In This Devotional I Replace Pronouns With Nouns

"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Christ in glory."  (Colossians 3:1-4)

The literal rending of verse 4 is, "When Christ our life...."  There it is today, my friend, "Christ our life."  There is no other "life" we can call "life."  Apart from Jesus Christ it is just existence.  Go to bed; get up; go to work; come home; eat dinner; read a book; watch a movie; go to bed.  Peggy Lee was right to ask, "Is that all there is?"

Well, I can say with authority, not mine but that of, "Christ our life," there is more.  Sure you know this truth, but are you and I walking today in, "Christ our life," the joy and victory of, "I am come that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."  Other words used to translate the word, "abundance," are, "greater, more, excessive, vehemently, preeminence, advantage."  When you and I were, "born of the Spirit," we did not add "abundance" to our life.  "Life" is not Jesus plus.  We received Jesus, Who is, "the Life."  If a person looks at religion, conversion, "born again," as an addition, or an improvement to their already-existence, they miss the point of, "true religion," entirely.  Father added nothing to our "life" apart from Jesus.  He replaced what were, what we were "doing" as we roamed meaninglessly with, "Christ our life."

Contrary to Darwin and his deceived followers, there is no life apart from God.  Life is in the Godhead.  Earlier in the Epistle, we read, "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  For in Jesus Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete in Jesus Christ."

So there you have it, my friend, another Friday devotional, no cutesy illustrations, no feel-good stories, just  an invitation to you to join me in seeking, "those things which are above," eternal things in the Eternal One, Father, Son Jesus, Holy Spirit.  When I read our text the other day, I received more blessing than any other words could bring to me, "CHRIST OUR LIFE."  Today is Stephen Paul's 50th birthday.  "Christ our life," is keeping and sustaining me until that day, "When Christ our life appears, then you (and I and Stephen) will appear with Jesus in glory." (Pentecostal Moment)

Father, in Jesus' Name, there is nothing and no one who can bless as, "Christ our life." Amen.

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In a "World at War", you can read about what "Wuss" leaders are doing at:    jhs58.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Are You "Centered"?

"....God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27, NIV)

This is another, "mystery," spoken of in Colossians.  This wonderful Jesus, "the mystery of God," is now, because of His Blood in His Cross and our surrendering of our lives to Jesus, "Christ in you...."  Jesus is, "Christ in you," in the Church, and because you and I are in the Church, members of and in His Body, the glorious revelation of, "this mystery," is now Jesus Himself in you and me.  This is, "the hope of glory," and the hope of humanity.

Glorious, "mystery," and both mysteries mentioned in the Colossian Epistle are centered in Jesus, as the title of one of Bonhoeffer's books states it, Christ the Center.  Jesus is your "Center".  Jesus is my "Center".  Jesus is the Universe's "Center".  I recently read the definition of "center," as in "to be centered," by a humanist.  "Being centered means having a reference point, a place to come back to when life and emotions and stress push you off balance.  Think about those wobbly toys that kids play with; you knock them down and they bounce right back.  They have the kind of balance that we wobbly humans often wish we possessed!  They have such a strong sense of what their 'center' is, that they effortlessly go right back to it, no matter how many times or which direction you push them."  I rest my case.

Father, in Jesus' Name, this "wobbly human[]" thanks You for "Christ [my] Center."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Do You Wish To Understand "The Mystery of God"?

"My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ...."  (Colossians 2:2, NIV)

If man wishes to "solve" life's mysteries, there is only One Who can do that for us, "namely, Christ."  Confusion in the human race is brought about by not knowing, "the mystery of God, namely, Christ."  The Greek text expresses it very powerfully clear, "....the mystery of God Christ."  This powerful revelation here is that Jesus Himself is, "the mystery of God," revealed. 

All the creeds speak mostly of Jesus Christ, because, "the mystery of God," remains, "the mystery," without Jesus.  It is easy to speak of "God" and even quite popular among religious people because everyone can make up their own god.  Bring the Name of Jesus into the conversation, and immediately convenient ideas and speculation about God is practically nonexistent.  John 1:18 says, "No one  has seen God at any time.  The only begotten Son, Who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him."  If the Name of Jesus Himself is not in our conversation, preaching, singing, worship, then everything is shrouded in mystery.  Not only the unbeliever who may come among us, but you and I, all of us will have "church" in a mystery, indeed, life itself in a mystery which makes Sherlock Holmes and all the other "mysteries" seem like 1+1=2.

For every one song in a worship service which does not mention the Name of Jesus, three should.  People who come among us, as well as we ourselves, have no understanding of God the Father apart from Jesus, "....in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ."  There is a very real sense in which we could say, that God can only be to man an anomaly apart from Jesus Christ.  Everyone has some idea of what/whom God is.  But without Jesus it is all nonsense.  If Jesus is not fundamental, central, indeed, the only definition of God, we just do not and cannot know God.  "The mystery of God," remains just that: "The mystery of God."

