Firstborn

Colossians 1:18

The sun was just peaking over the horizon. The first rays of light shone through the early morning mist.

This quiet spring morning, the hearts of those who followed Him were broken and heavy with fear and disappointment. Two women walked up a path toward the tomb of their beloved Teacher. Their faces red and tear stained, their steps slow and heavy. Their hearts filled with grief and the dread of the task at hand.

The early morning silence is broken. The sound of the heavy stone being moved echoes. The ground shakes under it's weight as it is dragged away from the opening of the tomb. The courage of the battle hardened Roman guards melted at the site of this mighty angelic being dragging the impossibly heavy stone. They fall to the ground like dead men.

The stone was not moved to let anyone out. He was already gone. It was moved so that the women walking up the path could see in (Matthew 28:1-6).

Jesus, the Christ. The Great King. He lay down His life for us, and for us, He took it up again. He reached out with His strong arm and pulled us back from beyond hope's reach. Salvation has come! (John 10:14-18)

Thank you, Father, that You loved us so that You gave Your only begotten Son. Thank You for freeing us from sin and making us clean. Thank You for raising Him from the dead so that Christ Jesus could take His rightful place at Your right Hand, as the Firstborn from the dead.

Aliens

Philippians 3:20-21

As believers in Christ Jesus, we no longer belong on this planet. We have become aliens. We're on our way home.

As I walk on what was once my native soil, I am reminded that what is under my feet is now alien soil. It is a training ground....a battle ground. We are training for a war on two different fronts (Galatians 5:17, Ephesians 6:11-12).

We were dead in our sins, groping in the darkness. We were ignorant of the heavy chains binding us. We were unaware that we had been enslaved. Then the Light came. Our eyes were opened.

It is not only war for which we are being trained. We are being educated in our new culture. The culture of Heaven (Matthew 13, Matthew 18:1-4, Matthew 20:1-16). As our faith grows and the Holy Spirit teaches and guides our spirits and minds, our knowledge and maturity will expand. We are being made ready for home.

Because of God's great mercy and grace through Christ Jesus, we are no longer those pitiful, fallen dead things groping in the darkness. We have been made alive in Christ and blameless in His sight (2 Corinthians 5:17, Jude 1:24).

God is AWESOME!

The Secret Place

Psalm 18:2

We all struggle with something. Some secret shame.

Even our heroes had their moments (Luke 22:54-62, Romans 7:18-25).

I choose to call it what God calls it. Sin. Not a popular thing to talk about today, right? In fact, speaking out against some sins is called 'hate speech'.

None of us likes to be called out on what we think we do in secret. But that is exactly what the Holy Spirit does. He calls us out on it and makes us face it (Mark 4:22, Luke 12:2-3).

When the temptation comes, and that old man tries to pull your spirit back down into the dark, stand strong. Be an overcomer. And when you aren't strong enough, then call out to our Wise Father. He will be strong for you (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Father, thank You for being so much stronger than me.

God is AWESOME!

Payroll Signature

I was signing some papers the other day. As I was signing, I was struck with a pretty neat thought:

In the Navy, there is a term that all sailors are familiar with: 'payroll signature'.

A payroll signature is simply signing your name as it appears on your paycheck. The term is used for nearly everything. If you were signing for equipment or some sort of official form, you would be asked for your payroll signature.

When I checked out equipment, and signed my payroll signature, that meant I was responsible for the equipment until it was returned.

When I first believed on the name of Jesus, and received Him as my savior, He put a seal on me (Ephesians 1:11-14). His seal...His Payroll Signature.

God is AWESOME!

Calm Down And Eat Some Fruit Or Something

John 14:27

One of my favorite movies is 'Signs' with Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix.

One of my favorite lines in the movie comes when everyone is beginning to panic over an impending alien invasion. Mel Gibson says, "Everybody in this family needs to just calm down and eat some fruit or something." Classic line!


We live in what the world views as "uncertain times". I hear believers talking about the world economy and how things seem to be getting worse. They are wondering what to do and how we'll get through an economic collapse, should that happen in our life time.

Jesus said not to worry about such things, but to trust in Him (Luke 21:8-28).

This is why it's important to read and study God's word. We need to be aware of what is coming and not be taken by surprise (1 Peter 4:12).

Take a breath. Be still before the Lord, and trust in our Wise Father.

...Everybody in this family needs to just calm down and eat some fruit or something.

God is AWESOME!

Hope and Joy

Malachi 4:1-6

Once again, God offers hope to people who are otherwise damned. He has sent His prophet to inform them of their options, and they chose for themselves. Many chose poorly (Malachi 4:1).

For the ones who took hold of the hope being held out to them, there would be unimaginable joy. There would be healing for them (Isaiah 61:1-3).

I love the imagery used in Malachi 4:2. "...You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall." Just the thought of that makes me want to laugh with joy. I've watched a calf in the field playing and leaping around. When I see that in my mind's eye in this context, my heart leaps with joy!

People talk about death as something to be dreaded. But, look what God did! For those of us in Christ Jesus, the grave has become a place of hope for the inexpressable joy that waits for us on the other side of this life. (1Peter 1:6-9)

We are free in Christ (John 8:31-34). Some teach that because we are free, we may behave however we want. I disagree. We are free from sin, we are free from judgement, we are free from condemnation. We are not free from responsibility.

We were freed for a purpose (John 17:20-23). The life of a believer in Christ Jesus should be one of humility and of discipline (Malachi 4:4, John 14:15).

Malachi left the people with a last word from God. Another reference to John the Baptist (Malachi 4:5-6, Luke 1:16-17).

This made me ponder the significance of so many references to John the Baptist. Maybe the answer is obvious to some, but not to me. I know it must be important. Jesus Himself said how He regarded John (Matthew 11:11).

John the Baptist had the most important job in the history of mankind...to prepare the way for the Lamb of God (Isaiah 40:3, Matthew 3:1-3, John 1:26-29).

God is AWESOME!

The Book

Malachi 3:16-18

God listened. Through the noise of angry fist shakers and the complainers and blamers, He could hear quiet conversations. His name was being spoken in gentle, hushed tones. His great works were being fearfully recounted by those who love Him.

God heard their words. He gazed into their hearts and saw something that moved Him. His memory went back to the garden. To the cool evenings when He walked with His still pure children. To a time before the stench of sin permiated everything.

A book was written for the ones who still loved God. A remembrance for the ones He would spare. These would be the ones He would show as examples when righteousness was taught.

Maybe we need to pause a moment and review our conversations. (Luke 6:45)

Father, fill my heart with Your Spirit so that my conversation will move You to remember.