Category: Good Life Journal

Scripture : Ephesians 2:4-6 – “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus”

 

Observation : Ephesians chapter two discusses our identity in Jesus. It is given to the believer by grace and through faith. Verses 4-6 show the power of the gospel, that even when we were dead in sin God made us alive and not only cancelled our debt but credited to us Jesus.

 

Application : My identity is in Jesus. I am no longer dead to sin but I have been made alive in Christ. Even further He has seated me with himself in heaven. This should change the way that I live. Why be so concerned with the things that can stress and bog me down on earth when they will not last? If something doesn’t have eternal consequence does it really matter? Today I want to live in my identity in Christ and with an eye set on eternity.

Prayer : Thank You Jesus for loving me even when I was dead in sin. For your grace and mercy and for Your righteousness. Help me to live today in light of eternity.

Scripture:

Galatians 6:14

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Observation:

The apostle Paul did not trust in any of the earthly or religious accolades he had received to be his confidence among others. Instead he boasted only in the work of Christ. This is what defined him, sustained him and was his eternal hope and confidence.

Application:

In a world in which the system teaches us to prop ourselves up and get noticed, the gospel calls us to a different lifestyle. It is not the stuff we accomplish or our earthly resume that should be our story. Even if we accomplish much we must see it through the proper perspective.

A few things…

-I must see my life through the lens of the gospel. I am completely dependent on the work of Christ for life, liberty and eternal hope. Therefore, with such a great dependence on Him, my confidence must be in Him alone.

-My obedience and accomplishments are only possible through His obedience and His great accomplishment on the third day. Therefore, anything I ever “do” is simply made possible by what He has already “done”.

-My future and decisions should not be made based on what I have done or what I want to do. Instead my decisions should rest in the clarity of who He has called me to be and who he has directed me to influence through His Spirit.

Prayer:

At the end of my life I simply want to have pointed people towards you and your great gospel. I don’t care if my name is ever remembered. I don’t care if people think highly of me. I simply want people to know they are loved by you and that your hope through the gospel is what they are searching for. May I only boast in your great work and not anything you have ever used me to do.

 

Scripture:

Galatians 5

1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 

11 But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 

 

Observation: 

 

Paul, a man who was so set on enforcing the law that he encouraged the killing of Christians, now says the only thing that counts for anything is faith working through love.  

Faith in what? Faith that Christ has set us free.

Free from what? Not freedom from the law, but that the cross has removed the penalty of falling short of the law.

Paul says the cross is offensive.

Christ Jesus was executed to set me free. 

Paul actually says to “call us to freedom”.

And yet, this freedom is being used as “opportunities for the flesh”.

 

Application:

 

I consider the cross many things, but do I consider it offensive? Paul did.

In an era when everyone is personally offended by everything, do I appreciate the offense of the cross? Jesus, God and perfect man, was butchered on an instrument of Roman torture and death for us … for me. This is offensive! 

And I belittle it with opportunities of the flesh!

I actually do worse than belittle it.

I have the gall to call it freedom! Ugh!

Paul asks an important question: “Who hinders from obeying the truth?”

It is me. I hinder me. … I put on the yoke.

I must appreciate the offense of the cross, the greatest act of Love the world has ever known.

If I truly appreciated the offense of the cross, I would be eager to serve one another through love.

And I would see it as freedom!

It is this freedom I am called to.

 

Prayer:

 

God help me know the offense of the cross.

Help me see others as opportunities to live out love freely.

Spirit empower me to do so

In Jesus name

Amen

Scripture:

Galatians 4:7
So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Observation:

My identity through Christ is one of sonship to God. I am no longer a slave. Though I serve, I am not merely a servant. I am a son.

Application:

Identity is so important. Whenever I walk into a room, if I am not careful, the room will shape me. If I walk into a room of people who expect me to lead, I lead. If I walk into a room of people who expect me to make them laugh, I tell jokes and try to be quick witted. If I walk into a room of people who expect em to give them energy, I bring the energy. If I walk into a room of people who expect me to listen, I listen. However, what I hear today is that I am already someone before I walk in the room. I can’t allow other’s expectation of me to shape me or my behavior. Instead, I should walk into a room knowing who I truly am. I am a child of God, made possible only through Christ. If I walk into the room knowing this, then I am not shaped by what others expect or how I do or don’t measure up to their expectations.

A few things:
-Apart from Christ, I would have a hopeless identity. Only because of Him am I a son. He made me something I was not before. I am indebted to Christ for my identity.

-A son is such an amazing role to play. A son means I have a Father. That I have been given a name because I have taken on His identity because of the adoption made possible through Christ.

