A lot has happened since last I blogged....and a lot has changed. But the most significant thing that has happened recently happened 6 days ago, and was a day I shall never forget. It was a day I had been waiting for for a long time, even though it is a precursor of an even greater day. In this blog,I have written a lot about what all God has been teaching me and how I want to be the best I can be for God and for my future wife. Well, on August 14th, I proposed to her!
To me, marriage is God's invention. He thought of it, and instituted it. It is a precious and special picture of Christ and the Church. It is my prayer that our relationship and marriage will be a reflection of that relationship and will bring Him glory! It is truly wonderful when you let God write your love story.
So now, I am very happily engaged and eagerly awaiting the day for our marriage. There is plenty to do! Purity and holiness in this relationship are just as important if not more important in this exciting step. I deeply desire to continue to honor and love and cherish my future wife in any way I can! It is going to be interesting and exciting as I realize and live out more of how to love as Christ loves us. One thing is for sure! It is His love working in me!
So off I go onto a new adventure of engagement and soon (9 months) to Marriage! For Christ's Glory!
Thoughts and musings on following Christ, becoming a Warrior Poet, and living as a Disciple.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Exercise...(some more thoughts from 1 Timothy)
I think we have all seen those who some might affectionately call "crazy", particularly those who have this thing for physical fitness/sports. You know them: The ones who spend 3 hours in the gym a day, working on building the "perfect" body, or the ones who spend hours a day practicing for their sport, or those who spend an hour or two running. They are devoted to getting their exercise or their sport, to being the best they can be.
I am still reading through 1 Timothy, and just recently got to chapter 4, and thought I'd share some of my observations with you.
"8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
9This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance 10(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe" 1 Timothy 4:8-10 (NIV)
Paul in this passage makes a contrast between physical training (which has some value) and training in godliness. While physical training has little real value, training in godliness has value for all things, holding promise for this life, and the life to come. This is a very clear contrast. People can go to great effort and spend much time on physical training which ultimately passes away. This body will eventually decay and die. Yet, this type of attitude should be adopted for spiritual training in godliness... what does this look like?
What would it look like if we approached spiritual training unto godliness, seeking to be godly like many of us approach exercise? What if we spent hours in reading His word, in prayer? What if we put into practice what is said in the Bible, and live it out? What if we train and discpline ourselves unto godliness? I am convinced that we would be a different type of people. We would be a church that is strong, that could stand. I think we can all agree that we need people who are spiritually fit to lead in the church. People who know the Word and can disciple others. People whose lives reflect Christ, who live in such a way that the world can't find fault with them. Instead, as a whole, the church is complacent and lazy; flabby, if you will, and not willing to flex those spiritual muscles. Many feel that since they have been saved, they can just sit back and take a break. They have a "get out of jail free" card. But it is clear in the Bible that we are to be different, that our lives are to change, that we live for Him, that we stand and be counted as men for Him.
We need people devoted to spiritual execise, to training in godliness. If people can spend so much time on physical training that has only a little value, why can't we make time for spiritual training? Now, this is not to say that we are on our own, and have to do all the work and that this is a "work based" salvation. No, not at all! It is only through God that we can effectively train and be equipped for His service. While God is our strength, that doesn't mean we do nothing. He expects us to work towards this. Paul himself say that he labors and strives through this. We are to labor and strive toward godliness, but not in our own strength. We have a great hope in Christ. We must look to Him.
So consider this a challenge to all of us (myself included) to get fit spiritually. In the midst of all this exercise craze, lets get one of our own: A focus on being godly, and being strong in the LORD!
For Christ's Glory!
I am still reading through 1 Timothy, and just recently got to chapter 4, and thought I'd share some of my observations with you.
"8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
9This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance 10(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe" 1 Timothy 4:8-10 (NIV)
Paul in this passage makes a contrast between physical training (which has some value) and training in godliness. While physical training has little real value, training in godliness has value for all things, holding promise for this life, and the life to come. This is a very clear contrast. People can go to great effort and spend much time on physical training which ultimately passes away. This body will eventually decay and die. Yet, this type of attitude should be adopted for spiritual training in godliness... what does this look like?
