A Little Something to Think About

This week I'm reading through the letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to his cohort Titus. He had left Titus on the island of Crete to appoint pastors for the different churches that had been established there. But like all works of God, they do not come without opposition. Evil never likes good!

In reading through the first two chapters this morning, a couple of things stood out. First was the last verse of chapter one:

They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. Titus 1:16

We read a verse like this one and immediately we think of someone who fits this description - don't we?

The second thing that stood out was in chapter two:

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.Titus 2:11-14

The grace of God teaches us to say "NO" to ungodliness!

God redeemed us to make himself a people eager to do good works!

Maybe instead of thinking of someone else we need to think about ourselves. What do I need to say "NO" to?

No more talking bad about someone else.

No more stirring the pot.

No more blaming others for their actions and start taking responsibility for my own.


I guess the real question is this: How eager am I to do what is good?

The answer to that reveals a lot about my heart toward God!

Just a little something to think about as you begin your week!

Why is it...

Why is it that "Christians" want to talk so much about Romans chapter one but never talk about Romans chapter two in the Bible? 

If you take the time to read it pay close attention to the first word of the first verse as you begin to read chapter two. Also count how many times that same word appears in that one verse.

Here let me get you started...

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Romans 1:2

But don't stop there keep reading. The truth can be hard to face sometimes but it is the path to freedom! 

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”John 8:32

Bitter people carry the biggest rocks!

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
“No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”John 8:7-11

Question - What would Jesus need to write on the ground that would make you drop your rock?

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews 12:15

How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Luke 6:42

God never called us to be fruit inspectors, he called us to be fruit bearers!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

May we learn to live and speak and act like Jesus the Christ - after all that's what it really means to be a "Christian"!

May we learn to live with the same compassion for others that Jesus the Christ has shown us!

And if need be may we discover the love and grace of Jesus the Christ in our own lives!

FIGHT

In light of recent events and the current series, I wanted to share the following thoughts and send out a challenge beyond the walls of Atlee Church.

God is calling his church to fight!

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12

God is calling us to fight! But this is not your typical playground fight!

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

We're fighting against an enemy that we can't see, but is as real as life and death itself.

We're fighting against an enemy that wants to take from us the very thing that Jesus the Christ died to give us: eternal life.

Eternal life is not just a reference to time but to a quality of life as well.

Jesus said, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

Jesus is calling out the spiritual warrior in each of us and he is calling us to take hold of the eternal life he died to give us. Life that we experience not only on the other side of the grave but a quality of life we can experience now as we live in obedience to him.

God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you: well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way.

This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.

Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon.

In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. Ephesians 6:10-18 MSG

Today God is calling us to use our greatest weapons against the evil one: our faith, the Word of God and prayer!

So here's the challenge:

May the church of Jesus Christ fight the good fight of the faith! May we take hold of the eternal life to which we have been called! May we pray like never before!

For more thoughts and insights I invite you to check out our current series - Fight