-An heir. Wow. To get the chance to not only be a son, but that I get to be an heir to the Kingdom promises. The kingdom promises are mine. Not because I deserve it. Not because I earned it. But because I get to inherit that which is already my Father’s. May I rest in this, even when it seems that my present doesn’t align with the promises of the Kingdom.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for loving me enough to send Jesus. Thank you for adopting me. Thank you for calling me a child.

Scripture:  

 “O foolish Galatians: who has bewitched you?  It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.  Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by Works of the Law or by hearing with faith?

Are you so foolish?  Having begun by the Spirit are you now being perfected by the flesh?

To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified.  Now, the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring.  It does NOT say “and to offsprings”-referring to many, but referring to one (“and to your offspring”) who is Christ.

This is what I mean: The LAW (which came 430 years afterward) does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God so as to make the promises void.  For if the inheritance comes by the law it no longer comes by promise—but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.”  Gal 3:1a-3, v15-18

Observation:    

Goodness.  Galatians takes some effort to read through.  There is a good bunch of theology here.  But the Letters aren’t supposed to be overly complicated are they?  No, they are not.  But sometimes I need to stick my head in here and think “precept upon precept…”

Application:  

 There are those that think “theology” is a bad, bad word.  If you ask some the question “why are there divisions in Christianity” more than a few would say “it is because we abandoned the simplicity of Christ and submitted to theology.”

No doubt there is a good possibility of a valid point—but it is a point to be aware of and guard against—not abandon Theology and Biblical Doctrine in response.  I have heard this saying: Everyone is a theologian-some are better than others.”

In Galatians Paul is trying to re-educate the local church about Grace and the Law.   I have to smile: the first line “O foolish Galatians: who has bewitched you?” could easily say “O foolish Galatians: What is wrong with your thinking?”  Or “what kind of baloney have you been listening to?”  So Paul is extending the conversation to straighten out “stinking thinking.”

Why then is this section important?  What does this have to do with me 2,000 years later?  Here’s the answer: Because we can be just like the Galatian church; we can succumb to stinkin’ thinkin’ because we just don’t know better AND (this is important) all of us has the tendency to add to the Gospel without thinking twice about it.

I know how this happens to me: I don’t regularly think, contemplate, etc. about the Gospel.  Now the Gospel has more facets than Jesus died for me—the Gospel was planned before time therefore we think about the Eternal.  It has to do with God’s Holiness and subsequent Wrath towards all thank isn’t holy.  Therefore the Attributes of God is important.  And, because we are being Atoned for concerning our sin, then the Doctrine of Sin is important to get into as well as the Doctrine of the Atonement.  The Gospel is a beautiful Jewel that has many facets to look at and adore.

Here are two words: Justification and Sanctification.  Paul is talking to the church that they are Justified by Faith in God’s Work.  Anything that we do as an addendum doesn’t help make it better, in fact, God is offended.  So: we believe the fact of the Promise.   God justifies us through our faith in His work of Atonement.  Stop.  Rejoice.  Don’t stop.

Prayer:  

Father, one thing that has a GRIP on me is how big and beautiful the Gospel is.  I am also aware how easy it is for me to corrupt my thinking about the Gospel.  I find that my tendency is to segment the theory of the Gospel into executable actions.  The Galatian church did that by starting to insist on circumcision.  Maybe they had good intent, maybe not.  It doesn’t matter: corruption can happen with the best of intentions.  Help me continue to contemplate the Gospel, to think about the beauty, and to respond to You with humble adoration.  AMEN.

Scripture:

Galatians 2:19-21 – For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.  I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

Observation:

Paul is continuing in his letter to the church at Galatia by confronting false teaching requiring confirming to the law. Paul explains that we are saved and justified by faith in Jesus Christ not by keeping the law.  The law is holy and good, but we are incapable of the righteousness on our own to meet therequirement of the law.  Therefore, believers are both justified and united with Christ through His finished work on the cross.  As believers, we have been crucified with Christ and he lives in us through the Holy Spirit.  The grace of God is sending Jesus to the cross to die for our sins and be resurrected not in keeping the law.  

Application:

I must remember that I am incapable of fulfilling the law on my own.  Therefore, I am dead in my own sin and unrighteous to God except through His love and undeserving grace in sending Jesus to pay for my sin debt so I can be reconciled and have a relationship with the Father.  With that, I must live a life of faith in Jesus and know He lives in me.  That is the gospel and there are no requirements to add to it in order receive the grace of God.  AS Paul tells the church in verse 21, if righteousness could be achieved by keeping the law then it would not have been necessary for Jesus to die.