Some may get bored with my continual "harping" on this.  But you know as well as I do that when you hear in the media most "Christians" talking about God, there is very, very rarely a mention of Jesus.  It is easy and even acceptable to many to say, "God," or, "the Lord."  Yes, these are both Biblical "titles," but what kept Abraham going as, "he went out, not knowing where he was going," was what our Lord Jesus said, "Abraham rejoiced to see My day."  Without Jesus, neither you, nor I, nor any creature can ever, "go out,..knowing where [we are] going."  Life will just be one big, "not knowing."  Jesus said in one of His prayers, "And this is life eternal, that they may know Thee."  According to our text, that, "know Thee," is only in the revelation of, "the mystery of God, Christ."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for clearing up the mystery of the ages in Jesus.  Amen.
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See how one European nation is loosing the battle on immigration.  This is where the United States is heading.  Go to:    jhs58.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED IN MY 72 YEARS

"Vindicate me, O Lord my God, according to Your righteousness...." (Psalm 35:24)

Something happened to me very early this morning which has never happened to me in my 72 years on this planet.  At about 04:27, I was awakened very suddenly by "someone" speaking my name, "Woody."  That's all.  What was perhaps equally unusual was the "tone."  The voice had a sense of urgency.  I accept that it was Jesus.  Yes, it was audible, not an "impression," or "the Lord spoke to my heart."  It was His voice.  I was stunned, to say the least.  After a little while, I did what Eli told Samuel, "Speak, Lord, for your servant hears"---- nothing more came.  I can never, however, forget that moment.  Sarah and I have talked about it today, and I have been, of course, pondering it ever since.  Over this past weekend I was in a discussion with a number of Followers of Jesus.  We spoke of the current "state" of the United States of America.  I'm beginning to suspect that Jesus spoke my name in an urgent tone as some sort of "watchman alert."  I share this with you so that you may find encouragement in my testimony, perhaps a sort of "end time" manifestation to an ordinary person just like you.

It naturally followed that as I read our text today, I began to pray for America, and here is the prayer I prayed from Psalm 35.  I hope it will be an encouragement to you to so pray, "the words of God," for your country, the Church, your family, for yourself. 
Father, in Jesus' Name, "how long will You look on?  Rescue [the United States of America] from [our] destructions, [America's] life from the lions (those who reject You)....Let [our enemies, the humanists] not rejoice over [America] who are wrongfully [our] enemies; nor let them wink with the eye who hate [America] without cause....This You have seen, O Lord; do not keep silence.  O Lord, do not be far from [America].  Stir up Yourself, and awake to [America's] vindication, to [America's] cause....Vindicate [America],..ACCORDING TO YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.  And let not [the humanists] rejoice over [the America You intended us to be].  Let not [the humanists, our enemies] say in their hearts, 'Ah, so we would have it!'  Let them not say, 'We have swallowed...up'" [the America which You, Lord Jesus, established long ago].  Amen.
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I guess David's Tent just moved up several notches. 
 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"Their Folly Will Be Manifest To All"

"....always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth....these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all...."  (2 Timothy 3)

Yesterday Sarah and I were with some friends of ours in West Ohio.  I preached in their two services and Joe asked me to share some thoughts on "current events" in their Sunday School.  At the end of the class, he asked me what we can do, how we can pray?  My first response was what Jesus gave me quite a while ago.  I began praying for the humanists in positions of power in the United States and other nations to be embarrassed.  I have shared with you before that when I first uttered that word I was a little hesitant because of its seeming nasty nature.  Yet I realized that what Paul told Timothy in our text is exactly what I began to pray.  If there is any hope for America, if there is any "redemption," then the folly of the humanist, e.g., the Obamas, the Clintons, the Blitzers, Sharptons, etc., etc., must be exposed.  But whether America wakes up or not, "their folly will be manifest to all...."

Jesus tells us in Ecc. 10:1 says, "Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor."  Do we not witness this every day at work, in our communities, in governments?!?  Ecc. 7:25 tells us, "I applied my heart to know, to search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things, to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness."  There you have it, my friend, "wickedness of folly," is nothing but, "foolishness and madness."  If I want to be, "clothed and in [my] right mind," then I must be clothed in Jesus Christ and His Words.  Jesus alone can reveal to you and me, "wisdom and the reason of things."

I pray you never tire of me reminding us to give ourselves daily, much to the Words of Jesus, aka, the Bible.  Only in the "God-Breathed" Words do we find, "wisdom and honor."  Only in Jesus, walking in Jesus, living in Jesus and He in us can we escape the embarrassment of what is plaguing the American Government, the entertainment industry, and way too much of Christendom, "folly,..foolishness and madness."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that as I am, "always learning," of You, I so too will always be coming, "to the knowledge of the truth."  Amen.
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Almost "there" on the David's Tent

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2