Thursday, September 19, 2019

Christ in us Hope of Glory

Christ in us Hope of Glory

Colossians 1:27 “God did this because he wanted you Gentiles to understand his wonderful and glorious mystery. And the mystery is that Christ lives in you, and he is your hope of sharing in God's glory.

 What is this Hope of Glory…Christ in us? God is glory, God deserves all the glory.
The very birth, death and resurrection of Jesus was to bring Glory to God the father.
What is it that would bring the Father such glory?  That his very created beings made in his image would be restored unto him.  In Isaiah 43:7 God says, “I want them back, every last one who bears my name, every man, woman, and child Whom I created for my glory, yes, personally formed and made each one.’ “He made us for his glory!

  The struggle comes when we who have received this blood gift of reconciliation forget our purpose and identity. We who walk with Christ have been given the deposit of the Holy spirit. This is the living God, Christ in us. But we honor him not. We choose to believe lies over the truth. The lie that we will never be good enough, pretty enough, brave enough etc. We work on the outward and focus on the flesh but what
if we gave our attention to the Holy one who lives in us? If we bring glory to the Father when we do as Jesus and become one with Him, just as he is at one with the father, then let us place our gaze on becoming one with the son. How do we become one? We start by believing who we were created to be. We can grab hold of the promises
as in 2 Peter 1:3-4     “Everything we could ever need for life and complete devotion to God has already been deposited in us by his divine power. For all this was lavished upon us through the rich experience of knowing him who has called us by name and invited us to come to him through a glorious manifestation of his goodness.
 4 As a result of this, he has given you magnificent promises that are beyond all price, so that through he power of these tremendous promises[ you can experience partnership with the divine nature, by which you have escaped the corrupt desires that are of the world.” The triune God resides in us and speaks to us, are we listening to that voice? 2 Corinthians 3:18 says,And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit”. In our prayer time let us focus on
the parts that we recognize as holy and good and worthy, the parts of us that have already been transformed. The mixing of those parts of us that we like and are at peace with are many times the very parts that reflect the nature of Jesus. This process of being transformed into his likeness is a surrendering but it is also embracing
the lovely parts of ourselves. This Christian walk often feels like we must either pretend to be something we are not or deny our true selves. But what if it is more like a melding of what makes us, us, with the holy spirit? Those desires as a child to just run up and hug someone or perhaps the inclination to protect others, these come
from a place that is uniquely you. Our Father in heaven enjoys his creation and calls it good. Who are we to reject his creation? Yes, we have areas under construction, wounds and ungodly beliefs that block our view but instead of focusing on these we can choose to honor how he has created us individually.  Instead of comparing ourselves
and seeing lack, see instead Christ in you Hope of Glory.


Here are some verses to meditate on

Psalm 8:3-6 (CEV)
3 I often think of the heavens
    your hands have made,
    and of the moon and stars
    you put in place.
4 Then I ask, “Why do you care
    about us humans?
    Why are you concerned
    for us weaklings?”
5 You made us a little lower
    than you yourself,[a]
    and you have crowned us
    with glory and honor.
6 You let us rule everything
    your hands have made.
And you put all of it
    under our power—

Psalm139:3-6 From the Passion Translation

You are so intimately aware of me, Lord.
You read my heart like an open book

and you know all the words I’m about to speak




Saturday, September 14, 2019

unity

 unity


Deception in pointing fault to the others
We join the accuser of our brothers
Break in unity is from the depths of Sheol
 Look no further than the tree from which it fell


Seated in the heavenly places 
Jesus has provided spaces
Our audience to the father guaranteed by blood
All our words soft or harsh, to the throne flood


Have we like Elijah hidden in fear
Jezebel commanding the atmosphere
Or do we strike down terror
Together under the headship of the reconciler


Have we been building our own tower
And given Babylon the power
Where has flesh impeded 
The church's mission to be completed


All cost covered for harmony
The bride to move in unity


Weaker and stronger
Prophets and lamenters
Islands and nations
To be in gospel filled relations


He who has judged says it is done
We are to no longer cast our stones
All to be brought before the king 
 Praises in one voice to sing


The true enemy earthbound 
 His children are to make a  heavenly sound
Calling forth his goodness
Speaking to each other in pureness


Where sin has caused erosion
Divisive ways broken
Encouragement and devotion
Building bridges across the oceans


 This to be the church's rhythm

To commune in love and wisdom