Blog Archives - Created through Him

Created Through Him

Thy Name, Kingdom, and Will

12/31/2012

2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth (Luke 11:2).

The word ‘thy’ is used three times in the opening of the Lord’s Prayer. It is in the name of God that we are to pray. His name is holy. It is His kingdom and His will that we are to request. The design of the Lord’s Prayer is such that we are to begin by focusing on God and God’s sovereignty. God is center of creation. He is therefore to be seen from all directions and acknowledged at all times. When we look to God as the center of all creation for His strength, we are looking to the One with all power over the Universe. Appealing to this power surely seems wise.

The Harvest

12/30/2012

10 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. 2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest (Luke 10:1-2).

As was mentioned in the post from 2 days ago, God uses people as instruments of grace. We are those people, and it is God’s will that we should try and be good workers and servants for the purpose of spreading the Gospel. The spread of the Gospel is the spread of God’s love to people in a world that desperately needs God to be a part of their lives. When God enters into the life of someone, they are forever changed; this change is one in which they are restored and renewed. God uses the harvest as a metaphor for the gathering of people to Himself. This gathering is the restoration of the creation in Christ.

He received them

12/29/2012

11 And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing (Luke 9:11).

If you try to match this verse with the verses from yesterday’s post, you may begin to get some clarity regarding the sovereignty of God as it applies to salvation. God is just and it is an absolute truth that whosoever will follow Him shall be saved. When we follow Christ He receives us. The action of God then is both calling and receiving. God calls and whosoever hears His voice and follows is reborn of the spirit and is then adopted as a child of God. This adoption is the ultimate form of healing, healing of the relationship between the Creator and the created.

Mysteries of the Kingdom of God

12/28/2012

10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand (Luke 8:10).

This is one of those verses from scripture that can be very difficult to understand. It appears that Christ is suggesting that there are those that are intentionally being thought in a manner that brings judgment instead of salvation. If this is so, how can elsewhere in scripture it say that God desires all to be saved? This is a point where we should approach God with a humble and contrite heart. And where we must realize that Jesus is God and as God He has all understanding. God sees past, present and future simultaneously. So, when he looks into a heart, He knows instantly what the eternal outcome will be. Additionally, part of God’s sovereignty is His ability to choose a people for Himself. Due to sovereignty this choice is God’s and God’s alone. That choice is gracious and unmerited by the receiver. It is a pure gift, a gift of the One who saves. While I don’t personally fully understand this, the only response we should have to God’s sovereign selection is gratitude mixed with the humble realization that we have no idea why God is gracious to some and perhaps not to others. It is also important to realize that God judges no one wrongly. God is just and His judgments are fair. It should also be noted that we are to be ‘light and salt’ in the world because although it is God that chooses, He frequently uses people to be a part of His grace to others. In short, we are to be loving servants to others and leave the choosing and judgment to God.

Faith

12/27/2012

2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. 3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: 5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. 6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: 7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. 8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel (Luke 7:2-9).

There are a couple of things that stand out in this passage. One is that the Centurion was likely Roman, and not a Jew. Another is that in spite of the Centurion’s lack of religious history, he was a decent man (he was concerned for his servant). And finally, the Centurion had great faith and that faith was in the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is ultimately the Centurion’s great faith that prompted Christ to heal the servant. Great faith always produces great results, some times immediately, and other times more slowly, but great results are produced none-the- less.

Do the things

12/26/2012

45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. 46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?(Luke 6:45-46).

These verses come immediately after Christ’s teaching on how to live. The Believer’s way of life is supposed to be different. The difference is that we follow and do what Christ commands to be done. What is done is therefore a sign of true belief. The signs of true belief will at times be in conflict with the world. This conflict is not for conflict’s sake but rather is a result of obeying God.

Thou shalt catch men

12/25/2012

5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men (Luke 5:5-10).

There are three main lessons from this passage of scripture. The first is that if Christ, as the sovereign of all creation, has a hand in anything you do; it will be successful. The second lesson is that in order for us to be truly successful we must rely on God’s provisions and not simply our own strength, intelligence or actions. God desires us to rely on Him. The final lesson is that God’s purposes in all things are eternal. The eternal focus in this world is on the salvation of souls…thou shall catch men….

Not by bread alone

12/24/2012

3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. 4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God (Luke 4:3-4).

This exchange is between Christ and Satan. Interestingly, Satan tries to trap Christ with scripture. But he takes it out of context and ignores the true meaning. Christ, on the other hand, responds with scripture in context and emphasizes the importance of the Word of God. Remember too that Christ is the living Word of God and the true Bread of life. We should live by and through Christ.

The details

12/23/2012

3 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, 2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness (Luke 3:1-2).

No one should accuse Dr. Luke of lacking detail in his description of the events and circumstances of Christ’s ministry. In this passage, Luke pinpoints the exact time that John the Baptist was preaching as well as John’s precise identity. God did not want anyone confused as to the timing or purpose of Christ’s coming to earth. John the Baptist was the forerunner to Christ and it was necessary for John to be revealed before Christ finished His ministry. Luke identifies John clearly so Christ would be seen as distinct and undeniably the Messiah.

Of Great Joy

12/22/2012

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 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 (Luke 2:8-10).

The sovereignty of God allows Him to unfold history as a weaved work of art with all things sewn together. This portion of the birth narrative from the Gospel of Luke is a good example. The announcement of the birth of the Savior was first to shepherds. This is a sign that God would work the miracle of salvation into the lives of many people and the Gospel would go out to those that at first glance were outsiders. This is how God works; He works with people that are humble and ready to hear the good news that He has to offer. That offer is of infinite worth and one of good tidings and great joy!

Created Through Him