Christ's Letter

"Clearly you are a letter of Christ... written, not with ink but by the Spirit of the Living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart."
                                                                                                                                  2 Corinthians 3:3




Throughout the Bible, God's word reads like a love story written from a loving Father to the children He is passionate about and adores. The storyline is simple in that what God wants is a loving relationship with the people He created. Over and over, God pursues His children and repeatedly tries to make them understand just how much He loves them and desires to dwell with them.

In the Old Testament, after God fulfilled His promises to the Israelites by freeing them from the oppression and slavery in Egypt, He "adopted" them at Mount Sinai as His special treasure. et, God had even more for them than that. He then went on to fulfill the remainder of His promises to them by coming into the camp of Israel to dwell among them (Exodus, Ch. 25-40).

Dwelling with His people was the ultimate privilege for them but it also brought with it great responsibility. When God summoned Moses to ascend Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:12), He instructed Moses to write down the ten commandments on two tablets of stone, which represented a renewed covenant that God was establishing with His people (Exodus 34:28).  A cloud of glory rested on that mountain as God gave Moses an intimate, personal glimpse of Himself. This provided Moses with a new vision of the presence and glory of God which would allow him to fulfill his purpose and destiny.

As magnificent as the old covenant was or God's people, it still had limitations. It provided boundaries and protection for God's people but it did not have the power to change their hearts. The Old Testament prophets looked forward to the day when the law of God would be written in the hearts of man (Jeremiah 31:33), penned by the very hand of Jesus. Additionally, God promised to give hearts of flesh to replace their hearts of stone (Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26).

The new covenant that Jesus established was far superior to the old covenant. It provides us with the terms we need to have a relationship with God. This covenant is always centered on Jesus and His work accomplished on our behalf. This powerful covenant brings with it both liberty and transformation.

A covenant is a contract that is legal and binding. The word covenant means "an arrangement made by one party with plenary power which the other party may accept or reject but cannot alter" (Moulton and Milligan). Therefore, either we come into agreement with what God has established (or we do not), but our choice can never change the contract, itself.

When we accept God's covenant for our lives, we become living epistles that point the way to Jesus. The apostle, Paul, describes our lives as letters that has been narrated and scribed by Jesus, himself. We have been given hearts of flesh and the Holy Spirit is continually providing the manuscript for us to live the life that God has designed for us.

Think about that for a moment. You are a letter that Jesus is writing for other people to read. It is not a boring letter, either! It contains a theme, a plot (conflicts or struggles), a climax, a style, a tone, a setting, and characters. There will inevitably be defeats along the way but, in the end, when we are in Christ, we will be victorious. It is impossible for Jesus to lose.

As living epistles, we know that God is writing a message for His glory. And, He does not waste a single thing either. He will take every circumstance, passion, talent, and person in our lives to reveal to us that we ae under the redemptive power of His Lordship.

When we allow the fullness of Christ to dwell within us (Ephesians 4:13), it becomes all about His life in us. This gives the Holy Spirit free reign to write the manuscript of His choosing. This will inevitably be a witness for Christ in a message written for His glory.

Have you thought about the letter Jesus is writing about your life? Have you identified the theme, or plot, or climax? Are you allowing others to read what Jesus is writing?

Do you see yourself and your life in the same way that God does? Or are you too busy doing your own thing? Think about Jacob. After a lifetime of scheming and conniving, he knew that he did not want a life devoid of God's blessings. God literally showed up for Jacob and started a wrestling match with him. Then He asked Jacob, "'What is your name?' To that, he responded, "'Jacob'". His name literally meant "supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler". Yet, that is not what God saw when he looked at Jacob. God said, "'Your name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel [contender with God]; for you have contended and have power with God and with men and have prevailed'" (Genesis 32:27-28).

After that, God commanded the blessing on Jacob's life. It was when Jacob finally surrendered to God that he became strong. G. Campbell Morgan called Jacob's experience "the crippling that crowns". He also interpreted the name Israel to mean "a God-mastered man". For some of us there is a wrestling that must occur in order for us to fully submit to the calling God has placed on our lives.

When God does rule our lives, He can trust us with His power. Only those who are under His authority have the right to exercise His authority. When it is God that we truly serve, we become a part of the solution and not a part of the problem.

Jacob lost the battle but he won the war. The same is true for you and I. There are times when God will allow our weaknesses, struggles, and mistakes to be front and center in our lives. He will, however, transform them into strengths by His power.

Life is messy and so are our stories (the letter Christ is writing about you and me). When we live in light of the facts that we are loved, accepted, and given a new name, the details of our stories will make more sense. It's not about living a perfect life; it's about living in relationship with Him and becoming a Living Letter that He has penned!


                      "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."
                                                               John Piper
                           
                                                          

 

It Is Springtime!

"For Lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come."
                                                                                                                  Song of Solomon 2:11-12




Spring symbolizes an awakening and a newness of life. This renewal of life bursts forth from a barren ground and the harsh effects of a cold winter. As the grass and leaves deepen in their hues of green, so do the erupting buds and blooms remind us that all around us is the revival of life.

New birth and growth bring joy and hope to our lives as we drink in the rich colors and beauty that God has given to us in this season. Plans and projects that were put on hold during the dreary winter months are once again remembered as dormancy is discarded and regeneration marches forward. Preparations begin to usher in the beauty of this new season.

During this season, we remember Jesus' death and the significance of how He provided salvation for humanity. This is the appropriate time to reflect upon our calling and election and to be confident in our eternal standing with God. Just as we implement a good spring cleaning in our homes, it is even more important to allow the Holy Spirit to show us the places in our hearts and lives that need to be cleansed.

The time in which we celebrate Jesus' resurrection also coincides with the revival of life that we see in the earth. Death is replaced by life and we can tangibly see that the winter is past. Solomon speaks of the flowers that appear on the earth as early evidences that a new season is at hand. This is God's visible demonstration of His desire to bless His children.

Another obvious sign of spring that Solomon references is that the birds return after a long winter and announce their presence by bursting forth in glorious song. This springtime melody reminds us that this is a celebratory season of worship. We focus on the fact that God is doing a "new thing" and we worship Him in thanksgiving and praise.

The old is gone and the new has come. Even though pruning is required in this season, we are cognizant of the benefit of it. After the dead places are eliminated, as well as the places that are overgrown and undernourished, we understand that beauty will be its' replacement and that we will be stunned both by God's creativity and His splendor. Whatever we allow God to prune from our lives will yield a greater harvest, declaring all the more the glory of our God.

Isaiah tells us that even the desert will blossom. He says, "The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the rose and the autumn crocus. It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice even with joy and singing"(Isaiah 35:1-2). He goes on to say that the land can have its glory because, in actuality, it is God revealing His glory.

There are many ways that God can reveal His glory. We see it in His elevated position over the universe (Psalm 57:5). The heavens reveal God's glory (Psalm 19:2). God's saving acts towards mankind reveal His glory (Isaiah 40:5). God created us so that we would bring Him glory through our actions and honorable characteristics (Isaiah 43:7). His glory fills the earth (Habakuk 2:14). And, God's glory can be seen "like a consuming fire on top of the mountain"(Exodus 24:17). Therefore, God is the "King of glory"(Psalm 24:7-10).

If the past season you have been in seems like a dry desert, just know that there is no greater backdrop for God to reveal His glory in your life. David penned this truth when he wrote,"You visit the earth and saturate it with water; You greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; You provide them with grain when You have so prepared the earth. You water the field's furrows abundantly, You settle the ridges of it; You make the soil soft with showers, blessing the sprouting of its vegetation. You crown the year with Your bounty and goodness"(Psalm 65:9-11).

During this year of Jubilee, we will see showers of God's blessings. Ezekiel tells us that God says, "I will bless My people and their homes around my holy hill. And in the proper season I will send the showers they need. There will be showers of blessing"(Ezekiel 34:26).

For many in the body of Christ, this last season has been a difficult and tumultuous one. The shaking that has occurred has left many people feeling very shaken. Yet, within our grasp we still hold the key to our future and to our destiny. The book of Hebrews says, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe" (Hebrew 12:28). Focus on that which has not been shaken out of your life because what we still hold in our hands is what God is going to use for His glory.

As we trust Christ more and more and seek His wisdom and guidance, we will begin to see with clarity what it is that we hold in our hands. Revelation will accompany our gift and we will know that whatever it is, it will be used for our good and for His glory. If you are not certain what it is, ask God to show you what you hold and then ask Him to touch it with His resurrection power.

We will witness God birthing a new thing in our lives. He will reawaken the things that look dead or dormant. Jesus says, "See, I make all things new. And He said, 'Record this, for these sayings are faithful (accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy) and true (genuine)'" (Revelation 21:5).

Speak blessings to those places in your life that need God's touch. Declare to the mountain of obstacles to be removed and cast into the sea (Matthew 21:21). By faith, we will jubilantly see that the season is no longer a cold and barren winter. Instead, we will see the beauty and life that can only be found in the season called Spring!


             "He sends forth springs into the valley; their waters run among the mountains."
                                                              Psalm 104:10

Our Resurrected King

"There are also many other things Jesus did. If they should all be recorded one by one [in detail], I suppose that even the world itself could not contain (have room for) the books that would be written."
                                                                                                                                        John 21:25





Jesus' disciples had experienced the Triumphal Entry, the Last Supper, and the Crucifixion. Terror and confusion plagued them (John 20:19) and what they perceived as an horrific ending had, in fact, marked a beautiful and glorious beginning. However, much more revelation would have to be given for them to even begin to understand the mysterious ways of our God.

In Jesus' last recorded miracle, seven of His disciples were out fishing on the Sea of Galilee. Still reeling from the death of their Lord and Savior, they cast off for the territory that was familiar and comfortable to them- fishing. However, on this particular day, despite their skill and expertise, they were still coming up empty-handed. They did not yet realize that Jesus' death and resurrection had changed everything.

Suddenly, an unknown voice called to them from the shore. He said,"Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some" (John 21:6). Even though this seemed an illogical request given to them by a stranger, they still complied with the command. We are told that "when they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish" (John 21:6). Stunned, John exclaimed to Peter, "It is the Lord!" (John 21:7).

Their recognition that this was Jesus came from two truths that they knew deeply: no one else could perform this miracle and they had seen Jesus do it before (Luke 5:1-7). Jesus' relationship with His disciples began and ended with a miraculous catch of fish, symbolic of the fact that He was calling them to be "fishers of men". Their success was assured when they were willing to listen to Jesus, obey, and receive His power, even if His request seemed foolish or counter-intuitive.

Blessings follow obedience when we walk in relationship with Christ. Sometimes there are times of silence from God, making trusting Him the hardest thing in the world to do. Ultimately, though, His silence will end and we will be given a greater revelation of who Jesus is and what greater objective He is accomplishing in our lives.

Miracles continued through the book of Acts (healing, raising the dead, conversions, deliverance from prison, signs and wonders, protection from vipers, as well as several people being struck dead because of their lack of obedience to God). As God released power from heaven through the Holy Spirit, there were also miracles that occurred simultaneously to the masses of peoples. God established His church and allowed them to be witnesses that testified of His works.

We, too, are witnesses that testify of the works of Christ. Some are big occurrences in our lives where we recognize that only the hand of God could have orchestrated particular circumstances to work in our behalf. Others are smaller blessings that require vision from the Holy Spirit in order for us to see. Either way, it is important that we learn to wait for God, hope in Him, and expect to see His goodness in the way He deems best for us.