What would it look like if we approached spiritual training unto godliness, seeking to be godly like many of us approach exercise? What if we spent hours in reading His word, in prayer? What if we put into practice what is said in the Bible, and live it out? What if we train and discpline ourselves unto godliness? I am convinced that we would be a different type of people. We would be a church that is strong, that could stand. I think we can all agree that we need people who are spiritually fit to lead in the church. People who know the Word and can disciple others. People whose lives reflect Christ, who live in such a way that the world can't find fault with them. Instead, as a whole, the church is complacent and lazy; flabby, if you will, and not willing to flex those spiritual muscles. Many feel that since they have been saved, they can just sit back and take a break. They have a "get out of jail free" card. But it is clear in the Bible that we are to be different, that our lives are to change, that we live for Him, that we stand and be counted as men for Him.
We need people devoted to spiritual execise, to training in godliness. If people can spend so much time on physical training that has only a little value, why can't we make time for spiritual training? Now, this is not to say that we are on our own, and have to do all the work and that this is a "work based" salvation. No, not at all! It is only through God that we can effectively train and be equipped for His service. While God is our strength, that doesn't mean we do nothing. He expects us to work towards this. Paul himself say that he labors and strives through this. We are to labor and strive toward godliness, but not in our own strength. We have a great hope in Christ. We must look to Him.
So consider this a challenge to all of us (myself included) to get fit spiritually. In the midst of all this exercise craze, lets get one of our own: A focus on being godly, and being strong in the LORD!
For Christ's Glory!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Book Review: "Where is God" by Dr. John Townsend
Well, every so often, I will review a book and share my thoughts on it (I am a part of the Thomas Nelson book reviewing, AKA BookSneeze....(Don't ask! I don't know! =D) Without further ado, here is my thoughts on "Where is God?" by Dr. John Towsend:
In the face of the many troubles people face, many people are asking, "Where is God in this?" It seems to be our typical human reaction. Dr. John Townsend, in his book, "Where is God?", addresses this question, and assures his readers that God doesn't leave us.
Overall, the premise of the book is good. His last chapter has some very practical suggestions that are helpful in dealing with problems in life. God is faithful, and is in control during our hard times. Dr. Townsend doesn't deny that even when we follow God, there will be troubles, sometimes to show His glory (Like Job).
However, I had several concerns. In the beginning of the book, as he set up his thoughts and points, one of his points which had an emphasis all throughout the book is that God is for you. The way he treats this all throughout the book seems to slightly diminish God. Yes, God is in control all the time, but He isn't about our good. He is about His glory. That is why we were made, why we exist, why we were saved, and why we go through hard times: Because it is all for His glory. Saying that God is for me ultimately makes for a very humanistic theology, in which the end of all is our happiness. Instead, the end of all is God and His glory. So this was a concern. I was also sort of put off by his whole approach in writing the book. It seemed to be more of a psychological discourse than a study into God and His purposes in troubles. Much of modern psychology is rooted in humanist thinking and I suspect that this had an influence in this book.
I received this book to review from Thomas Nelson (http://www.thomasnelson.com)
For Christ's Glory!
In the face of the many troubles people face, many people are asking, "Where is God in this?" It seems to be our typical human reaction. Dr. John Townsend, in his book, "Where is God?", addresses this question, and assures his readers that God doesn't leave us.
Overall, the premise of the book is good. His last chapter has some very practical suggestions that are helpful in dealing with problems in life. God is faithful, and is in control during our hard times. Dr. Townsend doesn't deny that even when we follow God, there will be troubles, sometimes to show His glory (Like Job).
However, I had several concerns. In the beginning of the book, as he set up his thoughts and points, one of his points which had an emphasis all throughout the book is that God is for you. The way he treats this all throughout the book seems to slightly diminish God. Yes, God is in control all the time, but He isn't about our good. He is about His glory. That is why we were made, why we exist, why we were saved, and why we go through hard times: Because it is all for His glory. Saying that God is for me ultimately makes for a very humanistic theology, in which the end of all is our happiness. Instead, the end of all is God and His glory. So this was a concern. I was also sort of put off by his whole approach in writing the book. It seemed to be more of a psychological discourse than a study into God and His purposes in troubles. Much of modern psychology is rooted in humanist thinking and I suspect that this had an influence in this book.
I received this book to review from Thomas Nelson (http://www.thomasnelson.com)
For Christ's Glory!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Living as a Man of God
"18Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, 19holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith." 1 Timothy 1:18-19 (NIV)
As I had mentioned in my previous post, I am reading through 1 Timothy, and right after the passage I just blogged on was another passage that really stood out to me as I studied it. In these few verses, Paul shares a bit of his heart, and a glimpse of what it means to be a man of God as he instructs Timothy. Timothy was called to be a man of God, and Paul gives hims instruction on how to live. Let's look to see what God has to say...
