“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ.” Romans 8:1 NIV
There is never a point at which you are any less saved than you were the first moment Christ saved you. Just because you were grumpy at breakfast doesn’t mean you were condemned at breakfast. When you lost your temper yesterday, you didn’t lose your salvation. Your name doesn’t disappear and reappear in the book of life according to your moods and actions . . .
You are saved, not because of what you do, but because of what Christ did.
By Max Lucado
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Saturday, 12 March 2011
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Approachable Jesus
There was not one person who was reluctant to approach Him for fear of being rejected. - Max Lucado
This sentence really started me thinking. I'm not sure where my thoughts are taking me, but I can't seem to get beyond this line. The context is that Max is discussing how, although there were people who envied Jesus, there were people who mocked him, yet there were none who found him unapproachable.
Is this how we as believers in, and followers of, Jesus, are to be? Approachable? I would argue that, if we wish to be considered as followers of Jesus, then we should be.
So - do people find you approachable? Or are you aloof? Do you have too little time in your years (note, I don't say 'days') for helping, caring for or spending time with people?
This sentence really started me thinking. I'm not sure where my thoughts are taking me, but I can't seem to get beyond this line. The context is that Max is discussing how, although there were people who envied Jesus, there were people who mocked him, yet there were none who found him unapproachable.
Is this how we as believers in, and followers of, Jesus, are to be? Approachable? I would argue that, if we wish to be considered as followers of Jesus, then we should be.
So - do people find you approachable? Or are you aloof? Do you have too little time in your years (note, I don't say 'days') for helping, caring for or spending time with people?
Friday, 4 February 2011
Eyewitnesses
Originally posted on the blog "Honest Investigations" on the 30th October 2010
Today's verse comes from 2 Peter 1:16, which reads that ... we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
My first reaction to reading this phrase is 'Yup, the universe, the awesome things we've seen through Hubble; this world and all the amazing things that we can see in it'. However, the verse is not actually talking about the created, but the creator, Jesus Christ (and by definition, God) himself. Peter is conveying to his readers that he and Jesus' fellow disciples have not made up the stories that they speak of. That they met, and lived with, a man who was like no other, a man who completely transformed their lives.
This small group of disciples - twelve in all - had the greatest privilege of all: they lived, ate, slept, walked and talked with our creator. With a person who understood their every emotion and every desire. With a God who loved and cared for them above and beyond all else. With a saviour who was to die for them.
And what did this small group of disciples see? A man and a God who loved above all else, and who died in order that we could be redeemed. A God who moved among the world but was not of the world. A man who changed people's lives. A God who cared.
Today's verse comes from 2 Peter 1:16, which reads that ... we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
My first reaction to reading this phrase is 'Yup, the universe, the awesome things we've seen through Hubble; this world and all the amazing things that we can see in it'. However, the verse is not actually talking about the created, but the creator, Jesus Christ (and by definition, God) himself. Peter is conveying to his readers that he and Jesus' fellow disciples have not made up the stories that they speak of. That they met, and lived with, a man who was like no other, a man who completely transformed their lives.
This small group of disciples - twelve in all - had the greatest privilege of all: they lived, ate, slept, walked and talked with our creator. With a person who understood their every emotion and every desire. With a God who loved and cared for them above and beyond all else. With a saviour who was to die for them.
And what did this small group of disciples see? A man and a God who loved above all else, and who died in order that we could be redeemed. A God who moved among the world but was not of the world. A man who changed people's lives. A God who cared.
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
Creativity and God
A topic such as creativity as I've been discussing over the last few days naturally leads me to thoughts of God, since I believe him to be the ultimate creator. It is a real blessing that our creations, characters in our stories, do not have freedom of choice and an ability to turn their backs on us, to deny us as their creators. I think that it would tear us apart if such a thing were to happen.
So what of God? We read in the story of creation that everything that God created, he pronounced to be good. He knew what he was doing when he created the universe, the solar system, Man. And it was good. As the ultimate judge of what is good, I would argue that he knew what he was talking about. Nothing needed to be changed. No tweaks here, squeaks there. It was, in a word, perfect.
And then we went and spoilt the party. We turned our backs on him, denied him as creator ...
Knowing how it feels to create something, I wonder how this all makes God feel. Actually, I know how it makes him feel. The Bible tells us that, as Jesus stood looking out over Jerusalem, he wept. He likened himself to a mother hen who wishes to bring her chicks under her wings to protect them.
As much as it pierces our heart when people criticise our creative efforts, even more so, I am sure, it pierces God's heart when we turn our backs to him, trying to deny his existence even as we breathe. And yet, even then, He loves us so much that he chose to become one of us, to be killed by us, so that he could die in our place so that we could return to Him. Just how awesome is that?!
So what of God? We read in the story of creation that everything that God created, he pronounced to be good. He knew what he was doing when he created the universe, the solar system, Man. And it was good. As the ultimate judge of what is good, I would argue that he knew what he was talking about. Nothing needed to be changed. No tweaks here, squeaks there. It was, in a word, perfect.
And then we went and spoilt the party. We turned our backs on him, denied him as creator ...
Knowing how it feels to create something, I wonder how this all makes God feel. Actually, I know how it makes him feel. The Bible tells us that, as Jesus stood looking out over Jerusalem, he wept. He likened himself to a mother hen who wishes to bring her chicks under her wings to protect them.
As much as it pierces our heart when people criticise our creative efforts, even more so, I am sure, it pierces God's heart when we turn our backs to him, trying to deny his existence even as we breathe. And yet, even then, He loves us so much that he chose to become one of us, to be killed by us, so that he could die in our place so that we could return to Him. Just how awesome is that?!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)