Christ is everywhere

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And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20b (NIV).

You are not alone. You are not left to fend for yourself. And you are not powerless. That’s because Christ “fills everything everywhere with his presence” Ephesians 1:23 (NLT).

That said, some people choose to be alone. They cut themselves off from Christ, refuse to be filled with Christ, try to build an identity divorced from Christ, and exclude Him from their lives by denying His presence and power.

Of course the Devil is the one who drives a wedge between a person and Christ. He steers people away from Christ through counterfeit offers. And He fights against Christ using any and all means to prevent people from knowing Christ. Why? Because he hates the fact that you’re loved by Christ. And he knows that when you’re filled with Christ, you’ll see him (the Devil) for the sneaky little thief that he is (cf. John 10:10).

So don’t buy into the lies of the Devil. There’s not a second in a minute, a minute in a day, a day in the week, a week in the month, or a month in a year when Christ isn’t there for you. As long as we’re doing what Christ wants us to do we He assures us that He’ll be with us “day after day after day, right up to the end of the age” Matthew 28:20 (MSG).

Matthew 28:20 is a great promise. One that we can bank on. But take note. It’s a conditional promise. Christ will be with us, strengthening and providing, just as long as we’re doing what He wants us to do. And what should we be doing? Matthew 28:19-20a says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” So get on with this Great Commission and as you do take courage knowing that Christ will be “with you always” Matthew 28:20b (NIV).

Made in the likeness of God

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When God created people, he made them in the likeness of God. Genesis 5:1 (NLT).

You are created in God’s image. Now think about that …

God doesn’t make junk. You may look in the mirror and think you’re less than perfect, but that’s a lie from the devil. You are fearfully and wonderfully made (cf. Psalm 139:14). At your core, your identity is rooted and established in Christ. You are patterned after God.

When I look at my children, I see the family resemblance. The evidence is there for all to see. Christie, Matthew and Jonathan, are Murray’s. Look at the shape of their faces, the colour of their eyes, their mannerisms, their physiques – you can’t miss it. Just look at them and you’ll see something of their mother and father.

Similarly, you’re a chip off the original block. Not externally. But internally. You’re made in the image of God. You’re your heavenly Father’s daughter – your heavenly Father’s son. Think about that …

When people look at you there are things about you that give them a glimpse of your heavenly Father. Not in your physical resemblance. People may get a glimpse of your heavenly Father in the way you instinctively know right from wrong, in your desire to love, in your values, in your yearning to go deeper than materialism, or in your desire for meaning and purpose in life.

And then there’s your creative side. People may get a glimpse of your heavenly Father through the way you write, dance, sing, think, draw, joke or play. Your identity is intrinsically rooted in God. You are created as one related to Him. You are uniquely and profoundly an image bearer of the heavenly Father.

In the town of Stepanavan, Armenia, there’s a woman whom everyone calls “Palasan’s Wife.” She had her own name, of course, but the townspeople call her by her husband’s name to honour her. When a devastating earthquake struck Armenia in 1988, Palasan rushed to the elementary school where his son was a student. With the building falling down around him he pulled twenty-eight children to safety before an aftershock completely collapsed the building and killed him. So the people of Stepanavan honour his memory by calling his young widow “Palasan’s Wife.”

Sometimes a person’s greatest honour is not who he or she is but to whom he or she is related. You are related to Christ. You are His image bearer. You are identified with Him. And that’s why believers are called by His name – that’s why God’s children are called Christians (Christ in).

 

Growing in Grace

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But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18 (NIV).

There are few people more discouraging than grumpy old men. You know, the ones who humph and scowl a lot, who nit-pick, have sharp tongues, broadcast their displeasure, and douse other people’s dreams with icy water.

In my early twenties I made a pact with myself to never be a grumpy old man. I was determined, and still determined, to grow in grace. I don’t want to get to my eightieth birthday harbouring a life of regrets. I want to be careful with what I sow – intentional in the things I say and do. Tomorrow I want to be a little kinder, a little gentler, a little sweeter, a little blinder to the faults of those around me.

Growing in grace … What kind of an old person do you want to be? When I’m wrinkled and grey I hope I’ll be invited to parties and asked to dance. I want to be appreciated. I want young people to enjoy hanging out with me. I don’t want to be known for the clothes I wear, but for the love and acceptance I bring. I want my children and grandchildren to say, “The old guy’s cool!”