God is constantly working in each one of our lives, even if we cannot see it or do not feel it. Our responsibility is to hold fast to the truths we know from the Bible and the truths we have learned from God, Himself. This comes from our relationship with Christ and the deeper truths we have come to know through walking with Him. The best way to always know the truth is to always know The Truth.

Often, we want to expedite God's timing and circumvent His ways. We hope and believe for instantaneous miracles and solutions when, in actuality, it is God's plan and purpose to teach us to trust Him more as He navigates us through life's storms.

When we journal or remind ourselves of things God has taught us or what He has done in us or in our lives, it gives us hope, encouragement, and a strategy for prayer. It also keeps us from having to repeat lessons we have learned previously so that we can avoid present and future pitfalls. The author of the book of Hebrews says, "It is crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we've heard so that we don't drift off" (Hebrews 2:1).

God is delighted when His children live with an expectant spirit, continually assured that God will do what He says He will do. Expectancy is the attitude we need after we step out in faith that will carry us to the completion of God's promises. It is imperative that the people we listen to also have a spirit of expectancy because others can easily cause us to doubt.

Doubt comes when we view our circumstances through the eyes of our human perspective rather than through the eyes of faith. When the children of Israel marched around the walls of Jericho (Joshua, Chapter 6), God did not allow them to talk to each other. Is it possible that they could have talked each other out of their miracle?

Our leaders are to be those whose faith we can emulate (Hebrews 13:7). Similarly, our friends and closest confidants should be people who encourage us to live in expectancy. Likewise, we should continually offer an expectant spirit to those whom God has placed in our lives.

Live in wonder. Expect to see God in the little and the big things. Remember all that God has done in us and through us. As we become a people that learn to wait, hope, and expect to see God, we will become a people who will see our Resurrected King!


"Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord."
                                                                                                                             Psalm 27:14



                                                                                            

A Resurrected Life

"The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us."
                                                                                                              1 Corinthians 2:10-12




During this week in which we celebrate Jesus' death and resurrection, it is important to focus on the benefits we have received as recipients of it. There are three distinct benefits that become our own when we accept Jesus as both our Lord and Savior. The first benefit is that Jesus overcame death, and because of that, He shares His righteousness with us. the second benefit is that we are already now resurrected to a new life. The third benefit is that Jesus' resurrection guarantees the future of our glorious resurrection.

The benefit I really want to explore today is the second one- that we are already now resurrected to a new life. It is Jesus' power that gives us this new life and it is also His power that enables us to thrive within it. Right now, Jesus gives His life to us so that we can enjoy fullness and freedom in Him.

Jesus said, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)" (John 10:10). The abundance in our lives comes from connecting with Christ and having a heart that receives fully from Him. Our relationship with Him, as well as being surrendered to His Lordship produces the abundant life that Jesus references in this verse.

The Greek word for abundance is perisson. It means "superabundant, superfluous, overflowing, over and above a certain quality, a quantity so abundant as to be considerably more than what one would expect or anticipate." This occurs when every aspect of our existence is changed by the power of Jesus. In missiology, this is called "redemption and lift".

In this current season of your life, I'm wondering if there are any areas that need to be redeemed or need to be lifted up? I know there are in mine. But, I also know that there is no better time to rise in faith than during the time we celebrate Jesus' resurrection!

To understand what Jesus meant by an "abundant life", we have to balance what He said about abundance by what He said about life. In the Old Testament, God said He wants us to turn from godlessness and learn how to live (Ezekiel 33:11). In the New Testament, we are told that Jesus suffered for us so that we would follow in His footsteps (1 Peter 2:21). He also said that if we claim to be in Christ, we have to walk the way Jesus walked (1 John 2:6).

God looks at our lives through an eternal lens. One day when Jesus was praying, He spoke to His Father about our eternal life. He said, "And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), whom You have sent" (John 17:3).

As we grow in the grace and in the knowledge of Christ, we learn, practice, and mature. We also fail, recover, adjust, endure, and overcome. This is because we can only see things partially and not completely while we are on this earth (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Living an abundant life is all about what we receive as a gift from God and then living knowing that we are stewards of it. Stewardship is measured by what we give away. What has Jesus given to you? A word? A promise? A dream? Grace? Mercy? Peace? Joy? Wisdom? Salvation? Love?

Trust in His promises and cling to the abundant life Christ offers you. We must live in wonder of the greatness of God's plans for our lives. He will integrate every spoke in the wheel of our lives for our good and, ultimately, for His glory.

Living the abundant life has to do with the ability of keeping His commandments as we utilize the grace that He gives to us. The more we are in accordance with His will and His ways, the more we will enjoy the benefits of living a Christ-centered life. The life of God we live is abundant, despite our circumstances (Philippians 4:11).

We can learn to be content in all our circumstances (Philippians 4:12). This requires focusing on all the good God sets before us and faith that He will redeem and lift up the places that are currently devoid of His touch. Look for the small blessings that God gives us day to day.

When we seek Him, God will give us the revelation we need to be victorious in our lives. He will illuminate the dark places. He sets the course and He is in control, even when it would seem He is not. He has given us peace to rule in our hearts, and He will forever be our Advocate.

Our future is secure in His hands and we can trust Him with every aspect of our lives. We don't just have tomorrow to look forward to; we also have today to live in fullness and freedom. He promises that He will keep us from falling (Jude, v.24) and that He has good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11). In other words, He has given us everything we need, now and forever, to live a resurrected life!


"Eye has not seen and ear has not heard, which have not entered into the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him."
                                                                                                                          1 Corinthians 2:9

                                       HAVE A BLESSED RESURRECTION DAY!!!!

Resurrected Love

"Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life.'
                                                                                                                                  Psalm 143:8




Throughout our lives we learn the certainty that sometimes the people we love will fall and sometimes they will fail us. When we have been disappointed frequently it is not uncommon to hedge our bets, so to speak, by attempting to insulate our lives with the people we believe will never let us down. And yet, the inevitability of that will ultimately knock on the door once again. This is because humanity left unto itself frequently will make the wrong choice.

The true constant that we can take to the bank is that God's love for us is always unfailing. He never wavers or waffles or changes His mind. In fact, He is so intent on pouring out His love on us that He constantly woos us and pursues us, even if we try to hold Him at an arms length. Or, even further.

Sometimes we even emotionally distance ourselves from God without even recognizing the truth of it. We may still go to church, or be involved in Bible studies, or serve relentlessly until we are exhausted. At the heart of it we don't want God out of our lives, but we have lost the passion and intensity for Jesus that we once had.

This issue was addressed by Jesus in the book of Revelation. As He was speaking to one of the seven churches, He said this, "I know thy works and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou cannot bear those that are evil...Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember, therefore, from whence thou hast fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick" (Revelation 2:2-5).

There are a myriad of reasons that cause us to pull away. In John Bunyan's book, The Pilgrim's Progress, he gives four primary reasons that people begin to pull back from their relationship with Christ. These reasons are: a mind that is not renewed, fear of man, pride, and refusal to acknowledge their sin and the danger coming to them if they do not receive forgiveness from the Lord.

When Bunyan referenced the mind that is not renewed, he said that the conscience had been awakened but that that was unsustainable until the thinking is transformed. When the power of "guilt and fear is gone, their desires for heaven and happiness die, and they return to their course again." Reformation without transformation will never endure, nor will it be productive.

The second reason that Bunyan cites is being overwhelmed by the fear of man. He derives this precept from the book of Proverbs where it says, "The fear of man brings a snare"(Proverbs 29:25). The snare is that they fail to recognize what they are losing and what unavoidable and unnecessary troubles they are allowing into their lives.

The third reason cited for falling away from Christ is pride. This means that they are unwilling to face the shame that comes from the world regarding the Gospel. When push-back from the world intensifies, instead of running to Jesus they actually run away from Him.

The last reason Bunyan gives for abandoning our "first love" is that we don't want to face our own guilt and sin and receive the grace and forgiveness that God lavishes upon us. Each time we refuse His mercies our hearts become harder and harder. To remain within this trajectory predisposes us to a heart of stone that opposes God altogether.

It is deceptive to believe that neutrality can coexist with our belief in Christ. Either we are for Him or we are against Him. Either we are moving forward in our walk with Him or we are moving backward. Either our love for Him is increasing or it is decreasing.

If we think back to that moment when we accepted Jesus into our hearts and began to understand just how much He loves us and has done for us, it provides the baseline of our love for Him. At that time, how much did you read your Bible? How much did you pray? What other things did you do to feel close to God?

When you look at your relationship with Jesus today, has your love increased or has it decreased? Do you read the Bible more today or do you read it less?  Do you pray more today or do you pray less? What are the things you do each day to feel close to God? To stay connected to The Vine?

If you find yourself in a place today that is less passionate than it was in the beginning, think about these truths:

a.) Friendship with the world makes us an enemy to God  (James 4:4)
b.) Littles "foxes" (compromises) destroy the vine (Song of Solomon 2:15)
c.) Neglecting our God-given responsibilities makes us weak (2 Samuel 11:1)
d.) Choosing temporal things over eternal things causes destruction (Genesis 13:11)
e.) Reformation without transformation doesn't work (Proverbs 13:20)
f.) We have to be connected and accountable to other Christians (Hebrews 3:13)
g.) We have to pray to avoid temptation (Matthew 26:41)
h.) We have to take our thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)
i.) We cannot allow failure to deter us (Proverbs 24:16)
j.) We cannot allow ourselves to be bitter towards God because of circumstances (Job 2:9)
k.) We cannot fight temptation; We must flee from it (1 Timothy 6:11)


Jesus provided us with the solution if we have strayed from our first love. He tells us to: Remember, Repent, and Repeat. We remember the love we once had for Him and we yearn for it once again. We repent for anything we have done or failed to do that has allowed a wedge in our relationship with Him. We open our hearts and receive His forgiveness and grace. Then, we begin to do again those things that caused us to be close to Him and passionate for Him. We believe God for a resurrected love for the Only One who is worthy of it!


                                         "We love because He first loved us."
                                                      1 John 4:19

Resurrected Faith

           "A dead Christ I must do everything for; a living Christ does everything for me."
                                             Andrew Murray, Jesus Himself




During this month in which we celebrate Jesus' resurrection, it is important that we find the connection between it and the circumstances in our lives. Just as Jesus' death was the ultimate expression of God's wrath for our sin, so His resurrection is the ultimate expression of God's love and acceptance for those of us who are in Christ. In fact, not only does God love and accept us as His own, but He has also given us His righteousness and declares to the world that He is well-pleased with His children!

The book of Romans explains it like this,"But the words 'it was counted to him' were not for his [Abraham's] sake alone, but for ours also. It [righteousness] will be counted to us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 4:23-25; 5:1).

All we have to do is simply believe and learn how to connect the dots. In fact, visualize a giant-sized poster filled with thousands of dots. God has designed one for each one of us. And, when our lives on this earth are completed, we will look with amazement on the image it creates. In actuality, we will be beholden to the image because, if our lives are submitted to Him, it will actually be a breath-taking portrait of our Lord and Savior!

The challenge comes as we move from dot to dot. Sometimes it is very difficult to see the difference the Resurrection makes to the individual details of our lives. Sometimes it is difficult to understand the difficulties in our circumstances in light of the power and purpose that God displayed when He rose Jesus from the dead. Sometimes, the deadness seems to scream loudly instead of the Life that God has purposed in the midst of it. As confused as we can sometimes be, we can find solace in knowing that the first century church had many questions as well.

After Jesus died, people started seeing Him alive again. It wasn't that anyone disputed His death. No, there were far too many witnesses for that. The questions began to surface when a multitude of people began to testify that they had seen the Risen Christ.