First of all, Paul tells Timothy to fight the good fight. It is important to remember that we are in a war. We need to stand and fight for our King! As Paul instructed the Ephesians, we need to put on the full armor of God so we can stand. We need to be devoted to prayer, the great weapon with which we can fight and bring down strongholds. James tells us that the fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. We need to stand and fight the good fight, so we, like Paul, when we come to the end, we can say that we fought the good fight, that we finished the race.
Next, Paul tells Timothy to hold on to faith. We need to be faithful, have faith in God and His promises. The writer of Hebrews tells us that faith is being sure of what we hope for and being certain of what we do not see. It is not doubt, in any form. Faith believes God, believes His promises, and holds to it without wavering. Faith overcomes. Faith empowers us to stand. Those described in Hebrews 11 are great examples We ought to hold to Faith, for we have a great and glorious hope. Faith trusts God and doesn't back down.
Thirdly, Paul instructs Timothy to hold to a good conscience. What we do and say affects us. The more we wallow in sin, the more it deadens us and renders us ineffective. God's forgiveness is freely available to those who repent, but there are always consequences for sin. By having a good conscience, not being stained by sin, we can be effective for Christ.
Some, however, Paul says, have rejected these and in so doing have shipwrecked their faith. They have lost the faith, have fallen away. Simply put, they fell, with great damage to themselves. These things that Paul gives are in essence, the living out of our faith. Without them our faith is dead and useless- not saying that works save, but rather that they are evidence of Faith. It is important that we live out our faith, that we stand up and be counted as men (and women) for God.
I think we can agree that in this day, we need men who will stand, men of God who live out their faith. I hope that we all take a few lessons from these instructions from Paul, as the Spirit gave him. May we live as men of God!
For Christ's Glory!
As I had mentioned in my previous post, I am reading through 1 Timothy, and right after the passage I just blogged on was another passage that really stood out to me as I studied it. In these few verses, Paul shares a bit of his heart, and a glimpse of what it means to be a man of God as he instructs Timothy. Timothy was called to be a man of God, and Paul gives hims instruction on how to live. Let's look to see what God has to say...
First of all, Paul tells Timothy to fight the good fight. It is important to remember that we are in a war. We need to stand and fight for our King! As Paul instructed the Ephesians, we need to put on the full armor of God so we can stand. We need to be devoted to prayer, the great weapon with which we can fight and bring down strongholds. James tells us that the fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. We need to stand and fight the good fight, so we, like Paul, when we come to the end, we can say that we fought the good fight, that we finished the race.
Next, Paul tells Timothy to hold on to faith. We need to be faithful, have faith in God and His promises. The writer of Hebrews tells us that faith is being sure of what we hope for and being certain of what we do not see. It is not doubt, in any form. Faith believes God, believes His promises, and holds to it without wavering. Faith overcomes. Faith empowers us to stand. Those described in Hebrews 11 are great examples We ought to hold to Faith, for we have a great and glorious hope. Faith trusts God and doesn't back down.
Thirdly, Paul instructs Timothy to hold to a good conscience. What we do and say affects us. The more we wallow in sin, the more it deadens us and renders us ineffective. God's forgiveness is freely available to those who repent, but there are always consequences for sin. By having a good conscience, not being stained by sin, we can be effective for Christ.
Some, however, Paul says, have rejected these and in so doing have shipwrecked their faith. They have lost the faith, have fallen away. Simply put, they fell, with great damage to themselves. These things that Paul gives are in essence, the living out of our faith. Without them our faith is dead and useless- not saying that works save, but rather that they are evidence of Faith. It is important that we live out our faith, that we stand up and be counted as men (and women) for God.
I think we can agree that in this day, we need men who will stand, men of God who live out their faith. I hope that we all take a few lessons from these instructions from Paul, as the Spirit gave him. May we live as men of God!
For Christ's Glory!
Friday, May 21, 2010
A Trustworthy Saying...
"15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Timothy 1:15-17 (NIV)
Lately, I have been reading through 1 Timothy. I just finished Chapter 1 yesterday. (I have been working through it since last Saturday. The more time I have been spending with God, the richer His Word becomes and the more I find in each verse...so much so that I can only get through a few verses a day! His Word is so rich!) This particular passage has stuck out to me, particularly as I have been praying and meditating over it, letting it invade my being. Let's look into this passage, and see what God has to say.
