My Chains are Gone

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. – Acts 16:25-26

During our church family worship time this past Sunday, we sang the words, “All the chains are broken, I have been set free” (from “On My Lips” by Darren Morehouse and Ross Parsley).  As those words came out of my mouth, I was struck by the magnitude of that seemingly simple statement.  Think about that phrase by placing emphasis on the various words.  

“All my chains are broken.”  Not some, but all.  

“All my chains are broken.  I have been set free.”  God’s forgiveness and grace extends not only to others who may appear more deserving, but to me.  

“All the chains are broken, I have been set free.”  I don’t have to wait for some future unknown miracle to occur.  My chains ARE broken - here and now.  I AM free.  Jesus’ cry on the cross was, “It is finished.”  The work is done.  I need only leave the chains behind me and walk out that freedom.  

“All my chains are broken.”  Satan has no hold on me.  I am in the hands of the Almighty Creator of the universe.   

“I have been set free.”  I am free.  I don’t have to give in to sin.  I don’t have to be led astray by Satan.  I am not in bondage to the old sinful nature.  I am free. 

The enemy is defeated.  He knows it.  We can know it, too.  Let’s not let ourselves be fooled by his lies and deceit.  All our chains are broken and we have been set free. 

Amazing grace, our chains are gone!

His Blood Was Not In Vain

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth. – Ephesians 1:7-10

I sin.  You sin.  With but One exception in the person of Jesus Christ, everyone sins.

We have an enemy who wants each one of us to believe that our sin is too big, too bad, and too dark to warrant forgiveness.  He whispers tales of guilt and condemnation into the deepest recesses of our hearts and minds.  He is the accuser and he doesn’t want us to experience the forgiveness that Christ made available to each one of us through His death on the cross.  Jesus paid the ultimate price – the blood that would cover over all sins.  Not some sins.  All sins.  Not only your sins.  My sins.  Not only the “little white lie” kinds of sins.  The murderous, slanderous, defiling kinds of sins. 

Don’t let the enemy convince you that Jesus’ blood was not sufficient to cover your sins.  His blood was more than sufficient!  In Him, we have redemption – the forgiveness of sins!  Forgiveness given in all wisdom and insight.  Jesus knew how very bad the worst of our worst sins would be.  It doesn’t matter.  His blood was more than sufficient.

Trust in Jesus and claim the truth that is found in His Word:

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  - I John 1:9

Don’t fall prey to the lies of the enemy.  Don’t believe that you could never be forgiven.  Believing such lies would mean that you believe Jesus’ sufferings, humiliation, pain and agony were for nothing; that what He did for you and for me had no power and no meaning.  His blood was not in vain.

Thank You, Jesus,

for Your sacrifice for me! 

That my forgiveness is full and free

 because of the price You paid on Calvary.

The Plot to Steal Your Abundant Life

John 10:10 – The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

 John 10:10 sets our life’s stage very clearly.  There is a thief who is out to steal from us, to kill us, and to destroy us.  Armed with this knowledge, we might think it would be easy to remain on our guard - that those with personal relationships with the Lord would easily recognize the enemy’s advances.  Yeah – we might think that to be the case, but we’d be wrong.  Upon further reflection, we realize the truth in II Corinthians 11:14 – “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”  Genesis 3:1 tells us “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field.”  So, we realize that the attacks of the thief are subtle.  Sure, there may be times when he comes at us head on with blatant attacks.  While it may be difficult in those times for us to claim the victory we already have in Christ, at least we recognize what we’re up against.  I find myself much more often falling prey to the subtle attacks – the ones that I don’t even recognize are occurring.  The little voice that tells me I was wronged and have a right to feel bitter or that it will feel better to withhold forgiveness than it will to humble myself and forgive.  The urgency of my to do list that cries out to me saying there’s too much to do and no time for prayer, meditation and Scripture reading, no time for family, no time for friends.  The perfectionism that wages a quiet war against me heralding that my worth is wrapped up in my performance - that I won’t attain the approval of others if I don’t shine in everything I do.  The voice that tells me I’m in over my head, that I can’t do it, that I’ll never keep up, I’ll never learn what I need to know, I’ll never get it right.  I Peter 5:8 tell us “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”  These subtle attacks are the attack of a roaring lion seeking to devour me and seeking to devour you.  But, praise God, there’s a second sentence in John 10:10.

