"In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded fogether for an habitation of God through the Spirit." Eph. 2:21,22
Have you ever wondered just why it is that God compares Christians to a temple? Specifically the temple of the Jews during the time of Christ and before. Once again God was taking something that most of the people at the time (if they were Jews) would know about and using it to explain something they did not understand.
He does this over and over throughtout the Bible.
Today in America, Christians are not as familiar with the Old Testament of the Jews so it may take some explaining and some study to get the connection. This is not meant to be an exaustive study, and I may break it up into several posts to give time for you to do some study on your own. I hope this helps you in your walk and understanding of Christ.
We will start in Exodus. In Chapter 25 you can read the commands for the tabernacle that God gave to Moses (the leader of the Jews). What does the plan start with in verse two?
"Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering." Ex. 25:2
God is the Creator of all things, you know that He could have commanded the Tabernacle to spring up fully built, perfect, just like he wanted it. He didn't need Moses or the people's help but God wanted to involve the people that he had chosen. He wanted their participation in this gift. But he places a requirement on their work and their offerings, their part must be done willingly, just as His was. It wasn't a command that they had to give, it wasn't the amount they could give,matter of fact it was a command that they first be willing to give what God had asked of them.
Where have we heard that before? The way God commands his people to give didn't change in the New Testament when Christ began to build his church. Paul tells us that in the following:
"For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not." 2 Cor. 8:12
Paul is telling us that it is a requirement that giving to the Lord for the building and work of the church must first be from a willing mind/heart. Again, God is looking at the attitude the gift is given in, not how much the gift is.
God had a plan for the Tabernacle in the Old Testament and he laid it out for Moses and the people in the book of Exodus. God has a plan for the New Testament church and both plans require the same thing from his people: that we participate because we want to. In this plan of God's, he knows exactly what is needed to do the work. He looks to his children to willingly supply as much of it as they can, then look to Him to provide the rest. God's work, done God's way, will prosper. He gives the increase.
I hope that this has whetted your appetite to come back and find out more of the plans God has for his church that can include you if you are willing. Until next time...God bless.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Gates of Pearl
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. Rev. 21:21
"Dust thou art to dust returneth was not spoken of the soul." Such a telling statement that William Shakespeare placed in one of his more famous plays. Taken from the facts recorded in the book of Genesis, this line standing alone can be taken as a sober warning or a proclamation of hope.
As a Christian I choose to take it as a proclamation of hope. I don't have to live my life thinking that this is all there is. I can get into God's word and learn about that life beyond the grave that is so beyond my finite imagination I can't even begin to describe it. And I am not alone,those whom God revealed glimpses of heaven to were hard pressed to be able to find something on earth that they could liken it to. God inspired them to use some of the most costly and precious things that man values so that we would have an idea of what it would be like.
I don't know about you but it is hard for me to imagine the gates of a city made of pearl. Those are some really huge pearls. Even harder for my limited mind is to imagine the oyster they came from! But I believe it. I believe it all! Why? Because God said it, and I have seen God work enough in my life and the lives of others to know that He is who he says he is and can do what he says he will do. So if he says that the gates of heaven are pearl, then it's His city, He lives there, who am I to question it?
Most know that the pearl comes into being as a result of a lot of pain and labor on the part of the oyster. What better material for the gates of heaven to be made of than pearl? I don't have to tell you that the journey to heaven is filled with rough edges. But God has gone before us in the person of His Son Jesus to take the brunt of the pain for us.
Our contribution as His children is to be obedient in learning how we are to behave in this city we will be calling home. Start practicing it now so that others might see and one day follow you through those gates of pearl.
Have a wonderful day!
"Dust thou art to dust returneth was not spoken of the soul." Such a telling statement that William Shakespeare placed in one of his more famous plays. Taken from the facts recorded in the book of Genesis, this line standing alone can be taken as a sober warning or a proclamation of hope.
As a Christian I choose to take it as a proclamation of hope. I don't have to live my life thinking that this is all there is. I can get into God's word and learn about that life beyond the grave that is so beyond my finite imagination I can't even begin to describe it. And I am not alone,those whom God revealed glimpses of heaven to were hard pressed to be able to find something on earth that they could liken it to. God inspired them to use some of the most costly and precious things that man values so that we would have an idea of what it would be like.
