To Live or Not to Live

For to me, to live is Christ...
Philippians 1:21a NKJV

Some people define living by how much money they earn, what possessions they have or have accumulated; what they're able to provide for their loved ones. Others define living by what they're able to do, where they're able to go. Still others define living by what they are able to offer. Have you ever thought about it? Scripture tells us in 1st Peter 3:15 to be ready always to give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason for the hope that is in you...

There are those who would want to argue about Easter vs. Ishtar, but I don't want to get into a history discussion of all that, because in spite of "all that" - let's not lose sight of the Truth. Whether historically Christ's death, burial and resurrection took place around the Spring solstice or not is irrelevant to me. The Truth remains that there WAS a crucifixion; Christ's body was entombed, and most importantly, there was a Resurrection!! And that same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives inside of every born-again follower of Christ (Romans 8:11).

Christ's Resurrection is about life and living it! Raymond Lindquist tells it this way - Christ defeated death in order that life in Him might always live. And it is life that we want, life in Christ. Whether we put it in words or not, our constant thought is 'Life, more life, always more and more life.' Reverend Lindquist goes on to write that Resurrection Sunday [Easter] is Christ's victory over all that would restrict, deny and strangle life.

That victory - the victory Jesus won over death, hell and the grave - provides our definition of what it means to live...truly live.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for all You have provided in Your Son that we may live. Help us to remember with grateful hearts ALL that was done to provide it. Help us to walk in the newness of life You have given us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Live Like We Believe

For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.

1st Corinthians 4:20 NLT

A question has been raised concerning living what we believe vs. living what we've learned. Are they the same? If not, does it matter which one we live? Good questions...

Here's what I think. I think we live our lives based on what we believe - about God, about others, and about ourselves (no matter what it is). For instance, if we believe we CAN do something - we're right, we can! By the same token, if we believe we CAN'T do something - we're right again, we can't...

However, we do learn a lot of things. You can teach a child that hot will burn. But generally, they will still reach for fire. It is imperative that we are careful about what we learn and how we learn it because we must be on guard about what we come to believe. 

You see, if we truly believe the Word of God, we will act accordingly. If we don't believe the Word of God, we will act accordingly.

Let's not just talk it. Let's walk it, and live what we believe, and believe so we may live - truly live.

Prayer:

Father,

         Quicken Your Word in our hearts and minds. It is living and powerful and rightly divides between soul and spirit. Father, give us wisdom to know what to believe, preferably without getting burned. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

Easy for You to Say

And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
1st John 2:3-6 NLT

Oh, the things we say we love - that song! That color! I love that movie! That TV show! Popcorn! I love the beach! The mountains! Ice cream! I love that guy (an actor or someone else we don't know) or I do NOT love him (or her)! You get the picture. 

What does that love mean? How is it defined? It's not deep. It's not truly meaningful. It doesn't cost anything. It's easy.

It's NOT the love that God has called us to. It's NOT the love by which the world will know that we are Christ followers. It's not world-changing. It doesn't save lives. It doesn't require a personal investment of any kind. It doesn't take time or energy. There's no blood, sweat or tears involved at all.

We are called to love as Christ loved and gave Himself as a ransom for us. It's easy to look a friend or family member in the eye and say that they must walk in love. Yes, that's easy for you to say. It's a whole 'nother story when we are to live our lives as Jesus did. That's real love and it will cost you everything.

Prayer:

Father,
            We pray the words from the old song, "I'm going to live the way You want me to live. I'm going to give until there's just no more to give. I'm going to love, love till there's just no more love. I could never, never outlove You, Lord." We cannot do it without You, Father. Give us Your grace and Your strength to do exactly that. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

In Triumph

In my distress I prayed to the Lord,
    and the Lord answered me and set me free.
6 The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.
    What can mere people do to me?
7 Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me.
    I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in people.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in princes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
14 The Lord is my strength and my song;
    he has given me victory.
15 Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly.
    The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!
16 The strong right arm of the Lord is raised in triumph.
    The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!
17 I will not die; instead, I will live
    to tell what the Lord has done.
Psalm 118:5-9, 14-17

This is my story - I will not die; instead, I will live to tell what the Lord has done. He alone is my Strength and my Song, and He has given me the victory!

Prayer:

Father,
         Thank You for Your Word that You provided for us - to teach, train and exhort us. Let it come alive in us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen