Stretching Out for Jesus

nofearlindaLeave a comment

Today’s passage comes from Luke 5 but is also found in Matthew 9. Jesus was speaking in parables to help the disciples and crowds to understand biblical concepts. First, Jesus started with the idea of patching clothes with using new cloth to mend and old garment. They would not match and be out of place. Next, Jesus talked about the custom of putting new wine into new wineskins. The reason you did not want to put new wine into old previously used wineskins was that when the wine fermented it expanded. Old wineskins are not as flexible as they were when new and are already stretched to their limit. New wine in them would cause them to burst as the wine fermented and expanded.

Here are Jesus’ words from Luke 5:36-39: Then Jesus gave them this illustration: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and uses it to patch an old garment. For then the new garment would be ruined, and the new patch wouldn’t even match the old garment. 37 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. 38 New wine must be stored in new wineskins. 39 But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.”

What biblical concept was Jesus trying to convey? Why would they need to know about putting on new patches or using new wineskins? The religious leaders of the day were not open to the light of truth Jesus was bringing to the world. They wanted things to stay the ‘same’ and for all things religious to be under their control. They had so perverted the laws and requirements that it had become burdensome for living and had strayed away from the truths of God. They rejected Jesus as they did not want to give up their control over the people. Jesus was trying to tell his disciples that His was a new way, a new wineskin, a new patch, and needed to be presented and used in a new way. The old way was not ‘just fine’ like the religious leaders wanted. Jesus repeatedly said He was a new way. Jesus’ new way would lead them to eternal life and light in Him. John 8:12  “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 17:3  “And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.” Jesus wanted them to see a new way that would lead to a new life. As his parable illustrated it could not be done using the old or comfortable ways.

What truth do we learn from this for our lives? Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can be new in Him shedding the baggage of my old self and be ready to expand and live productively for Jesus. Is it easy? No, with new ways come stretching and growth, but Jesus promises to be with us and in us all the way. Deuteronomy 31:6 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.” Don’t be afraid to stretch out for Him, He is always with you!

Linda

Pull out the Windex if you are feeling muddy!

nofearlindaLeave a comment

In today’s put on passage we see Jesus putting mud on the blind man’s eyes. John 9:1-15 recounts the story of a man born blind who met Jesus near the pool of Siloam. The disciples asked Jesus, who sinned that this man was born blind? Jesus answered no one’s sin caused his blindness as his healing will show God’s great work. Jesus was making the point that until He came the world, it was a place of darkness, bound by sin but He came with the light of salvation for all who would believe. In John 9:5 Jesus proclaims He is light, 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Then he made mud and put it on the blind man’s eyes and told him to go wash. He went and washed and could see.

Neighbors questioned him, Are you the blind man? He insisted he was the former blind man. They wanted to know how it happened. 11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” Then they wanted to know where this Jesus was and the man said did not know. 13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”

I love this story as we see Jesus using the man’s blindness as a metaphor for the spiritual darkness of the people. Jesus put mud on the man’s eyes and he was able to see when he washed it away. He gained light in his dark world. Jesus was making the point that He was and is the light of the world and if we want to see, have spiritual clarity, we need to come to Him. Jesus alone has the healing prescription for our souls. The mud covered the darkness of the man’s eyes and when removed he could see. Likewise, Jesus’ blood covers the darkness of our sin and when washed by His blood we are able to see Him and receive His light into our lives.

Do you have an area that is muddy in your life that needs to be washed? Are you seeing the true light of life fully or do you need to get out some Windex and clean up your soul? The ‘Windex’ of God is Jesus’ living water that will clean any amount of dirt from our souls! John 7:38 “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” Want to be clean and filled with His living water? Confess and repent before Jesus and He will cleanse you. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Get rid of the mud today so you can see clearly the light of Jesus. His light is the light of life!

Linda

Let’s Not… and Choose to Live Redeemed, Thriving in Christ

nofearlindaLeave a comment

Yesterday in Ephesians 4:22-24 Paul exhorted us to ‘put on’ a new self in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit living within each believer. The next verses continue and remind us of what we need to ‘put off’ as well. In Ephesians 4:25-32, Paul gets really specific about what actions we need to put away or put off so that the new self in Christ can thrive.

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.  We are to not lie to each other. Stop the little falsehoods that make us look better and the other person less. We are to remember we are all here as believers joined together in His body to glorify Him.

26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.  Unrighteous anger, and holding grudges allows Satan to infiltrate your mind and actions, and let’s him have an in with you. Don’t let this happen!

28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Check your motives and work for the common good-sharing and loving one another in Christ. Selfish gains have no place in the body of Christ.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  Watch what you say- it is important to build each other up not tear one another down.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Those things that are sinful grieve God when we do them. We don’t’ think we are hurting others but we are making God sad by our sinful words, deeds, thoughts and actions. Our desire should be to please God not grieve Him.

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Paul is very specific- get rid of the bad attitudes and actions, evil and hurt. They are not to be part of our new character in Christ!

32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Paul’s final reminder of what God desires of us in Christ.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can choose to be kind, compassionate and forgiving towards others; I can put off those non God honoring behaviors that are destructive to myself and those around me. Praise God! Through Christ Alone is this possible.

