Be Strong

6/10/2009

Ephesians 6:10 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. New American Standard Bible

Again we note the presence and usage of the word, ‘be’. Paul urges his readers to ‘be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.’ We’re not to be strong in our own power; we’re not to rely on our own might because these are ineffective in producing any spiritual change and without spiritual change we remain naturally the same – impotent to love; powerless to be holy.

So I look at this and see Paul saying something like, “be strong in your relationship with the Lord and your times of communion with Him; and lean on His strength, wisdom and leadership to get you through.” For me to be strong in my marriage means I must be thoroughly vested in that relationship – for better, for worse; in sickness and in health until death do we part… My relationship with Jesus is nothing less than that (except that He never does worse and is never sick).

Paul could’ve just as easily quoted, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3.5-6 NKJV) Both these verses and Ephesians 6.10 are key to a victorious life and for fulfilled living – it’s all about Him

Father in Heaven,

You know that I am weak, broken, and prone to wander. You know that I need Someone else’s strength because I have none of my own; that’s why You’ve given me the Savior and why I'm to be strong in my relationship with Him – fully committed, fully surrendered and loving Him with my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength – fill me with the Holy Spirit to do that today – I pray in His Name, amen.

The Holes People Dig

A Modern Economic Psalm

By Paul Turk*

Oh, the financial holes people dig now

Just to prove that they’re big now

And they’re living, ‘what the frig?’ now

Never caring where it leads

So they build all their lives now

With their kids and their wives now

Filling up their holes and hives now

And life continually bleeds

Chorus

La-da-da da-da da-da-da

La-da-da da-da-da da-de

It’s the picture of humanity

And the holes people dig

So in panic they forget about

The things in life they can do without

When there’s no water comin’ from the spout

And it’s all crashing down

Their m.o. is to reach for the shovel

And try to dig out from their hovel

But real life ain’t a romance novel

And there’re real tears on the clown

Chorus

Our credit debt is going through the roof

Our empty lives are the living proof

The American Dream’s nuthin but a spoof

Most of life has been a waste

If there was just a million more dollars

And a few less collections callers

And it was either all his or all her’s

And in freedom was a just a taste

Would we really live responsible lives,

With our children and our wives;

And turn our ears off to the lies

And trade our culture for God’s grace?

La-da-da da-da da-da-da

La-da-da da-da-da da-de

There could be freedom now for you and me

From the holes that we dig.

*Roughly based on the song, “The Games People Play”, by Joe South – circa 1969

Be

6/9/2009

Ephesians 5:1 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;

New American Standard Bible

‘Be’ not ‘do’. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is a letter of marvelous theology and encouragement and there just aren’t that many ‘do’s’ to be found in this epistle. And come to think of it, the ‘do’s’ of the New Testament are, for the most part, do’s directed toward behavior and reflected in loving relationships.

But here in Ephesians 5, is a ‘be’ and I think it’s the best ‘be’ of all: ‘Be imitators of God, as be-loved children.’ In other words, imitate what God does and says. Love truth, wisdom, and caring about and for others. Serve with a loving heart – plan ahead for the goodness and well-being of others. Be creative in other-mindedness and take care of the weak and the poor.

That is imitating God, and that is what we, who believe on the Name of Christ, are to be: those who live, love, think, and act as He does…

Imitating someone is best done when that person rubs off on you – I will spend my days seeking God to rub off on me and to guide me into the circumstances and situations that help me to imitate His and reveal His heart in mine.

Father in Heaven,

How wise and wonderful You truly are. You have called me to live in such a manner as to be a reflection of who You are. Because of that calling may the prime focus of my everyday life be that of knowing You better that I may imitate You in every circumstance in which I find myself so that others may see not me, but You – I pray in Jesus’ Name, amen.

Members

6/8/2009

Ephesians 4.25 25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

And as members of one another the hurt we may do to another we do to ourselves. If I am truly interconnected with my fellow saints and I treat them poorly, then I am doing hurt to myself and that is sickness of a very grave sort.

Speaking the truth may be sometimes hurtful as removing a sharp object from one’s finger is painful and yet even that pain pales in comparison to the pain of hurting another believer because of interconnectedness.

What eases all of this is: “…but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ…” (verse 15) What we love we take care of and Paul is telling us to grow up and take care of one another with truth and love.

So the bottom line for me is that I must speak the truth and do so in love but not fall prey to the temptation to be selective with whom I speak and how I speak. Paul’s admonition is to speak the truth in love with everyone – all the time for that is how God deals with us and how He expects me to deal with others.

