Glory and Honor

 "And to Him was given dominion,
Glory and a kingdom,
That all the peoples, nations and men of every language
Might serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
Which will not pass away;

Dan 7:14 (NASB95)

 We serve a God who is due glory and honor.  Daniel reminds us that Jesus has been given dominion and glory.  He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He has dominion over His kingdom.  As Christ followers we are subjects of His Kingdom.

What kind of subjects are we?  Do we give Him the glory and the honor that He deserves?  Are we serving Him as our honored King.  May this Christmas be a time of honoring our King, King Jesus!

God Can!

 "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US."

Matt 1:23 (NASB95)

 Why are we surprised and why do we debate?  Have you ever heard anyone say, "That can't be real because that's an impossibility."  Is God a person like us?  No!  He is God.  God is supposed to do things that for us are impossibilities, that's what makes Him God.  So why are we surprised when the Bible says that Jesus was born of a virgin?  And why do we debate the reality of the Son of God being born of a virgin.  I would expect any God worth His salt who was to break into our time and space would do it in a miraculous way.

As we consider Christmas perhaps we can learn some important lessons about how God works.

1. God likes to do the uncommon things that are not normal to us.
2. God likes to work in the "impossible" possibilities.
3. God likes to "show up" in our time and space.  After all isn't Jesus also called Emmanuel (God with us).

As we consider these things at Christmas perhaps we should just take a few minutes to thank God for what he has done.  And if you encounter a skeptic, with compassion, kindness and patience just tell them, "Yeah but God Can!"

Just One

 "What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? 13 "If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. 14 "So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.

Matt 18:12-14 (NASB95)

 Have you ever heard anyone say, "if you were the only one Jesus still would have come to die on the cross for you?"  Isn't that an awesome statement?  And it is so true.  The parable that Jesus teaches here in Matthew 18 tells us it is.  Aren't you glad we follow that kind of God.

I'm glad my God is a God who values one.  I am important to Him.  All by myself He is willing to give all.  Just for me   And even more He searches for those who need to be found.  God is not trying to get us or trick us He wants us to experience Him.  He and all of heaven rejoice when a lost one is found and comes home. 

What a great loving God we serve!

Godly Confidence

 "As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,

And at the last He will take His stand on the earth . 26 "Even after my skin is destroyed,
Yet from my flesh I shall see God; 27 Whom I myself shall behold,
And whom my eyes will see and not another.
My heart faints within me!

Job 19:25-27 (NASB95)

Confidence is an important character trait.  But confidence in the wrong place will bring disappointment and even calamity.  Job was confident not in himself, or his friends but in God.  Where should our confidence reside?  Not in ourselves or in others because in our humanity we will always disappoint.  God is never disappointing.  Our confidence is in him because we know He lives.  We know that eternal life is our promise no matter what may happen to us here.  That is something to be confident in.

Contnement

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Phil 4:11-13 (NASB95)

Most of us are familiar with verse 13.  In fact many of us have quoted it, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  But have we ever stopped to look at its context.  Its really not a verse of the overcomer but of the overcomed.  Paul says I can live in humble means, in every circumstance, I can go without, I can be hungy and suffer need. . .  WHOA!  Paul what are talking about?  He is talking about contentment.  We expect God to in the end come through with all the good stuff.  But he doesn't always do that.  Sometimes we suffer, sometimes his follower go hungry, we experience trying things.

Can we be content in every situation?  That's where verse 13 comes in.  We can, if we are willing to submit to His will even if it means difficulty and pain.  We can be content.  We can do all things because He will strengthen us to do it.

Remember it is a growing process.  Learn to be content!

Spiritual Mentors

The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Phil 4:9 (NASB95)

Just two thoughts for you today.  1.  Who is your spiritual mentor?  2.  Who are you spiritually mentoring?

If you do not have a spiritual mentor you are missing a blessing.  There are no Lone Ranger Christ followers.  We cannot.  We should not try to get through this life on our own.  Paul encourages the Philippians to remember the things he had taught them and that they had seen him demonstrate in his own life.  There are so many blessings to having a person to turn too and grow from.  Understand that your mentor will not be perfect.  He or she is not Christ and they are growing as well.  But we can learn from others as we watch their lives.  A good mentor will not only teach us and show us the right way to follow Christ.  They will also let us in on their mistakes and blunders of following Christ.

Now the second question.  Who are you mentoring?  We should all be looking for that person(s) that we can pour our lives into.  Remember the need to remain humble.  It's not that we are "all that".  But God is growing us and we have lessons we can help others learn.  You didn't get to this point alone.  Don't make other, younger followers wonder the trail by themselves.  You can make a difference in their lives.  You do have something to offer!

Happy mentoring!

Thoughts

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely , whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Phil 4:8 (NASB95)

I have another blog that I post to from time to time.  It is entitled "Just a thought" (http://justathoughtfromjim.blogspot.com/).  I thought it was a clever titled when I created it way back when.  In the letter to the Philippians the Apostle Paul had more than a clever thought.  In fact he had a thought about our thoughts.  He encourages us to consider what it is that we dwell on.  What do we give time to think about.  Paul suggests that they should be true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good reputation, excellence and what is worthy of praise.  Many spiritual battles begin and end with our thought life.

Every Christ follower would be wise to stop and evaluate where we go with our thoughts.  Are we thinking the right thoughts?  Are we sabotaging our spiritual victories before the battle even begins?