Prayer:

Father,

Thank you for your love and undeserving grace you gave to me through the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Let me add no work to the gospel and live a life of faith through you and in you

Scripture:

Galatians 1:8-9
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

Observation:

Paul takes no time getting to the point of his letter to the church in Galatia. He is confronting false teaching as well as confronting the churches ignorance in believing a false gospel. The apostle, called of God, ensures that his readers are aware he is not called of man nor given his position of authority by men. Therefore what he says carries great weight and authority. They had turned to a “gospel” that required works of circumcision and other religious duties. The confusion was being caused because leaders, even Peter-an apostle himself, was living to please the desires of men and acting one way when the ruling Jews were present, and another way when with the gentiles. So Paul, a leader, confronts it with this letter.

Application:

A few things…

-Don’t mess with the gospel. It is the greatest news in the whole world! When we trust in Jesus, our sins are forgiven and we are justified by faith. Works are a response but not mandatory to receive the gift of forgiveness and eternal life. When we confuse this, the gospel becomes as powerless as all other world religions that elevate works to mandatory in order to receive forgiveness and eternal security.

-False teachers and bad theology are going to be things a church leader deals with. If the church, that closely connected to the apostles and only years separated from the presence of Jesus in flesh, had to address false teaching and bad theology, so will we. The enemy has not stopped his plan to confuse and draw attention away from the grace of God.

-Address issues head on. Passivity is not helpful. When issues arise that confuse people and pull attention from where it should be, a leader must address it. Confrontation is not easy and never will be. However leaders are called to address it, even if it means discomfort. In this situation the issue was leading people away from the gospel. This is a no brainer. Theological confusion must be clarified at all cost, specifically when it involves the theology of salvation, grace, justification and the clarity of the gospel. As a leader I must know when to address issues and when to keep on keeping on.

Prayer:

Father thank you for this word. It gives me confidence to know church drama has always existed. You are bigger and can bring clarity. May we always fight to keep the gospel the priority. May we fight anything that draws us toward falsehood and powerless religion.

Scripture:

 For great is His steadfast love toward us and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever…Out of my distress I called on the Lord: the Lord answered me and set me free…You are my God and I will give thanks to You; You are my God (and) I will extol You.  Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good for His steadfast love endures forever!  Excerpts from Ps 117:2a and Ps 118:5 and 28-29

Observation:  

Obviously the Psalmist is exhorting us to remember that God is faithful and His steadfast love is great.  How then could I fold this into my heart and life with sincerity and not just mouth the words?

Application:  

More times than not I have difficulty in remembering that God is good towards me.  Where the rubber hits the road, when I am pressed to decide, when I think about the circumstances facing me, I don’t automatically remember that “Great is His steadfast love towards me.”

Why is that?  Why does it take effort to just remember?

Currently I am faced with a deep issue-family.  If it was physical distress maybe I would default to extoling the Lord and confessing His abiding Love and concern towards me.  Maybe I would remember that as a disciple and son God is committed to “conforming (me) to the image of the Son.”  Maybe I would remember that God instituted the fellowship of the local church to help in matters of distress.

But when it comes to personal stuff and not physical-I tend to forget things.  How then can I trigger the default in my heart to JUST REMEMBER?

Most of us can see it as exampled with our military: Prepare for conflict in the time of peace.  It is the same with Christians.  Conflict and war is not the time to try on the whole armor of God.  If that armor is not comfortable, if it feels strange and unfamiliar, then more than likely it will not be effective if we put it on, having not trained in it before.

In the next chapter of Psalms there are a ton of references to the Precepts of God.  If I am not engaging not only in His Word but the precepts and principles behind them (what would be called doctrine in the New Testament) then broadly I am not preparing myself—I am not getting my armor fitted.

Lifting this from Isaiah a good pattern is to apply “line upon line, precept upon precept.”  I think the implication is that we don’t grow haphazardly but purposefully.

Today I failed, over the top failed.  15 minutes of not being prepared is leading to days and days of sorrow and repentance.  I will struggle to remember the Goodness and Steadfast love of God-but I am determined to do so.

Prayer:  

Father-I cry to you.  I raise a spoken voice, a silent voice, loudly and candidly a bit incoherent.  Anguish surrounds my heart.  I remember Your deliverance, Your rescue of me from the past—In You is my only Hope for the days to come.  AMEN.

Scripture:

Psalm 115:1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

Observation:

The psalmist rejects the praise of men that is due only to God. He deserves glory for both His Love and His Faithfulness!

