Tags
1 Peter 2:2-10, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Boldness, Confidence IN Jesus, Faith, Forgiven, Galatians 2:20, Hebrews 4:14-16, Isaiah 61:3, Made useful to God!, Matthew 6:9-13, No shame, Philippians 1:6, Reconciliation, Restored, Restored to service!, Romans 12:1-3, Romans 8:27-31, Yesterdays made Todays!
Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 19 Making Yesterdays Todays!!!
“Therefore take no thought, saying,
What shall we eat?
or, What shall we drink?
or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things
do the Gentiles seek:)
for your heavenly Father knoweth
that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God,
and his righteousness;
and all these things
shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought
for the morrow:
for the morrow
shall take thought for the things of itself.
Sufficient unto the day
is the evil thereof.” Matthew 6:31-34
Many of us (really all of us) have a past that we aren’t necessarily proud of, but I want us to consider today God’s sufficiency to make our messed-up pasts, HIS new creation. Satan keeps some of us so wrapped up in our past that we forget that God has given us a new future (TODAY)! Oh, how I praise God for HIS power to make yesterdays todays! He takes our messes and makes them HIS beauty!
“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion,
to give unto them beauty
for ashes,
the oil of joy
for mourning,
the garment of praise
for the spirit of heaviness;
that they might be called
trees of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD,
that he might be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3
I am so grateful that God can take our ashes and make them into “beauty”—into the image of our Lord Jesus! It’s the truth that no matter how bad I /we have messed up–and believe me, I have messed up more than you know (but God knows!)—God is faithful to make something beautiful out of all that we will present to HIM, we don’t have to fret, we simply have to exercise our faith and watch God work!
“And he that searcheth the hearts
knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,
because he maketh intercession
for the saints
according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things
work together for good
to them that love God,
to them who are the called
according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow,
he also did predestinate
to be conformed
to the image of his Son,
that he might be the firstborn
among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate,
them he also called:
and whom he called,
them he also justified:
and whom he justified,
them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things?
If God be for us,
who can be against us?” Romans 8:27-31
When we come to understand that God is sufficient to make us into the image of His Son, Jesus, and that HE is working “all things” not only for our good, but for HIS glory and the benefit of a lost and dying world! He makes us into the building material of HIS kingdom.
“As newborn babes,
desire the sincere milk of the word,
that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted
that the Lord is gracious.
4 To whom coming,
as unto a living stone,
disallowed indeed of men,
but chosen of God,
and precious,
5 Ye also,
as lively stones,
are built up a spiritual house,
an holy priesthood,
to offer up spiritual sacrifices,
acceptable to God
by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture,
Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone,
elect,
precious:
and he that believeth on him
shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe
he is precious:
but unto them which be disobedient,
the stone which the builders disallowed,
the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offence,
even to them which stumble
at the word,
being disobedient:
whereunto also they were appointed.
9 But ye are a chosen generation,
a royal priesthood,
an holy nation,
a peculiar people;
that ye should shew forth the praises
of him who hath called you
out of darkness
into his marvellous light:
10 Which in time past
were not a people,
but are now the people
of God:
which had not obtained mercy,
but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:2-10
This precious Savior is ever working in us to grow us into HIS reflection. Are you being a mirror of the glory and work of our Lord, or have you allowed the world to slip into your life so much that others see more of you than Jesus? It’s a subtle thing but so harmful to our life with our Lord, and to those who need so desperately to see HIM! And praise God it’s HIS WORK not yours or mine. He is ever at work to complete the work of glory in each of His own!
“Being confident of this very thing,
that he which hath begun a good work
in you
will perform it
until the day
of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6
All this because Jesus paid the price and performs an exchange in each believer—exchanging HIS righteousness for our sin. He took on our sin (for He had none of His own) and gives to each born again believer HIS righteousness by the power of HIS Holy Spirit.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature:
old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God,
who hath reconciled us to himself
by Jesus Christ,
and hath given to us the ministry
of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ,
reconciling the world
unto himself,
not imputing their trespasses
unto them;
and hath committed unto us
the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,
as though God did beseech you
by us:
we pray you in Christ’s stead,
be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him
to be sin for us,
who knew no sin;
that we might be made
the righteousness of God
in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Even as the author of the book of Hebrews reminds us:
“Seeing then that we have a great high priest,
that is passed into the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God,
let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched
with the feeling of our infirmities;
but was in all points tempted
like as we are,
yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy,
and find grace to help
in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16
By God’s grace we can count on our Redeemer, Lord and King to transform us into His image, by HIS sacrifice and HIS grace! Yet there is a work for us to do, and that is to faithfully, daily, humbly yield to HIS work in us—to die to self and live unto Jesus and let His transforming power be seen in all we do!
“I beseech you therefore, brethren,
by the mercies of God,
that ye present your bodies
a living sacrifice,
holy,
acceptable
unto God,
which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world:
but be ye transformed
by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove
what is that good,
and acceptable,
and perfect,
will of God.
3 For I say,
through the grace given unto me,
to every man that is among you,
not to think of himself more highly
than he ought to think;
but to think soberly,
according as God hath dealt
to every man
the measure of faith.” Romans 12:1-3
What an amazing revelation and call to know that God is working “all things” for our good and His glory, and that He has told us that when we yield to His work in us, we can be transformed into a vessel of honor unto our Lord. So, my question for us today is, “Are we living in the today of God’s work in us?” Or, “Are we so caught up in the fears and shame of our yesterdays that we are of no use to our King today?” May we ever remember the principles that our Lord taught us as He gave us the model for prayer; are we seeking: His face? His will? His glory? His heart of forgiveness (both the receiving and giving of it)? His heart for holiness rather than evil? His heart for dependence on the Father’s provision? His heart and power for overcoming temptation? HIS heart for the preeminence of HIS KINGDOM? May we ever have eyes to see the true spiritual nature of our battles, our labors and find true victory in our Lord Jesus? Only when we remember Paul’s mighty words of challenge to live the “crucified” life that lives to Jesus daily!
“I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live;
yet not I,
but Christ liveth in me:
and the life which I now live
in the flesh
I live by the faith
of the Son of God,
who loved me,
and gave himself
for me.” Galatians 2:20
And a simple reminder in closing—may we ponder its truths!
“After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father
which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
in earth,
as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day
our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory,
for ever.
Amen.” Matthew 6:9-13
And if you need another reminder, spend some time rehearsing Psalm 23 this week. If HE is your shepherd, you will find that you can say with the Psalmist “I shall not want”! (Meaning “lack” not greed!). You/I can trust Him with the yesterdays and the tomorrows and live the crucified life with HIM TODAY!!!
Amen and Amen!!!
Bible Ballistics 