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A Change in Status

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For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! (NIV) Romans 5:10

The basic idea of reconciliation is that it changes feelings of enmity to feelings of friendship. In a spiritual sense, it is peace between God and man. Sin is the cause of the hostility. It was through one man, Adam, that sin alienated man from God (Romans 5:12). But, it was the act of another man, Jesus, through which man’s relationship with God was restored (Romans 5:15). It is through the cross that the enmity between God and man was destroyed.

Paul writes that the proof of God’s love for man is that He sent Christ to die for man (Romans 5:8). In verse 10, Paul continues to say that for awhile “we were enemies” of God and that the hostility between God and man, caused by sin, resulted in man being described as an enemy of God. And yet, through the death of Jesus, Paul says we were reconciled with God (Romans 5:10). The alienation was finished. God no longer held man’s sins against him (2 Corinthians 5:19).

Is there sin in your life that you consider unforgivable? Sin that continues to haunt you? If you have confessed your sin to God, He no longer holds it against you, don’t hold it against yourself. Let go of your sins, allowing God to work His cleansing into your life.

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True Love

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But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NIV) Romans 5:8

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (NIV) John 15:13

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions– it is by grace you have been saved. (NIV) Ephesians 2:4-5

. . .and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (NIV) Matthew 17:5

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. (NIV) John 15:9
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ (NIV) Matthew 22:37

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (NIV) John 13:34-35

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. (NIV) 2 Corinthians 5:14

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (NIV) John 14:21

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge– that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (NIV) Ephesians 3:17-19

My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen. (NIV) 1 Corinthians 16:24

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Vulnerable to Temptation

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Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. (NIV) Luke 4:1-2

Jesus had fasted for 40 days in the wilderness. As a result, He became hungry – anyone would! And when He’s most vulnerable, Satan says to Him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread” (Luke 4:3). Notice that Satan’s first temptation appeals to Jesus’ vulnerability. But, Jesus doesn’t give in to the temptation, or the two that follow.

When are you most vulnerable to give in to temptation? Is it when you’re tired? discouraged? preoccupied? anxious? out of sync with God? Is it when you’ve been criticized? praised? overlooked? Know when you’re most vulnerable and stand firm!

What weaknesses do you have that the enemy can appeal to? Is it lack of self-control? an addiction? an attitude? unforgiveness? lack of faith? relying upon your feelings? Know what your weaknesses are and stand firm!

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Coming Alongside

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Paul is received in Ephesus and is asked to spend more time there but, he declines at this time. “But as he left, he promised, ‘I will come back if it is God’s will.’ Then he set sail from Ephesus” (Acts 18:19).

“Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. 27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ” (Acts 18:24-28).

There are now a number of Christians in Ephesus. People like Priscilla and Aquila who understood the gospel clearly and nurtured the faith and understanding of others like Apollos, whose understanding was growing. They not only explained the “way of God more” clearly to him, they also encouraged him and sent a letter of commendation with him as he traveled to Achaia. They were sensitive to God working in him and came alongside to help him in his faith journey.

How sensitive are you to God’s working in others’ lives? How do you come alongside younger Christian? When was the last time you explained the Word of God to someone with a lesser understanding? How are you investing in others and investing in God’s Kingdom? Ask God to make you more sensitive to the individuals that He is actively at work in their lives. Then take the Word of God which transforms hearts and minds and wills and invest it into their lives. How will you become an Aquila and Priscilla in your community?

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Truth

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Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. (NIV) John 17:17

What are you doing to diffuse Truth? TRUTH. . . not opinions, not traditions. . .not what you’ve heard and believed, but never lined it up against Scripture. How are you sharing Truth with your neighbors? co-workers? children? everyday acquaintances? When do purposely spread Truth? Is your life saturated with Truth?

Truth is found in one place, in one person, Jesus Christ. The only way you and I will know if what we believe about Jesus Christ is Truth, is if we line up our beliefs with the Word of God? Will you choose to dig into the Bible today with the purpose of knowing Truth in a more intimate way so that you can spread His Truth everywhere you go?

Written by Marji “Mike” Kruger

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Branch Living

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“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (NIV) John 15:5

Branches don’t move on their own…they may sway in the wind, but they don’t uproot themselves and move to another spot. Branches don’t feed themselves, but draw on the life source. It is the life source that produces the fruit. The Branch does nothing but draw on that life source.

The Branch does not say, “I want to be a tree.” The type of tree it is, and the type of fruit it produces is dependent upon what type of vine or trunk is in existence.  The Branch cannot make the roots grow deeper.  The Branch cannot demand that rain falls or that the sun shines upon it.  When it comes down to it…the Branch can’t really do anything for or by itself.

Lord, forgive me for getting my role mixed up with Yours. For You are the One for whom and through whom everything (including me) exists.

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How are you doing?

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Love your neighbor as your self.“If you love me, you will obey what I command. (NIV) John 14:15

What did Jesus command us to do? Here are the top 2 commands:  “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (NIV) Matthew 22:36-40

How do you show love to God? On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 being pretty bad and 10 being outstanding) how would you rate yourself with how you are doing with loving God? How would God rate you? What can you do to love God more today?

How do the people you love, know that you love them? How are you growing in loving others? What kinds of people are difficult to love? How can you extend God’s love to the difficult people of your life? Who can you extend His love to today?

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (NIV) Romans 13:8-10

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Jesus Users

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Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. . . . Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. (NIV) John 6:1-2, 26

That crowd of Jews would have followed Christ at that moment because He was giving them what they wanted [bread], and they wished to use Him for their plans and dreams and purposes. That attitude to Christ still lingers in men’s minds.  We would like Christ’s gifts without Christ’s Cross; we would like to use Christ instead of allowing Him to use us.
… William Barclay (1907-1978), The Gospel of John (Vol. 1)

Are you a half-hearted follower of Jesus? When have you followed Him because it’s convenient? Because you think you will have a life of ease? Because you think you will receive what you want? How do you “use” Jesus for your own advancement or purposes? Would God say you are more eager to use Him than to be used by Him? We all have trouble dying to ourselves, why not ask Jesus to answer the following prayer: “Lord, may you become greater in my life. . . and may I become less.” (John 3:31)

Written by Marji “Mike” Kruger

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