On this Labor Day, I am thankful for being able to work, for having a job, for the freedom to choose the type of work I love and for those that labor along side me.  In several places believers in Christ are called God’s coworkers.  What does that mean?

Paul, in 1 Corinthians 3 describes his ‘co-working’ for God.  “⁵ What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.⁶ I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. ⁷ So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. ⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. ⁹ For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.    Apollos was a new testament believer that Paul met and taught, then he went out and taught others about Jesus.  Paul calls both of them servants working to spread the gospel of Christ neither is greater than the other.  From the one who first tells of Jesus to the one who teaches, they both have an invaluable place in God’s work.  God alone is the one who accomplishes the growth from the seeds we plant and water.

This position of being a co-worker with God in His kingdom is a place of honor and true significance.  Our purpose is clear- tell others about Jesus and honor God in all we do.  Isn’t that how we want to be known in our place of work?  We want others to listen to what we have to say- thus we need to be able to listen.  We want others to work beside us-thus we have to be able to work with others and cooperate towards a common goal.  We want the freedom to work and achieve thus we have to be willing to allow the Holy Spirit to motivate, inspire and center us for God’s work.   Being a coworker with God is an awesome responsibility and a great privilege.

Prayer:  Thank you Lord for giving me the privilege to work along side you in ministry.  I know you could do all the work yourself, but you allow me to stand, tell and show the world who you are in my life.  Thank you for your indwelling Holy Spirit that motivates, guides and completes me  so that I can be an effective worker for you.  Amen.

Have a blessed Labor Day!

Linda

Paul explains in 2 Corinthians 5:20 that we have a special job and position in Christ’s kingdom.  “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”   Before going any farther, I think I need a definition of who and what an ambassador is.  The dictionary says an ambassador is the highest ranking diplomatic representative appointed by a government to represent them in another country, a special representative.   By Paul referring to us as ambassadors he shows our status in regard to the kingdom of God.  The indwelt believer is indeed God’s mouthpiece, model and witness to a world that is desperately in need of a Savior.  As Christ’s ambassadors we proclaim Jesus to the word and implore them to become reconciled to God by faith in Jesus.  We are the highest ranking person in God’s kingdom here on earth entrusted with this sacred duty.  When you consider your job or work in the kingdom in this light, you can see that you- the believer- are the heart of His ministry here to the world around us.  We are the ones that non-believers see and view Christ through us.  It is sobering to know that they judge God by what they see in our words, deeds and actions.  The way we live is important to our witness.  Hebrews 13:18 reminds us that we need prayer to stand firm in Him. “Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.”   

As you go about today– thank Jesus for making you His ambassador- it is a privileged position. -thank Jesus for the power He gives so that we can be successful in this job bringing honor and glory to Him. -be open to His leading so that you may boldly proclaim Him where ever He has placed you.

Living for Jesus is an exciting and challenging position.

Linda

This summer I have loved looking at all the ‘things’ I have because of Christ.   A very privileged position we, as believers, hold is being called Jesus’ friends.   John 15:15  “No longer do I call you servants,^[a] for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”    Jesus makes the distinction between a servant and a friend.  A servant is one who just does the bidding of his master, one who works without knowing the plans, motives and purposes behind what he is doing and receives little to no reward for his service.   Whereas as a friend is someone who is brought into close confidence with him and one with whom Jesus shares His knowledge of the Father.  In scripture Abraham was referred to as a friend of God.  James 2:23 ” and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.”  Through his faith and faithfulness towards God, Abraham was recognized by God as His friend and he was rewarded with righteousness.

Friendship with God brings us a closeness like Abraham and knowledge of who He is and what He desires for mankind.  We share in His vision and purpose when we are His friends.  I have a really close friend that now lives in LA.   For years we lived close enough to see each other each week and share our hopes, dreams, struggles and worries.  We supported one another in prayer, gave encouragement and listened with a heart of love.   Proverbs 17:17a “A friend loves at all times,”  describes my friend.  She was there for me and stood by me.   My friend is still my friend even though I don’t see her every week.  I know I can call her and she will listen, pray and encourage me no matter what.  Jesus is even more a friend as He goes beyond all earthly friendships.  He intercedes for us with the Father (Romans 8:26), He listens and encourages me through prayer (Hebrews 4:15)  and through others.  He has His good planned for me (Jeremiah 29:11) and loves me (John 3:16).   Just like Abraham, I need to be faithful and full of faith then His righteousness will be credited to me too.  Knowing Jesus, being washed by His blood and cleansed will impute His righteousness to me.  Proverbs 22:11 “He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.

As a follower of Christ, You can call Jesus your friend.  What a blessed friendship it is!

Linda

     

                

There are 2 powerful verses in Ephesians that define our place with God and our access to Him.  Ephesians 2:18-19  “For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,”  Because of him (Jesus) we have access to God through the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Because of his death and resurrection we are no longer isolated by our sin but belong to God through our faith in Jesus.  He sees us as sons and daughters and citizens in heaven awaiting a time when we will live eternally with Him.  Scripture is filled with evidence of these truths.   Here are a few references for you to check out.

We have access to God through Jesus’ work on the cross and indwelling Holy Spirit.   Romans 10:10-12, Ephesians 2:21-22,  Ephesians 3:12-13,  Hebrews 7:25,  Colossians 1:18-20.  1 John 4:13 “This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.”

We are fellow citizens in heaven and members of His household.  If we are members of His household then He is our father.   “Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,Father.”  Galatians 4:6  

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,”  Philippians 3:20    Jesus went to prepare our heavenly home.  He promised us we would be with Him.   John 14:1-4 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.”

What a privileged position we hold.  Christ sent His Holy Spirit to live within us and give us access to Him 24/7.  We can come before Him anytime be it day or night.  Hebrews 10:22-23 encourages us to come before God with a humble spirit and live with assurance that He is faithful and will meet our needs.  “ Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswerving to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”

Since we live in the hear and now, I often forget that I already am a citizen of heaven and that in the future my home will be there with God.  As for now, I can revel in the fact that I can stay in constant communication with Jesus through His indwelling Holy Spirit and that He is interceding for me there in heaven.   Romans 8:26-27 confirms this, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”    Do you see yourself as being heaven bound?  Do you know for a fact that the Holy Spirit intercedes for you, on your behalf?  Take some time and mediate on your heavenly position and the grace God shows you though Jesus.  If you don’t know Him, pray for Jesus to come into your heart and your life today.  Acknowledge your own sinfulness and need for a savior.  Then thank Him and begin your redeemed life.

This picture is a good reminder of how we belong to Jesus for eternity.  Be encouraged today!

Linda

 

 

 

This statement of fact about those who belong to the Lord Jesus is found in 1 Thessalonians.  Paul wanted to warn the Thessalonian Christians that as they waited for the Lord to return as He promised, they were to be awake, aware and encouraged.

1 Thessalonians 5:5-8  “For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.  So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.  But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.”

Throughout scripture light has been associated with God- He created light (Genesis 1:3), He is our light and our salvation(Psalm 27:1), He will be our everlasting light (Isaiah 60:19) and Jesus proclaimed himself to be the light of the world on multiple occasions.  John 8:12 Jesus said,  “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”   Jesus tells us we are children of God when we believe in Him.  He made that relationship possible to us through His death and resurrection.  Belief in Jesus as the light, purity, holy God brings us to the light of God where we can be in a position to reflect that light in our lives.  Here He calls us children of light.  What a privileged place that is- wholesome, pure, without a shadow of darkness.  The opposite to being a child of light is being a child of darkness.  Satan, all evil and sin are associated with darkness and it is a state that leads to death.  Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Without Jesus we are walking in darkness and are not guided by the ‘light of life’.  There is no gray area, not partial belief.  Partial belief is unbelief and will result in eternal death.  The end for the believer is life with Christ for the non-believer death and separation from God.

