Since we are created to be God's temple, individually and corporately, we have a responsibility to remain faithful to Him. There is an unholy temple, and I don't want to be it. In that temple, the self is set up as god, and lawlessness "rules." Unrighteousness is its condition. According to our reading today, it is the work of Satan. It is the result of not loving the truth, and those who live there are given over to a lying delusion, and eventually to destruction.
On the other hand, we have the choice to live in, and be, God's holy temple. In this temple, Christ Jesus is King, and because of His grace, we serve the living God. This temple is full of the praise of God, and His truth rules. The condition of those who live here is blessing and strength, grace and glory!
Even though the world seems to be, more and more, embracing the spirit of antichrist, rushing headlong into insanity, we who are in Christ Jesus may be always joyful and hopeful in Him. As we patiently wait for His return, we have the awesome privilege to daily serve Him in whatever He has given us to do, whether small or great.
"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work."
2 Thessalonians 2: 16-17 NKJV
Showing posts with label glory. Show all posts
Showing posts with label glory. Show all posts
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
July 30, 2010 Wearing The Armor of Light
I never noticed before that the passage which says to "put on Christ" is the same passage that says to "put on the armor of light." I think that's awesome! In order to wear this armor, we have to put off the works of darkness. These works are related to being asleep, as the world is. When we're awake, we're walking in love, and this isn't compatible with the works of the flesh, which is the self-centeredness of the fallen nature. Once we've awakened to the reality of our salvation, and we get dressed with the brilliant glory of Christ, what darkness can overcome us?
Again, I'm struck with the prophetic vision of David. He had a relationship with Christ even then, and understood the armor of light. He had no need to fear when he found himself in a dark valley shadowed with evil, enemies, and death. "Dwelling in the house of the Lord forever" takes on a deeper meaning when we understand that it's not necessary to get rid of our natural bodies in order to live in a divine tent of perpetual light that goes wherever we go.
"You are with me" becomes a little more intimate when we're thinking of wearing Christ! It also becomes more public. There's no hiding our salvation or our relationship with the Savior when we're wearing the armor of light! The days of "my faith is personal" (meaning "I don't share it with anyone") are over! When you're dressed in light, can you help but be noticed by people who are in the dark? They might be afraid and run away, but many will be drawn to the light that covers you.
Jesus lives in us by His Word and Spirit when we're born again. But salvation has to be more than just an inner belief, as we have discussed earlier. Having light than shines out from the inside and covers us from the outside is the only effective way to be a witness for Christ. If you're dark, you stay hidden in darkness and nobody notices you. Not to mention how Jesus feels about that! The times we walk around incognito are basically times we're denying that we know Him. I'm not saying we have to be religious about our witnessing! I've known people who talked a lot about the Lord, but were essentially walking in darkness. I've been there myself-- and as "easy" as it is to be asleep, being in the dark is torment when you're a child a God.
The devil feeds on "dust" (Genesis 3:14) which is our self-nature; when we don't put off the works of darkness, he can get us even more entangled in webs of deception, addiction and bitterness than we were before we got "saved." When he's prowling around looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8), he's looking for someone who's not defended, not wearing their armor of light. When we're walking in love, and therefore in the light, we're well defended and have nothing to fear.
Putting our armor on is much more than a morning ritual! Just declaring that we have put on our helmet of salvation, etc., isn't what gets us clothed in light! It's waking up to what salvation really is, and making a command decision to leave the darkness behind. It's called repentance.
We are the children of light! The true light lives in us. Christ's love is shiny and wonderfully resistant to attack. Let's start a fashion trend and wear the light! Shine, shine, shine!
Again, I'm struck with the prophetic vision of David. He had a relationship with Christ even then, and understood the armor of light. He had no need to fear when he found himself in a dark valley shadowed with evil, enemies, and death. "Dwelling in the house of the Lord forever" takes on a deeper meaning when we understand that it's not necessary to get rid of our natural bodies in order to live in a divine tent of perpetual light that goes wherever we go.
