Fw: Nothing added...

As I read the following passage, I could think of nothing to add, explain or illustrate:

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Romans 12:

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,"says the Lord. 20 Therefore

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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"Death is inevitable.  Life is a choice!"

John 11:25

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live."

Fw: diversity

Diversity is a popular term in today's culture.  Especially since the breakthrough in Civil Rights in the 1960's our society has sought to find and build an appreciation for, and the presence of, diversity...especially ethnic and gender diversity...across every aspect of life.  In education, employment and social organizations diversity has become a value and a measure of health.

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The Bible appreciates and highly values diversity.  In Romans, chapter 12, we find another way of viewing diversity to build health in our Christian community: (verse 4) " For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another."

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"Many become one".  The motto of the United States is E pluribus unum, latin for "Out of many, one".  It's interesting that this is also the motto of the church, through the intention and design of the Lord.

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Our nation is stronger when we realize we are many states and regions with a common bond of freedom and equality.  Our society is healthier when inappropriate barriers are dropped between people of different ethnic backgrounds.

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And the church is only as effective as it recognizes and integrates the spiritual gifts of its members.  The goal is oneness that presents a clear, effective and healthy picture of Jesus Christ to all aspects of our society, of our nation, and to the world.

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Romans 12:6-8

 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: 

if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 

or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; 

he who teaches, in teaching; 

he who exhorts, in exhortation; 

he who gives, with liberality; 

he who leads, with diligence; 

he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

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blessings,

Rob Smith

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"Death is inevitable.  Life is a choice!"

John 11:25

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live."

Fw: Made new!

How would you like a mind that is refreshed and renewed?  The Apostle Paul discusses this in Romans, chapter 12:2 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."  So how do we get a mind that is 'made new'?  It seems to start with a mindset that says "Yes" to God in a personal way.  Consider the opening verse of this chapter:"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."

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It also seems to be linked to changing our mindset about "self".  We tend to elevate self above others...above all else.  Consider the third verse of the passage: "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith."

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Consider having a "renewed mind"...having a fresh and hope-filled outlook on life, with a growing understanding of the purpose and meaning of living that can only come when thoughts are guided and nourished with Heavenly food.  This seems to fit well with the promise of another passage: 2 Corinthians 5:17 "17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

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We don't need "self help" programs, we need to surrender to the architect of life and the designer of the mind.  In that new relationship, our minds will be renewed.

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blessings!

Rob Smith

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"Death is inevitable.  Life is a choice!"

John 11:25

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live."

Fw: a bigger plan...a bigger Planner

We make plans...we tend to think that we are charting our life ("I am the master of my fate.  I am the captain of my soul." from William Ernest Henley's poem 'Invictus').  But all of our plans are circumscribed by those of a greater Planner.  After all, we don't even know what the weather will be tomorrow when it comes to planning what to wear for the day ahead.

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Submitting to the Lord's plans does not surrender one's identity or purpose.  To the contrary, it aligns one with the Maker of all things and the One who has the master plan for His handiwork, as well as for our lives.

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Consider these words from the Lord's inspired word:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

Romans, chapter 11, has fascinating things to say about why 'outsiders' (Gentiles) were called by the Lord into His family while, across history since the time of Jesus, many Jewish folks have not been open to the resurrection and the Messianic identity of the Son.  Bottom line is that room was made for the Gentile to enter and the Jew will not be forgotten either.  There is a time coming for a faith awakening for them as well.

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Paul ends that chapter with this amazing thought:

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

34 "For who has known the mind of the Lord,
    or who has been his counselor?"
35 "Or who has given a gift to him
    that he might be repaid?"

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

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"Death is inevitable.  Life is a choice!"

John 11:25

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live."

Fw: the password

Almost all of us have known the frustration of forgetting a password.  We can't log on to our bank account or social media or some other internet site and it is annoying to know that all the information is so close and yet unavailable without the password.  Of course, there generally are ways of resetting the password to restore that access.

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So what is the password for life...the life that, once accessed, can never end?  This is not a password that we create.  It is one that must be given to us.  Fortunately, once it has been given to us we don't have to worry about forgetting.  Once you log on, you never log off.  With internet access you need two things: a userid and a password.  The userid is a special name.

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For eternal life the userid is "Jesus" and the password is "faith".  It isn't enough just to key these into a keyboard.  They must be expressed from the heart.  And "faith" makes the connection to "Jesus" through a process of 'hearing God's word'.  Here's how Paul describes it in Romans, chapter 10, verse 17: "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."

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Did you pick up on that?  If you want to find the password you need to spend time listening (reading works too) to the words of the Bible.  The password of faith is delivered to your heart.  Then you can enter the userid of "Jesus" and you gain access.

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This is not a protected site.  Others are encouraged to join.

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blessings,

Rob Smith

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"Death is inevitable.  Life is a choice!"

John 11:25

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live."

Fw: Saved!

Are you saved!  I can't think of a more important question.  If Jesus is the focal point of all the Bible...His coming pictured and prophesied in the Old Testament as the Messiah...His actual birth, life, death and resurrection recorded in the New Testament....Well... if Jesus is the focal point of the entire Bible...your salvation is the greatest purpose Jesus has.