I don't know about you but it is hard for me to imagine the gates of a city made of pearl. Those are some really huge pearls. Even harder for my limited mind is to imagine the oyster they came from! But I believe it. I believe it all! Why? Because God said it, and I have seen God work enough in my life and the lives of others to know that He is who he says he is and can do what he says he will do. So if he says that the gates of heaven are pearl, then it's His city, He lives there, who am I to question it?
Most know that the pearl comes into being as a result of a lot of pain and labor on the part of the oyster. What better material for the gates of heaven to be made of than pearl? I don't have to tell you that the journey to heaven is filled with rough edges. But God has gone before us in the person of His Son Jesus to take the brunt of the pain for us.
Our contribution as His children is to be obedient in learning how we are to behave in this city we will be calling home. Start practicing it now so that others might see and one day follow you through those gates of pearl.
Have a wonderful day!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Lighting the way VS cluttering the path
At work this past week I made the statement to one of my co-workers that I didn't understand how anyone could make it day to day without knowing God. I know that I would not like to try. She was quick to give me an answer. Three words: drugs, alcohol, and bitterness. and then the conversation began. She told me that she had not tried this 'Christian stuff' long. She had an aunt who was a Christian, and she seemed to be happy all the time like I was. (talking about me) She went on to say that she and her mother thought that when her uncle died her aunt would stop being so happy. They thought she would begin to grow angry and bitter. It surprised them both when she didn't.
I told her that it was because as a Christian, her aunt knew her husband was with God. Her response was," Yeh that's what she said". I told her that her aunt's grief was a natural thing. Of course she would be sad, it was only natural to miss her husband, but if a person is truely a child of God, as it seemed her aunt was, the grief she had for her husband would not turn to bitterness. The Lord is there to comfort his own children through these times.
More and more each day I realize I am being watched by those around me. Others are watching to see how I will react to not just the low times in my life, but also the happy times. As the gospel is being removed from public places: ie: prayer in schools, scripture from public buildings, mention of God in public gatherings, we as children of God are fast becoming the only light that the lost will be able to see. Are we giving them enough light that they will be able to come to Jesus?
I told her that it was because as a Christian, her aunt knew her husband was with God. Her response was," Yeh that's what she said". I told her that her aunt's grief was a natural thing. Of course she would be sad, it was only natural to miss her husband, but if a person is truely a child of God, as it seemed her aunt was, the grief she had for her husband would not turn to bitterness. The Lord is there to comfort his own children through these times.
More and more each day I realize I am being watched by those around me. Others are watching to see how I will react to not just the low times in my life, but also the happy times. As the gospel is being removed from public places: ie: prayer in schools, scripture from public buildings, mention of God in public gatherings, we as children of God are fast becoming the only light that the lost will be able to see. Are we giving them enough light that they will be able to come to Jesus?
Saturday, January 1, 2011
New year - same choices - new hope
Yes, I know the title sounds a little depressing. None the less, it is true. We do still have the same choices. Are we going to think before we act and make right choices that will lead to change, or will we follow the "status quo" as they say.
It’s the beginning of a new year, the time to make resolutions for changes that we plan to put in our lives. Traditionally it is a time of hope. We know ourselves better than anyone else, and we know the things in our lives that need change.
Life is choices. These choices must be made over and over every day. Some of them over and over in a day. Even doing nothing is a choice that people make, although most of the time it is a bad choice to do nothing. But here are two of the choices people are making this year.
“This is the year I lose weight.”
It is the #1 resolution according to those who take polls of such things.
#2 in the polls is: “This is the year I will get out of debt.”
Both of these resolutions require a good deal of determination. But then that is true with any real change that we make in life; and these are real changes.
How do you follow through on a resolution to change your life?
For an undertaking like this you need a plan in place, something that you can refer back to and log your progress.
Sit down and seriously make a written plan of the actions you need to take to make these changes come about.