So what is this trustworthy saying? Why does it deserve full acceptance? This great and trustworthy saying deserves full acceptance because it is good news to all who are perishing: Christ Jesus came into the world (Which would be Earth-shattering news enough. The fact that God, the creator of all, Who is above all, Who is perfect, would come into a world that is chained in sin, to a people who are not perfect, who are rebellious and sinful, to a place of suffering and death and pain ~ That is unthinkable in itself! That God would even stoop to Earth to be with us, and to put on human flesh, to "empty" Himself and live among us, is unbelievable news as it is. But it gets better) He came into the world to save sinners. All of us, no matter what we have done, He has come so we might have life. This "saying" deserves full acceptance! This is the greatest news to ever come our way. We should shout it from the rooftops, tell everyone we meet that Christ Jesus came to the Earth as one if us to save sinners! What a blessed hope!
However, this news seems to barely move us. Why are we so apathetic to this? Why does this news seem old and obvious? Why doesn't it grip us? As I was praying and meditating over this, I realized that we can get so excited on good news like our favorite team winning the Superbowl, or we got that raise that we always wanted, or that new sports car, or we just saw the greatest movie ever. And yet, when we get to the greatest news of all, we sort of shrug and and acknowledge that He saved us. Why aren't we overwhelmed by the implications of this truth? When you compare the great Good News of Christ with the things we get excited with, it is like comparing a nuclear explosion, and a tiny firecracker.
I imagine that most of us have been told that Christ died to save us, and we said "the sinner's prayer" but how many of us realize what He did for us? We approach the greatest day in the history of the universe with such flippancy. The fact that He made Himself nothing, taking on the nature of a servant, and came to Earth, and then died, taking our sin on Him to save us so we could be with Him forever~ this ought to transform our lives! He did and gave so much! And we give Him so little. We treat the greatest day in history as just another day. The way we live shows that we really don't care. We haven't let this glorious Gospel impact our hearts and our minds. We sure can talk a good talk, but our lives don't show the glorious Gospel we halfheartedly proclaim. We honor Him with our words but our hearts are far from Him. We need to realize how great this Good News is and let it Transform us!
In View of such a great and trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance, we ought to join Paul by saying: "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:17, NIV)
For Christ's Glory!
Lately, I have been reading through 1 Timothy. I just finished Chapter 1 yesterday. (I have been working through it since last Saturday. The more time I have been spending with God, the richer His Word becomes and the more I find in each verse...so much so that I can only get through a few verses a day! His Word is so rich!) This particular passage has stuck out to me, particularly as I have been praying and meditating over it, letting it invade my being. Let's look into this passage, and see what God has to say.
So what is this trustworthy saying? Why does it deserve full acceptance? This great and trustworthy saying deserves full acceptance because it is good news to all who are perishing: Christ Jesus came into the world (Which would be Earth-shattering news enough. The fact that God, the creator of all, Who is above all, Who is perfect, would come into a world that is chained in sin, to a people who are not perfect, who are rebellious and sinful, to a place of suffering and death and pain ~ That is unthinkable in itself! That God would even stoop to Earth to be with us, and to put on human flesh, to "empty" Himself and live among us, is unbelievable news as it is. But it gets better) He came into the world to save sinners. All of us, no matter what we have done, He has come so we might have life. This "saying" deserves full acceptance! This is the greatest news to ever come our way. We should shout it from the rooftops, tell everyone we meet that Christ Jesus came to the Earth as one if us to save sinners! What a blessed hope!
However, this news seems to barely move us. Why are we so apathetic to this? Why does this news seem old and obvious? Why doesn't it grip us? As I was praying and meditating over this, I realized that we can get so excited on good news like our favorite team winning the Superbowl, or we got that raise that we always wanted, or that new sports car, or we just saw the greatest movie ever. And yet, when we get to the greatest news of all, we sort of shrug and and acknowledge that He saved us. Why aren't we overwhelmed by the implications of this truth? When you compare the great Good News of Christ with the things we get excited with, it is like comparing a nuclear explosion, and a tiny firecracker.