The apostle, Paul, recorded that the Risen Christ appeared to Peter, then to the disciples, and then to more than five hundred other people (1 Corinthians 15:3-8)! Many of these witnesses had actually been hostile towards Christ prior to their encounter. Perhaps the most dramatic account, however, came to Paul, himself. This is how he described his encounter, "Then He [Jesus] appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all He appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. For I am the least of all the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. But, by the grace of God, I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect" (1 Corinthians 15:7-10).

Paul was completely transformed by believing Jesus and allowing Him to connect the dots of his life by His grace. This was not a superficial belief, either. It was a genuine faith that was forged by the Truth of God's Word and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Only then could Paul begin to truly experience the mystery of Jesus' Resurrection and walk personally in the implications of it. He completed his journey by allowing God to paint an exquisite portrait of Christ through his life!

Part of Paul's success was found in the fact that he had insight. He described himself as "one who was abnormally born" and the "least of the apostles" (1 Corinthians 15:7-8). These words were not of a man who was beating himself up. Rather, they ascribed the greatness of his life where it belonged- solely in the hands of Jesus!

True insight comes from Jesus and is Jesus, Himself. When we are intimately acquainted with Him, He reveals to us both wisdom and insight. In a letter that Paul wrote to the Colossians, he described Jesus in this way, "In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden" (Colossians 2:3).

Paul knew how to tap into the hidden mysteries of God, which are all found in the person of Christ. He learned how to see himself in humility and to also understand that he was passionately loved by God. This balance enabled him to be one of the most effective ministers of the Gospel that has ever lived.

Another part of Paul's success was that he truly understood God's grace and he knew how to apply it personally to his own life. Despite the familiarity of the uncomfortable process of stretching that God uses to bring about transformation, Paul did not resist it. Rather, he cooperated with the Holy Spirit so that God could complete the work in him.

Paul understood that he had inherited the most valuable treasure in the world- that is, the grace of God. The apostle, John, had described it as the abundant goodness and blessings of God bestowed as "grace upon grace" (John 1:16). In other words, God pours out blessing after blessing upon His children.

Paul was filled with the knowledge of God's will and given "all spiritual wisdom and understanding" (Colossians 1:9). His life was pleasing to God in "all respects" and he was able to bear fruit "in every good work" (Colossians 1:10).  He was strengthened with "all power" and able to practice "all steadfastness and patience and joy" (Colossians 1:11). He had learned how to continually receive from God's unending fountain of grace.

Finally, Paul learned how to connect the dots in his own life. He said, "By the grace of God, I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect" (1 Corinthians 15:10). His focus was solely on God and giving Him the glory. He had truly mastered a God-centered life.

Within the context of a God-centered life, Paul saw himself in truth and clarity. This means he saw his strengths and his weaknesses and learned how to apply the Resurrection of Christ to each. He saw the dots that made up his life's journey and applied the Resurrection to each of those, as well. Paul saw the power and purpose in Jesus' Resurrection and learned to view each aspect of his life through that prism only.

After he learned how to live in light of Jesus' Resurrection, he saw that his life had value and purpose in the lives of others. He understood the power of a Christ-centered life and the effect on those it touches. Paul first received everything from Christ and then shared it with those around Him. In this, he had a resurrected faith that really mattered!


                                          "I Am the Resurrection and the Life."
                                                            John 11:25

Inscrutable

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary."
                                                                                                                                 Isaiah 40:28-31




Our Lord is One that is both mysterious and knowable. If we spent every moment of our lives tying to full understand Him we would come to the end of our days still failing to realize our goal. And yet, He beckons us to draw close to Him so that we can receive His love and really know the goodness of His heart towards us. He desires that we know Him well enough to fully trust His character and know in our hearts that His intentions for us are always good.

