Second Chance

Second Chance

1 Corinthians 15: ⁵⁶ Death gets its power to hurt from sin, and sin gets its power from the Law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

 

⁵⁸ So then, my dear friends, stand firm and steady. Keep busy always in your work for the Lord, since you know that nothing you do in the Lord's service is ever useless.

 

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Cutting the tall bushes at our first house, I couldn’t quite reach the top. I didn’t have a ladder so standing on my toes was the best option. As I reached with the hedge trimmers, my arm gave way. My natural response kicked in and I tried to steady the moving blades with my other hand, which was bare. I only needed stitches, but the finger was not cut off.

 

• I have had many close calls.
• I have had situations that I could have really been hurt.
• I have been given a second chance to do things right many times.

 

Paul gives us the Good News again. He explains that JESUS gave us the victory over a situation that seemed lost. Everyone must die was the problem presented to GOD because of the first sin. “But thanks be to GOD who gives us victory through our LORD JESUS CHRIST.”

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to stand firm because of the victory JESUS did.
• GOD wants me to remain steady even though life may throw many obstacles in my way.
• GOD wants me to keep busy in my work for the LORD, for even the smallest service is useful to HIM.

 

Sin and death cause fear. I mean, who wants punishment and who wants the pain of death? No one. BUT JESUS overcame death and released us from the sentence that wasn’t even caused by us.

 

Being born into sin doesn’t seem fair. BUT JESUS dying because of my birth seems exponentially unfair to HIM. HE took on all my sins and I no longer have to die eternally. I can have peace as HE guides me in ways to serve HIM daily.

 

Challenge

• What victory is the writer speaking about?
• Does knowing that JESUS is not out to punish you but to save you give you any relief?
• When given a second chance to do things right, what would you do differently?

Decision Making

Decision Making

Acts 1: ²¹ “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, ²² beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

²³ And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. ²⁴ And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen ²⁵ to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” ²⁶ And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

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After being out of work for a while, I finally got an interview. We had a great discussion and I felt pretty good about the position. Walking with GOD with total reliance was a bit new to me. Previously, I relied on my strength, thinking it was me who made it to the top. Now humbled, I needed a job.

During the interview, the person said something strange. “We are in charge of the tech that enables porn to go into the rooms.” I got an offer, but turned down the job.

• Some decisions are hard.
• Some decisions seem extreme to make.
• Some decisions look easy on the outside, but are really hard to make when it comes to GOD.

The disciples took finding another person, as part of their ministry, seriously. This person had to have been there at the beginning, when they were called by JESUS, all the way to the time HE was risen. They still could not decide. They asked GOD to make the decision.

• When I need a decision, GOD wants me to ask HIM first.
• When I need a decision, GOD wants me to allow HIM to say “no” or “wait” or “yes.”
• When I need a decision, GOD wants me to see that HIS choice is always the best choice.

GOD sees though the scheme when I run up to HIM with my mind made up first, then asking HIM to just go along with “my” decision. Like a kid waiting until the last minute to ask, “Can I go out to the party with my friends who are waiting outside?” GOD sees through the pressure tactic, just like a parent would.

Unfortunately sometimes GOD says “yes” to something I should not have. HE grieves when I ask for something that goes thoroughly against HIS ways. BUT HE is full of love and allows me to fail and come back to HIM. The lesson from the pain grows me to ask HIM first then wait for HIS answer and accept HIS decision. I am glad I can put my decision before HIM.

• What decision do you have to make?
• Are you trying to make the decision on your own?
• Will you ask GOD and accept HIS answer, knowing HE has what is best for you in mind?

Alone

Alone

John 7: After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. ² Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. ³ His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. ⁴ For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” ⁵ For even His brothers did not believe in Him.

⁶ Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. ⁷ The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. ⁸ You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” ⁹ When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.

