessed. I've felt that way for a long time. Things are going well with my family. I have two healthy children, a wonderful, loving husband, a hobby/job that are doing very well, great in-laws, great friends. We are financially stable for now. We have a nice house, two cars, lots of neat stuff. I get to be a stay-at-home mom. What more could I ask for? God has truly blessed us. So I start to wonder when the shoe is going to drop, so to speak. How long can this last before disaster strikes? I know there will be hard times in our life, but I feel like we're tempting fate (?) by having it so good for so long. I know in my head that God doesn't work that way, but I still think that disaster can't be far around the corner.
So then I start to reason that if I spend more time with God, maybe He'll keep blessing us. And if I start to slide, then He's going to punish me by making something bad happen. That's the legalistic side of me. It is so untrue. God wants to bless His children. I need to stay close to God not because of what He'll do to me if I don't, but because I love Him and He deserves my time and devotion, regardless of my circumstances.
Okay, so I now resolve to spend time with God during this busy summer. I will make Him a priority because He is worthy of it. He should be the most important priority in my life. I will honour Him as He deserves.
Friday, 6 July 2007
On Romans 1 - "God gave them over..."
I've always been fascinated by the progression of sin as outlined in Romans 1. As I mentioned yesterday, men are without excuse for knowing God. So as they choose to ignore God and continue in sin, there is a progression.
"Therefore God gave them over to the sinful desires of their hearts..." (v. 24) It starts with a desire to do something that we know is wrong. Paul includes in this list sexual impurity, exchanging the truth of God for a lie, worshiping created things rather than the Creator. When we ignore God, we start to give in to the temptations to do things we know are wrong.
"Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts..." (v. 26) After we give in to the temptations, we start to "lust after" the things we have given into. It becomes a passion to do these wrong things. These include unnatural sexual relations (Paul gives a list in verses 26 - 27).
"Furthermore, since they did now think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind..." (v. 28) After awhile, our minds become depraved because we keep giving in to the lusts of our flesh. "They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity" (v. 29). Paul lists among these evil things envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossip, slander, insolence, God-hating, arrogance, boastfulness, disobedience to parents, senselessness, faithlessness, heartlessness and ruthlessness. I always find it interesting the disobeying parents is a sign of a depraved mind!
How many people in our society today have a depraved mind according to this? Quite a few! Paul says in verse 32 that "they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." Our society frowns on "intolerance" of sin. When we speak out against sinful behaviour, we are called intolerant and hateful. How God must weep for our nation.
The good news is that it is never too late to turn from our wicked ways at any point on this progression, though it is much more difficult to do so once we have a depraved mind. Praise God that He has provided a way for our minds to be cleansed from depravity and renewed in His Son, Jesus Christ.
"Therefore God gave them over to the sinful desires of their hearts..." (v. 24) It starts with a desire to do something that we know is wrong. Paul includes in this list sexual impurity, exchanging the truth of God for a lie, worshiping created things rather than the Creator. When we ignore God, we start to give in to the temptations to do things we know are wrong.
"Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts..." (v. 26) After we give in to the temptations, we start to "lust after" the things we have given into. It becomes a passion to do these wrong things. These include unnatural sexual relations (Paul gives a list in verses 26 - 27).
"Furthermore, since they did now think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind..." (v. 28) After awhile, our minds become depraved because we keep giving in to the lusts of our flesh. "They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity" (v. 29). Paul lists among these evil things envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossip, slander, insolence, God-hating, arrogance, boastfulness, disobedience to parents, senselessness, faithlessness, heartlessness and ruthlessness. I always find it interesting the disobeying parents is a sign of a depraved mind!
How many people in our society today have a depraved mind according to this? Quite a few! Paul says in verse 32 that "they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." Our society frowns on "intolerance" of sin. When we speak out against sinful behaviour, we are called intolerant and hateful. How God must weep for our nation.
The good news is that it is never too late to turn from our wicked ways at any point on this progression, though it is much more difficult to do so once we have a depraved mind. Praise God that He has provided a way for our minds to be cleansed from depravity and renewed in His Son, Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, 3 July 2007
On Romans 1 - People are without excuse
God keeps pulling me back into Romans, so here I go!
