May The Name of Jesus Be Glorified in You

Today's full reading: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

"We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 1:12 NIV)

I have noticed a lot of name-dropping in recent years by many of my friends and acquaintances. I even find myself dropping the names of few "well known" people I am associated with from time to time. The simple fact of the matter is the older we get the more prone we may become to this pitfall.

So, "What's the problem with name dropping?" you might ask? Well, there is certainly nothing wrong with having a wholesome conversation with someone and speaking about people you may or may not know for the sake of illustrations or subject matter content. However, name-dropping quickly turns into a pitfall when you do it for the single reason of making yourself (your name) seem important. The fully committed Christ follower should care nothing about making a name for himself but only to glorify the name of Christ.

Today, as an act of worship, seek to worship the Lord with a completely undivided heart. Make honoring Christ the single purpose of your day. Our society may operate under a "who you know" protocol, where nearly everything depends not on what you know but who you know. However, in eternity there is only one person you must know, and his name is Jesus Christ.

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:17 NIV)

The Power of Words

Today's full reading: Colossians 3:18-4:18

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." (Colossians 4:5-6 NIV)

Much has been said in recent days about the power of words. Consider this verse as you go about your conversations today. I firmly believe that there comes a point in nearly every meaningful conversation that a witness for Christ can be spoken. Christian speech should always be wholesome in order to strengthen a brother or sister, or display the grace of Christ to a lost world.

Today, as an act of worship, weigh your words carefully in every conversation. Ask the Lord to guide your tongue to honor him through every single word.

Here are a few more verses to consider on the subject.

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Ephesians 4:29 NIV)

"But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." (Colossians 3:8 NIV)

"Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving." (Ephesians 5:4 NIV)

"But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:36-37 NIV)

"for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!' Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:13-15,17 NIV)

Let the Word of Christ Dwell in You Richly

Today's full reading: Colossians 3:1-17

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:15-17 NIV)

We have been given a new life in Christ. Our new life must be different from our old life. Consider what is different in your life now from when you were an enemy of God. You may have experienced major lifestyle changes or you may have just had a change of heart and mind. The later is likely true if you became a Christ follower before you were a teenager. Either way, however, this passage in Colossians says to let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly (Colossians 3:16). This does not happen automatically. You and I must make the choice to spend time reading, meditating on, and memorizing the Word of God if we are going to obey this teaching.

Today, as an act of worship, thank God for his life-giving, life-sustaining Word. Take a moment to open your Bible and memorize a verse of scripture. After you read it five or six time you may want to write it down on a note card or small piece of paper to carry with you throughout the day. Ask the Lord to help you live out the truth of his word. (Here are a few verses you may want to start with: John 3:16, Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-10, 12:1, 1 John 1:9)

Ultimate Forgiveness and Reading Trek Update

We have a great week of readings ahead of us as we trek through the New Testament together. These first three days we will be finishing Colossians and then we nose dive for four days through Paul's first letter to the church of the Thessalonians.

Monday, October 6
Colossians 2:8-23

Tuesday, October 7
Colossians 3:1-17

Wednesday, October 8
Colossians 3:18-4:18

Thursday, October 9
1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:8

Friday, October 10
1 Thessalonians 2:9-3:13

Saturday, October 11
1 Thessalonians 4:1-5:3

Sunday, October 12
1 Thessalonians 5:4-28

(ready...set...GO!)

Today's full reading: Colossians 2:8-23

"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." (Colossians 2:13-15 NIV)

This amazing truth must permeate our thinking if we are to worship God with a pure heart and a clean conscience. God truly forgives and forgets; our sin was nailed to the cross and is now under the blood of Jesus.

Today, as an act of worship, thank God for his ultimate forgiveness and amazing grace. Worship him for not only who he is, but also for what he has done. He demonstrated his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. (see Romans 5:8)

The Supremacy of Christ - part 2

Today's full reading: Colossians 1:18-2:7

"And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." (Colossians 1:18-20 NIV)

Today, as an act of worship, praise the Lord for his infinite worth. Thank him for making a way for us to have peace with God through his bodily sacrifice for our sin. Jesus Christ is worthy of our praise. Let's lift him up!

The Supremacy of Christ - part 1

Today's full reading: Colossians 1:1-17

"He (Jesus Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:15-17 NIV)

Christ is supreme, ultimate, and above all. He is infinitely worthy of our worship. It is quite common for us to mentally shrink God into our intellect and world. We may do this by casually reading the Bible, haphazardly entering into a worship service, reciting a two second "blessing" before we eat a meal, or, frankly, calling on him as a "last" resort when in a crisis.

If this is something that stirs your heart today, then God may want you to re-think your image of him. Christ is not someone to take lightly. I've heard it said this way, "He may be your friend, but he's not your buddy!"

Today, as an act of worship, confess your sins to the Lord. Ask God to reveal his true self to you. Praise him for his ultimate act of love - his sacrificial death on the cross for our sins.

Secrets of the Vine

John 15:5

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

Many years ago I committed this verse to memory. It has served me well. The truth revealed in its words is timely for the church at large and the individual Christian. Read it again. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Now break it down into small phrases and weigh out the truth.

