If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:1-2)
"Every season is God’s season. But summer has its special power. Jesus Christ is refreshing, but flight from him into Christless leisure makes the soul parched. At first it may feel like freedom and fun to skimp on prayer, and neglect the Word. But then we pay: shallowness, powerlessness, vulnerability to sin, preoccupation with trifles, superficial relationships, and a frightening loss of interest in worship and the things of the Spirit. Don’tlet summer make your soul shrivel. God made summer as a foretaste of heaven, not a substitute. If the mailman brings you a love letter from your fiancé, don’t fall in love with the mailman. That’s what summer is: God’s messenger with a sun-soaked, tree-green, flower-blooming, lake-glistening letter of love to show us what he is planning for us in the age to come—“things which eye has notseen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered into the heart of man, God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Don’t fall in love with the video preview, and find yourself unable to love the coming reality. Jesus Christ is the refreshing center of summer. He is preeminent in all things (Colossians 1:18), including vacations and picnics and softball and long walks and cookouts. He invites us in the summer: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). This is serious summer refreshment. Do we want it? That is the question. Christ gives himself to us in proportion to how much we want his refreshment. “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 11:12). One of the reasons to give the Lord special attention in the summer is to say to him “We want all your refreshment. We really want it.” Peter’s word to us about this is: “Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). Repentance is not just turning away from sin, but also turning toward the Lord with hearts open and expectant and submissive. What sort of summer mindset is this? It is the mindset of Colossians 3:1-2, "If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." Inthe summer the earth is very much with us. And it is God’s earth! But it is all prelude to the real drama of heaven. It is a foretaste of the real banquet. It is a video preview of the reality of what the eternal summer will be like when “the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light, andits lamp is the Lamb” (Revelation 21:23). So, you see, the summer sun is a mere pointer to the sun that will be: the glory of God. Summer is for seeing and showing that. Will we have eyes to see? Do you want to have eyes to see? Lord, let us see the Light beyond the campfire." John Piper, A Godward Life, p. 104-05
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If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:1-2)
"Every season is God’s season. But summer has its special power. Jesus Christ is refreshing, but flight from him into Christless leisure makes the soul parched. At first it may feel like freedom and fun to skimp on prayer, and neglect the Word. But then we pay: shallowness, powerlessness, vulnerability to sin, preoccupation with trifles, superficial relationships, and a frightening loss of interest in worship and the things of the Spirit. Don’tlet summer make your soul shrivel. God made summer as a foretaste of heaven, not a substitute. If the mailman brings you a love letter from your fiancé, don’t fall in love with the mailman. That’s what summer is: God’s messenger with a sun-soaked, tree-green, flower-blooming, lake-glistening letter of love to show us what he is planning for us in the age to come—“things which eye has notseen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered into the heart of man, God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Don’t fall in love with the video preview, and find yourself unable to love the coming reality. Jesus Christ is the refreshing center of summer. He is preeminent in all things (Colossians 1:18), including vacations and picnics and softball and long walks and cookouts. He invites us in the summer: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). This is serious summer refreshment. Do we want it? That is the question. Christ gives himself to us in proportion to how much we want his refreshment. “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 11:12). One of the reasons to give the Lord special attention in the summer is to say to him “We want all your refreshment. We really want it.” Peter’s word to us about this is: “Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). Repentance is not just turning away from sin, but also turning toward the Lord with hearts open and expectant and submissive. What sort of summer mindset is this? It is the mindset of Colossians 3:1-2, "If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." Inthe summer the earth is very much with us. And it is God’s earth! But it is all prelude to the real drama of heaven. It is a foretaste of the real banquet. It is a video preview of the reality of what the eternal summer will be like when “the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light, andits lamp is the Lamb” (Revelation 21:23). So, you see, the summer sun is a mere pointer to the sun that will be: the glory of God. Summer is for seeing and showing that. Will we have eyes to see? Do you want to have eyes to see? Lord, let us see the Light beyond the campfire." John Piper, A Godward Life, p. 104-05 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16, ESV)