Jesus tells us that he came that we may have life abundantly.  Abundant life is not a life of defeatism.  It’s not a life of striving for perfectionism.  It’s not a life of bitterness and unforgiveness.  Because of the subtle attacks of the enemy, we sometimes unwittingly strive for these lesser and ungodly things.  But, these are not the components for abundant life!  Friends – we’re settling.  We’re being tricked.  We’re being defeated and we don’t even recognize it.  If the life you’re living today is anything less than an abundant life, you’re not living the life that Jesus came for you to be able to live.  He came that You might have life and to have it abundantly!  Now, I don’t believe that an abundant life is a perfect life, or a life without hardship or difficulty.  As long as we’re on this side of Heaven, these things will all be a part of life.  But, abundant life will be the life we live in the face of adversity.  Abundant life will be the life we live in the valleys as well as the mountaintops.  Abundant life is about peace that passes understanding, love that is directly from God, joy unstoppable, compassion, care, and confidence that God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (from Romans 8:28).  If you’re not living in this abundance, the thief is stealing it from you, working his plan to kill and destroy you.  Don’t be fooled any longer.  Don’t let the enemy have that power over you or in you.  Stand up and claim the victory You already have in Christ!  Live the abundant life our steadfast God intended for you to live!

Thoughts from Proverbs 1:1-7

“The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth – Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Life is far more complex than I had ever imagined it would be.  Few things are simple.  And, there is an enemy prowling around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.  In the midst of it all, how are we to respond?  2 Corinthians 5:20 says “We are ambassadors for Christ.”  That’s compelling.  It means that, like an ambassador to a foreign country represents his/her country of origin, we are the ones here on earth representing our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  We are His representatives, His messengers, His “face” on earth.  Jesus was perfect – He always did what was right.  It seems so simple – choose to do what’s right.  If only it were so simple.  As we read through the Gospels, we realize that the enemy was always setting traps for Jesus.  He was relentless in his attacks, always trying to trip Jesus up.  He never succeeded.  Yet, even for Jesus, it was far from simple.  He had to have close intimacy with His Father.  He had to have wisdom to discern what was in the hearts of men.  He had to seek and know His Father’s will.  He had to be aware of the attacks and be prepared to counter them with Scripture.  Time and again, He was presented with challenges and He always had the wisdom to know what was right and the fortitude to follow through.

True confessions.  I lack both the wisdom and the fortitude to know and do what is right in every situation.  But, that’s not how I want it to be.  I want to have both the wisdom and fortitude to do what’s right in all situations.  My journey into the book of Proverbs is an intentional journey to progress in that direction.  This book is full of practical wisdom for the instruction of the reader.  This is not about a search for intellectual superiority.  Instead, it’s a search for wisdom to be able to walk in righteousness, justice and equity.  Whatever limited wisdom I may already have, I want to increase in it.  Whatever understanding I may already have, I want additional guidance.  When the riddles and challenges of life come my way, I want to know the answers.  In this life that is far more complex than I had ever imagined, I want to know how to spend my time, I want to be a good steward of all my resources, I want to know how to love people as Christ loves them, to see people how He see them, and to respond to them how He would respond to them – regardless of the circumstances. 

A colleague of mine recently shared about a “Dear Abby” question and response that he had seen some years before.  For whatever questions we may have, the Word of God is the source of wisdom beyond any newspaper column.  It’s our roadmap and guide.  I’m thankful that we have it and am looking forward to growing in my understanding and discernment as I study this book and grow in intimacy with our Steadfast God! 

Thoughts on Colossians 1:15-20

Colossians 1:15-20

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through Him and for Him.  And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.  And He is the head of the body, the church.  He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent.  For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.”

Paul is talking in this passage about Jesus.  Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  I’m immediately reminded of one of the very first verses of Scripture – Genesis 1:26a.  “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’”  Notice use of the word “our.”  This follows Genesis 1:2b which states, “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”  God is providing us with revelation regarding His triune nature within the very first Scriptures of the Bible (and reinforces this revelation throughout Scripture).  Before the world ever existed was God – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  God’s Spirit hovered over the waters.  God’s Son, as the firstborn of all creation, pre-dated all created things.  “Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness.”  Jesus Christ was present and instrumental in the creation of all things – those things in heaven, those things on earth, those things that can be seen, and those things that can’t.  Paul’s words indicate that even leaders in their positions of earthly power were put there by the hand of Jesus.  (I Timothy 2:2 takes this one step further and encourages us to [pray] for kings and all who are in high positions.)  Not only were some things created through Jesus, but all things were created through Him.  And, perhaps even more importantly, all things were created for Him.  Everything was created for our Lord Jesus Christ – to be used by Him and to be used for Him – to bring Him glory and honor and praise.  And, He is the One who holds all things together.  Throughout the ages, wise and learned men have worked to understand the laws of nature – gravity, motion, friction, etc…  All too often they’ve used their human understandings to explain away the need for any form of deity.  They consider faith to be foolishness that flies in the face of science.  And yet, science exists and works because of the person of Jesus Christ.  It is He who holds all things together.  If one day Jesus were to choose to use, for instance, the waters of the Jordan to heal some men of leprosy, He could easily make that occur (Luke 17:11-19).  Likewise, if Jesus wanted to make the sun and moon stand still (such as happened in Joshua 10:12-13), He need only say the word.  He holds all things together.

