Lord and Savior?

Luk 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Luk 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Luk 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

 

Phi 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Phi 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Phi 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Phi 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

Have ever noticed that Lord is used far more often in connection with Jesus than Savior? Even here in Philippians the one thing that everyone will do is profess Jesus as the Lord. Notice that not everyone will pronounce Jesus as Savior. This is because Jesus is Lord over everyone and Savior to those who believe.

Jesus is our Lord and the Lord of the world. One day He will sit upon His earthly throne in Jerusalem and every knee will bow before Him. Every mouth will pour forth the words of confession, Jesus is Lord. Everyone will acknowledge that He had every right to command their lives and to demand worship and obedience. Only those who practiced such things will be able to call Him Savior. A good servant is obedient to his master. Ever notice how often the Bible says that a bad servant is sent to the place of fire and a good servant will enter into rest? Ever notice how often the Bible says that if we love God and Jesus we will obey them? Ever notice how obedience is paid to a Lord? Ever notice how often the Bible says the righteous (obedient or striving to be obedient) are the ones who serve God and enter into rest?

This is why I believe a person who truly accepts Jesus as Savior will accept His Lordship. How can we continue any longer in sin after having been delivered? How can we say we are connected to the perfect vine and produce thorns of sin? Did Jesus not say in the Sermon on the Mount that the fig tree produces the fruit and a thorn bush produces thorns and neither can produce the other's product? Does this not mean that no matter how you dress a thorn bush up to look and grow like a fig tree in the end it is still a thorn bush? Surely one only need look close enough to see this. Is this why the Bible also says, "You shall know them by their fruit"?

Will we be perfect? No, but we will not have a lifestyle of disobedient sin. If Jesus is truly Lord we will endure hardships and perceived injustices, losses, financial reversals, and all manner of hardships, and still serve God. We will be like those of Hebrews 10 who joyful accepted the plundering of their lives and did not shrink back like the children of perdition. So I guess the only question that remains to be asked is this: is Jesus your Lord?

Playing with the paper

1Pe 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

1Pe 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

1Pe 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

1Pe 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Each year as Christmas nears I think back to my oldest daughter's first and second Christmas. Nearly fourteen years ago this young girl (nearly young woman) was a toddler beginning to experience life. The first year we had to teach her how to open a gift. We guided her through the process, but the second year she had it down. Year three she was on auto-pilot.

The first Christmas, we went all out. We bought every gift we could afford and then a few more for good measure. This was our baby and we wanted her life to be filled with all kinds of wonderful things and trinkets. When Christmas came she was so overwhelmed with all those bows. Bows, and paper, and ribbons, and bows! Here look at this neat toy we bought you. No, give me that bow and take this other neat gift. Year two was only slightly better.

Then year three came and she knew under all the glitz and glamour, there was something more important. So it is with church.

Far too often we are like my daughter as a toddler or one of the wives described in the passage above. We are caught up in the exterior wrappings of our faith and forget the God of our faith. We come to church for all kinds of reasons. We have a great Sunday school class that enjoys close fellowship. We have a passionate preacher. We have the most enjoyable music. We have a beautiful building. We have, we have, and we have. Some do not come to church because they feel the opposite about the above mentioned things. I pray you church has all or most of the positives. I also pray that you realize they are worthless without the presence of God. There is more to these blessings. These blessings are only the bows, and paper, and ribbons, and bows! Is our Heavenly Father trying to get us to give up the bow for the real present? Only you can answer that in your life. Do you have a concern for the hidden man of the heart?

In a few days, we will give gifts once again to a nearly 16-year old. The paper will be removed in short order and the gift will be the important thing. One day, she may even become more like her father, and just want the gift unwrapped because I can hardly wait. I remember feeling that way in church. I cannot wait for the singing to be over and the preaching to begin. I love to sing but to hear from God and His perfect Word is for more a got to have it item.

So I close and ask, are you playing with the paper, or enjoying the gift?

My Shield

Psa 3:1 Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.

Psa 3:2 Many there be
which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

Psa 3:3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

Psa 3:4 I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

Psa 3:5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

Psa 3:6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

Psa 3:7 Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

Psa 3:8 Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

 

Ever have one of those days that seem to stretch into one of those weeks, months, or years? It is inevitable that hard times will come to us at some point in life. There are two primary reasons for those times. The first is chastisement. The second is persecution from the father of lies. Satan under authority of God is sent to try our lives. If you do not believe this, then read the book of Job. It is this second idea that I wish to address in this writing.

Often it will seem that persons or circumstances are stacked against us. They are pressing in and bringing us trouble. They surround us and their numbers are multiplying. It is at these times that we will feel it is time to surrender or that there is no help. This is the voice of Satan telling you that God is not there for you. Do not listen to the father of lies. Hold fast your faith with a good conscience. In this passage God gives us some real quantifiable aspects upon which to anchor this hope.

Number one, God is your shield. I remember as a young child being so afraid of the baseball that I could hardly stand in the batter's box without trembling so uncontrollably that I could not hit. The pitcher would start his windup and I would start moving my feet back. My father, earthly that is, decided to help me with this problem (I would never endorse this training method). He put me in the box and promised that everything would be alright. I had a helmet on and he could throw the ball anywhere he wanted. He went to the mound, he began his windup, I stood firm, he let the ball go, and he hit me in the helmet and knocked me down. He then stood the six-year old me on my feet and laughed. He said, "See the helmet works and you are alright. I told I could throw it anywhere I wanted. Now since you are ok I want to you to remember this, the protection works, and no you face will throw the ball this hard." From that time I had confidence, because I knew the helmet worked. It was my shield. Now I know I just compared God to a helmet, and He is far better. What I am saying is God is my shield. I step up in life and I face down troubles day in and day out. Many look like wild pitches ready to take my head off, but my Father (heavenly one) is there to protect me and give me strength.

Next, God is my glory. There is a verse that says the glory of an old man is his gray hair, and the glory of the young man is a strong body. When God is our glory we do not have to be strong or wise. We can rest in the Lord.

Next, He lifts up our heads. No need to walk head down in defeat. These things cannot remove our eternal life. They cannot remove our God's love. They cannot remove anything in our lives without God's approval. So hold your head up.

Finally, God hears you. Let Him know how you feel. Let him know what is going on in your life. He knows but He still wants to hear your prayers. It does you good to vent to the only one who can change anything in this universe.

So relax, rest, and know God is behind you. Trials will come and they are never pleasant but God can do mighty works through your life.