H20

Let’s talk about water. Water is amazing to me, and isn’t it incredible to realize the powers it holds? What is water able to do?

                Water has the power to destroy life. With a hard rainfall and a monstrous current, water can take out hill sides, it can destroy houses, and it can suck the life out of oxygen-breathing creatures. Water finds the vulnerable parts of buildings and structures, causing rot and destruction. If you do not respect water, then you will surely pay the consequences of not playing by its rules. Some even pay with their own lives. 

                Water, on the other hand, has the power to give life. How many times have you seen a rain fall on a scorched ground? Doesn’t it seem that amongst the brown, shriveled grass immediately there sprouts tiny, green blades of grass, in what seems like only a few minutes? Why does every living creature need some form of H20 in order to survive? The answer is that water brings life. Humans, animals, plants and all sorts of different creatures and things survive on water. Water is there to give life, if we play by its rules and use it appropriately. 

                The power of water reminds me of the power that God holds. Like water, God has the power to give life to those who are His (John 3:16; Romans 6:23). On the other hand, God has the power to destroy our lives. It’s like Jesus said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28, NASB). We need to respect God and His word. As the psalmist said about the man who meditates in the law of the Lord (Psalm 1:2), “He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prosper”  (1:3). If we lean upon God’s word, we will flourish and gain life. On the other hand, if we deny God and His word, we will be “like chaff which the wind drives away. "Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment” (1:4). 

                Yes, water can be a wonderful thing, but at the same time, it can be one of the scariest things on the face of this planet. Let us remember this when we think about God as well. God is so wonderful to us, and He would do anything to give us life (no wonder, because He gave up His only Son!).  However, God can also be very fierce. Let us respect and follow God and His words so that we can gain the benefits of His power!

Lessons We Can Learn From Children

One does not have to be a scientist to understand the ways of children. After all, weren’t we all a child at one time? I find it interesting that our Lord praised the behavior of children to His disciples. He said, “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it” (Mark 10:15, ESV). If one has to act like a child in order to enter the kingdom of God (aka the church, e.g. Matthew 16:13-19), then it would do us well to investigate applicable behaviors of children to see how one enters the kingdom. 

First, children depend on their parents. Once a baby comes into this life, it is totally dependent upon its parents for its survival. It depends on its parents for food, cleanliness, clothing, warmth, comfort, etc. Their dependence on their parents creates a trust that will turn them towards their parents in nearly every situation – when they hurt, when they’re hungry, when they’re sad, and in every negative situation. Like children, we too need to be dependent and trusting upon Christ if we want to Enter the Kingdom of God (e.g. Mark 10:23-27; Proverbs 3:5-6).

Second, children mimic their parents. Because of the child’s trust and dependence upon its parents, the child learns to identify itself as a part of the family, hence, mimicking the parent’s actions.  I’m sure those with kids can agree with this statement. How many times have you seen your little child dress the way you dress, or say the things you say? Like children, we too need to mimic the actions of Christ and live as He lived if we want to Enter the Kingdom of God (e.g. John 8:12; 13:13-17; 14:15; 1 John 2:3-6).

Third, children are loyal to their parents. Because of the above reasons, a child learns to be loyal to its parents. The child gets proud of its parents and stands up for them, defends, loves, and respects them. Like children, we too need to be loyal to Christ if we want to Enter, or might I say Remain, in the Kingdom of God (e.g. John 15:1-11).

                We have to ask the question though, why? Why do children depend, trust, mimic, and why are they loyal to their parents? The answer is, because their parents provide, take care, cherish, and are sacrificial for them. Really, the answer is because they first loved the child, not the other way around. It is the same with Christ. He first loved us (e.g. Ephesians 5:1-2; 1 John 4:19), and has provided a way for us to be saved. We can only be saved if we go to Him as a humble child with reliance on Him for salvation, trust that He will give us this, mimicking our lives after His, and remaining loyal to Him as our Savior.    

        

A Friendly Reminder

The other day I watched, “The Passion of the Christ”, for the first time.  Yes, I am a little behind in times, I suppose, for a movie that came out in 2004. I kept on waiting for an opportunity to watch it, but anytime I had the opportunity, I did not feel like watching a depiction of Christ being murdered. It seemed too sad and depressing to me. Finally, my wife and I decided to sit down and watch it.

Although the movie is full of denominational ideology that needs to be ignored, seeing Jesus beaten on a pole, and murderously crucified sparked a thought in my mind. This was a thought that we all know of – a thought that is not groundbreaking by any means. Still, this is clear, that it is an emotional and wonderful thought all at the same time. The thought was this:

He suffered…for me?? He was beaten by the hands of hateful men…for me?? He was scourged by whips made with long strands of medal-clad leather that with every swipe ripped apart his flesh…for me?? He had a crown of thorns forced into his head…for me?? He was mocked while walking up that hill, carrying a heavy, splinter-covered cross upon his already mutilated back…for me?? He was nailed to that cross…for me??...He died…for me??

Jesus Christ came and died for you and me. The prophet Isaiah says, “But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed” (53:5, NASB). We who were worthy of death, have the chance to be set free through His death (e.g. Romans 6:23). With this realization in mind, it should make us think of an even greater realization. This is a realization that we as humans tend to forget many times, and are always benefited by a reminder.  The realization is this:

                If He gave up His life for me, doesn’t that mean that I need to give up my life for Him??

                We can get so busy in this life, with our habitual religion, occupations, family, friends, sports, TV, entertainment, vacations, sleeping, meals, and the list could go on and on. I hope that we are not letting ourselves forget just how important this life is to us. We only have one chance to make it right. That means that our church life is going to be centered on Christ and seeking the New Testament church He established in His blood (e.g. Acts 20:28). That means during our everyday lives we are going to live a Christ-like example to those around us (Ephesians 5:1-9). That means we are going to treat our family the way Christ wants us to treat them (5:21-31; 6:1-4). That means we are going to make Christ-like decisions with entertainment (e.g. Titus 2:11-14). That really means everything is going to be centered on Christ and His word – our daily lives, our philosophy, and our entire being.

                Yes, this life is important to us. So important in fact that Christ gave up His life so that we would have a chance to be saved. If He is willing to give up His life for us, the very least we can do in return for such a gift is to accept it by living the way Christ has installed in His word.

                With that said, another thought resonated in my mind while I was watching that movie, and it was this, “If he died for me, what am I doing for Him?” This is a thought, or should I say, a question that we all must ask, are we living for Christ? After all, not only did He live, but He died for you and me.

                The only way we can live for Christ is to be saved the way He wants us to be saved. Until we are saved from our sins, the way He has installed in His word, we have no right to even begin living for Him. If you would like to know how He has directed for us to be saved, I hope you will contact this writer. I would be pleased to show you His wonderful plan He has given us in His word. Please, contact me on Facebook, or by commenting below.