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Excited about my renewed faith, I went back to my “friends” to tell them about what GOD was teaching me. “This group of people should be excited about my faith in GOD” I thought as I told them about my journey away from the club scene. No one said anything bad to my face but I noticed communication from them to me was slowly dissipating. I felt alone.

• There have been many times when I felt alone because I believed in GOD.
• There have been many times I have felt alone because I wanted a certain group of people to believe in GOD but they would not.
• There have been many times when I could see the struggles people go through and I felt alone because they would not turn to GOD as the answer.

“Why don’t YOU show YOURSELF to the world if YOU are so great?” JESUS’s brothers implied in their disbelief of HIM being GOD. Even family did not believe in HIM. Was Mary, HIS mother, lying when she told everyone about the virgin birth? No! But they still could not understand just how powerful GOD is.

• GOD wants me to understand that I am not alone.
• GOD wants me to know that HE is with me always.
• GOD wants me to believe in HIS power even though many around me will believe in humans over GOD.

Belief in GOD can only be measured by GOD. No human can look at me or someone else and tell how much faith in GOD a person has. BUT GOD knows. HE gives me a measure of faith to believe that HE can and will do anything. HE heals, protects, guides and grows me. HE answers prayers to those who seek HIS face.

Wisdom will be confounded to those who do not believe in HIS power. GOD desires that I place all my faith in HIS teachings and know the battle I face is spiritual. I place my faith in GOD.

• Are you alone in your belief in JESUS?
• Have those around you given up on you because you believe strongly in JESUS?
• Will you keep your faith and pray for everyone GOD sends to you or who HE sends you to?

Three Choices

Three Choices

John 6: ⁶⁶ From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. ⁶⁷ Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

⁶⁸ But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

⁷⁰ Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” ⁷¹ He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.

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With unmet expectations, I said “I will not follow YOU anymore” to GOD. I mean my bills were still there, creditors were still calling, I had no car, and it was raining that day.

• There were times when I felt I could get away from GOD.
• There were times when I was so discouraged that it seemed like a good idea to “leave” GOD.
• There were times when I expected everything to go well and when it did not, I was ready to stop believing GOD.

Three choices were made in this section of the Bible. The first was a bad choice when eager followers of JESUS decided to stop following HIM because they felt it was too hard. The third was an even worse choice to betray the Living GOD in hopes of political and monetary gain. But the best choice was the second.

• GOD wants me to know there is no where I can go to get away from HIM.
• GOD wants me to know only HE has the words of eternal life.
• GOD wants me to believe and know JESUS is the CHRIST who came to same me and those who believe in HIM.

GOD did something confusing and amazing when HE created humans. HE created the freedom to choose HIM or not. Many times, if not all the time, I do not choose HIM. I mean HIS way may mean I do not get “my” way. BUT GOD intervened and chose me instead.

HE gave my life purpose to bring people to HIM. This supernatural choice was marvelous! HE opened my eyes to know this life is so temporary. My major focus should be on HIM. I choose JESUS because HE chose me.

• What choices are you making today?
• Do your plans exclude GOD?
• Will you include GOD in what you do and say today?

It’s Not My Fault

It’s Not My Fault

John 5: ⁸ Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” ⁹ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.

And that day was the Sabbath. ¹⁰ The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”

¹¹ He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ”

¹² Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” ¹³ But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. ¹⁴ Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

¹⁵ The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

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Sneaking off to the movies with someone I was amorous with seemed like a good idea. After my day of enjoyment I found myself having to make my way home. Unfortunately, the person lived in a tough neighborhood. I was chased. “How am I going to explain getting beat up and robbed when I wasn’t supposed to be there in the first place?” Then I questioned the strictness of dating when I made it to safety.

• There were times when I wanted to leave out information so I would not get in trouble.
• There were times when I made sure that I was not the person at fault rather it was someone else’s fault.
• There were times when I was caught in the act and quickly thought of ways of trying to not make it my fault.