"You are with me" becomes a little more intimate when we're thinking of wearing Christ! It also becomes more public. There's no hiding our salvation or our relationship with the Savior when we're wearing the armor of light! The days of "my faith is personal" (meaning "I don't share it with anyone") are over! When you're dressed in light, can you help but be noticed by people who are in the dark? They might be afraid and run away, but many will be drawn to the light that covers you.
Jesus lives in us by His Word and Spirit when we're born again. But salvation has to be more than just an inner belief, as we have discussed earlier. Having light than shines out from the inside and covers us from the outside is the only effective way to be a witness for Christ. If you're dark, you stay hidden in darkness and nobody notices you. Not to mention how Jesus feels about that! The times we walk around incognito are basically times we're denying that we know Him. I'm not saying we have to be religious about our witnessing! I've known people who talked a lot about the Lord, but were essentially walking in darkness. I've been there myself-- and as "easy" as it is to be asleep, being in the dark is torment when you're a child a God.
The devil feeds on "dust" (Genesis 3:14) which is our self-nature; when we don't put off the works of darkness, he can get us even more entangled in webs of deception, addiction and bitterness than we were before we got "saved." When he's prowling around looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8), he's looking for someone who's not defended, not wearing their armor of light. When we're walking in love, and therefore in the light, we're well defended and have nothing to fear.
Putting our armor on is much more than a morning ritual! Just declaring that we have put on our helmet of salvation, etc., isn't what gets us clothed in light! It's waking up to what salvation really is, and making a command decision to leave the darkness behind. It's called repentance.
We are the children of light! The true light lives in us. Christ's love is shiny and wonderfully resistant to attack. Let's start a fashion trend and wear the light! Shine, shine, shine!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
June 10, 2010 Why Does Beauty Exist?
Stephen's mention of Solomon's temple in his sermon (we're still in that!), and his quote from Isaiah, are nicely juxtaposed in our One Year Bible reading today. "But Solomon built Him a house. However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: ‘ Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the LORD, Or what is the place of My rest? Has My hand not made all these things?' " Acts 7:47-50 NKJV (Isaiah 66:1,2).
As I contemplate the beauty of the temple and furnishings that Solomon designed, I am quite certain that he created them as an act of worship. I remembered that Solomon himself mentioned that God doesn't live in a physical building, so I decided to look it up (we're coming up to it in just a few days): "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!" I Kings 8:27 There is so much more to be said about the dwelling-place of God, and I'm sure that topic will unfold as we continue reading throughout the year.
We read in previous chapters that Solomon was quite a naturalist (botanist/biologist). He appreciated how God expressed Himself through the intricacies of nature, and responded to that by echoing the beauty and excellence in his own creations. He wanted the temple surroundings to remind people that God was the creator of the world, and that He should be called upon and worshipped. Solomon knew the language of beauty.
As Stephen also pointed out, the creation itself is not to be worshipped-- when the people made idols and worshipped them, the end result was captivity. There is an obvious difference in decorating things beautifully with images from nature and making a golden calf and worshipping it. It's what's behind the image-making-- the purpose and spirit of it-- that makes artistic expression what it is. I may be stepping into a spiritual hornet's nest here, but the Muslim aesthetic is all about trying to avoid such idolatry (geometric adornment only; hide women's faces and bodies), but it does nothing to change the idolatrous heart of humankind. On the opposite end of the spectrum is the Western culture of idolizing beauty in general, and beautiful people particularly. This is where all of our hearts go when we are not letting the Spirit of Truth give our sinful hearts an overhaul.
God is beautiful, but beauty is not god! Beauty is an intrinsic quality of God-- you can't have God without getting extravagant beauty in the bargain! It springs forth from Him. Just look around! And God created human beings with an appreciation of, and an ability to create, astounding beauty. I am very thankful for that! I am a great fan of God's beauty, His artistic ability, and His awe-inspiring creations.
I believe that beauty on this earth exists to testify of God's Beauty, of Him. Getting religious about our attitudes about beauty just doesn't help anything-- it only spoils what God has given. But if we can see beauty as a interface of communion-- back and forth, giving and receiving-- we will enter into a greater realm of Heavenly worship and glory than we have ever been in before.
