One-a-Day Monday, 3/16/15 

number 1The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children (Romans 8:16).

OK, so you’ve got to be careful when people claim spiritual knowledge.   I mean, I used to work with a woman who came in one morning and announced that she had heard the trumpet sounding while she brushed her teeth.

As in, the first trumpet from Revelation 8:7.

By lunch, when the only smoke I smelled was my BBQ potato chips, I figured she was wrong.

On the other hand, I trust the Apostle Paul far more than I do the girl at work, and Paul says that the Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit.

So what does that look like?  Sound like?  Feel like?

Frankly, I’m often afraid that I can’t tell the difference between the Holy Spirit and my own imagination.  I mean, I’m the creative type, and I can imagine all kinds of voices in my head.  How do I know what to listen for?  How do I keep from being like Trumpet Girl?

I really wish I had the complete answer for you…for me.  What I can tell you is this—when the message your spirit is telling you is consistent with Scripture, you can accept it, believe it, bank on it.  And this message is.  So take a few moments today—like now—to close your eyes, quiet your heart, and let your Father tell you that you are his.  Let his Spirit speak to your spirit, and rejoice in your Abba’s voice.

Happy Monday, Beloved of Christ.

One-a-Day Friday, 3/13/15

number 1…God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Yeah, I know, we were in Romans 8.

So this is out of order.

Still, yesterday’s verse gets me to thinking about this one, and about the love the Father has for us.

Not fluffy love, not Fifth Grade “If you like me check this box” love.

Real love.  The kind you can’t get at a Hallmark store.

Real love sacrifices.  Real love gives, even when there is no reasonable expectation of a return on the investment.  Real love sees you at your worst, and does not turn away.

While we were still sinners.  While we were totally unworthy and unlovable.  Beyond pot bellies and vanishing hairlines.  Beyond bad hair and no makeup.  While we were steeped in darkness, inside and out, Jesus died for us.

For you.

Want him to prove his love?

He did.  We call it the Cross.

When I write these One-a-Days, I often call you “Beloved.”  I’m not putting the moves on you, nor am I trying to be J. Vernon McGee.  I’m praying, along with Paul, that you, “May…grasp how high and long and wide and deep is the love of Christ.”

In the Song of Songs, God gives us a picture of the love between a man and a woman.  Beyond that, though, he paints a picture of Christ’s love for his Church.

He calls the Church his Beloved.

He calls you his Beloved.

And so will I.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

One-a-Day Thursday, 3/12/15

number 1For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.  And by him we cry, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15).

Interesting how similar Paul’s discussion of fear is to his discussion of sin.  I mean, he’s right in the middle of talking about sin vs. living by the Spirit, and out pops this comment about being a slave to fear.

I wonder what connection fear has to sin…

Something to chew on.

My children never need to fear being unloved, empty, alone, because they have a father who loves them and stands ready to protect them.  Sure, there will be things that make them afraid, but as long as they are with me they need not be controlled by fear…slaves to fear.  How much more can we all say the same, because we have a Father who is always with us, loves us even more, and is infinitely better able to care for and protect us.

If I were cool enough, I’d end with a “Who’s your daddy?” line.

But I’m not.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

One-a-Day Wednesday, 3/11/15

number 1You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you (Romans 8:9).

If.

If the Spirit of God lives in you.

That there’s a pretty big “if.”

If you’re not certain whether the Spirit of God lives in you, that, I humbly suggest, is your first fish to fry.  If you have admitted that you are a sinner, “Fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), if you have accepted Christ’s death on the cross in your place (Romans 5:6-8), and if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9), then yes, the Spirit of God lives in you (Acts 2:38).

And, therefore, you are not controlled by sin.

It may feel like you are some days, but you are not.

Notice, Paul didn’t say you won’t sin, he said you won’t be controlled by sin.  As tough as it is to admit, the sins we commit, we choose.

Whaddaya say we both give the Spirit a little more control today?

I‘ll pray for you, Beloved—you pray for me.

One-a-Day Tuesday, 3/10/15

number 1Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires, but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.  The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace…  (Romans 8:5-7).

You hear about people who win the lottery, and then turn around and squander all that money.  They end up worse off than they started.

(That could never happen to me…and I would really appreciate the opportunity to prove it.)

Our freedom in Christ is like an inheritance—we are not responsible for how we earned it, but we are responsible for how we spend it.  I’ll repeat my question from yesterday: What will you do with your freedom today, Beloved?  Will you live for yourself, for your own desires—for the sin nature?  Or will you let your life be controlled by the Spirit, following the desires of the God who knows you so very well, and loves you beyond measure?

