Know it All...

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John 14:26

Each person who has called out to God the Father for eternal salvation, and means it, is saved from eternal damnation by the work of the gospel provided through Jesus Christ.  When a person asks for salvation, they receive the Holy Spirit of God.  The Spirit indwells the believer to teach and guide until we are called home to be with our Heavenly Father.

The thing that sticks out to me in John 14:26 is the phrase “…He will teach you all things…”  I have always had to try harder than most to accomplish anything academically.  After being dismissed from the University twice for scholastic probation as a young man, I returned while in my thirties and earned a place on the Dean’s list three of the four semesters I was enrolled.  I discovered that prior to ANYONE teaching you ANYTHING, there first must be a willingness to LEARN.  When we get to the place  when we feel we know it all, watch out!

Confident Conviction

But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness Romans 4:5

Meaning, that we are justified completely by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Our confident conviction that Jesus is the ONLY means of salvation is rewarded with a righteousness provided on our behalf by Jesus Christ, which is required to enter Heaven. 

The opposite is true. Those who work to be justified or saved do not believe God or in His son, Jesus Christ. A definition of works is required here.  Works would be anything one does to gain God's approval and forgiveness other than trusting solely in the gospel.  The gospel being the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. 

The argument can be made that one can believe in God, but not have a clear understanding of salvation or justification.  A simple belief that God exist does not qualify one as being justified.  If this were the case, then Satan would be justified, because he believes God exist. 

There is more than just believing God exist.  This is where faith comes in to play.  Faith is the confident conviction in something or someone to the point of putting your life on the line. In this case, we are talking about a faith in Jesus and the gospel. 

According to James 2 we perform works because we are saved which in turn strengthens our faith.  Our faith leads to actions or works, not the other way around!

Due Diligence

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Matthew 6:33

 

A craving desire to have Jesus rule in order that I might live a virtuous life as well as think and act correctly is what I must do.  Instead of searching for fame and fortune and worrying about my "rights", my focus is to be on that which concerns Heaven. The added benefit is that the amenities of life will be provided.  My due diligence is to aim to obey the Word of God.

The promise is found here, "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."  Matthew 7:7,8

The tense of the word "shall" in the Greek is a future tense.  Which simply means asking, seeking, and knocking is to be a daily task. Need anything?  Ask in accordance to God's will, and it will be yours. Many of us should first ask that God cleanse us from all "unrighteousness" before we begin to think of asking for more.

The Beginning of The Rest of Your Life

This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

God did not exhaust His creative efforts in Genesis 1:1.  God has made today.  It was fashioned with the same creative mind and loving hands as the world and universe we were created in. We often overlook the phenomenal truth that God made this day and has many NEW things for us to experience and NEW people for us to meet and influence.  For some reason, we neglect this notion and go about our lives and never truly get it.

King David understood it when he said, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10    He was asking for forgiveness and beckoning for a new start.  I have done this myself a number of times.  It empowers me to know that God hears our cries and is ready, willing, and able to wipe the slate and paint the rest of our lives on a newly created canvas.

Be  inspired to see a new face, hear a new voice, shake a new hand,make a new friend; and then tell them about Jesus!

Living in the Parenthood

I have to say that I struggle with parenthood.  Being a father of three I have learned a good deal.  I learned more about myself than about any of my kids.  I have been where they are, I’ve lived through the years they are experiencing, but I had never been a father, so the learning curve was greater.
I learned that the older I get the less frazzled I become.  Maybe they have worn me down.  I have learned that the things that embarrassed or frustrated me don’t seem to matter any longer.  I have learned that the longer I know them, I love them greater.  I have learned what my parents withstood raising me and six other siblings.
I was shocked that my first child didn’t come with instructions.  The day I drove her and my bride home from the hospital was a day I’ll never forget.  I was so scared that I would hit a bump or another car and damage her.  I was a nervous wreck for a long time.  I love my wife dearly, but I remember not wanting to leave for work because I wasn’t sure one adult could handle the task of child rearing.
I suppose the greatest thing of all that I learned as a new daddy is that my Heavenly Father knew what I was going through.  I have learned over the years to take His perspective of my children and transpose His heart for His children onto my kids.  The sad news is that it has taken many years to begin to see results of my efforts.  The two girls are off at college now and my son is racing toward his high school diploma.  Just over two years and I can sit back and truly wonder where time went.

I Don’t Feel Like It

We must be careful as Christians so as not to base our salvation or devotion to God on our feelings.  I was “born again” (John 3) in 1977, so I don’t recall much of how I felt living my life without Christ.  I do recall the emotions and feelings that came when I asked Jesus to be my Savior.  Though three decades have past it becomes more difficult to recall those feelings.
I know this…when I wake up each day by the grace of God, I do not look, act, smell, walk, talk, or feel like a Christian.  I have to gather my thoughts, adjust my being and locate the nearest cup of coffee before I can begin to focus and begin my day.  I’m certain I do not exhaust an eternal God with my faulty morning habits.
If I based my eternal everything on my feelings I would be a mess all the time.  The love of God handcuffs us and we can’t lose Him. (2 Corinthians 5:14) It’s not the Folgers that draws me close to my Heavenly Father, it’s the mercy He displays daily that keeps me looking up.   Our salvation is not based on our feelings, but on God’s faithfulness.

Which Way Are You Headed

A young preacher was asked by the local funeral director to hold a grave-side burial service at a small local cemetery for someone with no family or friends. The preacher started early but quickly got lost, making several wrong turns. Eventually, a half-hour late, he saw a backhoe and its crew, but the hearse was nowhere in sight, and the workmen were eating lunch.
The diligent young pastor went to the open grave and found the vault lid already in place. Taking out his Bible, he read the service. Feeling guilty because of his tardiness, he preached an impassioned and lengthy service, sending the deceased to the great beyond in style.
As he was returning to his car, he overheard one of the workmen say: “I’ve been putting in septic tanks for twenty years and I have never seen anything’ like that.”
We have a bad habit of starting each day without checking the directions – the life map – God’s word. We believe that our daily tasks outweigh the importance of God’s word. There just isn’t a good excuse for not reading God’s word on a regular basis. Psalm 119:105