"I am the vine..."
Jesus is the vine. He is our link to God. He makes the way for us to have a relationship with God. "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." (2 Peter 1:3)

"you are the branches..."
In Christ, we are extensions of God. We serve as his hands and feet. Our purpose in life is to do his will and obey his Word. "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching." (John 14:23)

"If a man remains in me and I in him..."
We must remain connected to him. It is absolutely vital that we are constantly communing with God through Jesus (the vine) if we are going to do his will. Which will bring him glory by bearing fruit for his kingdom. "See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—even eternal life." (1 John 2:24-25)

"he will bear much fruit..."
Our lives will bring him glory by bearing the fruit of the Spirit and making disciples of all nations. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:22-25) "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20) "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

"apart from me you can do nothing."
Simply put, we can do nothing without Christ. Sadly, it is entirely possible for Christ to use us to bring glory to the Father and we totally miss it; we never see it. How tragic! Let's not miss it. Please do not miss God working in and through you to bring great glory to himself. "For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." (Philippians 2:13)

Today, let me leave you with a final scripture from Colossians encouraging us to abide in him. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:16-17)

Where Is the Line Between Christian Service and the Rest of My Life?

Over the course of eight years in vocational ministry one issue has continued to surface in my personal life that brings me great concern. It is the issue of "balance".

I think it was Dr. Seaus who said in O The Places You Will Go that "Life's a great balancing act!" This is a true statement as I am sure you can testify. We each fill many different roles and wear many hats in each role. For example: I am a Christ follower, husband, father, son, brother, friend, provider, helper, fixer, disciple maker, worship leader, program director, dish washer, clothes folder, diaper changer, floor moper, team leader, car driver, devotional writer, small group leader and I could go on and on by simply describing the activities I am actively involved in. You get the point. But, don't miss this! Some of these roles are part time and some are full time. Some are temporary and some are eternal.

Today we continue our look at Christian service by trying to define the boundaries. Much of life is a balancing act that we must navigate successfully. If we fail to find balance we will find ourselves emotionally and physically bankrupt. We must learn to live with healthy margins in place. (I'll share more about margins later.) However, hear me say this; there is no such thing as a part time Christian! Furthermore, we should not attempt to compartmentalize our Christian service.

Being a Christ follower is more than a life long commitment; it is a new person that we become. "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)

I think where we get off track is when we buy into the idea that we "go to church." That is so wrong! We do not go to church; we are the church. Living for Christ is living everyday all day for him. Christian service is not something we only do at church. In fact, if we will get our heads and our hands around this concept we will radically increase our Christian service.

The Bible says it this way, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." (Colossians3:23)

Why Work If We Are Saved By Grace

Today we continue on the subject of Christian service by asking the question: "What good are our good works?"

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

These verses paint a vivid picture of the marvelous grace of God. If God offers salvation to us as a free gift then why do so many people try to earn their way into heaven by spending there entire lives being good, serving the poor, going to church, reading their Bible, and praying? What good are our works? Do they earn salvation? Do they earn anything at all?

There is a general assumption among much of the world's population that good people go the heaven. But, is this assumption true? Is it true that God uses a giant cosmic scale to weigh your good works against your bad works to see if you should go to heaven or hell?

The Bible clearly answers this last question with a resounding, "NO!" Apart from the grace of God all humanity is eternally damned. And this is rightly so "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:23-24)

So, what about all our good works? Do they earn anything at all? And why should we do them?

All the good works that we could ever do are, in fact, totally insufficient in the there ability to earn our access to heaven. If God did weigh our good works and our bad works on some cosmic scale we would all be in a heap of trouble. The Bible says that "all our righteous acts are like filthy rags." (Isaiah 64:6) The simply fact remains that apart from Jesus Christ we will never be good enough.

There is a great book that I read several years ago on this subject that I highly recommend to you called "How Good is Good Enough" by Andy Stanley. You can check it out and even read some excerpts from it at Amazon.com by clicking here.

For the remainder of this post I would like to share with you what I believe should be the purpose of our Christian service.

Having truly tasted the forgiveness of sins and received the free gift of eternal salvation I believe the natural response of man should then be overwhelming gratitude, faithful service, total surrender, sacrificial love, and unending praise.

The purpose of Christian service is not to glorify or benefit us, but to display God's amazing grace and matchless glory. May everything we do magnify his fame not ours. "If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:11)

Additional Scriptures: Colossians 3:17, 3:23, 1 Corinthians 10:31

What Can I Do?

Worshiping God is ultimately the greatest thing you can do on earth. The Bible clearly ranks this as the greatest of all commands. Jesus said it this way, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30 (NIV)

Perhaps you have heard this before, but let me ask you to consider this question a little longer. How can I demonstrate my love to God? (Think about it for a moment.) What can you do to show God how much you love Him?

The answer can be several things such as go to church, read the Bible, pray, minister to hurting people… Those are all very good things to do, and many people do them religiously. But, consider this, loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength is not a one-time thing nor is it a program you can attend. Loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength is referring to your lifestyle.

Our culture is very much into fame of fortune. Think of some ways your lifestyle can change that will magnify the fame of God. That’s right, we want God to be famous; we want people to worship Him! A great instruction with this in mind is found in 1 Corinthians 10:31 which says, “whatever you do, do it all for the glory [fame*] of God.” I could not agree more.

Everything, except sin, can become an act of worship if you do it for the fame and glory of God. Today let me encourage you to be creative in the way you worship God. Take time to honor God in whatever you do.

(Related scriptures: Colossians 3:17 and 3:23) *emphasis added