I imagine that most of us have been told that Christ died to save us, and we said "the sinner's prayer" but how many of us realize what He did for us? We approach the greatest day in the history of the universe with such flippancy. The fact that He made Himself nothing, taking on the nature of a servant, and came to Earth, and then died, taking our sin on Him to save us so we could be with Him forever~ this ought to transform our lives! He did and gave so much! And we give Him so little. We treat the greatest day in history as just another day. The way we live shows that we really don't care. We haven't let this glorious Gospel impact our hearts and our minds. We sure can talk a good talk, but our lives don't show the glorious Gospel we halfheartedly proclaim. We honor Him with our words but our hearts are far from Him. We need to realize how great this Good News is and let it Transform us!
In View of such a great and trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance, we ought to join Paul by saying: "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:17, NIV)
For Christ's Glory!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Back from School
Well, I am back again. It has been a long semester, and I am glad to be back home. God has shown me a lot through my quiet times, and through talking with others this past semester, so expect quite a few posts in the next couple days!
In less than two weeks from today, I will be heading of to Summer camp at Camp Joy-El. I am very excited. I know God will do great things during this summer. Would you consider joining me in prayer for this summer? Without prayer, our efforts will be meaningless. (More on that later!)
I hope to share with you during theses next few weeks some of what God has been showing me and challenge you to grow closer to God. Until then!
For Christ's Glory!
In less than two weeks from today, I will be heading of to Summer camp at Camp Joy-El. I am very excited. I know God will do great things during this summer. Would you consider joining me in prayer for this summer? Without prayer, our efforts will be meaningless. (More on that later!)
I hope to share with you during theses next few weeks some of what God has been showing me and challenge you to grow closer to God. Until then!
For Christ's Glory!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Dead to the World, Alive to Christ....
Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending my best friend's baptism. It was a special time, as I watched my friend declare her unwavering allegiance to Christ, making a public declaration of her faith in Christ; that she is set-apart unto Him.
I've been thinking a bit about the symbolism of baptism and what it means, and the statement it makes. When you are being put under the water, it symbolizes your dying to self and to the world, and being brought back up symbolizes your being made alive in Christ. It is, as my friend did last night, a public declaration of your faith.
As I think about it baptism is a symbol of our lives and what they should look like: Dead to the world and the flesh and its desires, and alive to Christ, living for Him, being set apart for Him. We should live our lives as a declaration of what baptism symbolizes: That we are set-apart to Him. The world no longer has a grip on us. Unfortunately, in our modern church, we are very much in the grip of the world. This should not be. We need to be dead to the world.
John says this in 1 John 2:15-17: "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." (NIV)
We are called to a life of being dead to the world and alive to Christ. I know I've used this verse a lot, but I really like the depth of what it says: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20, NIV)
My friend's baptism is a great picture and symbol of this verse, and it is a great example of how we should all live. We need to be dead to the world and alive to Christ. When people see us, they should see that the world does not have a hold on us, but instead, that Christ lives in us. That is what baptism symbolizes, and that is what we should live. I challenge you (and myself as well!) to live a life that is a declaration that you are dead to the world and alive to Christ!
For Christ's Glory!
I've been thinking a bit about the symbolism of baptism and what it means, and the statement it makes. When you are being put under the water, it symbolizes your dying to self and to the world, and being brought back up symbolizes your being made alive in Christ. It is, as my friend did last night, a public declaration of your faith.
As I think about it baptism is a symbol of our lives and what they should look like: Dead to the world and the flesh and its desires, and alive to Christ, living for Him, being set apart for Him. We should live our lives as a declaration of what baptism symbolizes: That we are set-apart to Him. The world no longer has a grip on us. Unfortunately, in our modern church, we are very much in the grip of the world. This should not be. We need to be dead to the world.
John says this in 1 John 2:15-17: "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." (NIV)
We are called to a life of being dead to the world and alive to Christ. I know I've used this verse a lot, but I really like the depth of what it says: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20, NIV)
My friend's baptism is a great picture and symbol of this verse, and it is a great example of how we should all live. We need to be dead to the world and alive to Christ. When people see us, they should see that the world does not have a hold on us, but instead, that Christ lives in us. That is what baptism symbolizes, and that is what we should live. I challenge you (and myself as well!) to live a life that is a declaration that you are dead to the world and alive to Christ!
For Christ's Glory!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Overcoming...
I've been reading in Revelation recently for my devotions, and I just finished chapters 2-3 yesterday. I have been doing a chapter or so a day, which is unusual for me. I tend to have a voracious appetite for Scripture, 6-10 chapters a day. (which is not a bad thing, I think!) For Revelation (and here on out, if I can help it) I have really been spending a lot of time studying and meditating on each chapter. Why? Well, the introduction to the book reads like this:
"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near." (Scripture in NIV unless otherwise marked...)
