DO YOU CARE ABOUT THE LOST?

Colossians 1:22-23

v22 Because Christ died on a cross, you can now be friends with God. Christ takes you to God because you are now free from sin. God cannot blame you. He cannot say that you are guilty of sin.

v23 THIS HAPPENS IF YOU CONTINUE TO BELIEVE AND TO TRUST CHRIST. You must know what you believe. And you must continue to believe it firmly. You heard the good news about the gospel. You expected God to do what he promised. So, do not move away from what you believe. People have preached the message of the gospel to everyone in the world.

At first, I only quoted verse 22. Verse 22 tells the Christian what we have because "Christ died on a cross"...... We not only can be "friends with God", but "are now free from sin". However there is a big "IF" in verse 23!

In verse 23, the Apostle Paul warns Christians not to be swayed by false teachers. Who is a false teacher? I would say it is one whose speech and actions contradict the Bible. False teachers can be your everyday Christian. How? Well, I can only speak for myself. Remember the old saying, "actions speak louder than words"? Most of the time, my actions are spent entertaining the "things of this world". So, what is my life portraying to the lost around me? Shamefully, I am telling them I do not care about their souls. What am I telling God when I fail to tell the message of the gospel to the lost world? I believe this is a question every Christian should ask themself. As for me, all I can say is "God forgive me".

WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION?

In Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV), Paul says “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,” but then he also says, “for it is God who works in you ….”

It’s important to note that it doesn’t say, “Work for your salvation.” The Bible clearly teaches we don’t have to work for our salvation. It is a free gift of God’s grace.

The term "work for" translated ‘work out’, comes in the works of Strabo. He was a Greek who lived in the days of Jesus. Strabo describes how the Romans ‘worked out’ the great silver mines of Spain. In other words, they were getting all the silver that they could from the mines. So Christians must work hard to get all the wonderful riches that their salvation in Christ has for them. ‘with fear and trembling’. This does not mean the terror of a slave in front of a cruel master. It means the honour that we should give to our holy and powerful God.

In a sense, it is talking about a spiritual workout, just like when you physically work out to develop or tone muscles. We’re to make the most of what we’ve been given. God provides the power for our spiritual growth, but we must pray and study the Bible.

THE PEACE OF GOD

"And THE PEACE OF GOD, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ." (Phil. 4:7)

This peace is far beyond anything mankind can understand. You can never produce this kind of peace on your own. Even when you experience it, you can not explain the joy you feel during a time of sorrow and pain. This peace comes only when you put your COMPLETE trust in God. Knowing He is the One who has the answer to your situation.

Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)

I experienced this peace during a time of great sorrow. It was one of those times in my life that "I" didn't have an answer. The "peace of God" protected my thoughts from dwelling on the way the world sees death. I found myself rejoicing and praising God -- not grieving. You can find this same peace when you willingly pray "not my will, but thine be done".

A FENCE POST TURTLE

Have you heard of the “turtle on a fencepost”? It goes like this: if you’re walking along a fence and spot a turtle sitting atop a fencepost, you know it didn’t get there by itself.” A "fencepost turtle” didn’t get into its predicament by accident; somebody put it there—and likewise, when we find ourselves in unexpected, or strange life circumstances, we should understand that we’re there not of our own design, but because God has placed us there for a purpose.

Are you sitting on a fence post right now, faced with a sudden turn of good fortune or an unexpected opportunity? Being put on a “fence post” is a wonderful opportunity and a reassuring sign that God has a plan for you. Take time to consider why God might have placed you there, and how you can use this opportunity to serve God before you are once again placed back on the ground.

PSALMS 119:10

Psalms 119:10 "I seek You with all my heart......"

I had never thought about what "all my heart" really meant until now. A Bible dictionary says "all my heart" means with all of me; this includes the body, mind and soul. The "body" is the carnal/flesh part of man, the "mind" is that part of man that thinks, and the "soul" is the spiritual and immortal part of man.

I thought I was seeking God with "all my heart" when I read my Bible and prayed. How could my body seek God? By recognizing sin and turning away from it. The Bible says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12:1)

How could my mind seek God? By making sure my thoughts are on God. The Bible says, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Thank you God for using the simple phrase "all my heart" to challenge me to serve you, desire you, and live for you.

MATTHEW 7:3

As I reflect upon my life, there were many times I sinned not thinking it was a sin. It was easier to see the wrong done to me. Jesus said, "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" (Matt. 7:3) "Brother" in this scripture refers to another person who believes in Jesus. A person who is part of the same ‘family’ of God’s people.

Jesus uses a deliberately extreme image in this passage--that of a plank in somebody's eye, to make a point about the human impulse to judge others while ignoring our own faults. Jesus is telling us to tend to our own flaws before we get too upset about others'.

Does this mean we can criticize those who are not our brothers in Christ? NO! As children, we were taught "The Golden Rule". Jesus summed up "The Golden Rule" in two phrases -- love God, and love your neighbor. The lesson learned here is that we are to put the needs of others before our own. (Matt. 22:37-40) Just think about how profoundly this attitude would change the world if just all Christians carried this out!

PSALMS 61:1-8

In this psalms, David is in a state of desperation -- "Hear my cry, O God"....."From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed". I find myself at a crossroad in my life. Since retiring, I have a lot of time on my hands -- time that is wasted. I have more time to spend studying the Bible, but I don't. I read the Bible, but there is a difference between studying the Bible and just reading a passage of scripture.

I wanted, again, that closeness I once had with God. That time I was studying my Bible and spending quality time with Him. I prayed many times about this, but I thought God did not hear me. He heard me but I wasn't listening.

For weeks I had been reading in the OT about how the children of Israel worshiped idols. They repented, stopped worshiping other gods, and God forgave them time after time. Am I any different from the children of Israel? I put TV, hobbies, relaxing, etc. before God. The LORD brought this to my attention. I realized that I had not asked God to forgive me for putting other things (idols) ahead of Him.

I did this today! I have learned that it is my responsibility to set aside a time to spend with God each day, because He will always be there waiting. It is important that I, "hide His Words in my heart, so I might not sin against Him".