Hebrews 5:8, 9 - Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.
Hebrews 12:5-7 - And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? 'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son whom he receives.' It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
Learn today the secret of never suffering loss in the soul by the sufferings of life -- yea, rather, of always making them your greatest gain. Link them to God and to Jesus. It is God who sends them. He sent them to Jesus and perfected Him through them. He sends them to thee in the same love, and will make them thy highest gain. "Receive every inward and outward trouble, every disappointment, pain, uneasiness, temptation, darkness, desolation, with both thy hands, as a true opportunity and blessed occasion of dying to self, and entering into a fuller fellowship with thy self-denying, suffering Savior." - Andrew Murray, The Holiest of All
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
On schedule, on target
Jesus: And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. He said this to show what kind of death he was going to die. - John 12:32,33
"And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock. . . You do not believe because you are not of my flock. . . My father who has given them to me is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them ouf of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one." - John 10:16-30
The Gospel is doing exactly what it's supposed to be doing. The sheep are being brought into the flock. They are hearing the voice of Jesus. They are in the Father's hand. The Son and the Father are one.
No need to tweak the message to speed things up or slow things down. No need to sweeten the offer, the Gospel needs nothing added or removed; we're not believing it ourselves if we think adjustments are needed. Our father, who is greater than all, is on schedule and on target with his plans determined in eternity past. The intensity of our proclamation cannot change the outcome nor hasten the timing of what God is doing; rather, our zeal is for the message itself and the glory it reveals of God in the face of Christ Jesus.
Faithful is He who called you, and He will bring it to pass.
-- TWMathis
"And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock. . . You do not believe because you are not of my flock. . . My father who has given them to me is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them ouf of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one." - John 10:16-30
The Gospel is doing exactly what it's supposed to be doing. The sheep are being brought into the flock. They are hearing the voice of Jesus. They are in the Father's hand. The Son and the Father are one.
No need to tweak the message to speed things up or slow things down. No need to sweeten the offer, the Gospel needs nothing added or removed; we're not believing it ourselves if we think adjustments are needed. Our father, who is greater than all, is on schedule and on target with his plans determined in eternity past. The intensity of our proclamation cannot change the outcome nor hasten the timing of what God is doing; rather, our zeal is for the message itself and the glory it reveals of God in the face of Christ Jesus.
Faithful is He who called you, and He will bring it to pass.
-- TWMathis
Connecting with culture overrated
In our quest to be missionally engaged, hip and cool, I think we have lost the "edge" for a radical, passionate engagement with God. Connecting with culture is overrated; connecting with God is underrated. - Scott Thomas, Acts29 Director
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
