Tag Archives: Christ

Filled Up and Faithful (and some Kindle deals!)

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coffee-cup - CopyI have so many great memories of my wife’s dad, he was quite a character. One story we like to tell – and remember quite often – is his insistence on having his coffee cup full all the way to the top. He didn’t want to miss a sip! That kind of enthusiasm for a good thing is how the Apostle Paul talks about Christ in the letter to the Colossians. I think there are too many Christians who are content with a sip, when Christ wants us to be filled up and faithful!

We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives…” Colossians 1:9b

That Christ was filled with God, and that we are filled with Christ is one of the rich teachings to ponder in Colossians. The merging of the divine and human is demonstrated in Christ, but also in our experience with Him. “Christ in you, the hope of glory” is one of those expressions that tells us that in indwelling Christ is not present in small sips, but fills us to overflowing. I know you may not feel that you are overflowing with the presence of Christ, but this is not about feelings. It is about the truth beyond our feelings.

To be filled up and faithful is described in several ways by Paul to the Colossians:

…You received Christ Jesus as Lord… Colossians 2:6

 

…having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. Colossians 2:12

 

…God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins… Colossians 2:13

 

…Your life is now hidden with Christ in God… Colossians 3:3

 

…Christ is all, and is in all. Colossians 3:11b

Christians have received Christ, been buried with Him, raised with Him, made alive with Him, and hidden in Him! With Christ fully present in me …and you…

*Seek His will in every disagreement.

*Seek His perspective in every dilemma.

*Seek His words for every discouragement.

*Seek His forgiveness for every shortcoming.

*Seek His strength for every weak moment.

Remind yourself throughout the day that there is no shortage of the presence of Christ with you at any moment. That is His promise. You, because of Christ, have the strength to live a life filled up a faithful. I encourage you to take 20 minutes and read through Colossians once again.

Thanks for reading. Here are some books for your Kindle!

Free!

Better Way to Think, A: Using Positive Thoughts to Change Your Life by H. Norman Wright

Leading at a Higher Level, Revised and Expanded Edition: Blanchard on Leadership and Creating High Performing Organizations by Ken Blanchard

The Wiersbe Bible Study Series: Mark: Serving Others as You Walk with the Master Servant by Warren W. Wiersbe

Enter to Worship – Exit to Serve by Ronald K Gray

Great Deals!

$2.99 A Year with Aslan: Daily Reflections from The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis

$2.99 It: How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It by Craig Groeschel

$2.99 The Christian Atheist: When You Believe in God But Live as if He Doesn’t Exist by Craig Groeschel

$2.99 Soul Detox: Clean Living in a Contaminated World by Craig Groeschel

$3.99 Amplified Bible

$6.00 NIV Study Bible

UPDATED!
$4.99 Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart: How to Know for Sure You Are Saved by J. D. Greear
Don’t have a Kindle?

Sunset To Sunrise

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Below is an article I saved many years ago. I thought I’d share it with you as we approach Resurrection Day!

~John

Sunset to Sunrise by W. T. Allison

It could well be said of the early followers of Christ, “They came to the sepulcher at the rising of the sun and found it empty,” and life was never the same again. Christ had turned their sunsets into sunrise.

At SUNSET, it seemed that the universe did not care what happened to the Righteous One; at SUNRISE, the disciples knew that the tomb could not contain the Lord Jesus.

At SUNSET, the cross seemed a horrible implement of execution; at SUNRISE, it became a reverent and holy symbol, before which the world kneels in adoration and rises with inspiration.

At SUNSET, the grave, sealed with an immovable rock seemed to be conclusive evidence that death was at the end; at SUNRISE, man was given hope that he can outlive death. The empty tomb represents victory for every child of God.

At SUNSET, hopelessness abounded; at SUNRISE, hope did much more abound.

At SUNSET, a Galilean rabbi was dead, Jesus of Nazareth; at SUNRISE He was truly the Christ of God, the risen Lord of Glory.