I love that Paul tells us in verse 8 above “But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.”   Belonging to Christ, the day, we have faith and love to clothe and protect ourselves.  We have salvation and the hope of eternity protecting our thinking, thoughts and future.  We are to take this place of light seriously and be on guard, awake and aware of the enemy who would love to lure us back into the darkness.  1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”   We don’t need to be afraid but on guard, always standing firm with the Lord.

I love that as a child of God- I am in the light.  How about you?  Are you feeling sunny and reflective of God’s love and light to the world?  God will use you where ever you are to reflect His love and light to others.  Shine for Him today.

Linda

The verse in Ephesians that describes believers as the workmanship of God was our memory verse several years ago for our church Day Camp.  There are several different translations of this verse that can help shed light on this unique position of believers.  “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 ESV

NIV translates workmanship as God’s handiwork

NLT calls us His masterpiece

HCSB says we are His creation

The Living (TLB) says we are what He has made us

The Amphified goes the extra mile adding several words: ” For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus”

Each translation adds a new dimension to the definition of what it means for us to be called His Workmanship.  God created us to do His work in the world.  He even prepared those good things He wants us to do for Him before we were even born.  God wants us to walk with Him and do good works in the name of Jesus to bring glory to His name.  It pleases God when we obey and serve Him.

It means a lot to me that God thought enough of me to create me for good works.  He desires that I accomplish great things for Him.  He wants me to be a masterpiece or a true work of art in the name of Jesus.  When we recognize that we are not just a dot to God but a whole canvas masterpiece, we realize how much He loves us and wants good for us.

If you were doubting yourself or your existence today, doubt no more!  God has created you for good things and desires that you accomplish them in and through Jesus.  It is a privileged work He has for us in a privileged place.  Take a tour of God’s museum of life and walk with Him.  He will show you all the good pieces that are treasures to behold!

Focus on Jesus and let God make your canvas perfect in Him.

Linda

In 1 Corinthians Paul is talking to the Corinthian believers about wisdom and how we can know and discern the things of God.  “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”  1 Corinthians 2:14-16  With our natural mind we can’t know the things of God but with the indwelling Holy Spirit we can understand God and know Him.  The spiritual person is not to be judged by the opinions of unbelievers who consider the things of God to be foolish.  We are only held accountable to God, His standard of conduct is the only one we need consider.  We are assured that the indwelt believer has the mind of Christ.

So what does that mean to you?  As I pondered that thought, James 3:17 came to mind, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere”.   Having the mind of Christ would mean we have access to godly wisdom as described here.   We could have pure thoughts, a spirit of peace in our words, gentle presentation of our thoughts to others, reasonable thoughts not prone to wander or be self-serving,  thoughts filled with mercy,  thoughts that produce good things for ourselves and others, thoughts without bias and thoughts that are always sincere not fake in any way.  I know that having the mind of Christ is a growing process and does not happen overnight.  As we draw near to God we are promised in James 4:8 that God will draw near to us.  The closer we walk with Jesus the more we can think and act as He would.  A mind that is governed by Jesus would be glorifying to God and produce a vibrant and whole life for us.  Consider the words of James today as you go about your daily routine.  What part of the mind of Christ, the wisdom that comes from above, are you seeing in your life?  Where do you want to grow?

Prayer:  Lord, I desire to be more and more like Jesus.  Show me where I can use godly wisdom today as I interact with people and events.  Reveal to me ways I can exercise your wisdom in my life and walk more closely with You.  Amen.

Striving to have to mind of Christ, more and more each day,

Linda

I love the children’s song.. “This little light of mine.  I’m gonna let it shine.”  It innocently speaks of how Jesus wants us to shine for Him.   In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke plainly of qualities true believers and followers of Him would possess.  “You are the salt of the earth.”  “You are the light of the world.”  Matthew 5:13,14.  He went on to explain that salt that loses it’s saltiness becomes worthless.  So how are we to be ‘salty’ in the world.  Salt has many uses.  It is used to preserve, heal, make tasty, and clean up.  As Christians we are to keep Jesus where the world can see Him- in our lives.  We are to heal the world by telling them about Him.  We are to add flavor- purity, honor, integrity, etc. to the world and remind them of God.  And, we are  to be abrasive, causing a rub with the grit of the world so they will remember God and be pointed to Jesus.