When Jesus came to this earth in the form of a man, His life was a mystery. The devil tried to play detective and piece together clues and prophetic predictions concerning our Messiah. He decided that his best strategy was to murder Jesus and he probably felt a sense of pride and relief when he thought he had accomplished his goal. He unwittingly played the very role that God had orchestrated for him to play. Imagine his horror and shock when Jesus appeared in hell in our place and grabbed back the keys of death and hell. That must have been a very startling moment for this diabolical schemer!

God chose to hide both His mystery and wisdom in Jesus' crucifixion (1 Corinthians 2:7-8). Satan's worst nightmare was realized when he learned that we, too, died with Christ that day. His horror was compounded when Jesus was resurrected and the power of the Holy Spirit was released upon the earth.

The prophet, Isaiah, says that God's understanding is inscrutable. Webster's dictionary defines inscrutable as "incapable of being investigated, analyzed, or scrutinized; impenetrable; not easily understood; mysterious; unfathomable; incapable of being seen through physically; physically impenetrable". In other words, God can be hidden, incomprehensible, undiscoverable and inexplicable.

All of this changes, however, when we allow God to reveal His mystery to us personally. The apostle, John, refers to this phenomena when he tells the story of Jesus' first miracle. He says, "This, the first of His signs (miracles, wonderworks), Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory [by it He displayed His greatness and His power openly], and His disciples believed in Him [adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Him]" (John 2:11).

The Bible teaches us that when Christ lives inside of us that He reveals to us the mysteries that were hidden for many generations. When these mysteries are revealed to us, then they can be revealed through us as we share the Good News (Gospel) with others. Christ in us and among us is the hope of realizing God's glory (Colossians 1:26-27).

When God's glory is revealed, we find that miracles occur, wisdom is given, strength is released and favor abounds. Supernatural things begin to happen. In these manifestations, our eyes are opened to see God's preeminence, splendor, magnificence, majesty, and excellence.

God operates in the realm where the impossible becomes possible. Every circumstance and situation that we deem as our "impossible" is rendered ineffective when we add God to the equation. Luke says, "For nothing will be impossible with God" (Luke 1:37).

It is the virtues of patience, faith, and waiting on God that will enable us to experience His grace at all times. It is His grace that enables us to receive His love and miraculous touch that we desperately need. Each and every divine exchange that God offers to us enables us to give God our weaknesses and inabilities to instead receive His strength and His abilities.

More of God's children need to dare to ask God for a mighty move in their lives. Isaiah tells us that God says, "I will go before you and level the mountains [to make the crooked places straight]; I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut asunder the bars of iron. And I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by name" (Isaiah 45:3-4).

Make sure the prizes you seek are lasting and eternal. Temporal goals are meaningless in the end. In the letter Paul wrote to the Colossians, he said, "Set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth" (Colossians 3:2).

Take one small step at a time (to conquer your "impossible") and believe that God can accomplish the "possible" through you. We must not allow the enormity of our goal to stop us from starting toward our purpose today. Remember the story of David:
"And Saul said to David, 'You are not able to fight against this Philistine. You are only an adolescent, and he has been a warrior from his youth.'
And David said to Saul, 'Your servant kept his fathers sheep. And when there came a lion or again a bear and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and smote it and delivered the lamb out of its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard and smote it and killed it. Your servant killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the Living God!'
David said, 'The Lord who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine'" (1 Samuel 17:33-37)

David was not discouraged by the difficulty of his challenge. He knew that himself plus God was a majority. Peter said, "In difficult times, when it seems all hope is lost, try not to assess your circumstances from a worldly perspective. Don't ask, 'What am I going to do?' Rather, in a spirit of faith, simply say, 'Lord, what are you going to do?' (1 Peter 5:7).

Christ has the ability to make every "impossible" possible in our lives. We can accomplish everything He puts in our lives when we rely on Him for strength and wisdom. He understands the things that are unfathomable to us and has the key for victory to each and every "impossible" we encounter. God is perfect in wisdom and might (Job 12:3) and his understanding is inscrutable!


               "How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable are His ways!"
                                                            Romans 11:33