When you read that, it becomes obvious that there is some important things to see and learn in this book. So, I have been spending a lot of time meditating on each chapter as I go.
All this to say is that as I read Revelation 2-3, one big theme really stuck out to me, and has been something that I have been spending some time thinking on, the idea of overcoming. In each letter to each of the churches in the two chapters, Christ closes the letter with a mention about "he who overcomes..." Take a look:
Rev 2:7: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."
Rev 2:11: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death."
Rev 2:17: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it."
Rev 2:26: "To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—"
Rev 3:5: "He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels."
Rev 3:12: "Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name."
Rev 3:21: "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne."
It doesn't take a Bible student to realize that there is a theme here! =) Obviously, overcoming is very important and there is great reward for those who do. The fact that this is repeated with each letter implies to me that this promise is applicable to everyone. The logical question, then, is:"What does it mean to overcome?"
Merriam-Webster Online defines "overcome" as : "to get the better of : surmount" A synonym is "conquer". It means to prevail. This brings the next question of "what are we overcoming or prevailing against?"
Romans 12:21 says this:"Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." (KJV) Elsewhere in 1 John 5:4-5, John says, "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (ESV) We are in a battle. A battle against temptations and sin, and a battle against ourselves, our flesh. The Christian life is not a walk in the park after we accept Christ! We need to "be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." (Eph 6:10-13)
We are exhorted to overcome. But how? We are helpless to do it on our own. It is by His grace that we can overcome. He has already overcome the World, and is ready to give us strength to hold fast, to overcome.
We need to stand in Him, and overcome. It means we need to endure and hold strong to the end. Devote your life to Christ. Overcome your Flesh! Paul exhorts Timothy to "But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:5-7, NASB) Paul was one who overcame, who endured, and he exhorted Timothy to do the same. We, too, need to hold on to the end, and overcome. Christ will come again. We need to remain strong in our fight. We need to endure in living the life He has set before us.
There is great reward for "he who overcomes", who endures to the end, who stays faithful.
Remember what 1 John 5:4-5 says, "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (ESV) If we endure in our faith, we will overcome.
Now, I doubt I've even scratched the surface of this grand topic, but it has given me a deep-seated desire to be one who overcomes, who remains faithful to the end, no matter what! Who will stand and overcome with me? I want to stand for my King.
For Christ's Glory!
"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near." (Scripture in NIV unless otherwise marked...)
When you read that, it becomes obvious that there is some important things to see and learn in this book. So, I have been spending a lot of time meditating on each chapter as I go.
All this to say is that as I read Revelation 2-3, one big theme really stuck out to me, and has been something that I have been spending some time thinking on, the idea of overcoming. In each letter to each of the churches in the two chapters, Christ closes the letter with a mention about "he who overcomes..." Take a look:
Rev 2:7: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."
Rev 2:11: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death."
Rev 2:17: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it."
Rev 2:26: "To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—"
Rev 3:5: "He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels."
Rev 3:12: "Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name."
Rev 3:21: "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne."
It doesn't take a Bible student to realize that there is a theme here! =) Obviously, overcoming is very important and there is great reward for those who do. The fact that this is repeated with each letter implies to me that this promise is applicable to everyone. The logical question, then, is:"What does it mean to overcome?"
Merriam-Webster Online defines "overcome" as : "to get the better of : surmount
Romans 12:21 says this:"Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." (KJV) Elsewhere in 1 John 5:4-5, John says, "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (ESV) We are in a battle. A battle against temptations and sin, and a battle against ourselves, our flesh. The Christian life is not a walk in the park after we accept Christ! We need to "be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." (Eph 6:10-13)
We are exhorted to overcome. But how? We are helpless to do it on our own. It is by His grace that we can overcome. He has already overcome the World, and is ready to give us strength to hold fast, to overcome.
We need to stand in Him, and overcome. It means we need to endure and hold strong to the end. Devote your life to Christ. Overcome your Flesh! Paul exhorts Timothy to "But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:5-7, NASB) Paul was one who overcame, who endured, and he exhorted Timothy to do the same. We, too, need to hold on to the end, and overcome. Christ will come again. We need to remain strong in our fight. We need to endure in living the life He has set before us.