Linda

Jesus, Are You Seeing the New Me?

nofearlindaLeave a comment

Scripture is amazing as God has central ideas that He brings to us over and over. One of my favorite reassurances is that God will never leave us nor forsake us. He promises to be with us 24/7. Another reoccurring idea it for us to ‘put off’ our old self, our old nature and ‘put on’ the new nature we now have through Christ. Ephesians 4:22- 24 “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

We need to be constantly reminded that IN CHRIST we are now DIFFERENT! His Holy Spirit now indwells us and helps and guides us to make decisions about the way we live, talk and act that are glorifying to God. Because it is an old nature and not a gone nature, we are in constant battle with our old self and old ways of thinking and acting. One day, when we are with Jesus in heaven, our old nature and bent towards sinning will be completely gone, and we will be free from the presence of sin. Right now we are free from the power of sin over our lives, but we have to stay connect to Jesus and focused on Him to keep that old nature packed away. In Christ I have a new mind and a new attitude!

I am encourage today by Paul’s words that our new nature creates in us God’s true righteousness and holiness’ through Jesus. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I am free in Christ, covered by His righteousness, having a new mind and heart attitude in Him.

Thank you Jesus. Through your power, I can put that old nature away and focus on the new life I have in You.

Linda

What Christ endured for me, I’m Humbled by His Love

nofearlindaLeave a comment

Today’s ‘put on verse’ will cause you to consider the cost of our sins to our Savior Jesus.

John 19:2 says “The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe.” and 1 Peter 2:24 ““He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

Lent is a time of reflection about our sinfulness and how we can best emulate His character thought the power of the Holy Spirit. Consider what Jesus suffered: the beatings, the trials, the ridicule, the unbelief that what he said was true, the placement with thieves and robbers, and the hanging on the cross with its torture, pain and humiliation. He suffered all of that and in so doing took on the sins of the world- past, present and future. He suffered so we can know Him, be in a relationship with Him, live with Him eternally and have His Holy Spirit living within us. There is nothing we can ever do to earn or deserve that kind of love, devotion and sacrifice. John 3:16 reminds us of Jesus’ motive for going to the cross, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God loved us so much; He sent Jesus to bring us into a right relationship with Him and experience eternal life. Through Christ we can be righteous, holy and pure in God’s eyes because when God looks at us, He sees Jesus’ blood covering our sins. I am amazed and humbled by God’s love and Jesus’ sacrifice. He put on the crown of thorns for me and went to the cross. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can live forgiven and restored to a right relationship with Him.

What can I ever do for Him? Remember Jesus saying the greatest commandment and then #2. Matthew 22:34-39 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ When we love God and love others with His love, we honor Him=He is glorified.

Also consider Micah 6:8 “And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.” We cannot act with justice, love, mercy and humility without the power of the Holy Spirit within us. So lean into Him, ask His help through prayer, learn about Him from His Word, join other believers in worship and fellowship and seek to show others your love for Jesus.

Linda

Third Sunday of Lent, 2022

nofearlindaLeave a comment

Each Sunday I have been highlighting a portion of Psalm 139. Not only do I love this Psalm but it is one of my friend Elizabeth’s favorite portions of scripture (See Favorite Bible Verses for Confident Living in Jesus series). She had many that she uses for specific situations that give her strength, however, this was her favorite psalm. I decided to bring you a portion of this wonderful psalm each Sunday during Lent. On the First Sunday we discovered how God knows all there is to know about our thoughts and motives. The Second Sunday we learned there is no where we can go that God cannot find us, and that He will always be our light in a dark world. Here are verses Psalm 139: 13-16.

13 For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

These verses assure us that God made us even as we were developing. He knows us and nothing about us is hidden from Him. That can be both assuring and scary as God knows our innermost thoughts, desires and motives. He see our actions and will hold us accountable for all our deeds and words. May the thought that your creator knows you bring you comfort, as He assures us that there is nothing we are going through that He did not foresee or allow. He promises to be with us wherever we go and He is greater than anything we can ever face.

One last thought from the line- Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. I find great comfort in knowing God’s works are wonderful and good. Things do not happen by chance and are for His glory and my good. Also, my soul understands the wonder of God even if I don’t fully get it. My finite mind cannot grasp the magnitude of God’s greatness, but my soul knows it and realized who God is. Thank you Lord for the greater understanding you give to my soul. May it be transmitted to my heart more and more each day.

Blessings this third Sunday of Lent.

Linda

New Life is Awesome! I can’t say enough.

nofearlindaLeave a comment

Today’s ‘put on’ verse comes from Hebrews 8:10-13. The author of Hebrews is talking about the ‘new covenant’ that God made with those who believe in Him through Christ. I love the images and words used in these verses- let them sink into your heart and soul.

This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel
    after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
    and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.
11 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
    or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
    from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness
    and will remember their sins no more.”

