"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:1-2).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
One of the most natural of human reactions is to pass judgment on others. We very naturally weigh people in terms of what we believe, what we think, what we prefer in friends and those we hang out with.
Sometimes, as Christians, we fall into a pattern of assuming we have an obligation to judge our brothers and sisters in Christ. Be honest: When you meet a believer or attend a church that's very different from your church or the believers with whom you fellowship, your initial reaction is at least caution, and perhaps criticism. We often are wary or uncomfortable with those who worship Christ or serve Him very differently from the way we do, aren't we?
But we are not bound by what may be the "natural" reaction to our brothers and sisters and the way they behave or the way they worship. We are "in the Spirit" through our relationship with Christ. Our family relationship with God and with each other is this: We are not called to judge, certainly not to "condemn," others in Christ. We are called to love each other and show the unity that Jesus himself prayed for His followers (John 17:20-23).
Love each other today. Let God sort our the differences and make any judgments that need to be made. He can handle it -- and he always gets it right!
Since my days as a teenager (approximately back in the Dark Ages; okay, in the 1960s), Campus Crusade for Christ has been very special to me and holds a special place in my heart. I recommitted my heart to Christ in the early 1960s as a result of Bible studies and fellowship with Campus Crusade groups. In 1965, I looked across a crowded room at a Campus Crusade weekly Bible study and saw a beautiful young lady with a beautiful smile. Two years later, the second greatest thing in my life happened when that beautiful young lady married me.
We've been married for 42 years (May 26 was our anniversary), and we've had close friends who did full-time ministry through Campus Crusade. We currently contribute a small amount of monthly support to a young man who is full-time with Campus Crusade.
So when I discovered this beautiful little video summary of Campus Crusade for Christ "history," I felt I had to share it with you. Enjoy:
The men and women who serve with Campus Crusade share a passion for bringing the love of Christ to our world and everyone in it, regardless of race, color, or background. They come from a wide range of churches and Christian traditions. They share a common love for Christ, love for those who need Christ, and love for the Bible. I highly recommend them to you and urge you to pray for them and get involved with local Campus Crusade ministries wherever you may be.
Thank you, so much, for those of you who've been checking back here regularly. I've been away too long, I know.
Sometimes life just steps along and carries you along with it. No big mystery or crisis involved in my absence. I simply let too many "things" and too much "busy-ness" keep me preoccupied.
When I first started sending out a "Daily Inspiration From the Word" email newsletter years ago, which eventually turned into the "Daily Inspiration From the Word" blog, then the "Buy Bibles and More" blog/Bible sales website -- well, when I began all that, it was important to me. It was a great love of my heart. (If you read the "About Me" page on this site, you'll see I've always sought to keep my relationship with the Lord primary in my life.)
So I'm back. I'm busy with a lot of the "stuff" required to live in this world, and my "daily bread," i.e., my income to pay those bills and buy that bread, now comes from blogging and online affiliate marketing. That means I generally spend my days sitting in front of this little Toshiba laptop and tap, tap, tapping the keyboard until the carpel tunnel flares up!
My goal, Lord willing, is to post here daily with whatever the Lord has laid on my heart regarding Scripture and what it means to ME and what it means for US -- you and me!
Thank you again for honoring me with your return to my website. I'll try always to respect your trust, and I guarantee I will always appreciate it!
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"Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood" (Matthew 8:34).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
What an amazing reaction to God's presence and work in their midst -- Jesus cast out some demons and when the town heard about it, they asked him to go away!
There's no way to know why they didn't want Jesus in their town. My guess would be two things: 1) Though he performed a miracle, it was a commercial disaster, and, 2) they were frightened of his miracle working power and presence.
I could understand the fear reaction, couldn't you? But the more cynical possibility -- that Jesus would be bad for business -- may actually have been a major issue in their lives. If you don't think so, think about the crass commercialism and rampant greed that's literally toppling the world's economies right now. Do you think some of the multi-millionairs/billionaires out there would welcome God's miracle working power in their lives and businesses today if that power seemed financially harmful?
How about us? Are we afraid of Jesus' presence and power in our lives today? Of his presence and power in our jobs and businesses today? Prayerfully think about your reaction to Jesus in your life and your business today.
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"May your priests be clothed with righteousness; may your saints sing for joy" (Psalm 132:9).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
Are you "singing for joy" today? Why or why not??
Life is rarely as simple as we want it to be, is it? Sometimes, no matter what we try, things go badly and it's downright HARD to have hope, or to rejoice as God intends us to do. "Singing for joy" isn't easy when you're sick, or someone you love is sick, or when you're out of work, or ...
Well, you get the point, I'm sure.
Notice in this verse from Psalm 132 the link between "righteousness" and "joy." I think that means we really can make our joy in God a "simple" matter: If we seek to know more of God and seek to let God fill our lives with his righteousness, we can always find a way to sing for you in THAT relationship, despite what outward circumstances may be.
Don't let anything that comes your way today get you down. Keep trusting in the faithfulness of
our loving heavenly father. And when you might feel the most oppressed or discouraged -- then,
give the Lord a praise for his love, hang on, and let HIM be your joy!
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it" (Matthew 13:45,46).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
Have you ever really thought about these short, very familiar parables Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of Heaven, and what they mean for us? I'll be you're like I and many others have been when just reading and rereading them over the years: We probably got the message just backwards!
Our pastor, Pastor Dan, read this Scripture on a recent Sunday morning and asked the congregation, "In this story about the merchant and the pearls -- who is the merchant? What do the pearls represent?"
Like me, most people there immediately said the merchant represented us -- and the pearls were the priceless value of God's Kingdom, his presence that is beyond any value we could put on it.
Then he simply said: "Hmm. So God wants us to sacrifice everything we own for his kingdom -- then what? How do we live? For that matter, assuming the ministry of our church is part of the Kingdom -- how do we pay for it??"
That was a mind opener. The "merchant," for this parable to make any sense at all, is NOT us. The merchant is GOD. The pearls of great value ("great price" in the familiar King James Version) represent us. We are of such value to God that he sent his only son, Jesus, to die for us. HE is the one who has given all to purchase US.
How awesome is that as you go about your day? Great to learn something like that about God, isn't it?
"Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover up for evil; live as servants of God" (1 Peter 2:16).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
I have been trying to find a quotation I ran onto years ago about the meaning of true freedom. It was a statement either by Martin Luther or by Augustine of Hippo -- see why I'm having trouble finding the quote? -- and it went something like this:
True freedom is not the ability to choose right or wrong, true freedom is the ability to always choose the right.
But I cannot find the quotation, so I can't be sure that I got it right.
I'm sure you get my point though. God's Word through Peter is exactly what that quotation means: We have the ability and the motivation in Christ to live as "free" people. We can choose good and not evil. We can choose confidence and peace instead of fear.
Enjoy your freedom in Christ today. Live for him and for the good you can do in the lives of others!
[tags]live free in Christ, freedom to do what is right, buy Bibles and more[/tags]
