Saturday, July 26, 2014

Simple Faith



If the gospel is true, then why doesn't everyone believe in Christ? 

To put it simply, 


Predestination. 


It is the destiny of those who are chosen to believe. 


But, those who believe still have a job to do. To seek out the lost and to present the gospel to them.


Most people are visual learners. What we see is what we believe.


But, we can't see Christ. He is in heaven until He returns. Which may be soon.




Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 ESV


How can we believe in Someone we cannot see? And, how can we expect others to believe in Him?




{Agape'}


Which means love in Greek. The kind of love expressed in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8:




Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.


Love is invisible until it is expressed, with not just words but in deeds and in truth. The gospel must be lived out in love for people to see it.


That is when the unveiling happens. The revelation. The Divine moment of truth.


Words become reality. The Word becomes visible. Real. 



{Love in the flesh}

So many times, we make Christianity about politics, a cultural standard of morality or living the "American Dream," but it's not about that.


I struggle with this too. The gospel is simple. So simple a child could understand it.


When we stray from it's simplicity, we are going down the wrong path and steering others away from Christ.


The gospel is simple, yet crucial to salvation.


There is One God, One Word, One Faith, One Savior (1 Timothy 2:5).


God loves us and wants us to know Him. He wouldn't make Himself so elusive that we wouldn't know how to find Him.


What makes Jesus


The Christ, our Savior, the Son of the Living God?


No one else claimed to be Divine, did the miracles He did, lived a life of perfect love, and was willing to die for us.


For the bad things we have done.


This simple fact sets Christ apart from all other ways to transcend the earthly to the heavenly. To touch the Divine. The One who holds eternity in His hands came down, as a human, 


A defenseless, helpless baby





To live the perfect life we should have lived and die the death we all deserve to die for our sins (Romans 3:23, 6:23).


Once we place our faith in Christ as the sacrifice for our sins, we are no longer condemned (Rom. 8:1).


Not only that but we are given the righteous standing of Christ Himself. We are marked as a child of God and given the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of the things to come (Eph. 1:13,14).


It seems so simple. Enough for a little child to understand. But, the thing is, none of us would believe if God didn't reach out and give us faith.


For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of Godnot by works, so that no one can boast. 


Ephesians 2:8,9 NIV


We're too proud. Too attached to living life without Him.


Things would change if we made that commitment.


We would have to make choices.


And, some of them would hurt for a time.


But, all of them would be for our good. And for a greater good and purpose.


Believing in Jesus and following Him is simple, yet life changing. If you haven't made that commitment, I urge you to consider Christ and His salvation. 


There is no other like Him. And, for those who have made the commitment, continue to press on, making the hard choices that come with following Him. He has a plan and purpose in everything. 


One day we'll see.


For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes...


Romans 1:16 NIV





Thursday, July 17, 2014

Discipleship Matters




I don't know who was more excited about the new film showing at the science center, me or the kids (I would guess, me). This National Geographic lover was swept off her feet by the newest 3-D movie playing, Pandas: The Journey Home

I absolutely adore pandas. They're cute, cuddly and hey, they rhyme with my name. 

Though some may beg to differ, I believe pandas are the most lovable bear on the planet. They have that sophisticated tuxedo look with little beady eyes that say, "Take me home with you."




The film takes place at the Wolong Panda Center, deep in the heart of China. The rescue center was designed to train pandas to survive in the wild.

In order for that to happen, all the baby pandas born at the center were to have no human contact. Then they would be trained to live like a wild panda before being set free.


Although it was a harder life, it was one worth striving for.


No human contact. That reminded me of times in my walk of faith. 


Lonely times when I didn't have a community of believers to come alongside me to encourage and support me. 


It wasn't that I was trying to isolate myself. I would have preferred to be in a fellowship of friends, but I was stuck in a wilderness sort of place and I didn't know when it was ever going to end.


At the same time, I don't think I've ever felt closer to the Lord.


In the wilderness, I've learned to lean on Him like never before. 

I know that He meant those times to train me. To teach me. to disciple me. That I might have a more closer walk with Him.


“Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
    and bring her into the wilderness,
    and speak tenderly to her.
15 And there I will give her her vineyards
    and make the Valley of Achor [trouble] a door of hope." 

Hosea 2:14

Sometimes our friends have to be taken out of the way so that we might see Christ better.

It's not punishment, it's discipleship. And, it's meant for our good and for His glory.


And, one day, those times will bear fruit to share with others going through hard times.


When you have learned to lean on Christ, you can help strengthen others in their faith. 

It's always good to be in fellowship, but in those alone times, know that God will shine through. 

He will use this time to draw you nearer to Himself and teach you that 

He is our strength, our satisfaction, our salvation.









Friday, July 4, 2014

Give Me Liberty



It's been more than a year since we moved from our home. Now, we're kind of in limbo. Or "in transit," as I like to call it. Living in a three-bedroom apartment until we can save up for a new home.

Surprisingly, the square footage is slightly larger than our old house; one of the reasons it seemed like a good idea to move. The other reason was The Captain being laid-off from his job, and we wanted the freedom to be able to move to another state for work if need be.


Thankfully, we are still in the fair city of Orlando, and after a year of searching, The Captain is sailing in an ocean of numbers doing accounting work for a company in our area.






Apartment life has it's perks. No lawn to mow. The kids are loving the pool. Aside from the stomping occasionally heard overhead, I sometimes forget this is not a house.


But, then we run into problems like the time The Captain ordered a book from the library, forgetting that he hadn't changed his address on his account. Forwarding at the post office had expired, so the book got sent to our old house.


We either had to find the missing book or buy it. Being the frugal guy that he is, The Captain made a trip down memory lane to our dear old home. He saw a car in the driveway, so he proceded to knock on the door, hoping the new residents would be amiable.


When a middle-aged woman opened the door, The Captain waved. "Hey, uh, I used to live here. Have you received a package with a book for me by any chance?"


The lady shook her head. "No hablo ingles."


Racking his brain for the right word in Spanish, he blurted out, "Libre! Libre!"


On the drive back home, he wondered why she took a step back and shut the door in his face. Why couldn't she have at least tried to look for his book.


It wasn't until later, after watching one of our family's favorite movies, Nacho Libre that we figured out what was lost in translation.


Libro = Book, Libre = Liberty


In effect, he said to the woman, "Liberty! Liberty!"


No telling what she thought. El loco en la cabesa? Anyway, I'm just glad all she did was shut the door.


And, we paid for the book.


This being the birthday of our county's independence or it's day of liberty, it makes me think of something Thomas Jefferson penned in the Declaration of Independence.


That we the people have established the United States in 


order to be able to have 

"life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."






Life. Liberty. The pursuit of happiness.


All these can be found in Christ.


Life. Eternal life. 


Liberty. We have freedom from the penalty of sin (Romans 6:23), which is death, because of the promise of the Resurrection. The new heavens and earth at the return of Christ.


The pursuit of happiness. Our hearts our happiest when we know we are loved. And, in Christ, the love of God never ends.


May this 4th of July will be a Day of Dependence on the love of Christ to fill our hearts and help us to follow His pursuits as we await for True Liberty to come.


The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor...


Isaiah 61:1,2