Romans 12:2 - "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
Thoughts on today's verse:
Paul says this after beseeching believers to present themselves as living sacrifices. What's interesting here is that there appear to be only two options available. It's sort of like tossing a ball into the air. It's either going up or coming down, it can't stop in middair. The idea here is that we are either going to be conforming ourselves to the world, or we will transformed by the renewing of our minds. Obviously the latter is preferred. And, it should be noted that neither of this is an instantaneous occurence, but rather a process, meaning that you could be renewing your mind for a while and slip into conformity to the world.
This should remind us that our walk with the Lord is just that - a journey, a walk - it is not something that we arrive at and just sit back and enjoy, at least not in this world. So, don't let your guard down: run the race to finish, fight the good fight, and constantly be renewing your mind and transforming more into the image of our Savior!
Friday, October 14, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Thoughts on today's verse:
These words from the Lord could not have come at a better time. When the nation of Israel was in captivity and experiencing the flood of emotions that accompany such an experience, wondering where God was in all of it, then God says through the prophet Jeremiah: I haven't forgotten about you, and in fact, I know what I have been thinking about you, as the one who sees the beginning from the end. I don't mean you harm, contrary to what you might think; I actually have great plans for you, of peace, future, and hope."
What encouraging words to the nation of Israel. Wonderfully, the same principle is true of Christians today. We know this from our theology of God and from our understanding of the process into which we have entered when we become Christians, known as sanctification. Perhaps you are in a dark chapter of life and are wondering where God is in all of it. Fear not - He has not forgotten about you, nor does He intend evil. We have confidence that His plans for us, though not national like they were to Israel are the same: peace, future and hope, even if not experienced in this lifetime, these will utlimately be true all who name the name of Christ in this world!
Thoughts on today's verse:
These words from the Lord could not have come at a better time. When the nation of Israel was in captivity and experiencing the flood of emotions that accompany such an experience, wondering where God was in all of it, then God says through the prophet Jeremiah: I haven't forgotten about you, and in fact, I know what I have been thinking about you, as the one who sees the beginning from the end. I don't mean you harm, contrary to what you might think; I actually have great plans for you, of peace, future, and hope."
What encouraging words to the nation of Israel. Wonderfully, the same principle is true of Christians today. We know this from our theology of God and from our understanding of the process into which we have entered when we become Christians, known as sanctification. Perhaps you are in a dark chapter of life and are wondering where God is in all of it. Fear not - He has not forgotten about you, nor does He intend evil. We have confidence that His plans for us, though not national like they were to Israel are the same: peace, future and hope, even if not experienced in this lifetime, these will utlimately be true all who name the name of Christ in this world!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Philippians 2:9-11 - "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Thoughts on today's verses:
Because of what Christ has done in his earthly ministry, namely being completely humbled, God has now highly exalted Him. We learn from this a couple of things. First of all, Christ is alive, something that we do well to remind ourselves of often.
Secondly, we ought not to take the name of the second Person of the Godhead lightly, especially not as a curse word, or vainly. His name is unique, and the day is coming when it will be acknowledged properly by all the people of the world. For the result of the exaltation of Christ is our proper worship - ascribing the worth to Him that is due His name. Unfortunately, not all will do this while on earth, and they foolishly think that they will never have to, and they go to their grave mocking the Lord Jesus Christ. God never said that the knees bowing and tongues confessing would take place now - it will happen later, but we manifest a grace-based relationship with the Lord when we acknowledge Him properly now, by faith!
I could tell you that a bridge is out ahead and you could either ignore me and keep driving, in which case, when you went around the corner and plunged over the chasm, you would acknowledge the truth of my statement, but it would not save you - it would be too late. Or, the second option is that you could believe me and your life would reflect the fact that you believe me, for you would change the course of your life.
This analogy breaks down somewhat because when God has told us that one day every knee will bow and tongue confess, we are not the ones who turn our lives around - our only duty is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31), but when we believe and confess Him, then He is the one who changes our lives and others will see.
Thoughts on today's verses:
Because of what Christ has done in his earthly ministry, namely being completely humbled, God has now highly exalted Him. We learn from this a couple of things. First of all, Christ is alive, something that we do well to remind ourselves of often.
