When Grace was easy to forget…

Seems hard huh? To forget the awesome grace of God? Yet I did. I just wanted to live my life, to be satisfied. I wanted only to live for myself, to be happy. But I wasn’t, I was annoyed, lonely, tired. Yet tonight, I heard Him. Though I have never actually heard God speak to me in words, I heard something, a thought, a memory, whenever you want to call it, but i heard something that I had forgotten.

What I had forgotten is that I am justified. I have been made righteous by God, through the faithful Messiah. I have a new status, a righteous status. I am still a sinner, and I am no more moral than before, but God still loves me.

I thought of Christ on the cross. A man who had never sinned is now damned to the worst penalty for a criminal. He took the pain on himself, and as he hung there, He looked over to me and said, “Evan, I love you, and I am dying because I love you and I want to vindicate you from sin. I want to spend eternity with you. I want you in my family.”
jesus does love me, and I am righteous. I am a sinner. I am broken. And I am justified. Thank you Jesus.
“Your Grace is enough” Let me not forget ever again.

Babel Your Morals

What keeps you from God?  What is your, as Karl Barth puts it, tower of Babel?  What is a stronghold of pride and vanity for you?  I recently read Karl Barth’s essay “Righteousness of God” in his book Word of Man, Word of God. In this essay, Barth calls to our attention our need for “morality.”  How many of you would call yourself “moral”?  It is a difficult question for some, but also some simply say, “Yes.” Of you did answer yes, I urge to ponder why you should be considered a moral person, and by whose standards you are being judged by.  If you say by humanity’s standard, then you may be right in saying that you are moral.  But where does justification come from.  It is from humanity?  No, justification comes from God.  Justification means to be made right before God.  If we claim that we are right before God simply because we are moral, then that god is not the true God, but a god that we created, a god that we think can be reached by building a tower to heaven.  It is not through anything we do, but through our faith that we are justified, however, N.T. Wright recently published a new book entitled Justification, and in it, he would claim that Justification is so much more than a question of salvation.  With this I would agree.  Yet, it is more, not because of what we do, but of what God does.  I have yet to read this book, but I have read a couple summaries and have a general idea.  I feel that Barth would also agree that faith is more than a simple belief.  We are saved by faith alone, but our faith is proved by works.  When I speak of works, I am not talking of this concept of morality and conscience.   Works is living out God’s Kingdom.  Morality, as I think most understand it, is not about what you do, but what you abstain from doing.  This is good, but the idea of the Kingdom is removed.  You simply have to not screw up.  In the words of Martin Luther, “Sin boldly.”  This means do not get wrapped so up in morality that you never go out of your shell to help people.  Don’t be afraid to screw up, because you will, that is human nature.  However, there is another part of that saying.  ”Love God more boldly still.”  While you will have to leave your comfort zone and enter hostile and questionable territory, never forget that God loves you and you love Him.  God is always with you, and He is why you are doing these works.  Not to bring you clout or “brownie points” to God, but because of love and because the Spirit moves within you as a child of God.  Niether by works nor by morallity will you ever be right before God.  It is only through proven faith in Christ that He died so that we may live with God once again.

Headin’ Back

Well, tomorrow I head back to Central and start my senior year. I feel a lot of pressure for this year. I will be a leader in IV, a Sunday school teacher, and a senior. I will have many people looking at me this semester, more then ever. I wonder how they will see me. I know how I want them to see me, as a follower of Christ. So that is my prayer for this semester, that I live as an example of Christ in everyday of my life, and that when people see me, they do not see a broken sinner, but a repentant one, who is truly following the LORD. I know that this will be a hard task, thankfully, Jesus will be with me. I trust in His strength alone, and not by mine, that I can succeed. And even when I fail, I know that forgiveness is waiting when I ask. I also pray that my patience will keep. I will be dealing with many people, and at times tempers may be short.

Despite all my worry, I have a good feeling about this semester, and I hope that I am right. I feel that Jesus will be doing big things on campus, and I know that I will be part of this. May God bless this upcoming semester and all of the returning and new students, that they will see the Light of Christ shining through the Christians on campus.  May HIS Kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.

Amen

Underdog

We are always amazed by underdog stories.  The Bible is full of them.  Abraham, a pagan, and his wife Sarah, who was barren, give birth to an entire nation.  David, a lowly shepherd boy, defeats a giant and become king.  Jeremiah, who had no self confidence, brought the Word of the Lord.