"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." (v. 20)
This verse always blows me away. MEN ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE. We always say, "Well, a loving God wouldn't let anyone go to hell who hasn't heard of Him." That is not an excuse. God's character is in all His creation. I know that every time we drive through the Rocky Mountains, I am awed by the power that it took to create them. How can anyone but God have made those? The beauty of a sunset, a rainbow arching through the sky, a lightning storm... how beautiful and powerful are those? Have you ever seen the sky after a summer shower at sunset? With silver and red and purple, and the clouds with a halo around them? Wow! If people don't recognize God in these things (and more), they have no excuse. That doesn't mean they will know all their theology and their Bible, but if they acknowledge that there is a God who is in charge of this world, then God will remember them in Heaven. Yes, God is loving, but He is also worthy of our praise and worship. He gives us every chance to get to know Him, but in the end, it is our own choice whether or not we will choose to accept His gift of eternal life through His Son, Jesus.
"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." (v. 20)
This verse always blows me away. MEN ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE. We always say, "Well, a loving God wouldn't let anyone go to hell who hasn't heard of Him." That is not an excuse. God's character is in all His creation. I know that every time we drive through the Rocky Mountains, I am awed by the power that it took to create them. How can anyone but God have made those? The beauty of a sunset, a rainbow arching through the sky, a lightning storm... how beautiful and powerful are those? Have you ever seen the sky after a summer shower at sunset? With silver and red and purple, and the clouds with a halo around them? Wow! If people don't recognize God in these things (and more), they have no excuse. That doesn't mean they will know all their theology and their Bible, but if they acknowledge that there is a God who is in charge of this world, then God will remember them in Heaven. Yes, God is loving, but He is also worthy of our praise and worship. He gives us every chance to get to know Him, but in the end, it is our own choice whether or not we will choose to accept His gift of eternal life through His Son, Jesus.
Monday, 18 June 2007
On Colossians 4
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." (v. 2)
I find it interesting that Paul said to be watchful and thankful in our praying. I find it easy to be thankful when I pray, but what does it mean to be watchful in prayer? I gather that it means to be observant in our daily lives and look for things to pray for and opportunities to pray.
Paul goes on in the same section: "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." (vv. 5 - 6)
We are to be watchful when we are around others - making the most of every opportunity. This is the hard part for me. When I am around people who don't share my faith, I tend to be less careful about what I say. It is easier to gossip or speak rudely when I am around people who speak the same way (that's not to say the non-believers are rude, but that they don't judge that kind of speech the way believers do). I guess that's the root of it. Christians tend to be very judgmental (myself included) about the things people say, especially non-believers. Is that being full of grace? No. Our conversation is to be seasoned with salt. Salt is a preservative and adds flavour and taste to dishes. Our conversation should be wholesome, enjoyable and leaving a pleasant taste in the mouths of the listeners (so to speak!). People will not be drawn to Christ if we speak rudely or act judgmental towards them. We need to pray for opportunities to draw people to Christ and ask God to give us the words to say that will be "salty" for the listener.
I find it interesting that Paul said to be watchful and thankful in our praying. I find it easy to be thankful when I pray, but what does it mean to be watchful in prayer? I gather that it means to be observant in our daily lives and look for things to pray for and opportunities to pray.
Paul goes on in the same section: "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." (vv. 5 - 6)
We are to be watchful when we are around others - making the most of every opportunity. This is the hard part for me. When I am around people who don't share my faith, I tend to be less careful about what I say. It is easier to gossip or speak rudely when I am around people who speak the same way (that's not to say the non-believers are rude, but that they don't judge that kind of speech the way believers do). I guess that's the root of it. Christians tend to be very judgmental (myself included) about the things people say, especially non-believers. Is that being full of grace? No. Our conversation is to be seasoned with salt. Salt is a preservative and adds flavour and taste to dishes. Our conversation should be wholesome, enjoyable and leaving a pleasant taste in the mouths of the listeners (so to speak!). People will not be drawn to Christ if we speak rudely or act judgmental towards them. We need to pray for opportunities to draw people to Christ and ask God to give us the words to say that will be "salty" for the listener.
