For the next few weeks I'm going to share one of my favorite Christian artists with you. His name is Keith Green. He amazingly makes worship songs that stirs you in such a way that drives you to want to love Christ even more. Enjoy.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Troy Davis - A different perspective
Recently I learned about Troy Davis and was saddened by his lost. As I reflected upon Troy Davis and the stir that it has caused in America, I saw a connection between Troy Davis and the Gospel.
Troy Davis
Troy Davis, a man that's claimed his innocence, was recently executed on September 21, 2011. People protested, appeals were made, marches were conducted and many other efforts took place to spare his life.
Let's imagine if one of these protesters stepped forward, and said, "Let me die for Troy Davis, and let him go free." Would you have given up your life for him? Let's say your love for him moved you to actually die in his place. You would give up your life so that he could have his. Do you think he would be grateful for your sacrifice? I believe he would be extremely grateful. And the world would claim you as a hero. Troy would be sad that you died, but he would forever honor your love and sacrifice, because for whatever reason that motivated your sacrifice, you didn't have to die in his place.
The Gospel
About 2,000 years ago, there was a man named Jesus Christ who claimed to be the actual Son of God. He never broke God's commandments and was the most righteous man that ever lived. However, His life was tragically ended as a criminal, and amazingly He came back to life on the third day after His death. To those who would believe in Him would be given eternal life.
The Connection
Spiritually speaking we are all in the same situation that Troy Davis was in. Troy Davis was on death row, and the nation was hoping that he would be pardoned or given clemency (a fancy word for mercy or lenience); however it never happened. For those who don't know what pardon means it is the forgiveness of a crime and the cancellation of the relevant penalty. Each of us must face God for judgement when we die. If we're honest with ourselves we are all guilty of breaking His commandments. Do not lie. Do not steal. Love God with all your hearts. If we're guilty, we will be sentenced for every offense that we've committed against God. God will see to it that every lawbreaker is punished on the Day of Judgement. So in essence mankind is on death row.
However, God in His mercy made it possible for mankind to be pardoned. This undeserved pardon is possible because Jesus historically stepped in place of mankind and suffered the execution that God demands at the cross for every lawbreaker. Although we deserve our punishment because we knowingly did wrong and can't claim innocence, Jesus took our punishment in exchange for His righteousness (I will discuss later, but to keep it simple - It's like wearing the perfection of Christ as a trench coat that covers all of our filthiness and when God see's it, it says that we're perfect just like Christ). For those who receive this pardon, they don't have to fear the Day of Judgement, because they have escaped the punishment to come because Jesus suffered for them.
Sadly many people do not believe this actually happened or know that they need God's pardon. Many enjoy celebrating His birthday, but don't want God's gift (Jesus Christ). To many Jesus Christ is not a hero. But to others He is their Hero. They love Him with all of their heart and out of gratitude for His sacrifice they want to honor Him in everything they do, because they recognized that they deserve the execution of God that awaited them, but now they are free!!!
Troy Davis
Troy Davis, a man that's claimed his innocence, was recently executed on September 21, 2011. People protested, appeals were made, marches were conducted and many other efforts took place to spare his life.
Let's imagine if one of these protesters stepped forward, and said, "Let me die for Troy Davis, and let him go free." Would you have given up your life for him? Let's say your love for him moved you to actually die in his place. You would give up your life so that he could have his. Do you think he would be grateful for your sacrifice? I believe he would be extremely grateful. And the world would claim you as a hero. Troy would be sad that you died, but he would forever honor your love and sacrifice, because for whatever reason that motivated your sacrifice, you didn't have to die in his place.
The Gospel
About 2,000 years ago, there was a man named Jesus Christ who claimed to be the actual Son of God. He never broke God's commandments and was the most righteous man that ever lived. However, His life was tragically ended as a criminal, and amazingly He came back to life on the third day after His death. To those who would believe in Him would be given eternal life.
