We Are Special

"And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."
2 Corinthians 1 : 21-22

The royal queen or king put their seal on any bills they would like to enforce as laws, or as a way of claiming ownership over something in order to prevent forgery. God putting His seal on us means that not even Satan can claim ownership over us. We are God's and cannot cease to be His because of the seal. Now if we have doubt about our ownership, God gave us His Spirit in our hearts to guarantee His ownership.
So now, not only do we have God's sign on us, we have God within us! You can't get anymore owned by God than that! What should this tell us then? It should tell us that the God of the Universe, the God who can hold the whole world in His hand, the God who created ALL things...HAS CLAIMED US AS HIS. Now how special do you think you are? Here's an answer: more special than you think :)

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Christ = Life

"When Christ who is your life appears,

then you also will appear with him in glory."

Colossians 3:4

We treat our lives very sacredly. We would do anything to preserve them and their reputations. We spoil ourselves when we can and we make our lives our number one priority.

Colossians 3:4 says that Christ is our life.

So now, the things we'd do to preserve our lives we should also do to preserve Christ and keep his reputation alive. 

We also get something the reputations of our "sacred" lives would never be able to give us: not only will we bask in his glory, but we will also appear with him IN glory!

We need to make Christ our personal brand.

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Song of the Month

"Till Thou shalt come in glory and call us hence away, to share with Thee the brightness of that unclouded day. We show Thy death Lord Jesus, and here would seek to be more to that death conformed whilst we remember Thee."

We were singing this song in church yesterday and it is talking about how as we wait for Christ to come again, we should seek and desire to be more and more connected and associated with His death. It is, after all, part of our identity. 

As Christ gave thanks for the bread and wine, He said, "Do this in remembrance of Me."

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The Greatest Cheer Squad in the World

"Teaching them to observe all that I have

commanded you. 

And behold, I am with you always,

to the end of the age."

Matthew 28:20

Jesus said this to his disciples during the very important moment in the Bible, which we like to call, "The Great Commission" -- where Christ tells his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. 

Christ promised to be with them always to the end of the age; through triumphs and trials. 

In contrast, during Christ's own commission given by God, no one was with him. Even God turned His face away when Christ bore all the sins of the world. Christ was completely alone at that moment; His disciples turned "against" him through either denial or lack of support. And yet, Christ fulfilled his commission. 

So why then, when we have Christ with us, and bearing all our hardships with us -- as well as the added support of the believers -- do we fail to follow through with our commission; our purpose?

Why do we let fear overcome us? 

Why do we hide our light?

We have more support in our commission than anyone else has for anything! 

WE HAVE GOD ROOTING FOR US! CARRYING US ON HIS SHOULDERS WHEN WE CAN'T GO ON!

Why do we ignore our personal cheerleading squad and 'marvel' at how large our opponents are and their squad when our own squad is, in reality, is larger than any enemy and anything? We already have the victory even before we stepped out on the battlefield! God made our commission even easier in that sense! We KNOW how the war ends! We know that we're going to win!

Why then, do we let fear hold us back?

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A Healthy Fear of God

"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" 

Matthew 10:28

Firstly, "Him" who destroys both the body and soul is not satan. It is actually referring to God.

We shouldn't be scared of anything because we have God on our side. However if we are not on the same side as God, then we shouldn't be fearing anyone or anything BUT Him because He is the God of the world! There is an immenseness of power in that. He can do anything! But He also has unbelievable grace and mercy as well.
Furthermore, even being on God's side, life isn't easy. Being on God's side means we have a lot of responsibility. We carry the image of Christ because we are part of the body. So the decisions we make should not be based on what others may think--because we are not reflecting their image--they should be based on what is pleasing to God. In the end, it won't be the world we answer to, it'll be God.
We need to be discerning about whether our choices will glorify God or taint the body of Christ.

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Significant Insignificance

Colossians 1:10
"That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;"

The words of Paul that stood out to me this morning from this verse are, "being fruitful in every good work"...
Notice how Paul doesn't give a measurement of how large or small the good works have to be? That's because there isn't one! Even the smallest thing that you do for others or for Christ can reap amazing results! Even if you're just washing dishes at an event or cleaning up after a dinner, without being asked to do so. Small or big, they can produce the same results if they're done for God's glory and out of the selflessness of your heart. A washer of dishes can produce more fruit than a pastor.

Joseph was able to accomplish more than most people of his day when he was living as a slave and a prisoner. He was able to greatly glorify God despite his position and circumstance.