Father in Heaven,

This is not a rule or regulation but simply a reflection of Your heart towards all people – You speak to us in truth with love; and You expect all of Your children to do the same. Help me this day to honor the interconnectedness I have with other believers and the potential of interconnectedness I may have with those yet to believer – I pray in Jesus’ Name, amen.

An Ever-Present Help

6/7/2009

Eph 3.16 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, New American Standard Bible

Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3 is (to use my favorite word of late) massive. The presence of the Holy Spirit within us (John 14) is not a come-and-go presence; He is with us and within us all the time – never ceasing – an ever present Help in time of need which is all the time! We don't flip a switch and the Holy Spirit shows up; we don’t turn a faucet and out He comes – no, He is with us and within us forever.

That is why Paul prays and asks God that we be strengthened with power in the inner man so that we will have the spiritual capacity to have the faith, love and comprehension of the majestic presence of God within us that we may filled to the fullness of God – as they say, it don’t get any better than that!

I must quit thinking of the presence of the Holy Spirit as an occasional or part-time thing – He is with me and in me forever. I must pray Paul’s prayer for power (His in me), faith to believe; love to help others and the comprehension of Who and what Jesus Christ has done and is doing inside me that I may truly partner with Him in accomplishing His will right here in the world where I live!

Father in Heaven,

You have called me out of death and darkened separation to be in fellowship with You for all eternity and You have according to Your servant Peter, given me everything I need for life and godliness and so with that I ask that You would grant me to be strengthened with power by Your Spirit in my inner man so that by true and living faith, Christ may dwell in my heart; and that I, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and knowing the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that I may be filled up to all the fullness of God. I ask in Jesus’ Name, amen.

Fate

Fate

6/6/2009

Ecclesiastes 3:19 19 For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As one dies so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no advantage for man over beast, for all is vanity. New American Standard Bible

The above verse is easier for me to understand if I insert the word life in place of the word fate. “For the life of the sons of men and the life of beasts is the same…” – all live and die; no exceptions. So, Solomon seems to be saying life in the sense of an appointed time (or allotment of time) is the same fate for man and beast – but quality of life is vastly different for both; and both have unique advantages that are unavailable to the other. My dog has never had to balance a checkbook or worry about what the boss thinks… But my dog never gets the privilege to know God up close and personal.

I get the privilege of knowing God – to commune with Him and to live life under the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91). My dog(s) may or may not get the reward of eternal life, but unlike me, they don’t get to share in the inheritance of the sons of the Most High.

So, I agree with Solomon in a certain respect and disagree with him in another – yes, man and beast have a level playing field when it comes to the gift of physical life, but the advantage I have over beasts is indisputably this: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1.12-13 NASB)

Father in Heaven,

O to know You my blessed Redeemer, the Giver of life, and Author of salvation!

Yours is the power, the glory, and the riches of grace over men and all creation.

To all Your creatures the fate of living is the same;

But certain rights are given even to those who believe in Your Name:

Sons of men, children of God, from every tongue, tribe, and every nation

Who are we men that You care for us and cause us to live

As the recipients of Your love and grace and the gifts that You give

You measure our life and give us our breath

And at the end of our days we sleep in death

Bur awake to eternal life, the blessing we receive.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Enlightened

6/5/2009

Ephesians 1:18 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, NASB

Whenever I read one of the older translations of the Bible I always read Ephesians 1 with the sense that though I know Paul is saying something wonderful, I’m just not sure what it is – but then I get to verse 18 and things fall into place a little better; I’m still a little unsure of his words but certain that God is up to something good!

I really need the eyes of my heart, that is, my understanding, to be opened or enlightened or illumined, that I may see more clearly what it is that God has for me and what He’s doing with me. I really want to know these things. And then I want to do exactly what He’s called me to do and do it well because of all the things He’s given me. But that requires some things that I already know to do anyway:

• I must commune with God – because I live with Him I must accept His presence in all that I do for as roommates, we share everything in life

• I must devote myself to reading, studying and conversing about His word – for in it I find the answers to my questions

• I must devote myself to doing good – for that is the model for every saint of God

• I must talk often with God not only about me but about others who struggle so with life and it’s mysteries

• I must allow God to be the Focal Point of all I am and do that I may learn from Him and walk in greater and greater faith

Father in Heaven,

You have called me into eternal fellowship with You and have given me everything I need for life and godliness – I ask that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened, so that I will know what is the hope of Your calling, what are the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of Your power toward us who believe. I ask for direction this day and for the fellowship of the Holy Spirit as I live, work, and conduct myself as a child of the Living God – I pray in Jesus’ Name, amen.