Cornerstone
In reading a book by Dr. Jeremiah, he included a passage written by John Phillips, “Governments may be weak or strong, just or oppressive, benevolent or cruel, wise or foolish, but in each case, God has His way and moves His own plans forward. Democracies and dictatorships alike are under His control….Nations come and go, kingdoms rise and fall, empires wax and wane, but behind them all is God, overruling in the affairs of men….From our viewpoint, the strands may seem tangled, meaningless, hopelessly knotted, unequal and wrong. But the tapestry He is weaving is perfect, and all the pressures of Satanic force and human sin are floriously overruled by a God who is both omnipotent and omniscient.”
What an awesome God we have!
Cornerstone
Did you know going to church is training you for a battle? Church is not meant for the sole purpose of entertaining the congregation.
To excel in music one has to put forth effort and practice, in sports the rigorous training allows the athlete to compete while under pressure. Shouldn’t church do the same? Sitting on the sidelines is not going to prepare you for when you are faced with spiritual battles.
In matters of the Bible, God used average citizens but He made sure they were prepared. Moses early life under Pharaoh was excellent training for a leader, David fought lions and bears that threatened his sheep; his training allowed him to fight a giant warrior and win.
Without putting forth effort and commitment, how will you be prepared when the spiritual battle attacks? Consider attending the men or women’s Bible study group, attend Sunday school, or volunteer so that you are growing in spiritual fitness.
Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”
Cornerstone
One of my most memorable services at LCPC was a Maundy Service. Each person was invited to write on a piece a paper something we sought forgiveness and then nailed our paper to the cross.
The power and weight of my sin being transferred and bore by Jesus came alive that night as I held the hammer in my hand and struck the nail head deeper and deeper into the cross until the nail held my sin.
I walked away in silence, deep in thought of the event that took place 2,000 years ago. As I tried to recall what I wrote, I could not remember. When I closed my eyes and try to envision my sin on the paper, my paper was blank, tears rolled down my cheek. This is truly what Jesus did for us.
Isaiah 1:18 “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.” Jesus took our fall, so that our sins could be cleansed.