Rescued!

Quite a few people I know have [what they refer to as] rescue animals. They are typically dogs or cats that found their way to an animal shelter and needed a good home. Yay for those who are rescued! Read what Paul says, "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Galatians 1:3-5 NIV). To an his readers, Paul gives a sweet greeting and profound reminder that they have been rescued! He speaks of deliverance from something - an interference, an interruption of man's judgment and eternal separation because of sin. That interference, that interrupter was Jesus - The Rescuer - Who came at the will of The Father. Oh, how easily we forget our hopelessly sinful condition. It really is a kindness to rescue an animal BUT there is no greater rescue than that of The Messiah for me and for you. To God be the glory forever and ever - Amen. Rescued!

Clear Confidence

Few people I know like swimming with jellyfish. Not all jellyfish are dangerous, of course, but the idea of hanging-out with them in the ocean isn't so appealing. In Galatians, Paul introduces himself: "Paul, an apostle - sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, Who raised Him from the dead - and all the brothers and sisters with me, to the church in Galatia." (Galatians 2:1-2 NIV). What a clear and confident introduction Paul gives of himself - as the 1960s cowboy character Will Sonnett used to say: "no brag, just fact." I fear there are many people, even among Believers, who aren't exactly clear nor confident of who they are and what they are to be doing. Paul goes on to write, "For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith." (Galatians 3:26 ESV). The culture in which we live offers many things that promise to add value and worth to who we are - things to relieve pain, bring happiness, extend life, generate success, etc. Note that Paul understands who has called him - not man but Jesus, and that understanding guides him! While jellyfish do have the capacity to propel themselves, they depend largely on the water to move them. Those "in Christ" move with all confidence and direction toward to obey and glorify The Father. There's really no greater joy-peace-contentment than knowing Christ and finding Him to be our ... clear confidence.

Only God Is Great

Please don't act surprised when I say this but ... words are what I do! It's also something my Dad did - that is, putting thoughts-to-words-to-paper. Oh, if I did it just half as well as he did! God [through Job] could not have been more accurate and aspiring about the greatness of God when He said: "It is He Who spreads out the north over emptiness and hangs the earth on nothing ... He wraps the waters in His clouds [which otherwise would spill on earth all at once] and the cloud does not burst under them ... He covers the face of the full moon and spreads His cloud over it ... He stirred up the sea by His power ... By His breath the heavens are cleared" (from Job 26, AMP). Now, don't you agree words really do matter! Oh, yes they do! We casually say this-or-that is great but [in complete honesty] the word "great" is appropriately applied to ... only One. I suggest we pause and seriously consider (Selah) the small view we have of Almighty God. "Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure." (Psalm 147:5, ESV). Evelyn Underwood said, "If God were small enough to be understood, He would not be big enough to be worshiped." Great is indeed a wonderful word but ... only God is great!

Truth That Stands

Occasionally - and that literally means not very often - Mister Bill leaves the door open to his workshop, and I meander in. There are things in there I cannot identify but something I can are tie-wraps: lots and lots of tie-wraps - all colors and sizes. Not only can I identify these, I know they are used to bind and wrap securely something that needs it! Paul writes in Ephesians 6: "Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist ..." (Verses 13-14a NIV). In a time of shifting truths - some subtle, some not so subtle - it is good news that there is Truth, both unchanging and infallible. The psalmist testified, "forever, O Lord, Your word is firmly fixed in the heavens" (119:89 ESV). If you've ever tried to maintain your footing standing at the edge of the ocean's surf, it's just  not possible: you soon lose your balance and will topple. Failure and destruction will come to all who trust-in truth twisted and shaped by what man and his culture. Jesus said, "Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock" (Matthew 7:24 ESV). You see, to "put-on" truth is to make "thus says the LORD" your way of life; it is to be confidently fastened with the "belt of truth" - confidently and securely "tie-wrapped" in every area of life. No other truth guides, counsels, comforts, encourages, defends, instructs and empowers with unshakeable steadfastness. His is the ... truth that stands.

Stand in His Power

What does it take to convince you that you need help? For me, it's often not necessarily that help is not available but that it is not available instantly. My own impatience in waiting for help to arrive, I plow ahead which then leads to frustration and even anger that ... I really do need help! God used Paul to teach us we do need help and that help is available. "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." (Ephesians 6:10). Again in Verse 13, Paul writes, "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground ...." Paul's choice of words "can take your stand" and "may be able to stand" implies there is capacity to fail and fall! In truth, fail-and-fall is what we do quite well - that is, on our own. So how do we avoid failing and falling? We do so by refusing to refuse help, by being "strong in the Lord" - in His might and power. The battles we face are "not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (V.12). Impatiently plowing ahead on-my-own and in my own strength never ends well. Perhaps you've heard "surrender to win" ... that's really wise counsel in matters of spiritual battle. Like it or agree with it or not, we all need help to stand spiritually strong in these evil days. Stand in His Power.