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So has the greatest reality of the Bible become the greatest experience of your personal reality?  If you are in doubt, consider this guidance from the apostle Paul in the book of Romans:

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Romans 10:9 because, 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. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

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Salvation is a great mystery but an actual experience and a necessary state for anyone to enter Heaven.  The disciple Thomas was curious about this mystery of going to Heaven and the night before Jesus died he asked this question of Jesus (recorded in the gospel of John):

John 14:5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

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You see, we may not know the way but we can know the Savior who is the way and is our doorway to Heaven.  That is what it means to be saved.

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blessings,

Rob Smith

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"Death is inevitable.  Life is a choice!"

John 11:25

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live."

Fw: old and new

There is and Old and there is a New Testament.  It's interesting that there is a parallel in our spiritual lives: There is an old 'us' and there can be a new 'us'.  The people of Israel paint a vivid picture of faith and of the law and of obedience and disobedience throughout the Old Testament.  Woven through the Old Testament is the promise of the Messiah...One to be sent by God to deliver and to restore His people.  So then, who are His people?  Clearly God has, and continues to have, a special role for the people of Israel...the only nation that can directly trace its roots to God's chosen person, Abraham.  It was through this nation that the promised Messiah came and the wonderful truth is that this deliverer came through one chosen nation to make deliverance possible to the people of every nation...or you might say to all the people, regardless of nation.

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In the book of Romans, Paul makes it clear that the Lord's plan was expressed in the scriptures through the Hebrew prophets hundreds of years before Jesus' arrival in Bethlehem so that all might have the opportunity to benefit:  Here Paul quotes from the prophet Hosea:

Romans 9:

25 As indeed he says in Hosea,

"Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,'
    and her who was not beloved I will call 'beloved.'"
26 "And in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,'

    there they will be called 'sons of the living God.'"

and here from the prophet Isaiah:

Romans 9:

33 as it is written,

"Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense;

    and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."

It is Jesus who ties the Old Testament and the New Testament together to complete God's purpose of reaching and restoring all who will come to Him.  He will make the Old life a New life.

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blessings,

Rob Smith

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"Death is inevitable.  Life is a choice!"

John 11:25

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live."

Fw: another child at Christmas

A child...a very unique and special child...is the focal point of Christmas.  God came from Heaven to experience human life...He bridged the gulf between Himself and the people He had made to reflect Him.  Christmas is the point of entry and the point of fulfillment of God's promise to turn back the effect of Satan's infection of sin.

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But there is another child to consider at Christmas.  This child is an adopted one.  The adoption is necessary because the previous parent has been blocked from having authority over the child...it has been a parental abuse issue (here we refer to Satan!).  Paul tells us about this child in Romans chapter 8.  (starts in verse 15) "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God"

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It took the arrival and the obedience of God's natural born son to make it possible for adoption proceedings to take place for you and me.  Now that we, as believers in what God has done, have been adopted into His family, we have a sibling relationship with Jesus.  He is now our brother.  We are in the same family.  And when Jesus is attacked...so are we.  And when we are attacked because of Him....so is He attacked.  We stick together with our unique brother.  And we will have an inheritance!

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Romans 8:17 "and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."

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Adoption proceedings here on earth can be a long process before the child is placed with the new parents.  And our Heavenly adoption is also in process:

Romans 8:23 "... we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."

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But we look up to our older brother even before the adoption is absolutely done.  We want to be like Him and our Heavenly Father is shaping us to be like Him.  And we are now part of a very large and growing family:

Romans 8:29 "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."

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This Christmas let's consider that the babe in the manger can also be our brother, who has connected us to God's family...now and forevermore!

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blessings!

Rob Smith

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"Death is inevitable.  Life is a choice!"

John 11:25

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live."

Fw: Personal Christmas

Last night we enjoyed our church's first Christmas concert of the season...The title of the concert is "Tell me the story".  The wonderful story of Christmas is of God coming from Heaven to live as a person...Emmanuel...which means 'God with us'.  As I read through part of Romans 8 this morning I was reminded that He is still with us...in fact He is in us, if we have trusted in Him personally.

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Romans 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

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Surely the wonderful truth that Christ is in you, now and always, is something to be celebrated daily.  In a sense Christmas is the normal experience for the believer.  It was certainly amazing to be in the human family of Jesus back then...or to walk with Him as a disciple...but it is no less amazing or real in experience to know He dwells within you now and brings you life!

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Emmanuel is still with us!

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blessings,

Rob Smith

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"Death is inevitable.  Life is a choice!"

John 11:25

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live."

Fw: the mind set

Before we do anything we first 'set our mind' on doing it.  That may happen very quickly, but the mind always leads the way.  There are actually very few things that we can control in our lives.  We had nothing to do with being here...but we are here...some think, incorrectly, that they can change the physical identity that God planted in every cell of their being...but, no, you cannot change your physical identity.  However, there is one thing that we have absolute control over...we can choose to set our mind on whatever we desire.  It is the greatest of freedoms and it carries the greatest of responsibilities.  The mindset leads us into our day and into our purpose.

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The apostle, Paul, expresses the mindset issue in terms of an 'either/or' dichotomy:

Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.

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So we can head down one of two roads when it comes to exercising the freedom of mindset.  Consider the promise that the prophet Isaiah wrote for those who choose to set their minds on the Lord:

Isaiah 26:3 
You keep him in perfect peace
    whose mind is stayed on you,
    because he trusts in you.

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When I was young we called the TV a 'television set'.  The TV tends to live up to this name and 'set' our minds in the directions it chooses.  But we can exercise our freedom of choice to set our minds on "the things of the Spirit".

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blessings,

Rob Smith

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"Death is inevitable.  Life is a choice!"

John 11:25

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live."