Much attention is given to the ongoing controversy of abortion. The arguments seem to side along two important rights, the rights of the mother and the rights of the unborn child. We contend for the right to life, where both mother and child are determined to have this right!
The “right to life” movement promotes the cause of the unborn; every child has a right to live! Their passion to preserve life provides an inspiration to others in the ongoing debate. While I am certainly in sympathy with the objectives of this movement, I prefer to direct my energies to an even more important right – the right to New Life!
Every individual born into this world has a right to a new life. The plan of God and the purpose of Calvary were to provide an opportunity to eradicate the pain of death and power of sin for all mankind. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16, emphasis mine). Jesus emphatically stated, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10:10). You have a God-given right – the right to a new life!
The curse of sin and death eats like a cancer on the souls of humanity. Judgment of sin demands a painful penalty. “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). Natural life is a progression of days to your final hour and inescapable death. More fearful is the certain knowledge of our final accountability before a sinless God. Such is the life of one without the new life Christ has promised.
Jesus said, “He who hears my word and believes in Him who sent me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” (John 5:24). Our greatest hope, our only hope is to come to faith in Christ, be born again of the water and of the Spirit, and to experience the new life it brings (John 3:3-4). “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).
According to the promises of the Scripture everyone has this wonderful option, the right to life, a new life in Christ!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control … .” (Galatians 5:22-23).
The fruit of the Spirit is a natural outgrowth of the Spirit-filled life. As much as oranges quite naturally appear on the branches of the orange tree in its season, the fruit of the Spirit should appear in the life of a disciple of Christ. The fruit of the Spirit is not the produce of a well kept gardener’s secret. It is not patented or protected by trademark or copyright. It is in the public domain, free, accessible, and available to every believer in Christ.
It may seem odd to think about humans as fruit-bearing vegetation, but even the Old Testament uses this metaphor. The Psalmist saw the righteous man as a tree planted by the rivers of water, “that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper” (Psalm 1:3).
Jesus extended the analogy and referred to his disciples as branches of the vine, “I am the vine, you are the branches” (John 15:5). It was His intention that His disciples would bring forth “much fruit.” Jesus expected growth and that all vegetation should be fruitful.
Fruit grows on fruit trees! In the inherent DNA every tree is designed to produce “after its kind” since creation. (See Genesis 1:11.) Given the right environmental conditions every plant, vegetable, or tree will produce its own fruit. So, is it possible to create a positive environment where spiritual fruit can be nurtured? The fruit of the Spirit is not something that is difficult to produce. It is the normal result of spiritual development. Just as fruit-bearing in trees is a natural response to seasons, sunlight, and nutrition in the soil, the fruit of the Spirit will grow in a Spirit-led life.
The life of the believer should be an example of Christian discipleship, spiritual development, and an exhibition of the fruit of the Spirit. If others can see evidence of our message displayed in a life of selfless service they will have an example to follow and be encouraged to pursue the same process in their lives.
The fruit of the Spirit is a natural outgrowth of the Spirit-filled life. As much as oranges quite naturally appear on the branches of the orange tree in its season, the fruit of the Spirit should appear in the life of a disciple of Christ. The fruit of the Spirit is not the produce of a well kept gardener’s secret. It is not patented or protected by trademark or copyright. It is in the public domain, free, accessible, and available to every believer in Christ.
It may seem odd to think about humans as fruit-bearing vegetation, but even the Old Testament uses this metaphor. The Psalmist saw the righteous man as a tree planted by the rivers of water, “that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper” (Psalm 1:3).
Jesus extended the analogy and referred to his disciples as branches of the vine, “I am the vine, you are the branches” (John 15:5). It was His intention that His disciples would bring forth “much fruit.” Jesus expected growth and that all vegetation should be fruitful.
Fruit grows on fruit trees! In the inherent DNA every tree is designed to produce “after its kind” since creation. (See Genesis 1:11.) Given the right environmental conditions every plant, vegetable, or tree will produce its own fruit. So, is it possible to create a positive environment where spiritual fruit can be nurtured? The fruit of the Spirit is not something that is difficult to produce. It is the normal result of spiritual development. Just as fruit-bearing in trees is a natural response to seasons, sunlight, and nutrition in the soil, the fruit of the Spirit will grow in a Spirit-led life.
The life of the believer should be an example of Christian discipleship, spiritual development, and an exhibition of the fruit of the Spirit. If others can see evidence of our message displayed in a life of selfless service they will have an example to follow and be encouraged to pursue the same process in their lives.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Try Again!