And then we have Jesus.  Can be considered an underdog?  He was God.  I would hardly call God an underdog.  Yet God made himself the underdog.  Jesus was born into a humble setting and grew up as a carpenter.  Not a rabbi or a king, but a simple carpenter.  He also conquered the seemingly unconqurable demons of humanity.  He He rose from this humble setting to bring the Christian revolution.  He challenges us to become underdogs.  Though we are born into sin, through Christ we can beat Satan and come out the underdog.  Satan controls this world and hold temptation everywhere before our eyes.  It seems imposible to resist.  But Christ did (Matt 4), and with Him we can too.  Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.  (Hebrews2:18)  Just call on His name when tempation comes and he will give you the power to become the underdog!

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.  (James 1:12)

You Alone

Exodus 20:3     “You shall have no other gods before me”

This is the FIRST commandment.  It is the most important one.  Jesus said so as well.  Matthew 22:37  ”Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and all your mind.”  We should have no other gods before Him.  The reason is that God DOES deserve it all.  Who created man?  God.  Who gave us life?  God.  Who is our provider?  God.  Who deserves all our praise?  God!  There is no other being like Him.  Yet so many things in our life get in front of God.  Money, friends, and even love.  When anything becomes more important than God, that is idolotry.  David Crowder’s song You Alone, he says that God is our father, He is sacred and is the only one we need.  We sould worship Him with our whole heart, and everything we do should be done for God and for no one else.  He loves us so much, and we need to love Him back.  Not for His sake, but for ours.  He shows us incredible mercy and forgives even our most grevious sins.  Thank you God.   God has given us a second life, in Christ.  There is only life in Christ (Rom. 5:12).   And we are reconciled in His life and more so in His death.  In Christ, and in God, we are dead to the law of the flesh and the sinful nature, and we are no alive in the law of The Spirit (Rom. 8).

Praise God for all His blessings!

Pure Joy

The joy found in Christ is amazing!  It is incredible to think of what He has done for us and of what He will do.  When I think of Jesus, I simply laugh.  I pray that is kind of joy can find you all.  I cannot describe this true joy that I feel when I think of you!  You are truly my special love!  Nothing in this world can compare to You, Jesus!  There is nothing like it.  I cannot fathom how anyone who has ever felt this kind of love, that they could ever abandon it.  I have never felt this before, and it is incredible.  When i think of all the pain and sorrow that you have healed, I find it unfathomable!  Only you can give such healing.  This joy I have is pure.  You have cleansed me with your blood, and to die that would be utter foolishness.  

I never want to loose my focus on you.  

Here is my prayer

Lord Jesus, 

In your awesome name
I pray for strength of spirit
You can make all this possible
I am weak yet you make me strong!
Send Satan away from me
Keep me safe

You are a jealous God
You want me to praise you alone
And you deserve it all!
Never let me go

Lord, Forgive me
I have sinned against you
I have harmed others and myself
I also ask for forgiveness, not for myself
But for those who have sinned against me.
Not for myself, but for these against me
Let me never lose my joy in You

In your awesome name I pray
Amen

He is Risen! So answer Him!

Yes, Easter is a day away and now we must think on this.  The biggest question we must ask is “Why did Jesus have to die?”  Many people are satisfied with “because He had to order to save us and He loves us.”  And that is just fine.  Even I can be content with that answer, but there have been times when I have been faced with the question, “If God is all-powerful, then why couldn’t have saved us in some other way?  Why didn’t he just say. ‘Poof, you are in clear.’”  And so I begin to ponder this.  The reason is simply this; God is justice.  Because of who God is, there must be payment for sins.  Think of it like this, if you get a parking violation, and you find a way to get by it, you would do that right?  But lets say someone offers to pay it for you, you would accept, right?  However, with the latter option, there is somewhat of an obligation to pay that man back, or to return the favor.  This is like the parable of the unmerciful servant that Jesus told (Matt 18:23-35).  This is what Jesus did, but obviously on a much larger scale.  As with parking ticket, the law was broken, and someone had to pay.  Because if you simply forgive the crime, it doesn’t cut it.  With that scenario, God gets gypped.  So there must be a payment, but why then Jesus?

It was Anselm of Canterburry who said that Jesus must have been man and God in order to pay the price.  ”If it be necessary, therefore, as it appears, that the heavenly kingdom be made up of men, and this cannot be effected unless aforesaid satisfaction be made, which none but God can make and nine but man ought to make, it is necessary for the God-man to make.”  Only God had teh means to pay for our sins, but only man should pay it.  If God simply forgave our sins without satisfaction for the loss of Honor and Glory that we stole in our sins, then He would cease to be God, so therefore there must satisfaction, the satisfaction found on the Cross in Christ.