The Connection
Spiritually speaking we are all in the same situation that Troy Davis was in. Troy Davis was on death row, and the nation was hoping that he would be pardoned or given clemency (a fancy word for mercy or lenience); however it never happened. For those who don't know what pardon means it is the forgiveness of a crime and the cancellation of the relevant penalty. Each of us must face God for judgement when we die. If we're honest with ourselves we are all guilty of breaking His commandments. Do not lie. Do not steal. Love God with all your hearts. If we're guilty, we will be sentenced for every offense that we've committed against God. God will see to it that every lawbreaker is punished on the Day of Judgement. So in essence mankind is on death row.
However, God in His mercy made it possible for mankind to be pardoned. This undeserved pardon is possible because Jesus historically stepped in place of mankind and suffered the execution that God demands at the cross for every lawbreaker. Although we deserve our punishment because we knowingly did wrong and can't claim innocence, Jesus took our punishment in exchange for His righteousness (I will discuss later, but to keep it simple - It's like wearing the perfection of Christ as a trench coat that covers all of our filthiness and when God see's it, it says that we're perfect just like Christ). For those who receive this pardon, they don't have to fear the Day of Judgement, because they have escaped the punishment to come because Jesus suffered for them.
Sadly many people do not believe this actually happened or know that they need God's pardon. Many enjoy celebrating His birthday, but don't want God's gift (Jesus Christ). To many Jesus Christ is not a hero. But to others He is their Hero. They love Him with all of their heart and out of gratitude for His sacrifice they want to honor Him in everything they do, because they recognized that they deserve the execution of God that awaited them, but now they are free!!!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Idolatry Simplified
Lately, I've been reading in the book of Ezekiel and I was in the 20th chapter. This chapter speaks about idolatry quite often. Verse 16 mentions, "their hearts continually went after their idols".
I got to thinking about how our hearts wonder from God. We are commanded to love God with all of our hearts and to trust in Him alone, but whenever we wonder from Him in our hearts we break this commandment.
An idol is anything we love, honor, depend on, trust, respect and sometimes fear more than God. Our idol is what defines us. Our hearts go after idols when we imagine our lives better with it or we can't live without it.
If money is your Idol, you would work hard to keep it and get more of it. When you loose it your life is miserable. If your image is your Idol, you go through much effort for people to think highly of you. You might even lie to make yourself look more important than you are.
If you are willing to break God's commandments to do, keep, or get something, the thing that would cause you to break God's commandments is your Idol. We may pray to God, but it's all about protecting your idol, because when something happens to your Idol, you blame and get mad at God. "God how dare you mess with the thing I really love, I know I say I love You, but I really love this. Give it back, and I'll love You again."
If we're not careful, we may have many idols in our lives. If your life is defined by anything but Christ, that is the thing you're living for. Jesus will not compete for your love. If you want Christ, dethrone the idols and let Christ reign as Lord in your hearts.
1 John 5:21 - Little children, guard yourselves from idols.
I got to thinking about how our hearts wonder from God. We are commanded to love God with all of our hearts and to trust in Him alone, but whenever we wonder from Him in our hearts we break this commandment.
An idol is anything we love, honor, depend on, trust, respect and sometimes fear more than God. Our idol is what defines us. Our hearts go after idols when we imagine our lives better with it or we can't live without it.
If money is your Idol, you would work hard to keep it and get more of it. When you loose it your life is miserable. If your image is your Idol, you go through much effort for people to think highly of you. You might even lie to make yourself look more important than you are.
If you are willing to break God's commandments to do, keep, or get something, the thing that would cause you to break God's commandments is your Idol. We may pray to God, but it's all about protecting your idol, because when something happens to your Idol, you blame and get mad at God. "God how dare you mess with the thing I really love, I know I say I love You, but I really love this. Give it back, and I'll love You again."
If we're not careful, we may have many idols in our lives. If your life is defined by anything but Christ, that is the thing you're living for. Jesus will not compete for your love. If you want Christ, dethrone the idols and let Christ reign as Lord in your hearts.
1 John 5:21 - Little children, guard yourselves from idols.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)