Month: April 2017

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor. 4:16-18).

I missed writing last week.  I had substitute teacher assignments for three days in each of the past two weeks. I was tired.  I retired because teaching is tiring and age seems to have a way of making fatigue come sooner than it used to.  These physical bodies are “wasting away.” They wrinkle and sag and the stamina weakens.  Sometime last week I heard those verses from 2 Corinthians and thought, “How true!”

I can’t do all the things I used to do, at least, not at the same pace. I don’t like to spend much time thinking about getting old so I forge ahead until my body says, “Wait a minute! You need a rest!”  God created Adam and Eve to live forever but sin changed that and now our bodies wear out. They are not eternal, but the soul is eternal. Based on this truth we should be paying more attention to our souls  than the outer or physical person.  This is not to say we shouldn’t care for our bodies. Certainly, eat your vegetables and get your rest. Live for God and serve others as long as you can.

Our souls need nourishment and daily renewal by the Spirit’s power. The Apostle Paul explained earlier in chapter 4 that because of God’s mercy and grace to him he was given power to keep preaching the gospel even through the tough times. Paul compared the physical body to a jar of clay.  The treasure of Christ lives in fragile bodies and His light shines to the world through no power of our own, only by God’s power.  Inwardly, we are constantly being renewed, while outwardly we fall apart.

I just spent a weekend with friends who had attended Eastern Christian College. For most of us at the reunion it has been 20 to 50 years since we were college students.  Our bodies don’t look the same but what shines through now is beautiful maturity and experience of years of ministry. Many shared how God has blessed and used them.  I was renewed inwardly by reflecting on the faithfulness of God, my Rock, Jesus, the Cornerstone on which I build my life.  As the old hymn reminds me, “all other ground is sinking sand.”

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge” (Psalm 18:2).

 

“There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain:

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,

For I am His and He is mine –

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.”

(Words from the song In Christ Alone)

A dear friend of mine sent me a YouTube video of this song done by an acapella group.  This song is so Scripture-based and holds much meaning for me. Jesus’ sacrifice for my redemption is proof of a love beyond my comprehension.  What kind of love allows such suffering in order to save sinners?   This song also brings to mind times when Wayne and I stood together singing those words in worship.  Yes, I cried while listening to the recording and again today when we sang it at church.

Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus every Lord’s Day when we partake of the communion bread and juice.  We celebrate His resurrection when we pray and when we spend time studying His Word.  These activities would mean nothing without the resurrection!  We celebrate Jesus when we encourage each other, when we forgive, and when we serve.   It is indeed in Christ alone that we exist.  It is in Christ alone that we stand forgiven. It is in Christ alone we have hope of our own resurrection!

Whenever I read Ephesians 1:19-20 I am reminded the power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to believers.  That’s a lot of power! God wants to work in us and His power is limitless.  Sometimes I fail to allow God to work in me. I let doubts and fears short-circuit His power. Sometimes trusting Him is hard.  When I remember the power of the resurrection I am encouraged to trust God more and to allow Him to work through me.

“By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones). And (so that you can know and understand) what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His (own) right hand in the heavenly (places), far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named (above every title that can be conferred), not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come” (Ephesians 1:18-21 The Amplified Bible).

Alleluia! Christ arose!

I had the privilege of enjoying worship with some of my family yesterday.  Though it was a special treat for me to be with family I especially appreciated the selection of music. Nearly every selection emphasized the majesty of our Lord.  “Majesty” is one of those words that sounds like its meaning.  It has the feeling of kingly splendor and sovereign power.  What word could be more appropriate for our wonderful Lord?  He is the King of kings and Lord of lords!  I need to be reminded often that I serve this King and He wants to be Lord of my life.

Since I’m enjoying a couple days with my daughter and her family I’ll close with this challenge from the Apostle Paul found in 1 Timothy 6:11-16.

“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.”

“He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30).

I heard a radio preacher use this verse in an illustration he was giving.  With the uncertain radio reception we receive here in the mountains I didn’t quite hear all he was saying about it, but my brain  started thinking about what John was saying. He explained that he was not the Christ, but was only sent ahead of Him.  Now it was time for Christ’s work to become more important and John’s work to decrease or become less important.  In fact, John is put in prison and later is beheaded because he spoke the truth. I guess that’s the ultimate “decrease.”

John 3:16 is often quoted, as well it should be. It’s amazing to think God loved this world so much he was willing to sacrifice his only Son for our salvation. Those of us who have accepted this eternal gift must live as John spoke.  Jesus must become greater while we become less. This is a lifetime process and requires commitment and diligence.

Jesus calls me to take up my cross and follow him.  My desires must be His desires.  This demands obedience and self-denial.  The Amplified Bible puts it this way in Matthew 10:38-39.

“And he who does not take up his cross and follow Me  (cleave steadfastly to Me, conforming wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also) is not worthy of Me.  Whoever finds his (lower) life will lose it (the higher life), and whoever loses his (lower) life on My account will find it (the higher life).”

Carrying my cross is not putting up with life’s burdens. Rather, it is becoming like Jesus.  It is allowing Jesus Christ to control more and more of my life so that my life looks more and more like Him.  He must become greater, I must become less.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).