As I contemplate the beauty of the temple and furnishings that Solomon designed, I am quite certain that he created them as an act of worship. I remembered that Solomon himself mentioned that God doesn't live in a physical building, so I decided to look it up (we're coming up to it in just a few days): "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!" I Kings 8:27 There is so much more to be said about the dwelling-place of God, and I'm sure that topic will unfold as we continue reading throughout the year.
We read in previous chapters that Solomon was quite a naturalist (botanist/biologist). He appreciated how God expressed Himself through the intricacies of nature, and responded to that by echoing the beauty and excellence in his own creations. He wanted the temple surroundings to remind people that God was the creator of the world, and that He should be called upon and worshipped. Solomon knew the language of beauty.
As Stephen also pointed out, the creation itself is not to be worshipped-- when the people made idols and worshipped them, the end result was captivity. There is an obvious difference in decorating things beautifully with images from nature and making a golden calf and worshipping it. It's what's behind the image-making-- the purpose and spirit of it-- that makes artistic expression what it is. I may be stepping into a spiritual hornet's nest here, but the Muslim aesthetic is all about trying to avoid such idolatry (geometric adornment only; hide women's faces and bodies), but it does nothing to change the idolatrous heart of humankind. On the opposite end of the spectrum is the Western culture of idolizing beauty in general, and beautiful people particularly. This is where all of our hearts go when we are not letting the Spirit of Truth give our sinful hearts an overhaul.
God is beautiful, but beauty is not god! Beauty is an intrinsic quality of God-- you can't have God without getting extravagant beauty in the bargain! It springs forth from Him. Just look around! And God created human beings with an appreciation of, and an ability to create, astounding beauty. I am very thankful for that! I am a great fan of God's beauty, His artistic ability, and His awe-inspiring creations.
I believe that beauty on this earth exists to testify of God's Beauty, of Him. Getting religious about our attitudes about beauty just doesn't help anything-- it only spoils what God has given. But if we can see beauty as a interface of communion-- back and forth, giving and receiving-- we will enter into a greater realm of Heavenly worship and glory than we have ever been in before.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
February 16, 2010
Sometimes I just have to be quiet and comtemplate the awesomeness of the Lord. How the glory of God filled the tabernacle when they were obedient, how Jesus healed the multitudes and still took time to be alone with the Father. How He defends us and encourages us when we're weak. Isn't our God great?! "Great is the Lord who delights in the welfare of His servant." Ps 35:27
Saturday, February 6, 2010
February 6, 2010
What can I say? This is one of my favorite reading days in the One Year Bible! So much is packed in here (really all the days are that way, aren't they?)-- I feel so full, and so inspired. Maybe it's all the pictures. They make me want to do art!!
One thing I love is the picture of the "sapphire pavement" under God's feet. Another is the flowering almond lampstand all in one piece of gold. Exodus 24:10, 25:31-36. And what a glorious picture in Matthew 24:30-31-- the sign of the Son of Man appearing in the heavens, Jesus coming on the clouds of heaven in power and glory, and the angels sent out with a loud trumpet to gather his people wherever they are! Is that awesome or what? To top it all off, the Psalms 30:11 offers the picture of dancing with praise when He turns our mourning into joy.
I sure do love the Lord-- don't you?
One thing I love is the picture of the "sapphire pavement" under God's feet. Another is the flowering almond lampstand all in one piece of gold. Exodus 24:10, 25:31-36. And what a glorious picture in Matthew 24:30-31-- the sign of the Son of Man appearing in the heavens, Jesus coming on the clouds of heaven in power and glory, and the angels sent out with a loud trumpet to gather his people wherever they are! Is that awesome or what? To top it all off, the Psalms 30:11 offers the picture of dancing with praise when He turns our mourning into joy.
I sure do love the Lord-- don't you?
Monday, February 1, 2010
February 1, 2010
God, give us the eyes to see the glory cloud that goes before us and sometimes becomes our rear-guard. We have nothing to fear, and everything to praise God for. He magnificently delivers us!
From yesterday's reading: "Lord, let our eyes be opened." Matthew 20:33
From yesterday's reading: "Lord, let our eyes be opened." Matthew 20:33
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