“Aging isn’t a choice, but our response to it is” Anonymous. I don’t have to be a grumpy old man, and neither do you.    So what do we need to do in order to be kinder, gentler and sweeter? Psalm 92:14 says, “Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green” (NLT). Here’s how to stay out of mothballs: Keep on producing fruit. We remain virile by exercising patience, being kind, and showing love.

Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Listen. The day’s coming when the hairs in your nose will be bushier than the hairs on your head. Don’t wait for tomorrow. Start today. Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional. It’s never too late to grow in grace – never too late to be enthusiastic and thankful. So get to it. Examine your life and work on the things the Holy Spirit’s impressed on your heart. Do what God’s brought to your attention, and anything else you may need to do to grow in grace.

By Faith

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What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. Hebrews 11:1 (NLT).

When I was a Boy Scout I was taught how to use a compass. When our Scout Master, Hans Vandenberg, completed the lesson, he told us we were going to be put to the test. Leaving the shelter of the barn, we went out into a pitch-black African night equipped with nothing more than a small flashlight, a whistle, and a compass.         The bush was thick – alive with the sounds of night creatures. I have to admit; I was somewhat apprehensive. What would we have to do? We didn’t have long to wait. One by one we were sent off into the night. My turn came and the Scout Master gave me a simple instruction. “Walk on a bearing of 280 degrees until you come to a stream, then walk on a bearing of 50 degrees and you will arrive safely at your destination. Trust your compass and don’t stray from the bearings I’ve given you.”

I set off and was immediately swallowed by the bush. All alone, and a little jumpy whenever I heard scurrying, slithering and the multitude of other strange sounds in the undergrowth, I nonetheless trusted my compass and stayed true to the bearing I’d been given. After what seemed like an eternity, though it was probably no more than about ten minutes, I reached the stream. My confidence and faith grew a little with my success. I took the new bearing and set off again. Twenty minutes later I saw a blazing campfire ahead, and, quickening my pace, arrived to a welcome cup of hot-chocolate.

The task completed, I got on with the serious business of roasting marshmallows …

What is faith? It’s the bird that senses the light and sings to greet the dawn while it’s still dark. It’s getting packed into an aluminum tube with hundreds of other passengers and believing there’s enough thrust in the engines, enough fuel in the tanks, and enough lift in the wings to take you to your destination. It’s when the farmer ploughs the field, sows the seed, and waits for the crop to grow. When a pastor asks, “Do you take this woman, whose hand you hold, to be your lawful wedded wife?” it’s saying, “I do.” And it’s writing these words and me daring to think that someone might read them!

Faith. Without it, we’re paralyzed. Everyone needs faith. We can’t make it through life without it. So how’s your faith shaping up? In Hebrews 11 we read about the faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah and others. It was by faith that they accomplished great things with their lives. By faith …

Are you stepping out in faith? Are you putting your hand in the hand of the One you cannot see? “It is impossible to please God without faith …” Hebrews 11:6 (NLT). Do you want to please God? Then walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Keep on Keeping On

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But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. Daniel 6:10 (NLT).

Many years ago I asked an elderly Christian gentleman why he didn’t attend the church prayer meeting. It was an honest question. Here was a man who had more than enough time on his hands, yet he no longer participated in the activities of the church. His response floored me. He said, “Lawson, I’ve made my contribution, now I’m retired.”

Hopefully you’re still praying with God’s people. Prayer should be like breathing, we should keep praying until we take our last breath. There’s never a good reason to stop praying. Even though it’s sometimes hard to pray, we should strive to “pray continually” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV).

Christians don’t retire from being Christian. We should never, for whatever reason, turn our backs on the practices and principles that frame our lives in Christ. Christians must keep on doing the things Christians do. It doesn’t matter how old we are, we should never be content to sit back and simply look on. “As long as you live, keep learning how to live” said the Roman statesman, Seneca.

Consider Daniel’s story. When colleagues conspired against him and planned his downfall (Daniel 6:1ff) he had a good reason to be bitter. He could have said, “Look where all my praying has got me … I’ve prayed three times a day giving thanks to God, and now I’m being thrown to the lions!” But Daniel refused to be cynical. He knew the purpose of life is to make it count, to stand for something, to make a difference, to keep on keeping on. So he stood firm in God and continued praying like he’d always done.

Let’s be like Daniel. Let’s make sure we make every moment of every day count for Christ. Let’s do what we know we should do, and keep doing it to the very end.