For instance: If you plan to lose weight, think of how you eat now, aside from the obvious that needs to be eliminated, like using food for recreation(sitting on the couch eating without tasting as you watch TV).
Think of diets that will suit your taste buds and your lifestyle. For example, my son-in-law calls me the “great carnivore” I love meat. So when I decided to go on a diet, I chose the Atkins diet because it let me eat the foods I already liked. I just had to stop eating the carbs.
I can go to a fast food restaurant, order a roast beef and cheese, ask for a fork and satisfy my hunger for meat. I just don’t eat the bread. To keep me from being tempted, I toss the bread before I sit down. When I am at home, I can eat salads covered in baked chicken, with all the vegetables that I love, and still not blow my diet if I watch my portion sizes. You get the idea?
Maybe you like chocolate- try the 3-2-1 diet plan on the Slimfast website. Just be careful of your sugar levels.
Where there’s a will there is a way.
Do you plan to get out of debt? Then sit down and look at your income, your bills, how much do you spend that isn’t necessary? How much are you willing to cut out? Can you afford to pay a little above any of your monthly bills each month? If so, in most cases the overage will be applied to the principal. When you cut down your principal on a note you are also cutting the amount of interest that you will pay in the long run. Check with your lender on this.
Most important is to stop credit card use!
As I said, where there is a will, there is a way. Gain control back of your life this new year. It can be done: one decision at a time, one hour at a time, and one day at a time. Next thing you know it will be a week of change, and a month of change. If you fall and make the wrong choice, don’t let Satan trick you into giving up. Get up and the next choice that comes along make the right one and get back on track.
May God Bless you in the choices you make this new year.
It’s the beginning of a new year, the time to make resolutions for changes that we plan to put in our lives. Traditionally it is a time of hope. We know ourselves better than anyone else, and we know the things in our lives that need change.
Life is choices. These choices must be made over and over every day. Some of them over and over in a day. Even doing nothing is a choice that people make, although most of the time it is a bad choice to do nothing. But here are two of the choices people are making this year.
“This is the year I lose weight.”
It is the #1 resolution according to those who take polls of such things.
#2 in the polls is: “This is the year I will get out of debt.”
Both of these resolutions require a good deal of determination. But then that is true with any real change that we make in life; and these are real changes.
How do you follow through on a resolution to change your life?
For an undertaking like this you need a plan in place, something that you can refer back to and log your progress.
Sit down and seriously make a written plan of the actions you need to take to make these changes come about.
For instance: If you plan to lose weight, think of how you eat now, aside from the obvious that needs to be eliminated, like using food for recreation(sitting on the couch eating without tasting as you watch TV).
Think of diets that will suit your taste buds and your lifestyle. For example, my son-in-law calls me the “great carnivore” I love meat. So when I decided to go on a diet, I chose the Atkins diet because it let me eat the foods I already liked. I just had to stop eating the carbs.
I can go to a fast food restaurant, order a roast beef and cheese, ask for a fork and satisfy my hunger for meat. I just don’t eat the bread. To keep me from being tempted, I toss the bread before I sit down. When I am at home, I can eat salads covered in baked chicken, with all the vegetables that I love, and still not blow my diet if I watch my portion sizes. You get the idea?
Maybe you like chocolate- try the 3-2-1 diet plan on the Slimfast website. Just be careful of your sugar levels.
Where there’s a will there is a way.
Do you plan to get out of debt? Then sit down and look at your income, your bills, how much do you spend that isn’t necessary? How much are you willing to cut out? Can you afford to pay a little above any of your monthly bills each month? If so, in most cases the overage will be applied to the principal. When you cut down your principal on a note you are also cutting the amount of interest that you will pay in the long run. Check with your lender on this.
Most important is to stop credit card use!
As I said, where there is a will, there is a way. Gain control back of your life this new year. It can be done: one decision at a time, one hour at a time, and one day at a time. Next thing you know it will be a week of change, and a month of change. If you fall and make the wrong choice, don’t let Satan trick you into giving up. Get up and the next choice that comes along make the right one and get back on track.
May God Bless you in the choices you make this new year.
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