Tag: transformation

Posted on

Show What You Know

“Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,”

Philippians 2:14-15

This might be a bit controversial but hang with me. I think the most needed thing in our world today isn’t necessarily more people who know about Jesus…but more people who ‘show’ Jesus. Are you still with me? Let me explain.

Knowing Jesus is everything, but if it’s really everything to us we’ll show it in the way we live. St. Paul had already told the Philippians to “work out” their salvation, “with fear and trembling”. Then, he told them how to live as believers that make a difference in perverse world. We’re called to live holy lives that make a difference.

Christians, like it or not, are called to be different from the world. Complaining and arguing aren’t winsome in anyone, especially in people who are to be “blameless and harmless”. Sadly, churches are full of members who complain, grumble, and pretty much live like everyone else. It’s as if their faith makes no difference in their lives.

Right now you’re probably saying, “Yes Brad, but aren’t churches supposed to be hospitals for sinners? After all, we’re only human.” You’re right. But, there comes a time when we who follow Jesus must get serious about being intentional disciples who allow the power of the resurrection to transform us into lights that shine brightly in the darkness.

I told you this might be controversial. Right now you might be thinking that you’re not good enough, to be the kind of believer Paul describes. Don’t lose heart. Notice that he calls us to be “blameless”, not perfect. Blameless isn’t an excuse to not be transformed. Surrendering to Jesus’ transforming power shows how much we value His forgiveness. Here’s a link to a song by Dara McLean to help you think about what it means to be blameless, and forgiven: http://www.bing.com/search?q=Blameless+Dara+Maclean+Video&FORM=R5FD1

We can’t be as perfect as Jesus, but we can have hearts that perfectly love Him and are transformed by his resurrection power. And, the extent to which we live out of perfect hearts, our motives will be blameless. You see, the difference isn’t in what we know of Jesus, but in what we show of Jesus. Are you living in the power of His resurrection? It’s what makes all the difference.

Remember, Christ is risen…and so are you!

Grace & Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Lord Jesus, if there is anything in me that is not surrendered to you, let me give it to you now. Tune my heart to perfectly love you, that I may live as your light to a dark and lost world. Amen. Alleluia!

Image credit: http://www.daramaclean.com/updates/behind-song-blameless-62686

Posted on

Stop Wasting Your Mind

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

Philippians 2:5-6

“The mind is a terrible thing to waste.” That was an advertising slogan developed in 1972 for the United Negro College Fund; it’s still in use today. So, how do we not waste our minds? According to the advertisement, the experience of going to college is central to not wasting one’s mind. Many minorities were not able to attend college without the help of the UNCF, and were thereby said to be wasting their minds.

Of course, going to college can be a great experience. In a college one learns to open up the mind and challenge his or her own worldview through intellectual stimulus. While it is always worthy to stimulate our minds intellectually, I doubt that’s what St. Paul was thinking when writing the Philippians. Paul understood that faith was not just about changing our minds, but rather transforming them according to the pattern of Jesus.

In this world we are constantly being molded and shaped by something: family, friends, preaching, teaching, and world opinion. But, to be transformed in Christ we must set our pattern for thinking and learning according to the very way of Jesus Christ. In Romans 12:2, Paul said, “And do not be conformed by the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” And, in verse one he tells us the only way to such transformation is to make a living sacrifice of our lives.

Certainly we can’t adopt fully the mind of Christ as we are human and He is the divine God/Man. So, just what aspect of Jesus’ mind is the great Apostle admonishing us to adopt – His humility. If there is any attribute in Christ that He would have us to like, it is His humility. Jesus, who was God made flesh, did not come in such a way as to rule over humanity, but to serve. Then, in the power of His resurrection, He rose up to rule over all the world. And, if we will serve as He did in this world, we too shall reign with Him in the next.

Can there be a greater pathway to transforming our minds than humble service? Our serving others in true humility is only possible through the resurrection power of Christ at work in us. If you’re not actively seeking to be transformed according to the humble ways of Jesus, through daily surrender to Him, you’re not of the mind that is in Christ.

So, stop wasting your mind and remember, Christ is risen…and so are you!

Grace & Peace,

+Pastor Brad

 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me by your grace to daily surrender to your transforming, resurrecting power. Let all that is in me, that is not of you, die. And, raise me up to be of the mind of your precious son, Jesus my savior. Amen. Alleluia!

Image credit: https://www.pinterest.com/sharibeckett/the-mind-of-christ/

Posted on

Raised form the Ashes: Lent Day – 12

Lent 2016 Daily Devotions-4

“For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.”

1 Cor. 4:20

Read 1 Cor. 4:8-21

Cheap Talk

Talk is cheap, unless of course that talk gets you in trouble, then it could prove very expensive. I think that proverbial saying says what St. Paul was telling the Corinthians. The great Apostle was a spiritual father to the Corinthians (Vs. 15), and as such had earned the right to talk to them straight about their spiritual lives.

As you read the letters to the Corinthian church, you will see the church struggled in about every way imaginable, and you will hear Paul’s straight talk as he tells them the truth in love. They stopped maturing in their faith and fell into many sins. Such a state was a detriment not only to their own lives but to the witness of the church to effect change in the culture around them.

Can We Change from Our Sinful Ways?

St. Paul reminded them, as he sent Timothy to minister on his behalf, that they hadn’t received the gospel just to continue in their sins, but to be changed. The gospel is the power of God to save (Rom 1:16), and not just save “in” our sin, but to save us “from” our sin (Matt. 1:21). The New Testament continually calls us to a life above sin, both in the words of Jesus, and the Apostles. Perhaps the best example is Jesus’ words to the woman at the well as he tells her, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.” (John 8:11)

Sometimes we think our Lenten journey will help us learn to avoid sin, by spending more time in prayer and fasting. While I’m sure our resolve to avoid sin is strengthened through such Lenten disciplines as prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we must remember that that is not the object of Lent. The object of our Lenten journey is to grow closer to Christ. The answer to losing our desire for sin (which is innate in our fallen nature), is growing more in love with our Savior.

The people of the Corinth church needed to be reminded of how much Jesus loved them, and just how his death, resurrection, and gift of the Spirit was to deliver them from the dominion of sin. It wasn’t enough for then to just say they believed (Cheap Talk), and to continue living unchanged, and it’s not okay for us either. We must live in the kingdom power that not only saves, but transforms.

Lent is a part of our spiritual tool box given to us by the church to help effect our transformation into Christ’s likeness. When we pray, fast and do works of mercy we imitate the Apostles who imitated Christ. Paul knew his life was to provide a living example for the people to follow. So too, we want to imitate the lives of the saints who’ve gone before us, as we ultimately conform our lives to the imitation of Christ. The closer we grow to Jesus Christ, the more He transforms us. His transformation will indeed, raise us from the ashes.

Grace & Peace for a Holy Lent,

Pastor Brad

“Blessed are those who hunger & thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

Matthew 5:6