"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are." (I John 3:1)
We often speak of God's love as being demonstrated by His giving His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross in our place. (John 3:16) But God not only loved us enough to provide a Savior and a way for us to have a relationship with God through Him, He also calls us His children. Wow. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I am a child of God. That is the glorious truth of this scripture verse.
One of the greatest blessings that comes with becoming a follower of Jesus Christ is that God makes us a part of a family. Every other follower of Jesus Christ is my brother or sister. God is our Father. We belong to a family. And in a sense this is an even more significant relationship than that of my earthly family because my Christian family is eternal.
In spite of the fact that our society has developed a sense of strong independence and people like to think of their relationship to God as private, the truth is we need one another. Heb. 10: 24 calls us to consider ways to encourage one another to a faithful walk with God. Prov. 27:17 says, "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." Whether we like it or not, God has created us in such a way that it is absolutely vital to our survival that we connect as family, and God calls that family church.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
God is listening for Your Call.
"And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be delivered." (Joel 2:32)
When you find yourself in a predicament, what do you usually do first? We sit down and figure it out and come up with a plan. We run to our family, or to our friends, and we cry "Help". The reality is the one who is able to help us is waiting on us to call on him.
Notice the scope of this promise. "Everyone" who calls. It is not limited to the rich or the knowledgeable. It is open to any who will sincerely and genuined call on God. And notice the certainty of this promise. It does not say might be delivered, but it says, "Will" be delivered."
In Romans 10, Paul quotes this passage in relationship to salvation from sin and into new life in Christ. Let me raise this question. If we can trust God to save us from an eternity in a devil's hell, which is what our sins deserve, then why in the world are we so reluctant to trust Him with every other matter in our lives? Let me encourage you today, whatever you are facing, cry out to the Lord for help. He is listening for your call.
When you find yourself in a predicament, what do you usually do first? We sit down and figure it out and come up with a plan. We run to our family, or to our friends, and we cry "Help". The reality is the one who is able to help us is waiting on us to call on him.
Notice the scope of this promise. "Everyone" who calls. It is not limited to the rich or the knowledgeable. It is open to any who will sincerely and genuined call on God. And notice the certainty of this promise. It does not say might be delivered, but it says, "Will" be delivered."
In Romans 10, Paul quotes this passage in relationship to salvation from sin and into new life in Christ. Let me raise this question. If we can trust God to save us from an eternity in a devil's hell, which is what our sins deserve, then why in the world are we so reluctant to trust Him with every other matter in our lives? Let me encourage you today, whatever you are facing, cry out to the Lord for help. He is listening for your call.
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