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Comfort Found in Jesus

Colossians 1:11
"Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;"

Strengthened with all might...what does that mean? According to Matthew Henry's commentary, it's as if we're being furnished by God. God furnishes our earthly bodies with the character of Christ. When we are strengthened in that manner, we are given the ability to endure many things. We can now have miraculous patience during a time of turmoil and confusion and we can also endure suffering. We are given longsuffering--the ability to endure suffering and be patient for a long time. I have personally seen this at work many times: when it seems like believers endure a situation that is just tragic, they always seem so patient because God gives them the comfort they need.
He promises us that He will not leave our sides. He promises peace and comfort when we ask. He is not a God who likes to watch His children suffer. He sent HIS ONLY SON FOR US so that we won't have to suffer!

Don't you think then that He will care for those who go through tough times?

"And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Matthew 28:20

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We Spice the World

'You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.' 

Matthew 5 : 13 

I don't doubt that you have seen this verse before-- I have seen it many times-- but today it held more importance to me, thanks to the wisdom that God has shared with me. 

When I read that verse today, I thought "we spice up the world; we make it taste good". 

For the past few weeks, my family hosted a bible study on Daniel and partially revelation and the man who led it was talking about the rapture.  

He mentioned how as Christians, we bring the goodness of Christ to the world. However, when we get taken away, there will be no enforcers of good because Christ's people will be gone, therefore all that's left is those whom the devil has control of. There will be chaos and immorality. 

In the next verse, we are also called "the light" to the world. We are AMBASSADORS of Christ. 

Wow! Such a huge responsibility! We need to make the bitter world taste good! We're not asked to add to the bitterness, are we? So then, we need to resist the temptations that this world puts right in front of us. 

In order to spice this world with our salt we MUST strive to look like Christ. 

Of course to be the split image of Christ is an unattainable goal, however we must TRY. It is too easy to ignore Christ's commands and live comfortable lives when the world around us looks so welcoming.

However, we mustn't forget our mission. We ARE the body of Christ, so we need to resemble Him at least.

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Devoured By The Devil

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1 Peter 5 : 8

Yesterday evening the speaker at our church talked about "problems in the church" and he was talking about how the devil can attack us in very obvious ways (ie. Persecution in the Middle East) and very subtle ways. He mentioned how the devil would obviously go for the more subtle way of breaking up the church and its purpose, however if that doesn't prove successful then he would go for the obvious. Then he said that if the subtle strategy works on God's people, there's no need for him to change strategies. Then he asked a rhetorical question: why is it that in North America we don't face severe persecution?

We must be lucky...or have the devil's subtle methods proven successful in distracting the Christian church from its purpose? What should the lack of opposition tell us? WE AREN'T TRYING HARD ENOUGH AS A CHURCH TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST AND MAKE DISCIPLES! Have our churches become corrupted? Have we lost sight of our purpose? Perhaps we've diverted from the ministry work and our churches became charities just like those non-christian charities around us. What's the point in helping the flesh if we're neglecting the spirit? Why can't we do both? Serve the needy and preach? What happened to us? Have we been devoured by the devil?

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Kindhearted not Aggressive

" Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, "
Colossians 3 : 12

Notice how this list doesn't include: judging hearts, aggression, vengeance, etc.?
Perhaps that's because we shouldn't have those qualities. Every time I look at Christ's character and then look at mine I see how vastly different they are. When I think I'm living the right way I realize that I'm not as forgiving and patient as I should be. Being kind and gentle should be trending in the Christian faith yet there's still a lack of it because it's difficult to oppose aggression and evil with a gentle spirit, isn't it?

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Citizens of Heaven

" But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,"  Philippians 3 : 20

Our citizenship isn't in Canada in North America on Earth in the Milky Way Galaxy. Our citizenship is in HEAVEN. What does that mean? It means we belong there; we have residence there. So then how should our lives reveal that concept? Well we're on a temporary mission (like Thor): to share the Good News of Christ. Then what should our lives reflect? Why the completion of our mission of course! Our mission isn't to get distracted and relax and coast while our other "missionaries" are doing the work. We, as the Body of Christ should work as a whole to complete our mission.
How is your life contributing to the mission?

Thor never stopped trying to prove to his father that he was the leader that their world needed and he didn't care that he seemed strange to humans when he reflected his world's character.

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Becoming Bondservants

"For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus's sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ"
2 Corinthians 4:5-6
What I love about this passage is what Paul mentions about being a bondservant. Paul was a bondservant to the people of Corinth but not only for the Corinthians but for Christ. I feel like too often we seek to be served, but our roles as ambassadors for Christ is TO BE servants to others. Are we serving others as we should? As the second part of the passage says, God placed in us a light. What are we doing with the light if we're keeping it for ourselves.
This light holds within it the knowledge of God. We are commanded to give it. Are we giving this knowledge?