Over the last couple days, many of us saw some pretty amazing fireworks displays. No matter how old you are or how many times you've seen them, fireworks are pretty darn cool (even if you live in San Diego). I am always amazed at what beauty can come can come from a small , knee-high cylinder. The genius' who pack those things are in a league of their own. How they can orchestrate such beauty in the sky from blowing something up is way beyond me. I tried blowing lots of things up as a kid and nothing ever looked like that. My local fireworks display even included a smiley face and butterfly! Incredible! But the Bible teaches us that there is something even more powerful than explosions which reign down colorful fire. We are told in Romans 1:16 that the Gospel has the power to change lives. You heard it correctly folks -- the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ can turn a person's life around. That's pretty amazing considering what our lives can be like and how seriously sin has ruined us. The apostle Paul (who wrote the above verse) knew firsthand just how explosive the life-changing Gospel was. He despised, imprisoned and murdered Christians. It was his life's ambition to stamp them out. Then he met Jesus. He was transformed by the wonderful working of the Gospel and devoted his life to sharing the life-altering story of the Gospel. What is the Gospel you ask? Once again Paul helps us when he says: Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand...that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, (1 Corinthians 15:1, 3b–4, ESV) When we put our faith (John 3:16, Acts 16:31) in what Jesus has done for us (i.e. believe the Gospel message), our lives can be transformed through the mighty working of God. Now that's amazing. And as much as I love fireworks, I'd much rather watch a show like that any day. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16, ESV)
Over the last couple days, many of us saw some pretty amazing fireworks displays. No matter how old you are or how many times you've seen them, fireworks are pretty darn cool (even if you live in San Diego). I am always amazed at what beauty can come can come from a small , knee-high cylinder. The genius' who pack those things are in a league of their own. How they can orchestrate such beauty in the sky from blowing something up is way beyond me. I tried blowing lots of things up as a kid and nothing ever looked like that. My local fireworks display even included a smiley face and butterfly! Incredible! But the Bible teaches us that there is something even more powerful than explosions which reign down colorful fire. We are told in Romans 1:16 that the Gospel has the power to change lives. You heard it correctly folks -- the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ can turn a person's life around. That's pretty amazing considering what our lives can be like and how seriously sin has ruined us. The apostle Paul (who wrote the above verse) knew firsthand just how explosive the life-changing Gospel was. He despised, imprisoned and murdered Christians. It was his life's ambition to stamp them out. Then he met Jesus. He was transformed by the wonderful working of the Gospel and devoted his life to sharing the life-altering story of the Gospel. What is the Gospel you ask? Once again Paul helps us when he says: Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand...that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, (1 Corinthians 15:1, 3b–4, ESV) When we put our faith (John 3:16, Acts 16:31) in what Jesus has done for us (i.e. believe the Gospel message), our lives can be transformed through the mighty working of God. Now that's amazing. And as much as I love fireworks, I'd much rather watch a show like that any day. I confess that Jesus is Lord.
I confess that Jesus shares the name and nature, the holiness, the authority, power, majesty and eternality of the one and only true God. I confess that Jesus died and was raised, opening heaven up to unworthy sinners. I am such a sinner, and I gladly embrace his atonement for me. I confess that Jesus rightfully owns me, every part of me, every moment of my time, every dollar in my possession, every opportunity granted me, every responsibility thrust upon me, every hope I cherish, every person whom I love and treasure. I am personal property of the Lord Jesus Christ. He deserves my allegiance, loyalty and trust 24 hours a day, in all places, in all aspects of my life, both public and private. He is worthy of my obedience. He is worthy of my utmost. He is worthy of my very blood. Ray Ortland Jr. in Prayers for Today by Kurt Bjorklund (p. 41) I confess that Jesus is Lord.
I confess that Jesus shares the name and nature, the holiness, the authority, power, majesty and eternality of the one and only true God. I confess that Jesus died and was raised, opening heaven up to unworthy sinners. I am such a sinner, and I gladly embrace his atonement for me. I confess that Jesus rightfully owns me, every part of me, every moment of my time, every dollar in my possession, every opportunity granted me, every responsibility thrust upon me, every hope I cherish, every person whom I love and treasure. I am personal property of the Lord Jesus Christ. He deserves my allegiance, loyalty and trust 24 hours a day, in all places, in all aspects of my life, both public and private. He is worthy of my obedience. He is worthy of my utmost. He is worthy of my very blood. Ray Ortland Jr. in Prayers for Today by Kurt Bjorklund (p. 41) |
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