Likewise we are to be light, where ever we are placed.  Jesus said we are not to hide our light- His light in our lives, but we are to light up the world with His light.  He wants us to shine so the world will see our good deeds and praise our Father in heaven.  Light also had many uses- it dispels darkness, allows us to see where we are going and where we have been, it is warm and comforting.  Your presence is a reminder to the world of Christ and Satan cannot abide where there is light.  His light guides us and He shows us His way in the Word which we can read in the light.  Light brings warmth and goodness to the world in His name.

I love thinking about the qualities of light and salt and reflecting how Jesus wants us to act in this world.  Without Jesus showing himself in and through our lives, the world would be a dark and tasteless place.   Where do you need to be salt and light today?

Prayer:   Thank you Jesus for giving me worth and purpose in your kingdom. Show me where you want me to be salt and light.   Use me to bring others to you.   In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Basking in the light of Jesus,

Linda

 

The idea of approaching Almighty God has been fraught with fear and trembling down through the ages.  However, if we look at Genesis 2 and 3 we see that in the beginning man existed in the garden and had a relationship with God.  Adam and Eve did not fear God until they ate from the tree of knowledge, then they knew sin.  Through the work of Jesus on the cross, we can now come near to God.  Jesus has made us clean and presents us to the Father.  I love the following verses:

Ephesians 3:12 “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”

Hebrews 4:16 “ Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

The benefits of approaching God are listed here- freedom, confidence, mercy, grace and help in our time of need.   What a wonderful God we serve.  He knows that sin binds us and keeps us prisoners- slaves to our old sin nature.  Through Jesus we find freedom and the ability to come to God.  He also knows that without Him we lack confidence to confront the problems of our lives, the heartaches of living in a sin-filled world and are filled with self-doubt.  Through Jesus we can have confidence and assurance as we approach Him.   God knows that we need mercy and grace to fill our lives.  He possesses these in abundance.  In 2 Corinthians 12:9 Jesus reminded Paul about His grace. “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in in weakness.”  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”  Lastly, God promises to help us in our time of need.  We can live with assurance that God will be there for us-no matter what, no matter when and no matter where.  In Deuteronomy 31:6  God proclaims: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”   He promises to be with us calming our fears all day and night.

I am so thankful that God has given us, in Christ, the ability to bring our cares, burdens, worries, joys and sorrows to Him.  He will always listen and has good things planned for us. (Jeremiah:29:11)

What do you need today?  Do you need help with a problem, mercy, grace, confidence or freedom in some area?  Bring it to Jesus and lay it at His feet.  He will be there for you guaranteed.

Trusting God as I come to Him,

Linda

Have you ever thought about how you look, taste, smell or feel to God?  According to 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 we have the smell of life to God because of Jesus.   “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.”  The verse also says that to the unsaved we are the smell of death.  Why would that be the case?   The unsaved have no love or appreciation for Christ.  They have no faith in his power to save and are stuck in their sin which leads to death.  Romans 6:23 “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Through Him we are washed clean and are sweet smelling.  There is no death or sin smell about us.  We do not remind God of sin as we are redeemed and according to Jeremiah 31:34 “‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”  The Lord sees us as pure and righteous because of what Jesus did for us on the cross.  

So next question is- where are you spreading the sweet smell of Christ?  Do people feel uplifted after having a conversation with you?  Do they see you doing ‘sweet’ things for others without thinking about yourself?   Jesus calls us to be self-less in our witness for Him.  As you head out this week, remember you are wherever God has put you , uniquely you, to be that sweet smell, aroma of Christ in the world.

Knowing Jesus and bathing in His Word keep us sweet smelling!

Linda