Most everyone has heard the expression, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” It is like other expressions that become so common they almost sound like scripture. Isn’t that in the Bible? Like many common expressions, there is an element of truth in the statement. Perseverance and the tenacity to try again after facing defeat and failure is an admirable quality.
The Bible cautions against attempting to do a job and then turning away from it. Jesus said, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). And again, “He who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13).
In history there are abundant stories concerning those who failed many times before ultimately discovering the success that won them fame. Virtually all well known inventors have created many more failed inventions than successful ones. Thomas Edison tested two thousand filaments for the first light bulb before he finally found one that worked. In his attempt to develop a better battery he performed 50,000 tests without success. When his assistant commented that he must be discouraged at the lack of progress, Edison replied, “We’ve made a lot of progress. At least we know 50,000 things that won’t work!” The result of his research developed the nickel-iron alkaline battery that is still being used today.
We may have failed in the past. We may have failed this week. We may have said, “It’s just no use. I am a failure.” The truth is you are only a failure if you fail to try again!
No one promised that the Christian life would be one of pain free existence and easy living. There will always be the temptation to “throw in the towel” and give up. Firm resolve to continue and the commitment to try again will bring success in life and in Christian living.
The Bible cautions against attempting to do a job and then turning away from it. Jesus said, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). And again, “He who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13).
In history there are abundant stories concerning those who failed many times before ultimately discovering the success that won them fame. Virtually all well known inventors have created many more failed inventions than successful ones. Thomas Edison tested two thousand filaments for the first light bulb before he finally found one that worked. In his attempt to develop a better battery he performed 50,000 tests without success. When his assistant commented that he must be discouraged at the lack of progress, Edison replied, “We’ve made a lot of progress. At least we know 50,000 things that won’t work!” The result of his research developed the nickel-iron alkaline battery that is still being used today.
We may have failed in the past. We may have failed this week. We may have said, “It’s just no use. I am a failure.” The truth is you are only a failure if you fail to try again!
No one promised that the Christian life would be one of pain free existence and easy living. There will always be the temptation to “throw in the towel” and give up. Firm resolve to continue and the commitment to try again will bring success in life and in Christian living.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Unkept Resolutions!
Something about a New Year challenges our resolve and gives freshness to our desire. Frequently, lists of resolutions are made at the onset of a new year. Diets are selected; exercise programs charted, prayer time allocated, Bible reading charts carefully marked, and many other promises are made. Given the passage of a few weeks, perhaps even months, the resolve melts and pours into the ruts of past habits.
One person said, “My New Year’s resolution last year was, not to make any resolutions this year!” That often seems to be the easiest solution. However, we will never make needed changes and break bad habits if there is no motivation for change or desire to begin replacing them with positive characteristics. Sometimes an opportunity like this is needed to begin to assess your life, purpose, and direction. Unless you ‘resolve’ to change, you never will.
Decision begins with desire. Commitments are made when dissatisfaction sets in and change is coveted. The future is fluid. It will flow to the contour of our shaping within the confines of the Will of God. Our course is not cast in concrete. We have the liberty of directing our paths by the decisions we make. While we seek God for his direction and will, it is in our hand to exploit the fullness of life.
“Some assembly” is required in the package of life God provides. While some people may piece life together bit by bit, with no regard for the instruction manual, vainly hoping it will all fall in place some day; others carefully follow the directions provided and find the pieces always fit and the assembly is part of the experience. Don’t be bound by continual broken promises and unkept resolutions, be freed by following the biblical instructions for full life and let Jesus help you with the assembly.
One person said, “My New Year’s resolution last year was, not to make any resolutions this year!” That often seems to be the easiest solution. However, we will never make needed changes and break bad habits if there is no motivation for change or desire to begin replacing them with positive characteristics. Sometimes an opportunity like this is needed to begin to assess your life, purpose, and direction. Unless you ‘resolve’ to change, you never will.
Decision begins with desire. Commitments are made when dissatisfaction sets in and change is coveted. The future is fluid. It will flow to the contour of our shaping within the confines of the Will of God. Our course is not cast in concrete. We have the liberty of directing our paths by the decisions we make. While we seek God for his direction and will, it is in our hand to exploit the fullness of life.
“Some assembly” is required in the package of life God provides. While some people may piece life together bit by bit, with no regard for the instruction manual, vainly hoping it will all fall in place some day; others carefully follow the directions provided and find the pieces always fit and the assembly is part of the experience. Don’t be bound by continual broken promises and unkept resolutions, be freed by following the biblical instructions for full life and let Jesus help you with the assembly.
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