At SUNSET, the obscure disciples were a timid, discouraged, disillusioned, weary lot; at SUNRISE, they were transformed, confident, courageous crusaders who went forth to defy kings, to proclaim Christ, and to change the world.

Resurrection Sunday was a day that changed the world. If you can catch the spirit, power and significance of this day, it can change your life and can turn your sunsets into sunrise.

Thomas was not going to believe that Jesus shad been raised form the dead. He replied, “Except I see, I will not believe.” Then the risen Lord appeared, and Thomas, falling down, cried, “My Lord, My God.” Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you believe; blessed are they who have not seen me but who believe.”

If you will only believe the resurrection of Christ, it will turn all your sunsets to sunrise. He arose!!!

From the church bulletin of the Creekwood Church of Christ, Mobile, AL, date unknown.

Confidence in Christ

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i-want-confidence

Although we are plagued by doubt at times, and confused by the mysteries of how God is working, I believe that you can place your confidence in Jesus Christ. Following are some thoughts from John 16:16-33 that bring me great confidence.

When You Don’t Understand Everything, you can still have confidence in Christ (John 16:16-19). It is surprising that the disciples did not understand the things Jesus told them. They had spent so much time with him, but yet still found themselves confounded at some of the things he said to them. It’s hard to put ourselves in their shoes in this matter. We have the opportunity to ruminate over his teachings, we know the end of the story, we can compare and contrast the four biographies of Jesus. Even so, we do not understand everything. If the disciples were confused, and they were walking with Jesus,  then it is no surprise that we not understand everything!  It is true that we should study to know all we can, but we can never let failure to understand keep us from following.  There are mysteries, but this does not shake confidence!

When The World Opposes You, still be confident in Jesus Christ (John 16:20-22)! As Jesus dies on the cross the world rejoices. What brutality was evident on that day as Jesus died in a humiliating way. Even as He prayed for them … his blood offering cleansing to all humanity before and after … they tortured and killed him. The world does not understand Jesus, His Kingdom, nor can they. As cynicism toward Christianity is growing, we must not be discouraged. We praise God while World does not even believe in Him. We cannot expect nor seek approval from the world, our courage and confidence is in Christ alone. With or without the approval of men.

When You Wonder If God Cares About You, still cling in confidence to Him (John 16:25-28). Ever wonder if God really cares about us? I believe most do. At funerals one might hear the old hymn, ‘Does Jesus Care, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief’. This is not a funeral message, it is a reminder for each day. The greatest witness of the love of God for us is death of Christ on the cross. We can have confidence in His love because it is not based on our performance of good works. Our confidence is in his steady and constant love.

When You Face Your Own Failures, still place your confidence in Him (John 16:31-32). The disciples would desert him at his darkest hour. They fall asleep while he prays deeply as he faces the cross.  Even though Jesus was never alone because the Father was with him, it hurt him that his dearest friends abandoned him when he needed them. How many times have we left Jesus, abandoned Him? When temptation grew strong … when our will began to be more important in our heart than His … when our love for the world called out to us and we answered. Jesus is hurt when we leave Him to follow our own way, but he welcomes our return. Why does it hurt Jesus? It is a  “personal relationship” with Christ. He cares for you deeply. When you fail your friend Jesus, put your confidence back into His love. He will restore you and strengthen you, welcoming you back in grace.

When You Face The Struggles of Life, place your confidence in Jesus (John 16:33).  Jesus knew there would be struggles and hardships. He never promised we would be free from sorrow.  These troubles do not shake our confidence, but strengthen it. Why? Because Jesus has overcome the world and all of it’s pain. You can be confident in Jesus because of the resurrection  (John 16:16) – He Lives! You can be confident in Jesus because of the ascension (John 16:28) – He reigns! He Has Overcome. Barclay says, “Soon they were going to see that the world could do its worst to Jesus and still not defeat him….The victory which Jesus would win, would be theirs also. There is both a courage and a conquest of the cross.”

Only in Christ can we face these things and experience joy and peace … in his presence and promises.

Thanks for reading. Your thoughts are welcomed.

John