The Law

Scripture:
John 1:6-13
Galatians 3:10-13, 21-24

Rules of the road affect every driver everywhere.  The laws can change from state to state.  One example is that in Illinois you do not need to wear a helmet when driving a motorcycle.  However, in Georgia you do.  If you are unfamiliar with the laws you could find yourself breaking them without even realizing it.  Every street and highway has a speed limit.  Very few people actually observe these limits.  In doing so you are breaking the law.  In some form or fashion each one of us is probably guilty of breaking some law somewhere. 

In the Old Testament we are given the Ten Commandments.  These laws were given to us as God’s standard for us to follow.  The problem is that we cannot keep all ten laws completely 100% of the time through our entire life.  Just one infraction is a sin.  One time of disrespecting our parents or one little white lie that cannot hurt anyone condemns you.  It doesn’t matter which law is broken it is still sin.  The wages of sin is death.  Just one sin in your life means death, separation from God for all eternity.  Everybody is guilty of something.  Nobody can escape this life without feeling the effects of sin.

There is only one person to ever live and be perfectly sinless.  Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  It is through Him that we have redemption and salvation.  John 3:16-17 (NIV)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Christ did not come to remove the laws.  He came to fulfill the laws so that we might have salvation through His atoning death and resurrection.  Jesus bore the sins of the world so that any who call upon Him will be saved.  Ask yourself what am I guilty of today?  Then ask for forgiveness.  Your sins shall be forgiven through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior…

Are You Focused?

Scripture:
Psalm 131
Luke 9:61-62

I remember one of the first garden’s Nancy did after we moved into our house.  I borrowed a tiller from my mom’s uncle.  As I went up and down the rows it plowed through the dirt breaking it up.  If I didn’t keep my focus on what I was doing the tiller would wander off in one direction or the other.  I had to keep my eyes focused on what was ahead.  I had to give my full attention to the task at hand unless I wanted a broken up mess in the garden.

Jesus is telling us we must keep our focus one hundred percent on Him.  If we are not completely focused and dedicated to Him we can end up in a spiritual mess.  We become in effective in our duties to Christ.  As the saying goes, “Let the dead bury themselves…”  Let us focus on winning souls for Christ.  Let us focus on the tasks and duties that Jesus gave us to do.  We need to put one hundred percent into our faith, into our work for Christ.  The best thing of all is knowing when we mess up Jesus is there.  He is with us in all things.  He will help us in our tasks.  He will always forgive us.  Let us put our attention on Christ.   We need to put Him first in all we do.  Let us go in peace for He is with us…

When the Unplanned Happens...

Scripture:
Acts 16:9-31

A couple of years ago I was at a conference for work.  It took me away from home for a couple of nights.  My boss informed us that there was a get together in the hotel.  He was planning on going and inquired if we were.  I remember that I didn’t really feel like going.  I would have preferred to walk around outside or even retire early to my room.  Instead I went upstairs to the gathering.  I met a few people and enjoyed some small talk.  The best part was meeting someone who has become a very dear friend of mine.  Looking back I can see all the events that took place to bring us together.  Some people might say it was just coincidence.  We know better.  God brought us to that place at the same time for a purpose.

Even though it may not seem like it at the time God has a plan for you when the unexpected happens.  He might bring you to a place you hadn’t thought of going.  Events happen that you just didn’t plan on or want to be a part of.  In these moments we can get upset or discouraged or we can find God in them.  In the end you just never know whose life you might touch and change.  You never know who might come along and change your life.  Just remember God has a plan even if we can’t see it.  So when unexpected things happens look for God.  Seek Him through it and you never know what will happen…

Iron Ore or Steel

Scripture:
James 1:12-16

Iron must be refined before it can be used.  Steel is iron refined to its purist form.  There are several steps in the process.  Through several trips in the furnace at extreme temperatures the impurities in iron ore are eventually removed forming steel.

As Christians we are filled with impurities of sin and self along with other things from the world.  Satan does everything he can to keep us in raw form.  Much like iron ore in this form we are limited in what we can do for God.  It is through the refining process that we become strong and pure.  God doesn’t tempt us or purposely put us into temptation.  But God will bring us through the fire cleaner and more pure.  God will forge us into the Christians that we are meant to be if we allow him to purify us.

As we go through hardships and trails we can rely on God and in the end become stronger Christians in our faith.  Either that or we can grow bitter and even angry with God.  We would then become like pig iron, very hard but brittle.  Pig iron is nearly useless and has to continue through the refining process.  On the other hand if we allow God to continue to work in us He will continue the refining process until we are strong in faith.  Pig iron once it has the impurities smelted out becomes steel.

If we are not careful as steel will rust if left bare to the elements we can lose our strength.  We can become brittle once again if we do not continuously build upon our faith.  We cannot remain stagnant doing nothing.  Faith is like any other muscle, it must be used in order to grow strong.  The refining process for us is a life long journey.  We will become 100% clean and pure once we reach heaven in our new bodies in our new lives.  The choice is yours.  You can remain in a state much like the ore unrefined.  You can allow God to work in your life building you up and helping you grow.  Do you want to become like the steel or remain like the ore?