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourself be burdened again with the yoke of slavery.” (Gal. 5:1)

One-a-Day Monday, 3/9/15

**If you feel like you’ve read this post before–you probably have.  I will be taking a break for the next couple of weeks.   I hope you find these reminders of God’s love and sacrifice valuable.

number 1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death  (Romans 8:1-2).

Oh, Beloved, if you and I could just wrap our hearts around this.

You are not condemned.

You should be—of course you should be.  Me, too.  There aren’t enough digital pages in cyberspace to catalogue all of my sins.  I am wretched, top to bottom, inside and out.  I know that I am made in the image of God, but some days that image is so blurred…I deserve nothing but wrath and scorn and disgust and condemnation.

BUT I am not condemned.

You are not condemned.

We are free.

Realize that.  Rest in that.  Rejoice in that.

Now, Beloved, what will you do with your freedom today?

One-a-Day Friday, 3/6/15

number 1Final thoughts before we leave Jonah son of Amittai…

Jonah wanted to serve God.

On Jonah’s terms.

Our relationship with Jesus Christ is portrayed in many ways in Scripture.

Servant, disciple, ambassador, friend, brother, child, Bride.

Never—not once—contract employee.

A contract employee signs an agreement to do a specified job for a specified amount of pay.  Employer and employee negotiate over duties and payment, and the employee is not expected to perform any tasks not detailed in the negotiations.

“Sorry,” he can say, “That’s not in my contract.”

The Lord of the Universe doesn’t work that way.

He’s not interested in negotiation—only surrender.

Utter, complete obedience and submission, whether you understand what he’s doing or not.  Whether you like what he’s doing or not.  It sounds harsh, and I wouldn’t recommend it with anyone else but the One who gave his only son, that if you trust him you shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

So once again, we find ourselves at the question: Do you trust him, Beloved?

Submit boldly today.  Kneel tall, and surrender at the top of your lungs.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

One-a-Day Thursday, 3/5/15

number 1The Lord said, “You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow…but Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well.  Should I not be concerned about that great city?” (Jonah 4:10-11)

Ouch.

Sometimes, it’s just too much for me.

The heart of God, I mean.

My world is so small, the things that affect me so close, I forget that God cares about the whole world.

All of it.

Even the cows.

I am important to him, yes.

So very important.

But so are they.

There are, quite literally, millions of people out there who are living without Christ, who don’t know right from wrong because they have never been introduced to Truth.

And my biggest worry today is how I’m going to get to Costco and the DMV after work and still have time to deal with the pile of tree branches in my yard.

And, of course, write tomorrow’s post.

I’ve always wondered what Jonah’s response to God’s question was.  Did getting a peek into the scope of God’s love change his perspective?

Does it change mine?

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

One-a-Day Wednesday, 3/4/15

number 1Then the Lord God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah…and Jonah was very happy about the vine.  But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered.  When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint (Jonah 4:6-8).

Wow, gee…thanks God.

Notice the repetition.  God provided…God provided…God provided.  Delightful and icky, it all came from Him.

And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, it time for the “Truth You Didn’t Wanna Hear Show.”  And here’s your host…Me!

Provision isn’t about what you think you want.

It’s about what God knows you need.

I know you didn’t wanna hear that…hence the name of the show.

Still…it’s true.  Again, hence the name.

Do you trust him, Beloved?  Do you believe that what he provides will be good and right, even if it looks like a worm?

I hope so.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

One-a-Day Tuesday, 3/3/15

number 1But the Lord replied, “Have you any right to be angry?” (Jonah 4:4)

Leave it to God to get right to the heart of the issue.

I mean, seriously.  Who was Jonah to get so self-righteous and uptight?  I love the fact that God does not engage Jonah on the relative merits of the Ninevitian repentance, because that’s not the issue.

The issue is the nature of God.

Is God responsible to us?  Is he required to answer our questions or fulfill our expectations?

Or is he Lord of the Universe, Almighty God, creator and ruler of all, beholden to none?

How easily we forget.

And by “We,” I mean, you know…me.

Beloved, when it comes right down to it, we are a lot closer to the Ninevites’ level than to God’s.  If we really push for justice over grace, we will not be pleased with the outcome.

Trust me—if the Justice rock drops, we are all in the splash zone.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.