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364: Why Did God Choose to Save You?
Great question. Why did God choose to save each of us? Was it because He wanted to make our life better? And, if so, what does “better” mean? And “better” from whose perspective? His? Or ours? Maybe He chose to save us to give our life purpose and meaning. And what would that purpose be? And whose purpose are we talking about? God’s? Or ours?
See the problem? When we view the purpose of our salvation from how it affects us, we tend to become self-centered and inner-focused. But it’s not about us, it’s all about Him. Totally for Him and Him alone.
Want to discover the true reason God chose to save you? Then keep listening.
363: A Fully Surrendered Man
There are great men of the Bible the Lord places before us as examples of human frailty and divine grace. Men such as Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Job and Daniel fill the pages of the Old Testament. And then there are our New Testament heroes, Peter, James, John, Paul, and Stephen, among others. Church history is also littered with men who forsook this life for the life to come. Men “of whom the world was not worthy” (Heb. 11:38).
But what characteristic or spiritual trait runs through each of these men? Was it human ability or ingenuity? Was it their upbringing and privileged background? Maybe it was their education, family status, financial security, political position, or something like that? No. Each of these men possessed only one characteristic that allowed God to use them like He did. And that one characteristic is being totally, fully, surrendered to Him.
Do you want to know more about total surrender? Then keep listening.
362: Forever vs Flash and Fade
Often we find ourselves focusing on the temporal things in life and not on the eternal. We seem to devote most of our time and energy on the things that pass, things that fade away, things that are transitory at best and have an expiration date, and not on what truly matters and what lasts. Why is that?
Jesus said:
Matthew 5:18 – “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”
Jesus said the law, the Word of God, is something that will outlast even heaven and earth. Then, according to Psalm 138:2, God said He honors His Word above His name. So what does all of this mean? And what are the implications for each of us? To find out more, keep listening.
361: What is Truth?
Great question: “What is truth?” It’s the question Pilate asked Jesus and the same question our culture asks of the church today. But there’s more to that question than is readily apparent. For example:
Is there such a thing as absolute truth?
And if so, what is that truth?
How do we know that absolute truth is absolute?
What about the changing times in which we live?
Does truth change to meet the culture?
Is truth living and active? Does it evolve?
Why is truth for yesterday truth for today?
Doesn’t each generation need their own truth?
Jesus addressed these questions in His first sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5-7. Let’s take a look at His answer together, shall we?
360: Everyone Has a Story to Tell
Everyone has a story. Everyone’s life has a tale to tell. Will it be a story of redemption, faith, grace, mercy and love found only in Christ, or a story of failure, rejections, sin, guilt and judgment found in a life separated from Him? Yes, everyone has a story to tell. And that story is often portrayed as the light of our life.
Consider the words of Jesus:
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” – Matthew 5:14-16.
So what’s your story about? What light of His are you shining? And do those who don’t know Christ glorify Him because of your light and good deeds? Something to think about, isn’t it?
359: The “You Are” Versus “You Do” Passages
Many Scriptures speak of things we must “do” as followers of Christ. Some of them are:
You are to “take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).
You are to “walk according to the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16).
You must “present your bodies as a living sacrifice” (Rom. 12:1).
But when we find some passages that speak about who we are (in contrast to what we do), they should stop us cold in our tracks. These are Scriptures that define and describe us from the Lord’s perspective.
In Matthew 5 we find two of these: “You are the salt of the earth” (Matt. 5:11), and “You are the light of the world” (Matt. 5:12-14). And the implications of these are profound. Want to discover more? Then keep listening.
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”
Revelation 3:15-17