GOD'S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE - PART 3

So far we have said that:
• We were created to have a personal and intimate relationship with God
• We were created to live for Him

The Bible also teaches that we were created to glorify Him (to bring Him glory.)
1st Corinthians 10:31 says “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Now, that is a concept that seems a little abstract. What does it mean to glorify God? How do we glorify God? To put it into perspective, if I were to get the glory in something that I’ve accomplished, (let’s say that I’m a good chef and people really like my cooking) I would tell others that I’m a very creative person that likes to invent. I would say that I’m smart, intelligent, that I work hard, without the help of others. I will get all the credit, because I want people to focus on me. On the other hand, if I want to give God the glory, I would say that God gave me the talents, intelligence and abilities to cook well for His glory. I don’t get the credit; God does. The focus is not on me, but on God.

I’m reminded of a passage in Deuteronomy 8, where the Lord is warning the Israelites once they enter and prosper in the land of Canaan, not to forget Who brought them out of Egypt, Who provided for their needs when they couldn’t do it themselves in the wilderness, and Who gives the ability and power to prosper. The following verses are a key to understand what it means to give God the glory: “17 He (The Lord) did all this so you would never say to yourself, 'I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.'18 Remember the LORD your God. He is the One who gives you power to be successful.” (NLT)

So, let’s bring Him honor through what we say, how we act, and how we think. Acknowledge Him in all you think and do. Make it known to others, point others to Him by giving Him the credit for whatever you say and do. To glorify God means we have a heart full of gratitude, for it is He who gives us all that we posses (material and immaterial.)

Worship the Lord as you watch this video!

GOD'S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE - PART 2

In the last article regarding God’s will for our lives, I wrote that God created us so that we could enjoy a personal and intimate relationship with Him. The second reason that I want to share with you is that “God created us to live for Him.”

Colossians 1:16 says “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him.” To live life to the fullest, to experience purpose and meaning, we need to realize that our lives are not ours to live selfishly for our own; we were created to live for Him. Until we come to grips with this truth, we will always live with disappointment, and we will not find meaning to life. We may spend many years in the pursue of money, or a professional career, or even family, or living sacrificially for a noble cause, but not of these pursues will satisfy our lives to the fullest. Don’t take me wrong, these are necessary in life, but they are not the ultimate reason for life.

Jesus said: “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.” Mark 8:35. Could it be that at the end of our lives, while pursuing and living for things other than God, we will realize that we wasted our lives? On the other hand, those that lived for Jesus will realize that they made the right decision by living for Him.

2nd Corinthians 5:15 says “and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.”

We only have one shot at life; don’t waste it; live your life all out for Jesus! You won’t regret it.

Happy New Year 2009!

2009 is here! New adventures begin, news goals, new resolutions, new dreams, new challenges... One thing is certain, whatever the New Year brings, if you are a disciple, God is with you! Emmanuel! His promises are true. God says "I am with you always." Matthew 28:20, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

Not only is He with us, but He is for us. The Bible says "If God is for us, who can be against us?" He wants to see you succeed in whatever plans He has for you. Listen carefully to His guidance. Remember that God is always working and He wants you to join Him in what He is doing. Remember that He talks to us through His Word, through His Holy Spirit when we pray, through circumstances, and through the counsel of those wise Christians around us.

Be attentive to His voice; decide to obey Him. Our prayer for you is that you will have a Blessed New Year!

GOD'S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE - PART 1

I remember many years ago asking myself: what am I here for? What is the purpose for my life? Well, that question was clearly answered December 27, 1979 when a group of Christians approached me with what God had to say.

We were created to have a personal, intimate relationship with God. In the beginning, the Bible says that God created Adam and Eve and put them in a garden called Eden. They walked, talked and had a personal, intimate relationship with the Creator. But that soon was broken, because we sinned. Sin separates us from God eternally, But God, who has always wanted to repair and establish a continued relationship with us, provided a way. He became a man and dwelt among us, teaching us His ways, dying on a cross and shedding His blood to pay for our sins, and resurrecting on the third day to give us eternal life.

The Bible says in Romans 10:9 that “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” I repented from my sins and believed that Jesus’ blood and death was and is sufficient as complete payment for all of my sins (past, present and future.) Now I experience a personal relationship with my Creator, Lord and Savior.

John 1:12 says “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.” Now He is my Father, I’m part of God’s family; He calls me “son.” 2nd Corinthians 6:18 says "And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.” What a privilege, that the Creator of the Universe, the God Almighty would do such a thing for this sinner. Ephesians 2:19 says “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household” and John 15:15 “I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” What a wonderful thing, that I can talk to Him at any time and He listens and He can talk to me at any time through the Bible, through His Holy Spirit and prayer, through circumstances and through other fellow believers.

Do you have a personal relationship with Him? Start today.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

To appreciate the beauty of Christmas, we must recognize the ugliness of Christmas too. God decided to be born in a manger, and when we think of the manger, we see it as a beautiful, clean place with lights and music, but the reality is that a manger was simply a stable, a stall where animals were kept, with filth, manure and darkness (remember, there was no electricity back then.)

Maybe God decided to be born in a stable to show us that the pure, clean, Holy God was intervening and saving a filthy, unclean and sinful world. The Word of God says in 1st Timothy 1:15 “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” Many times during Christmas, we celebrate the first part of the verse “… Christ Jesus came into the world…” and forget the rest “…to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”

In Matthew 1:21, the angel told this to Joseph: “She (Mary) will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." Praise His name for Christmas! Jesus was born, yes, but He grew and eventually died on a cross to pay for our sins and resurrected on the third day to give us the hope of eternal life.

Merry Christmas!

THANKSGIVING

Someone once told me a story about a person that died and went to heaven. While the Apostle Peter was showing him around, they stopped at a huge room where there were millions of angels constantly typing in front of their computers. The person asked: and what are all these angels doing? and Peter said: This is the prayer department, these angels are typing the millions and millions of daily requests coming from the human race. Wow! the person responded. Then they went to a small room next to it, where there were just a few angels sitting in front of their computer typing a few words every once in a while. And what are these doing? the person asked. Peter replied: this is the Thanksgiving department.

Many times we find ourselve asking God for stuff, but we don't thank him enough for all His blessings. The Bible says in 1st Thessalonians 5:17-18 "pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

God's presence is experienced when we thank Him. Psalms 100:4 says "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name."

Today, stop for a minute or two and thank God for His goodness to you.