Paul also establishes Jesus’ role as the head of the church.  This is a natural role for the One who existed before any created thing, for the One whom God determined to have preeminence above all other things.  The next verse paints an incredible picture of the standing that Jesus has with His Father. “For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell…”  Wow!  All of the fullness of God!  In our finite minds, we can’t even begin to imagine all the fullness of our incredible God.  And yet, all of that fullness – holiness, awesomeness, love, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, compassion, faithfulness, etc… - all of it is found in the person of Jesus Christ!  As if that weren’t awe-inspiring enough, now recognize that it pleased God to have all that fullness dwell within His Son – not just some of it, but all of it.  Not just satisfied, but pleased!  What an incredible truth!  Yet, if all this fullness were found in the person of Jesus but we were unable to enter into relationship with Him, where we would be?  The incredible news for mankind is that Jesus is not only filled with all the fullness of His Father, but that He was given so that we might be able to be reconciled to Him.  Apart from His willing sacrifice, we would be separated from God, lost in our sin, and headed for hell.  But, because of His gift of love, we can be reconciled to God and have His Holy Spirit alive within us.  The same fullness of God that is pleased to dwell in the person of Jesus Christ is the same fullness of God that we can have inside of us.  We are joint heirs with Jesus!  Romans 8:15-17 says “For you did not receive the spirit of slaves to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba!  Father!’  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.”

Jesus serves as our example.  He was the firstborn of all creation.  We are created in His image.  In Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell and the same is true for us today.  In fact, God is so pleased to have His Spirit dwell within us that He gave His Son to make such a relationship possible.  What an incredible gift from our steadfast God!

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Thoughts from Colossians 1:9-14 (Part III)

Colossians 1:9-14

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.  May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.  He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

“How could a loving God send people to hell?”  This is the question Christians around the world have heard over and over again when talking to friends, family, and loved ones who are resistant to the idea that salvation comes through Jesus Christ alone.  My reflections on this question have caused me to realize a very dangerous and insidious supposition exists at its core.  There is a presupposition that people are all bound for heaven but that there is this omnipotent Being who for some unspecified reason chooses that some ought be sent to hell.  The action within this question is “to send” as if to say that those being sent would have otherwise been heaven-bound, except for the fact that God intervened and determined to send them to hell.  The notion that heaven is the default for humankind is fundamentally flawed. 

The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Then in 6:23 of the same book we read, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Adam and Eve were created without sin, but they allowed themselves to be tempted into sin.  The result is that each one of us who has come after Adam and Eve (i.e. every one of us) is born with a sin nature.  A young child does not need to be taught to sin – the ability to sin comes naturally to him/her.  Rather, we must teach our children to do what’s right.  Romans 5:12 tells us “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”  The progression is then as follows:  Adam and Eve were created in God’s image – free from sin.  They chose to enter into sin.  The sin nature was then passed down to all mankind.  The default cost of sin is death which thus extends to all mankind – not eternal life in Heaven, rather eternal death.  But, the “free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord!”  God isn’t arbitrarily sending people to hell.  He sacrificed His own Son to intervene on our behalves in order that all who receive Him should inherit eternal life as children of God.  John 1:12 – “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God.”  God’s action isn’t “to send” people to hell.  Rather, His action is to give broken people the right to become children of God.  He has “qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”  The Strong’s definition of “qualified” is “to make sufficient” or “made adequate”.  God’s action is not to arbitrarily send people to hell, but rather to make broken and sinful people adequate for Heaven.

The final verse in today’s passage is a powerful depiction of the full impact of God’s work in the life of a believer.  We are born with a sin nature which causes us separation from our God and Creator.  Barring intervention, we are bound for death and the domain of darkness.  BUT, for those who choose to believe in His Name, God has given the right to become His children.  In so doing, He literally delivers us from that domain of darkness and transfers us to the Kingdom of His Son.  I can picture an image of people unknowingly headed toward hell and destruction, when all of a sudden one of them realizes his need for a Savior.  He calls out to God and immediately a hand from above reaches down and lifts him off of the path toward destruction and places him on the path toward eternal life.  God is not sending people to hell.  He is making us adequate for heaven and delivering us from hell.  His is the work of redemption.

Speaking of redemption, I am reminded of the analogy that a friend of mine excitedly shared many years ago.  She was from a different part of the country and had never heard of the term “redemption center”.  For those like her who are unfamiliar with this designation, it’s the term used for a business which buys back empty cans and bottles for recycling purposes.  In Maine, we literally bring our empty cans and bottles to the redemption center and receive five cents per item.  I recall this friend’s excitement when she realized that a redemption center is a place that pays money for something that would otherwise be considered worthless.  Aside from some clever ideas that one might find on Pinterest, what can the typical person do with empty cans and bottles except dispose of them?  But, the redemption center takes those items that are lacking in value and places worth upon them – it says, you have value in my eyes.  Her analogy was clear.  God takes broken and sinful people who are headed for destruction and redeems us through the forgiveness of our sins.  He gives us value beyond anything we ever would have had on our own.  Our steadfast God qualifies us as His children and sends us to heaven if we will simply receive the free gift that He offers.