Application:

The praise of men is something that people long for. It feels good to be praised by others. However, the psalmist sings, “not to us!” Worship and praise is wasted on people. It belongs solely on the name of God. A few things…

-I must reject the praise of man. My life and my words must be “not to me!” Whether it is preaching, leading, helping, whatever it is that people might try to praise me for, I must redirect it to Jesus alone.

-I must use my energy to praise Him and not others. I must see His hand in the midst of those who have helped and benefited me. Not to me, not to them, but to your name be the glory!

-God’s Faithfulness and Love is worth praising Him over. He has been good to me and has never left me a day without His perfect love. When my situation or circumstance looks dim I must remember both His Faithfulness and Love are mine to embrace and enjoy.

Prayer:

Father, not to us, but to your name be the Glory! I give you all the worship and praise you are due from my life today!

Scripture:

 

Vs 2 Great are the works of the Lord,

studied by all who delight in them.

Vs 3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work,

4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered

6 He has shown his people the power of his works

7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;

 

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

all those who practice it have a good understanding.

 

Observation:

 

This psalmist is consumed with the works of the Lord.

He states early that the Lord’s works should be studied.

The psalmist then lists many attributes of the Lord’s works.

They are “full of splendor and majesty”, they are “studied” and “remembered”, they are “shown to the people”, and they are “faithful and just”.

 

Interestingly, the psalmist eventually turns his attention to everyone else.

He says that we are now to do a “work”. We are to now put into “practice” something.

What are we to put into practice? Not the work of the Lord, but the “fear of the Lord”.

 

Application: 

 

The psalmist tells me to “study” the “work of the Lord”.

And to “put into practice” the “fear of the Lord”.

This is fascinating because I so often want to do the opposite.

I want to “study” the “fear of the Lord” and “put into practice” the “work of the Lord”.

 

If fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, shouldn’t I be studying it? Then I get wise enough to go out and put into practice the work of the Lord.

(How often do I hear the Christian cliche: “doing the Lord’s work”.)

 

But No! The psalmist says the Lord’s work is what I study, not what I do.

What I do is fear the Lord!

This actually makes so much sense, though.

When I study the work of the Lord, I will see His faithfulness, His Justice, His power, majesty, and might, His splendor, His wonder!

And what will my response be to seeing all of this from the Lord? In a word … “Delight”!

When I study what the Lord has actually done, I will delight in it!

How could I not?!

And then, having studied and been delighted by the wonder and majesty, and faithfulness of the Lord, I will then walk in the fear of the Lord!

 

Prayer:

 

Thank you God for your word

But thank you also for your works 

He’ll me to study them and be delighted by them 

Help me to see your works clearly 

And then help me put into practice fear of the Lord

I’m Jesus name

Amen 

Scripture:   

Psalm 107:33-34

He turns rivers into a desert,

springs of water into thirsty ground,

A fruitful land into a salty waste,

because of the evil of its inhabitants.

Observation:    

The Psalmist has for many verses has explained and made clear the sinfulness of people and the deliverance of God. He delivered them from their distress is a constant theme thus far and the steadfast love of God is clear and communicated. 

Application:    

Where I have landed today is the capabilities, power, and the right of God. I think so many times we focus in on the beauty from ashes God that we love. The God that takes a mess and makes it/us into a beautiful creation. He is making all things new and all that is broken and jacked up will be restored. Listen, this is all true and hopeful and gives us clarity on the plan of God from an eternal perspective. But, we must not forget that he also takes rivers and turns them to deserts. He takes water and turns them to thirsty ground. He can and has and will take things that are full of life and because of their sin lead them to want and desperation. We assume when bad stuff happens or dry ground, salty and barren land of life comes it is not God but an attack of the enemy. Maybe I should inspect my life and see if sin is present and not be repented of. If so, this could be God being a good Father. What we have and have been given can be taken away in an instant because of the evil within us.   We must also remember that the rivers, oceans, fruitful land does not exist because of us or because we created it. It is a gift and it is not ours in the first place. We walk in the flesh we will gratify the desires of the flesh and reap death of which it produces. We walk in the Spirit then life and peace come and Jesus is known through our life and lives are changed for the Glory of God the Father. 

Prayer:    

Father God may I know and see that you give and take. You created the ability to have much and also to have nothing. Jesus may I be satisfied in you and treasure you and know you more so that others can know you and walk with you. 

Scripture:

Psalm 103:11-12 – For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love to toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.  

 

Observation:

God’s love for us in enormous, never changing to those who submit to Him and fear the Lord.  God does not deal with us based on our sinful nature.  Rather, he removes or transgressions as far as they are wiped away when we place our faith and trust in Jesus.