The crippled man was healed by JESUS but it does not say that he thanked HIM or found out HIS name. He was so excited that he ran off. Unfortunately he ran into the church leaders who judged him for carrying his bed. “It’s not my fault… I was healed” said the man in a self-protecting way. I would have done the same.

• GOD wants me to take responsibility for my sin.
• GOD wants me to understand that I need HIM so I should approach HIM with my ugly hidden sin.
• GOD wants me to stop blaming everyone else and accept the fact that I can mess up and I need HIS help every day.

Being responsible for my actions may include accepting consequence for decisions that may have hurt me or others. GOD shows me grace beyond belief and this is the great news I can share. Back to the man in this slice of history.

JESUS found him in the temple and said “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” I supposed JESUS had a reason for saying this to the man. Probably the man did something sinful to get into the crippled situation in the first place. I can’t tell. But I do know GOD wants me to sin less and less to stay out of HIS trouble.

• Are you blaming others for where you are in life?
• Do you blame GOD for what is happening to you right now?
• Will you start accepting responsibility for your sin and allow GOD to use you today?

Missing the Plot

Luke 24: ²⁵ He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

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Entering the movie five minutes late, I raced to grab a seat. I sat there confused because I missed some very important words at the very beginning of the movie. I was lost for the duration of the show because I could not understand the plot of the movie.

• There have been times when I wondered what was happening.
• There have been times when I sat and thought “am I missing something?”
• There have been times when it seemed like life went on without me because I missed the plot.

JESUS explains what the scripture said about HIM to the two men HE traveled with after HIS resurrection. HE had said, very clearly, that HE would rise from the dead and HE did just that. “How foolish you are and how slow to believe” is what JESUS exclaimed because the lessons HE preached were not accepted.

• JESUS wants me to believe that HE loves me.
• JESUS wants me to know that my salvation came from HIM and HIM alone.
• JESUS wants me to accept my weakness and grab onto HIS strength.

All of the scriptures are about JEUS. I have tried to make them about me or “that” person, but this is wrong to do. Every word in the bible is about the love of CHRIST for me and every being HE created. HE is the main plot of the greatest true story ever told. JESUS is my refuge.

• Do you feel like you are missing the point of life?
• Do you wonder why you have to go through calamity?
• Will you focus more of your attention on GOD so HE can show you how you fit in HIS plans instead of trying to put GOD under your plans?

Something Inside

Luke 17: ²⁰ Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; ²¹ nor will they say,  ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

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Wanting to be mad, I grabbed onto every negative thought and held on tight. I was furious and just wanted to stew in my anger.  The more I thought about the situation, the more furious I got. Soon I was enraged. This was the beginning of a very bad day.

• There are many emotions that I run through in a given day.
• There are many feelings I experience at a given time.
• There are many thoughts that run through my head for which I have a choice.

JESUS says something extremely important to the Pharisees, who were looking for a human “king” or “leader” that would allow them to get their way. HE speaks about the very complicated issue of “what sends a person to hell?”

• GOD says to me “I have written MY laws on your heart.”
• GOD says to me “I have made you for MY purpose.”
• GOD says to me “I have placed MY SPIRIT in you and those who believe in MY SON as their savior.”

There is a war inside of me that I cannot see with my physical eyes. The lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life are forever causing me to think and act different than how GOD wants me to act. BUT GOD took care of all of my sin.

JESUS volunteered to become a human in order to physically be murdered by HIS own creation. By HIS own decree, all sinners would be separated from HIM for eternity. HE had to live a sinless life as a human, facing all temptations mankind could ever face.

JESUS died and rose back to life. HE sent the HOLY SPIRIT to live inside of me even though my lusts and pride are still there to battle HIM. HE gave me a second chance by placing HIS entire kingdom in me. I can accept HIS kingdom or reject it. I choose to accept it.

• What war are you fighting?
• Do you think you are the ”captain of your ship?”
• Will you stop fighting GOD and allow what  is already inside of you to be focused on growing HIS kingdom today?