"Good-by"

During this morning's reading, a single small phrase stuck out to me. In Acts, 20, right at the beginning of the chapter, Paul is leaving Ephesus for Macedonia. There is nothing super-outstanding about this, since Paul is a traveler. He arrives and leaves nearly innumerable times. I think there can be a lesson found in just about every verse of the Word, though.

In this, verse 20, as he is leaving he says, "Good-by" (NIV). this is interesting to me because I do  not find myself using that language much. The language I use is much more temporary, and less significant. Paul is saying good-by to those he leaves because he realizes there may not be another meeting. He even spells this out later in the same chapter:

They all wept as the embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship. Acts 20:37-38

So, what kind of lesson can I take from this lingering verse? I suppose the old adage that you never know when it'll be "your time" rings true here. But more than that, I think I can be more intentional about what I do with my time and how I use it to impact who I visit with. the reality is that for the vast majority of the people in the world, we only see them once. One glance on the street, one short ride in the elevator, one discourse in the drive through. I know the idea sounds corny, but look at Paul! He used his time effectively. He made every single visit count because it would be his last, at least it was with the Ephesians in chapter 20. I'm going to be intentional today, will you?


Any thoughts?

Youth Group 2/24/10 "Sin and Our Response"

God's STANDARD is obedience:

1 John 4:16b- "God is love."

Since God is love incarnate and we are to mimic Him, we are to exhibit the same- love. What is the best way to replicate this supreme love? Obedience:

2 John 1:16- "And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love."

Obeying the Lord leads us into righteous life.  When we step outside of what the Lord has for us, we obey a different master- a master interested in our destruction, sin. To whom we are subject is our choice:

Romans 6:16- "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?"

What are some examples of alternate masters commonly served that we as Christians have to fight off? Money, Worldly Wisdom, Fame, Other People?

FAILURE RESULTS when we choose to disobey.
God knows how we are weak. He even warns us to take preventative measures: 

Matthew 26:41- "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

How we know that sin is due to our choice. If we sin, we fall to what we could have bore:

1 Corinthians 10:13- "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

The result of disobedience is wrath:

Romans 2:5- "because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed."

When our sin continues and we do not repent, we are really in a dangerous place. Is it possible to become unsaved if we continue to sin without going to God for forgiveness and then change our ways? Yes. Scripture teaches that we can be as dogs returning to their vomit, a Christian can return to his/her life of sin and lawlessness:

2 Peter 2:21-22 "It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. ²²Of them the proverbs are true: 'A dog returns to its vomit,' and, 'A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.'"

Repentance is the proper RESPONSE

Paul is delighted in the peoples' reaction in repentance. Not their sorrow, but the change their true sorrow brought about in them:

2 Corinthians 7:9- "yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us."

God is very patient with our mishaps. He gives us plenty of opportunity for change:

2 Peter 3:9b- "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

CONCLUSION
The Lord asks obedience from us, but does not force it. He gives us the free will and choice to follow Him or not. When we choose to stray, especially for extended periods, we must seek forgiveness and repent; we must change our ways to regain our lives of obedience with Him again. He is patient with us, not wanting any to die, but in the end, it is our choice to make. Choose faithful obedience.


 Any thoughts on this lesson?

First Post Confessions

My first post on this new blog comes after a long series of personal setbacks with regard to my walk with the Lord. I have struggled with ongoing sin issues that I will not fully disclose at this time. It is far past time that I repent of these weights acting like parasitical hangers-on, sucking the lifeblood out of my veins. Graphic language, true, but the reality of the spiritual havoc perpetual sin is wrecking on me is far worse. My confession here, I hope, is one significant step in overcoming these said transgressions. Repentance is a long and painful process requiring me to allow the word of God to carve away from me a part of myself- the sinful nature that so desperately clings to my newly clothed with Christ body.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.   Hebrews 4:12 NIV

for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.    Galatians 3:27 NIV

I will not enjoy this carnal pain of self-rejection in the moment, but the moment after. Whenever victory is experienced, (victory over these temporal physical desires) the level of utter joy far outweighs the seemingly unbearable weight of temptation just moments before. The invisible spiritual realities around me at all times go unnoticed and neglected. No more. I determine here and now to concentrate on the forces at work on me and within me. No more will I sit back idly by and let the Tempter have his way with my mind. I pray, Lord, Your Spirit makes His home in me and begins to crack away at the hard and crusted callouses that have grown up inside my conscience.

To him belong strength and victory; both deceived and deceiver are his.    Job 12:16 NIV

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.    Ephesians 6:12 KJV

I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.    1Thessalonians 3:5b NIV

Spirit, lead me into truth, into the light. What this is about, for me, is to try and learn what is pleasing to the Lord, but not only that, to also put that new found wisdom into practice.

trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.   Ephesians 5:10 NASB

Lord, lead me into what pleases You, for You are my purpose. Amen.