Secondly, we ought not to take the name of the second Person of the Godhead lightly, especially not as a curse word, or vainly. His name is unique, and the day is coming when it will be acknowledged properly by all the people of the world. For the result of the exaltation of Christ is our proper worship - ascribing the worth to Him that is due His name. Unfortunately, not all will do this while on earth, and they foolishly think that they will never have to, and they go to their grave mocking the Lord Jesus Christ. God never said that the knees bowing and tongues confessing would take place now - it will happen later, but we manifest a grace-based relationship with the Lord when we acknowledge Him properly now, by faith!
I could tell you that a bridge is out ahead and you could either ignore me and keep driving, in which case, when you went around the corner and plunged over the chasm, you would acknowledge the truth of my statement, but it would not save you - it would be too late. Or, the second option is that you could believe me and your life would reflect the fact that you believe me, for you would change the course of your life.
This analogy breaks down somewhat because when God has told us that one day every knee will bow and tongue confess, we are not the ones who turn our lives around - our only duty is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31), but when we believe and confess Him, then He is the one who changes our lives and others will see.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Psalm 62:8 - "Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah"
Thoughts on today's verse:
Last week, we looked at Isaiah 26:4 where we were commanded to trust God. Here we see the same idea. The concept of trust is to have confidence in something, and here we see that we ought to have confidence in our unchanging, loving, compassionate God. Here, the psalmist goes on to picture what that trust would look like. If we truly have confidence in God, then we ought to pour out our hearts to him, as He is, the only true refuge.
The truth is, we may try and keep things hidden from others for fear of what they might think of us were they to find them out. We fear rejection, we fear many things and so we keep hidden certain parts of our lives. However, the great comfort of this verse is that the One we are to trust and to whom we are to pour out our hearts, already knows everything about our lives! Nothing is hidden from the Lord, who searches the hearts of men, and yet he still accepts us and wants us to talk to him about everything, for we can anchor to Him and He will provide shelter through the peace of the Spirit and His Word.
Thoughts on today's verse:
Last week, we looked at Isaiah 26:4 where we were commanded to trust God. Here we see the same idea. The concept of trust is to have confidence in something, and here we see that we ought to have confidence in our unchanging, loving, compassionate God. Here, the psalmist goes on to picture what that trust would look like. If we truly have confidence in God, then we ought to pour out our hearts to him, as He is, the only true refuge.
The truth is, we may try and keep things hidden from others for fear of what they might think of us were they to find them out. We fear rejection, we fear many things and so we keep hidden certain parts of our lives. However, the great comfort of this verse is that the One we are to trust and to whom we are to pour out our hearts, already knows everything about our lives! Nothing is hidden from the Lord, who searches the hearts of men, and yet he still accepts us and wants us to talk to him about everything, for we can anchor to Him and He will provide shelter through the peace of the Spirit and His Word.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Proverbs 19:20-21 - "Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days. 21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand."
Thoughts on today's verse:
Solomon is here reiterating the whole theme of the book that he was writing to his son: listen to advice and accept instruction to be wise in the future. Up to this point, and even through the rest of the book, that is exactly what is being put forth: instruction and advice.
However, we do not look only to the book of proverbs for advice and instruction, and that is not what Solomon had in mind; otherwise it would have been worded differently. The idea seems to be that there are those who have grown in biblical wisdom through their own lives and we ought to be eager to learn from their advice and instruction so that we might too become wise!
This wisdom will go on to help us as we devise plans in our hearts, but even then, our plans are subject to change as we are not all-wise, nor unchanging. God, on the other hand, is all-wise, and is unchanging. He is immutable and therefore, his plans will stand, for they are always best. We ought to recognize this and accept it as we continue to grow in wisdom from above.
Thoughts on today's verse:
Solomon is here reiterating the whole theme of the book that he was writing to his son: listen to advice and accept instruction to be wise in the future. Up to this point, and even through the rest of the book, that is exactly what is being put forth: instruction and advice.
However, we do not look only to the book of proverbs for advice and instruction, and that is not what Solomon had in mind; otherwise it would have been worded differently. The idea seems to be that there are those who have grown in biblical wisdom through their own lives and we ought to be eager to learn from their advice and instruction so that we might too become wise!
This wisdom will go on to help us as we devise plans in our hearts, but even then, our plans are subject to change as we are not all-wise, nor unchanging. God, on the other hand, is all-wise, and is unchanging. He is immutable and therefore, his plans will stand, for they are always best. We ought to recognize this and accept it as we continue to grow in wisdom from above.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)