Whose team? 8-28-12

The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it,

the world and all who live in it. Ps. 24:1

BUT for now,

The whole world is under the control of the Satan. 1Jn. 5:19

BUT one day soon,

Every knee will bend to God, and every tongue will confess…

Rom. 14:1; Phil. 2:11

Man was created amidst a cosmic battle, and was granted ‘freedom of choice’ from his first breath. Mankind quickly discovered the biblical fact that he is a slave to whatever masters him (2Pet. 2:19), when he believed the devil and fell from grace.

Let’s now get personal.

This cosmic battle still rages, and herein lies our two-prong struggle:

• Do I worship the created OR worship The Creator? (Rom. 1:25)
• Do I search for mastery OR search for The Master?  (1Cor. 9:25)

(FYI: The “created/mastery” can be good things like our children, nature, education and knowledge.)

QUESTIONS:

By my actions who or what is my master? …By the evidence of my life, whose team am I on?

Am I on God’s team or on the devil’s team?

To those on the Satan’s team, one day God will declare: “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” For “not everyone who calls out to Me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.” Matt. 7:21; 23

To those on the Lord’s team, God will one day declare:

“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your Master's happiness!” Matt. 25:21

Is this unfair or harsh?

Heaven is God’s house, and He gets to welcome in who He wants to live with Him.

Same with us; picture YOUR home. At your home, you get to choose who you invite in to stay with you in your home. And just because a ‘seemingly nice stranger’ knocks on your door and asks/demands to enter, does NOT mean you are unfair to say, “I am so sorry, but this is our home and we do not know you.”

Remember: The Lord is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Pet. 3:9

Resting in His amazing love this week, ~Shaun and Betsy

The Work 8-21-12

Be strong & courageous and do the work.

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God is with you.

 He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.  1 Chr. 28:20

Where is God’s temple (or dwelling) today? Metaphorically, in the Believer.

1 Cor. 3:16-17 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?... God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

1 Cor. 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, Whom you received from God?

What is “the work (s)”? Obedience to His promptings in and through all we do. (Col. 1:29)

God tells us in Eph. 2:10 and Matt. 5:16 that we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, that He prepared in advance for us to do… And to let our light shine before men, so they will see our good works and glorify God.  

“Works” means our business, employment, undertaking, deed, anything accomplished by hand, art, industry or mind.

Jesus example:

The Father gave me these works (my teachings and my miracles) to accomplish, and they prove that He sent me… I brought glory to You here on earth by completing the work You gave me to do. Jn. 5:36; Jn. 17:4

How is the work to be completed? In obedience, through His wisdom and strength.

Jesus’ example:

Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray (Lk. 5:16).

Here, Jesus received His “work instructions” (as well as renewal and strength to continue carrying out God’s plan).

Rather than doing our own idea of labor for the Lord, let’s pray and ask Jesus to direct our work/service, and the renewal and strength to obediently carry “it” to completion.

When is “the work for the service of God’s temple” to be finished? When we are with Christ.

God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Phil. 1:6

"And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. Rev. 22:12

Time is short. May our lives faithfully carry out His work this week by allowing Him to work in and through us!

Much love,

Shaun and Betsy

True Change 8-6-12

“So all of us who have had that veil removed can see

and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—

makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.”

2 Cor. 3:18

We change our clothes.

(2 Sam. 12:20 “David arose, washed, anointed himself, and changed his apparel.”)

We change our facial expressions.

(Dan. 5:6 “The king's countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him.”)

We change our outward behavior.

(1 Sam. 21:13  “He changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane.”)

But only God can truly change a person.

We can give advice and fervently pray for a loved one, but in the end, whom we live for is an individual decision:

Choose God and to allow Him to have His way with our life.

“As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” 2 Sam. 2:21

OR

Choose “the temporary”, exchanging truth and glory for the world’s lies.

“People changed the truth of God into the lie, and their Glory for what does not profit.” Rom. 1:25; Jer. 2:11.

This life is hard, but true LIFE is found in no other.

Jesus’ grace and love are exceedingly abundant, and His divine power is everything we need for life and godliness.   (2 Pet. 1:3; 1 Tim. 1:14)

Choosing to live life for Him,

Shaun and Betsy