Friday, November 17, 2017

The Love of God

Have you ever tried to understand the extent of God’s love for man? The truth is, we can’t wholly grasp the depths of God’s love for us. His love is infinite. Our comprehension is finite.

It seems that true devotion to God is not attainable without a personal awareness of God’s love. I must understand that God loves me. Please notice Paul’s use of the personal pronouns I and me in 1 Timothy 1:12-17: “I thank Christ Jesus...I was formerly a blasphemer...but I obtained mercy...Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief...I obtained mercy, that in me first Christ Jesus might show all longsuffering.” Paul was aware of his own sinfulness and unworthiness. This awareness served to magnify his conception of God’s love and mercy. 

Every child of God needs to reflect on the unconditional nature of God’s love. 1 John 4:9-10 tells us, “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 

We did not, nor can we ever, earn divine love. God’s gift to sinners is His Son, Jesus Christ. God greatly desires to save those who are sinking in sin. Jesus was, and is, the only way for God’s desire to be accomplished. God put Jesus on the cross for you and me. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

Let us be devoted in our love for God. We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).

Friday, November 10, 2017

Glad to Worship God

Several years ago when we were living in Ridgway, CO I talked with several people who said they worshiped God by hiking along the mountain trails on Saturday and Sunday. They believed that was how they became close to God. They, along with many others have told me that they didn't need to go to worship services in order to draw near to God. In fact, some have suggested that going to church hinders them from truly communing with God.

How we feel about this matter isn’t the determining factor as to whether or not we’re correct in our thinking. God’s word ultimately must decide whether we need to be regular in our worship with other Christians. 

Long ago, David left us a good example about worshiping God. He said in Psalms 122:1, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’” In the New Testament we read in Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” 

The instruction is clear for all who want to understand the will of God. We need to come to God in Christ by obeying the first principles of the gospel of Christ, and we must be faithful to our God as long as we live. A part of this faithfulness is assembling with the saints and worshiping God in spirit and in truth. “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24). 

How about you? Do you worship God on a regular basis? If not, why not resolve in your heart to begin doing so? May God, in all things, be glorified in our lives (Matthew 5:16).

Saturday, November 4, 2017

The Lord's Supper

In Acts 20:7, we're given the example of the early church gathering together to break bread on the first day of the week. Lets look at the Lord’s supper and what it should mean to us. As we gather around the Lord’s table, Christ is with us as the central figure. He is the Son over his own house, whose house we are according to Hebrews 3:6. When Jesus instituted His supper, He said, “I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom” (Matthew 26:29). His kingdom is here, and He communes with us. He has promised to be with us as meet in His name (Matthew 18:20).

As Christians partake of His body and blood, through the eye of faith, he has communion with every other Christian who is partaking. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 says, “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.” Thus, the Lord’s supper is a most beautiful expression of unity and fellowship. Every heart is directed to the one sacrifice made for all.

To partake of the Lord’s supper is a confession of our faith. We show the Lord’s death until He comes. 1 Corinthians 11:26 says, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” Thus, as long as faithful Christians continue to partake of the Lord’s supper on the first day of the week, they are keeping the remembrance of His death alive. This great memorial feast instituted by our Lord will continue until our Lord returns. Do you remember the Lord’s death each Lord’s day as the early Christians did?