Thought of the Day !!

And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can't. I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.

                              Romans 7:18-19 (NLT)

Paul sure is baring his soul here.  Can anyone relate?  

Now I don't think that Paul means this to be taken literally that every time something came up he did the wrong thing.  I think he means that he struggled with certain things.  Maybe it was pride or arrogance or unforgiveness or whatever.  He saw himself as struggling with making the wrong decisions even though he deeply loved God's law and abiding by it.  He loved Christ and hated nothing more than letting Him down.  But at times he did just that.  Again, can anyone relate?

I like that he bares his soul here with us because it shows that if the great apostle struggled with and fell to sin that we are not doomed when we do.  He shows us that all of us struggle and that we can know that there is a way out.  He later writes in verse 25, "Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord."

You see, so many times when we struggle with sin, any sin, we will continue to try harder to fix it.  But this is trying to fix our situation by our own power.  The answer lies not in working harder, but working smarter.  It lies in getting closer to Jesus. 

You may have a relationship with Jesus.  And you may be struggling mightily with something in your life.  Could your problem be grief or depression or pain?  Maybe it's a sin like addiction or gluttony or pornography or pride or sexual misconduct or lustful thoughts or gambling or being a bad parent or child or....  

Instead of trying harder by your own power, deepen your relationship with your Savior who said that you could carry your burdens to Him.  He may take away your struggle.  He may lesson it.  No one knows but Him.  But what I do know is this.  He can do a much better job than we can in finding solutions for those things that we will struggle with.  

In the love of Christ,

greg

Thought of the Day !!

You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.  

                                     Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

Jesus told us that we would be the light of the world.  We are Christ's presence in a world darkened by Satan.  With this in mind we need to decide what to do.  Are we going to get excited about this Lord of ours that saved us from sin and death?  Are we going to claim the joy that only Christ can offer us?  Are we going to be a city on a hill that will be the envy of all nations so that they will want to be like us?  Or will we put our lamps under bowls for no one to see the light of Christ through us.  Remember, Christ has offered you a gift.  He has given you the gift of His light.  It can be like a bonfire that will blaze all night long, or it can be like a candle that loses all its oxygen and goes out because you placed a hard metal bowl over it.  The choice is yours.  

In the love of Christ,

greg

Thought of the Day !!

This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." 

                         Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV)

Crossroads are places where we have to make a decision.  There's an old tale about a legendary blues guitarist named Robert Johnson.  One night at midnight he went out to a particular crossroads in the Mississippi Delta.  It was there that he met the devil and made the decision to give up his soul in order to play the guitar better than anyone else.  

Johnson's legend is about a man who came to a crossroads and made a decision.  This decision was based on a deep desire that came from within to be able to play the guitar and have others want to see him perform.  At his crossroads, it was all about him.  But in the end, his shortsightedness lost him his eternal soul.

When we come to a crossroads in our own lives, what will guide our decision.  We can be tempted to make poor decisions that will affect our lives in tragic ways if we're not careful.  We can also seek the guidance of the one who already knows what's best for us.  

Never make hasty decisions that you might regret later.  Pray for guidance.  Expect God to help you find your way.  You can count on Him to be there.  He may not always lead you to the easiest decision or the one that you like the best, but He'll bring you to the one that's best for you.  

In the love of Christ,

greg

Thought of the Day !!

But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code. 

                                      Romans 7:6 (ESV)

The law held people captive because it could only show where we were wrong.  It was never meant to be a tool of salvation.  

Paul states that we serve in a new way now.  We serve by way of the Spirit of God.  This means that if we've accepted this way through repentance of sins and faith in Jesus, then the Holy Spirit of God resides in us.  He is whom we serve now.  

He will show us the way, right from wrong, good from evil, ways to love neighbor etc.  And as we follow His leading we will find peace and joy that never could be found by simply following a set of rules.  So let us serve the Holy Spirit.  Allow Him to convict you, comfort you, bring you joy.

In the love of Christ,

greg

Thought of the Day !!

Peter's words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"

                                       Acts 2:37 (NLT)

Peter had just finished preaching his first sermon where he shared with the people that they were responsible for the death of Jesus, who was the Messiah.  Their sins had been pointed out to them, which "pierced their hearts".  In essence Peter had awakened their consciences.

I fear that too many of our hearts have never been pierced.  People can claim Jesus, but never face up to their sinfulness.  But when sinners' eyes are opened it becomes painful for them.  Their sins can no longer be hidden or justified.  It's like a wound being exposed and alcohol poured over it.  It burns.  This burn, however, is the first step in healing.

Face your sin.  Seek God's forgiveness and help with your sin.  Repent of (or turn from) you sin.  Then the wounds of your soul will heal.

In the love of Christ,

greg

Thought of the Day !!

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. 

                                      Philippians 3:10-11 (NIV)

How many of us could say these same words with Paul?  

Many could share the sentiments that they want to know Christ and that they want to know the power of the resurrection.  How many could say that they want to share in his sufferings?

How well do we really know Christ?  For example, do we know how he treated those who were considered outcasts?  Do we know how lenient he was with and how he gave second chances to those who disagreed with him or didn't understand him?  Do we completely understand the fact that he got along better with those who didn't have their act straight or didn't know how sinful they were than he did with those who seemed to have it all right and was proud of this fact?

Do we really want to know Christ?  Because if we do really get to know him AND we claim Him as Lord, then we might just be convicted to become more like him?  

Read this passage again.  And if you really do want to know him and become more like him, open up one of the Gospels today.  Read through it and take note of every time you see Jesus acting or teaching something that is unlike how you live your life.  When you've finished the Gospel (in a day, a week or whatever) see if you know more about Christ and how you can be more like Him.

In the love of Christ,

greg