Thursday, 14 June 2007
Colossians 2 and 3 - Freedom from Regulations
"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross." (vv. 13 - 14)
When we receive Christ's salvation, we are no longer under the law. We are completely free in Christ. We do not need to submit to the power and authority of the law, we submit to the power and authority of Christ in God. Does this mean we can do whatever we want? By no means. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:12 "Everything is permissible for me - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me - but I will not be mastered by anything." So in our freedom, we need to make sure we don't give mastery of ourselves over to any earthly thing. We also need to refrain from things that would lead others into sin or that would not be beneficial to us or to others.
Paul continues in Colossians 3 "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things... Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry... You must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." (vv. 1-2, 5-6, 8-10)
So we are free from the law, but we still need to rid ourselves of things that belong to the earthly nature and that do not glorify God.
When we receive Christ's salvation, we are no longer under the law. We are completely free in Christ. We do not need to submit to the power and authority of the law, we submit to the power and authority of Christ in God. Does this mean we can do whatever we want? By no means. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:12 "Everything is permissible for me - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me - but I will not be mastered by anything." So in our freedom, we need to make sure we don't give mastery of ourselves over to any earthly thing. We also need to refrain from things that would lead others into sin or that would not be beneficial to us or to others.
Paul continues in Colossians 3 "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things... Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry... You must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." (vv. 1-2, 5-6, 8-10)
So we are free from the law, but we still need to rid ourselves of things that belong to the earthly nature and that do not glorify God.
Wednesday, 13 June 2007
More On Colossians 2
"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." (v. 8)
It is so easy to fall into the world's philosophy. A lot of things sound right, but they're not. Fairness is a big thing that comes to mind, especially as a former teacher and as a parent. The world wants things to be fair. You work, you get paid. If someone has something, then you should have it too. Your brother gets to do this, so you should get to do it too. Sounds reasonable, but is it based on Christ's principles? Jesus promised us we would be persecuted for our faith. Is that fair? No, but it is reality. I have to remind myself and my boys (though they're pretty young to grasp this yet) that life isn't fair. People will do things that are not right, and they will still get rewards. People will take things from you and get away with it. It is so hard to raise children with godly principles when the world's philosophy is so much different. Take what you can get. You have the RIGHT to... Rights and fairness are not part of God's vocabulary. We are to surrender ourselves to God's will and allow Him to take care of the results. I like the wording "see to it that no one takes you CAPTIVE". When we buy into the world's thinking, we are captive prisoners to it. I have to be so careful to spend time in God's Word so I know what is true and right, not what sounds true and right according to the world. I pray that God will reveal that truth to my boys as well, and that they won't be disheartened when the world doesn't follow God's truth as they do. I pray they will choose to follow God and His leading and that they would know the Word and follow it even when no one else it.
It is so easy to fall into the world's philosophy. A lot of things sound right, but they're not. Fairness is a big thing that comes to mind, especially as a former teacher and as a parent. The world wants things to be fair. You work, you get paid. If someone has something, then you should have it too. Your brother gets to do this, so you should get to do it too. Sounds reasonable, but is it based on Christ's principles? Jesus promised us we would be persecuted for our faith. Is that fair? No, but it is reality. I have to remind myself and my boys (though they're pretty young to grasp this yet) that life isn't fair. People will do things that are not right, and they will still get rewards. People will take things from you and get away with it. It is so hard to raise children with godly principles when the world's philosophy is so much different. Take what you can get. You have the RIGHT to... Rights and fairness are not part of God's vocabulary. We are to surrender ourselves to God's will and allow Him to take care of the results. I like the wording "see to it that no one takes you CAPTIVE". When we buy into the world's thinking, we are captive prisoners to it. I have to be so careful to spend time in God's Word so I know what is true and right, not what sounds true and right according to the world. I pray that God will reveal that truth to my boys as well, and that they won't be disheartened when the world doesn't follow God's truth as they do. I pray they will choose to follow God and His leading and that they would know the Word and follow it even when no one else it.
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