There is great reward for "he who overcomes", who endures to the end, who stays faithful.
Remember what 1 John 5:4-5 says, "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (ESV) If we endure in our faith, we will overcome.
Now, I doubt I've even scratched the surface of this grand topic, but it has given me a deep-seated desire to be one who overcomes, who remains faithful to the end, no matter what! Who will stand and overcome with me? I want to stand for my King.
For Christ's Glory!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Life...
I've been doing some thinking, a lot, actually, about what kind of life I want to live. What do I want to characterize my life? I've seen what Americanized Christianity holds, and I don't want it. There is so much more than just going to church on Sundays, giving God 15 minutes of your time in devotions each day and praying over meals. I have been giving this a lot of thought, and yesterday at church, we were given a piece of paper to write some New Year's resolutions for our spiritual life. What I wrote turned out to be a bit more than just your average resolution. In fact it sums up how I want to live my life. Here is what I wrote
"This year (and the years to come as well.) I resolve to seek to know God more everyday, seeking to spend focused time with Him. I want to know Him more. I desire to live my whole life for Him, following where ever He leads. I don't want to go back to complacentcy or yielding to the flesh. I don't want to live a "normal" life. I desire to know Him more, and consequently, be a threat to Hell, yet unknown by the world, instead pointing all attention and glory to God. I am willing and ready to be a fool for Christ, despised and scorned, a spectacle if only to bring Him glory and point others to Him. I am His to use as He wants. I do not want to take pride in anything of me, but only to boast in suffering like Paul, to give the glory to God. It is not what I want, but what He wants. Whatever He wants to me to do, I will do it, for His glory."
This has been something that I have been realizing more and more. I want to say, as Paul did in Galatians 2:20, " I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." I want to live a radical, poured out life for Christ. I don't want to get stuck in the rut of Americanized Christianity, where God is only a part of your life, and not everything. I want to pour out my life in following Him, living a life that overcomes, that isn't done in human strength or wisdom. I am willing to be different, ridiculed, and mocked. I want Him, and so I can say with Paul,
"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:7-11)
He is the only thing that really matters in this life, and I want to pour out my life as an offering to Him, serving Him. It sounds crazy, and different, but I can't imagine a life any other way now! I believe that this kind of life is the only one worth living. Granted, it will look different for each of us. Some of us may go to some foreign country, risking it all to share the Gospel. Some may pour out their lives here in prayer and in quiet service. All I know is that I want to radically pursue Him, being a living sacrifice! This is how I want to spend my life, no matter how short or long it may be. He gave His life for us; how can we give Him any less? Who will join me in no longer living, but Him living through me, giving everything to Him?
For Christ's Glory!
"This year (and the years to come as well.) I resolve to seek to know God more everyday, seeking to spend focused time with Him. I want to know Him more. I desire to live my whole life for Him, following where ever He leads. I don't want to go back to complacentcy or yielding to the flesh. I don't want to live a "normal" life. I desire to know Him more, and consequently, be a threat to Hell, yet unknown by the world, instead pointing all attention and glory to God. I am willing and ready to be a fool for Christ, despised and scorned, a spectacle if only to bring Him glory and point others to Him. I am His to use as He wants. I do not want to take pride in anything of me, but only to boast in suffering like Paul, to give the glory to God. It is not what I want, but what He wants. Whatever He wants to me to do, I will do it, for His glory."
This has been something that I have been realizing more and more. I want to say, as Paul did in Galatians 2:20, " I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." I want to live a radical, poured out life for Christ. I don't want to get stuck in the rut of Americanized Christianity, where God is only a part of your life, and not everything. I want to pour out my life in following Him, living a life that overcomes, that isn't done in human strength or wisdom. I am willing to be different, ridiculed, and mocked. I want Him, and so I can say with Paul,
"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:7-11)
He is the only thing that really matters in this life, and I want to pour out my life as an offering to Him, serving Him. It sounds crazy, and different, but I can't imagine a life any other way now! I believe that this kind of life is the only one worth living. Granted, it will look different for each of us. Some of us may go to some foreign country, risking it all to share the Gospel. Some may pour out their lives here in prayer and in quiet service. All I know is that I want to radically pursue Him, being a living sacrifice! This is how I want to spend my life, no matter how short or long it may be. He gave His life for us; how can we give Him any less? Who will join me in no longer living, but Him living through me, giving everything to Him?
For Christ's Glory!
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