OCTOBER 10, 2023

  “Any person who only sticks with Christianity as long as things are going his or her way, is a stranger to the cross” 

― Timothy J. Keller

ISAIAH 43-44

I have made you, you are my servant;

Israel, I will not forget you.

22I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,

your sins like the morning mist.

Return to me,

for I have redeemed you.” (44:21-22) 

COLOSSIANS 2

9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh^b was put off when you were circumcised by^c Christ, 12having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead

JOURNAL 

There are times when I truly get the gospel and am overcome by God's redemption of my heart. Then there are times when I seem to forget it completely and I am swept away by the concerns of this world. I am overcome by the worries of today rather than the power and grace of God.  I guess the reality is that all men suffer from this flip-flop in thoughts and emotions. the key though is that although these thoughts come...keeping them wrested under the authority and control of God is the difference. I keep pursuing God not because it's easy but because God is God. Because he is the God of the universe, creator of all things, I obey, I trust and ultimately that obedience translates into joy. 

 Although the world often wins...we are promised that the spirit of God lives within and God's spirit ultimately conquers all sin and all evil. So regardless of the worldly outcome...seeking God and being obedient to him means I've already won. That's why Jesus' death on a cross was victory, so was Stephen's death which ultimately led to Paul's conversion. God transforms perceived earthly failures into eternal victories. 

12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13Nothing has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted^d beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,^e he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

1 CORINTHIANS 10:12-13