Our Relationship with God Isn’t Give and Take.

Give and Take

This week we return to Matthew in our Morning Worship hour. As I began my final preparations for the coming message, the way Jesus sets up the parable in Matthew 21:33-46 caught my attention.

Why? Look at the picture to the left. How many people do you think understand their relationship with God as this type of “give and take” relationship? In this picture you can see that one guy appears to hold the rope better and be stronger. The other guy is no pushover since he helps keep the rope taut. As is often the case, this sort of tug-of-war between near equals will leave both persons on their bottom. Is this the type of relationship we have with the Lord? Does the Lord need us to keep the rope taut? 

 

Who’s in Charge? – Christian Motivation

Last week’s message in church from Romans 5:17 ended with the great truth that death no longer reigns in our life. So who or what does reign in our life now? Paul offers us a revelation at the end of the verse that may scare us. He tells us that we actually reign in the new life that Christ gives to us. Since we know how easily even the most innocent among us fail to display self control, like in the video below, our fears seem justified.

 

Should We Be Trying to Forgive Ourself?

Forgiven by Thomas Blackshear II

One of the most crippling phrases we face as believers comes from today’s pop-psychology world. It raises to a level of foremost importance the need to forgive ourselves. With the rise of such thinking comes a refocusing of  our efforts to actually deal with offenses towards others to a more introspective, pseudo-spiritual self-forgiveness.

Does the Bible tell us that God expects us to forgive ourself? To put it plainly no. In fact, the Bible’s aim is to encourage self-examination but not self-forgiveness since sinful man always acts to gratify rather than harm the flesh. Without Christ, we are not offended by our actions but by God’s action to rule what we do as harmful to others and offensive to Him. 

 

SHOULD YOU HAVE A CHILDLIKE FAITH?

Robbie at First Presbyterian Columbia to hear his favorite preacher R. C. Sproul!

We have all heard someone say very spiritually that they do not get into the deep things of the faith. They simply have a childlike faith. Certainly we cannot argue against the expression of a childlike faith since Jesus himself makes it clear that this type of faith is the kind of those in the kingdom of heaven. Even so, when someone makes such a statement I always clarify what a childlike faith means. A childlike faith is one that simply hears what Christ says and obeys him. It is a pure trust in Christ that leads to obedience. Most of the time that I have made this comment it exposes the true motivation of one’s heart. To call for a childlike faith is normally a call to be ignorant of sin or what Christ commands so that one will not have to obey the Lord.

Even so, is a childlike faith where Christ wants us to remain? I think we must answer this with two interconnected points.

 

Newsletter : January 2012

Coming to this New Year, our family is anticipating a special year, knowing that in less than nine months now we will again hear the sounds of a new baby around our household. With the wonderful joys of parenthood, we may also anticipate may new challenges in our family in 2012. It cannot be known exactly what we shall face as a family, nor should we expect some special revelation for us to know what to do.

Even so, that is not to say that God has not provided us with Divine revelation to guide us. He has given us his word. I am reminded this year of just how clearly 2 Timothy 2:15 applies to we who are Christians every day. We should each day study the Scriptures to show ourselves as approved workman. Knowing God’s Word is the key and the empowerment that we have to work as servants of the Living God. After all, it is in His Word that we discover that by grace he has freed us from sin in order to serve Him. Further, when we serve Christ as His approved workmen, we have no cause to ever be ashamed. His Word provides us with the knowledge of a sovereign God who is for us so that we can face anxiety,stress, adversity, and pain. Finally it is God’s Word that provides us the knowledge of our security as believers, forgiven by Christ’s grace displayed on the cross. Such truth allows us to stand against insults, persecution, and even trials from the world, the flesh, and the devil.