Therefore, because Jesus chose to die, and it was not forced or required of Hm, but He did it completely out fo Love for us, what then do we owe?  The answer is everything.  Christ chose to pay our price because of his Love and God’s Justice, and therefore, Jesus desire us to walk with Him.  If we simply walk away, so will God.  He will not abandon us, by no means.  Jesus forgave us, and commands us to forgive others.  The satisfaction is not passive or a one time deal.  We must continually work to give to God and Jesus what is His and that is our lives.  

Jesus loves us, and wants us to be closer to Him.  He gave us His life and suffered for us.  Why won’t you listen and follow?  Jesus Lives!  Now live in Him!

Family Guy insulting? A Couple Thoughts…

I am starting to be very annoyed by the idea that Christians hate homosexuals.  In the last Family Guy entitled “Family Gay,” Peter turns gay, and they have the classic idea of Christians beating gays and thinking that they are an abomination.  That should be far from the truth.  Sadly, it can be an accurate stereotype.  I wish that LOVE was what Christians lived by followed closely by Justice, but NOT judgement.  Matthew 7 starts with Jesus teaching us not to judge others, lest we be judged.  It seems that people miss this picture and justify their own judgements by saying, “At least I’m not as bad as that guy.”  It is so easy to do that, but what we need to understand is that we all fall short of the glory of God.  Yet we live in Christ.  Not because we are straight or republican or protestant, but because of Love are we considered righteous or even saved.  And that is the Love for Christ and for each other.  When Christ came to earth, He didn’t beat the people, such as the whores and beggars and, though it is not said so, probably gays.  I wish we could just spread the love of God to all people and not just the “good people.”  Too many people see Christians as right-wing nut-jobs or  pacifist wimps.  God has not called us to exterminate evil with bombs or stop all war with peace, but to love each other and endure.  I encourage those who claim to be Christians to read the Bible, and then talk to someone about it, preferably your pastor or someone who has studies the Bible.  For it is not a book of “don’t” but more so a book of “do.”

Now that no man is justified by the law before God, is evident: for, The righteous shall live by faith; 
(Gal 3:11)

Live out your faith through the Word of God and not by anything else.

Carry the Cross

Do not walk in the darkness, but follow the Light of Christ.  Live by His life and die to your own life.  This life is temporary and  passes away, for we are only visitors, aliens to this world and our home is His home in Heaven.  Jesus has called you, yet you don’t answer.  His words are precious, listen to them well.  His words bring consolation is the greatest of turmoils, and all is well within the soul when Jesus is there.  That is not to say that turmoil in the mind and body will vanish with Christ, nay, they may even increase when Christ is in you for Christ is against the world and our bodies and minds are for this world.  It is the great contradiction.  For you have heard that the spirit is willing, but the body is week.  So true is this statement.  Yet with a strong spirit, all ailments may be overcome.  Jesus is the  source of the strength so take joy when pain comes and depression hits, for that is when Christ may enter and show you truth.  If you die upon the cross and Jesus does, you secure salvation.  For you may not enter heaven upon your own strength, but only through the power of Christ.  You must be willing to carry the cross, for it will take you to your desire goal which is found only in Christ.  All other successes and triumphs are fake and deceptions, for it is only in Christ can we find true purpose.  And at the goal will there be no more suffering, but here there shall be suffering and turmoil.  If you attempt to avoid this pain of today, you will only find more tomorrow.  No man can escape the pain of death except through Christ, and through Christ is the death that bring us life.  You must lead a dying life  for when you die to yourself, you live in Christ.

Lent

Today is the begining of the Lenten Season.  And during this time we are supposed to give up something that we love, like a specific meal, for a snack that we like, or something else we enjoy, as a sign of your commitment to God and as a imitations of Christ’s sacrifice.  I never have really practiced Lent until 2 years ago, and this year I am doing it again.  I have decided to give up video game for a month.  If you know me, then you would know that this is very hard for me, as that is one of the major things that I do in my spare time, so now i need to fill with prayer and praise to God.  I also am going to take the time I have “gained” and focus more on my studies, and spend more time “relaxed” instead of gaming.

Jesus has given us so much personally, and Lent is a season of giving back on a more personal level then money but a giving of desire.