Application:

I need to always remember the gospel daily and the mire of my own sin from which I was rescued!  When I was dead in my own sin without hope, God loved us so much that he sent his Son, Jesus, to pay for my sin debt in full.  That is a payment that we are incapable of making. God wipes away our sins with the blood of Jesus shed on the cross on our behalf.  God’s love is the most powerful thing in the world and has the power to change lives.  We must submit all of our lives to the Lordship of Jesus and receive his unchanging Love and mercy.  Changed lives love others and are a powerful gospel witness. There is only one way to the Father, through the Son.  The first words of Jesus ministry in Matthew 4, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  

Prayer:

Father,

Thank you for your love, undeserving grace and mercy you have given me.  Let me submit my life to you and receive you steadfast love which in response I will share with others.

Scripture:   

So He saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy.  And the waters covered their adversaries-not one of them were left.  THEN they believed His words; they sang His praise.

But then they soon forgot His works…”  Ps 106:10-13a.

Observation:    

The Psalmist is recounting the works of the Lord.  He also is recounting His ways.  Works and Ways: could I write such an account for my life?  Could I compose such a succinct summary?  Could I remember of His doings and not forget?

Application:    

The sin of Israel: They soon forgot!
Forgetting of the Works and Ways of the Lord God leads into so many expressions of evil.  It did for Israel anyway.  Probably works the same for me.  In fact I know it does.

Here is something I was wondering while reading the selections Psalm 104 through 106: Could I do as thorough a job as the Psalmist did?  Could I do half; maybe a quarter-shucks, could I be 1% as focused on the Works of our God as he was?

Candidly, I couldn’t.  Not in any kind of contemporary sense, anyway.

As a husband, I am only scratching the surface of recalling the deeds of God in my life-and then making sure that I keep them referenced often with my wife and the guy in the mirror.  Why the guy in the mirror?  Because I can fall into the trap of being able to teach but not learning the lessons myself.  Why my wife?  Because this is included in the job of the husband-to exalt the Lord God in every aspect of life concerning the family.

Here is a nifty observation: Do you realize that the injunction to declare the Gospel starts from the smallest to the largest venue?  When it is said “Preach the Gospel to ourselves” that is in a backhanded reminder that just like Israel we can quickly forget.  Then we preach the Gospel to an ever increasing circle of people: Friends—then Family—then Small Groups—-then Church—then finally, outside the Church.  Why is it this way?  So we can Practice!!  Want to get good at the Gospel?  Practice in the safety provided by God Himself so, just like the Disciples, we can be sent out effectively.  Anyway, I want to be part of that community that are People of the Book.  It is important because the Bible is the self-revelation of Jesus Himself.  All that He is the Bible reveals.

Back to the subject matter: One day I am going to try to write a Psalm-just to see if I can.

Prayer:    

Father, help me not fall into the easy trap of forgetting You and Your works and Your ways.  Help me keep my mind firmly and steadfastly on You.  I want to pray without ceasing; to learn how to see and acknowledge Your Hand everywhere I see.  I want to hear Your Whisper through the breath of the leaves; as I close my eyes to sense Your presence.

Thank You for saving me from Your much deserved Wrath and providing Redemption through the Blood of Jesus, O God.  AMEN.

Scripture:

Psalm 92:4
For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

Observation:

Worship is a result of the character and actions of God. His works cause us to respond in gladness and singing.

Application:

The Lord is good. He is majestic. He is Holy. He is righteous. He is gracious. He is worthy to be worshipped.

A couple things…

-I must remind myself of His goodness. In a busy and sometimes confusing life we must remind ourselves of all that God has done and who He is. The culture and the system of this world will work against this. However, it is important for me to remember.

-When I remember, I must respond. Clap my hands, lift my voice, sing a new song! In the same way I respond in a sporting event I must respond to Jesus. He has done great things. He is worthy to be worshipped!

Prayer:

Father, thank you for your love and for your works. May I respond in worship. May I not get distracted with all the things “wrong” in the world and miss out on what you are doing in my life and in the world around me!

Scripture – 

“For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.”

Observation –

Psalm 97 is all about the supremacy of God. The chapter describes how the Lord reigns over the earth. He is sovereign, in control, righteous, and worthy to be worshipped.

Application – 

Life can so often be filled with anxiety and wondering. Psalm 97 serves as a reminder that at the end of the day God reigns and He is in control. Today I need to trust Him and be reminded that He is over all.

Prayer – 

God thank You for Your sovereignty. Help me to rest in knowing that you are in control over everything.