Workmanship Works

"Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing." John 9:1-6

Sometimes I am more concerned with correct theology rather than having the right actions. Have you ever been guilty of this? The above event involving the Lord Jesus gives us an explanation as to what we are called to do once we have been born of the water and of the Spirit. We are called to do the works of He who has sent out as His witnesses. How do you know if someone is loving? How do know if someon is merciful? How do you know if someone is just? You do not know someone's character until they are in a situation where they act. Man was created in the image of the living God, but since Adam sinned and plunged all of the human into sin, we have not being representing God as we were created to do so. So God in His love sent forth His Son to reconcile us unto Himself. Now all those who repent of their sin and put their trust in Christ are created new in Christ to serve the living God. Why created in Christ? Because He is the Son of Man (the builder of the name or character of man). He displays the perfect humanity that God is after and in following His example, we ought to be doing the works that our God and Father has sent us to do. Are you doing the works God has prepared beforehand for you to walk in?

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:8-10

Guarantee

The Spirit is given to us as a guarantee
That we belong to He
Or rather I should say Him
And our next of kin
Are not only those who share our same color of skin
But they are those who have a deep love for Him

Originally written 29 June 2011

Proof

Ears but you do not hear
Eyes but you do not see
Why do you continually ask for proof of Me?
All of creation declares My glory
And history has recorded My story
The Spirit bears witness of the Word
And testifies to what He has seen and heard
You will not repent and believe in the Gospel
So you will not receive the Spirit which I poured out on My disciples and apostles
For this reason you do not understand My Word
And you remain as you always were

Originally written 27 June 2011

Love for Christ

A love for Christ produces love for one another
A love that is seen by others
Who may one day be called our sisters and brothers
Do not seek knowledge which puffs up
But seek love which builds and fills up
How do we know love?
We know love in this, that Christ died for us
And three days later rose from the grave victorious
Greater love has no man than one who lays down his life for a friend
Jesus Christ laid down His life to pay our debt of sin
We must love one another and boldly proclaim His name among men

Originally written 23 April 2011

"...a House for My Name..."

“When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” 2 Samuel 7:12-16

Reflecting on the passage above, I have been appreciating the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of David. David had purposed in his heart to build a house for the name of the LORD. But the LORD spoke words to David that reached beyond his life time. His son Solomon did build the temple that the glory of the LORD dwelt in, but this was only a foreshadowing of what was to come. Now the seed of David, who is Jesus Christ, has appeared as the LORD God foretold in time past, and He is now building a house for the name of the LORD. This house is made not of brick and mortar, but of those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and filled with the Holy Spirit. As the scripture says,

"...having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." Ephesians 2:20-22.

The hymn writer, Samuel Medley (1738-1799), wrote many years ago,

In Him it is ordained to raise
A temple to the Father's praise,
Composed of all the saints who own
No Saviour but the "Living Stone".

View the vast building, see it rise;
The work how great, the plan how wise!
Oh, wondrous fabric, power unknown
That rears it on the "Living Stone"!

Unity

Unified by the death burial and resurrection of Christ
By the power of the Holy Spirit we walk in newness of life
Activities and programs might bring us together
But it is our union in Christ that binds us forever
Without unity there is no community
For an example look at the Trinity
Is it Their works that bind them together?
No it is Their nature which is the same yesterday today and forever

Originally written 20 January 2011