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He Chose YOU Before the WORLD

"Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love"
Ephesians 1:4

I was actually going to talk about another verse but I decided to read a few verses before my selected verse, for some reason. I came across this one. I couldn't help but cry while reading it. THE GOD OF THIS UNIVERSE, THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS, chose me...ME! Before the foundation of the earth! Why? I don't know! I'm not THAT special, I haven't done anything remarkable to catch His eye, yet He decided to CHOOSE me. After His amazing grace of choosing someone who's not really an asset to His Kingdom, all He asks is that I live as I was created to live...and I fail everyday. I can't even do the one thing He asked of me!

Sometimes I purposely ignore His commands and give in to the temporary satisfaction of the things of the flesh. I disobey, I lie and all for what? To feel guilt and regret continuously! While He promises peace and a never ending satisfaction.

Prayer: Father thank you for choosing me before the foundation of the Earth. Thank you that you forgive me of my faults! But father sorry that I keep disobeying you and giving in to the thing you told me to be wary of. I pray that I walk in your ways and that you continue to guide my path. Amen

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Lives Hid With Christ

"For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. " Colossians 3 : 3

I wasn't entirely sure what this verse meant when it says "your life is hidden with Christ" so I decided to consult Meriam-Webster and "hidden" also means "concealed". Our lives are concealed with Christ in GOD. In other words, NO ONE can take our lives away without God's admission; Our lives are in His bank. So we know that our lives are safe and that anything that happens is not by chance, but according to God's will. Isn't it amazing that the God of love and grace holds our lives in His hands?

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The Irony of Elijah's Fear

"Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there" 1Kings 19:3

I was reading the story of Elijah yesterday and this morning, and I learned something about him: he was scared of dying by the hands of man. He ran away and hid when Jezebel threatened to take his life for killing Baal's prophets. If there was a way he wanted to die, it would be by God's hand because everyone dies eventually. He was so scared of Jezebel's threat that he begged God to kill him early. I find it ironic how the guy who was so deathly afraid of death was one of the very few people in all of history who never died.  I guess it was God's great grace.

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Slaves to Righteousness

"and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. "
Romans 6 : 18,22

Slaves of righteousness... We're no longer slaves of sin. When we were slaves of sin, we couldn't get ourselves out of sin. So now since we're slaves of righteousness, we can't be anything BUT righteous! God doesn't see us any other way! And the package that it comes with isn't guilt, shame, weakness, or pain. Rather we're set apart for holiness and we're given eternal life. That's probably the best gift I've ever been given...and all I had to do was believe! I like the idea of being a slave to righteousness than a slave to sin. :)

Prayer: Father thank you so so so much for the amazing gift that You have given us. It's not something we can get on our own. Thank you that despite the sins we still commit, that You still see us as righteous. Please help us to overcome our sins so we can look more and more like Christ and become holy slaves of You.

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His Yoke is Light

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light"
Matthew 11:29

If you don't know, the yoke is a wooden bar that is attached to the necks of a pair of animals (commonly oxen) and this allows whatever load that is being pulled or whatever labor that is being done easier work to do. Christ is calling us to join Him on His yoke. Can you imagine working side by side with the saviour?! He's perfect, no mistakes and the load will be so light. What's keeping us from abandoning our own yoke to work with Him using His? Why is it hard for us to let go of our struggles and go into a life of prosperity?

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."  Ephesians 2 : 10

'created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand'...when we take the yoke of Christ, our burden becomes light. God prepared the good works that we were created to do! When you share God's love with others, it isn't you who comes up with the plan...God prepares that moment for you. ALL you have to do is be ready! All we have to do is be ready for those open doors of opportunity! Isn't the yoke of Christ truly light?

Prayer: Thank you Father that Your yoke and burden is light; that when we decide to work with You, You make it easier for us! Amen.

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Talents for God

I used to think I was decent at writing until this year. I took a Writer's Craft course during first semester and I explored all different styles of writing. Through that course, I discovered that I wasn't good at poetry, script writing, articles, novels, and children stories. This really bummed me out. I concluded that I had fooled myself into thinking that I had any talent in writing.

However, writing doesn't just come in those styles. Those are just the more popular forms of writing. This year I had started writing daily devotionals on a verse that touched me that day to approximately 50 people on my contact list. I never really associated writing devotions with writing until just this morning! I began to get responses from my contacts about how the verse touched them and impacted them that day and I discovered that I loved doing it!

You may not be a talented singer, artist, athlete, or writer, but you do have talents; they just might come as discretely as my devotional writing.

Even if you're good at listening...that's a rare talent nowdays! Use that for God! Writing poetry or novels or children's books may not have had the same impact as my devotions. But I used my unknown talents of writing to praise and glorify God daily! Figure out your small talent and use it to bless the Lord.

If you are talented in the large ways, don't use it for yourself, but in everything give thanks to God using that talent. God has given us talents and spiritual gifts. Who says that your spiritual gift is the only way to glorify God? Your God-given talents are also there to add to your work for Christ.

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