13 By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

God and his covenant with his people has not changed because God does not change. He promised to be our God and we will be His people. That applied to the ancient Hebrew people and new believers who accepted Christ as their savior. The thing that changed was the scope and method of knowing God. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can know God and have His ways written on my heart through the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit. Praise God! We can now know and experience God and His love intimately through Christ. We can be assured of our salvation, our relationship with Him is one of Father and child, we are adopted into His forever family and we will dwell with Him for eternity. Our relationship with Christ begins at the moment we accept Jesus as savior and take His gift of faith, and it fills our life from then on.

Praise God! We can live a new life in Christ!

Linda

Words from Paul on How To- Put on the Good Stuff!

nofearlindaLeave a comment

In yesterday’s blog from Colossians 3:1-10, Paul began with the reason we have a new life to put on. Christ is the reason for our new life and with that new life we are to put off, put away, stop doing things that are not godly. Paul had quite a list for us to consider: 3:5, 8-9 “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” “But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.

In today’s scripture from Colossians 3:12-14, Paul tells us what we are to put on, as we seek to live for Jesus. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Because we now belong to Christ, Jesus wants us dressed in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness and love. Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 22:37-40, when asked what is the greatest commandment,  “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Putting on godly behavior means seeking to love the Lord and all those around us. Jesus put it this way in John 13: 34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Becoming a Christian is more that acknowledging Christ as your Lord and Savior. It is about growing in His character through the power of the Holy Spirt, so that others will see Him and His love through you. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can love God and show His love to those around me in the things I say and do. Have a little ‘put on’ check today. Ask yourself, am I acting in a way that others can see Jesus in my actions? Am ready to forgive when wronged? Am I being loving to those I know and those I don’t? Meditate on Colossians 3:12-14 as you ponder these questions. Also consider your own growth as a Christian and whether or not you are open to God creating His character within you through the power of His Holy Spirit. If you are willing, He is ABLE!

Linda

The How to of Putting on the New Life in Christ

nofearlindaLeave a comment

Colossians 3:1-10 gives us why we are to ‘put on a new self in Christ’. Paul begins in verses 3:1 with the reason for our new self.  “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”  Our faith in Christ aligns us with Him and causes us to want to seek the things of God. 3:2-4 Tells us more about our new allegiance to Christ and how our thinking needs to be aligned and set on heavenly things. 2 “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Having our minds set on Christ causes us to be hidden within Him, protected by His righteousness and salvation. Paul also mentions our future is set with Christ in heaven.

With those reasons in our hearts and minds, Paul leads us to the list of unsavory actions that unbelievers or those not committed to Christ indulge in: Verses 5-7 5 “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.  Paul reminded the Colossian believers that this was what their ‘unsaved’ life looked like but No More! They are now in Christ and must put these things away and focus on their new life in Christ.

Paul tells the Colossians, and us too, that the time for action is right now, today! 8 “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.“

Putting off, turning away from and turning to Christ brings a new life in Him. With that new life comes renewal and knowledge of God. It is a blessed life that is renewed and lived hidden in Christ, protected by His love and righteousness. Today’s truth is: Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can have a new life that is renewed in Christ and leads to greater knowledge of God. Do you desire this new life? Christ has it. Turn to Him with a penitent heart and accept His gift of faith. He will lead you all the way!

Linda

Do you Need to drag out your Sackcloth?

nofearlindaLeave a comment

The action of ‘putting on’ is seen in ancient Nineveh. God called Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach a message of repentance to the Ninevites. Jonah did not want to go so he ran in the opposite direction. God confronted him in the belly of the big fish and Jonah repented of his own rebelliousness and sin and went to Nineveh. Our section begins with his preaching to the Ninevites about God’s impending destruction in 40 days if they did not repent and turn to Him.

Jonah 3:4-8  Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.6 The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, 8 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.

The king of Nineveh realized his sinfulness and turned to God. He also called his people to repent. His actions saved that generation. What did his repentance look like? Scripture describes he mourned over his sin by putting on sackcloth and sitting in ashes along with calling for a fast for everyone. Sackcloth was coarsely woven cloth that would have been scratchy and uncomfortable. Ashes were from the firepit and were a sign of mourning too. The idea was to make yourself uncomfortable so that you would contemplate your sins and abandon the cause-repenting. In fasting you are abstaining from food with the purpose of heightening your own awareness to your needs and then putting them aside as you focus on God and His goodness and your sinfulness. Mourning over your sins shows genuine humility and sorrow for sins committed before Almighty God. These action (sack cloth and ashes) were done to turn their thinking and desires away from self and towards God with a change of heart = repentance.

As I meditated on this today, I asked myself, what does my sorrow over sin look like? Does it cause me to dress differently, sit and contemplate in an uncomfortable place, pray fervently or am I inclined to fast? Our own mourning is personal, but as we see it needs to be exhibited in some way that causes you to be uncomfortable and show you are truly sorry for what you did. True repentance leads to turning in a new way or direction towards God. Remember, repentance of the heart is turning away from the worldly pull and its desires towards God and what he desires. Here are a few verses describing repentance for you to consider:

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 Our repentance turns us away from sin towards God and salvation for then their is no grief and death.

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 Our repentance leads us to find forgiveness, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and peace with Christ. Amen!

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 Our heavenly Father wants all to turn to Him, acknowledge their sin and begin anew with Christ.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can find repentance and full forgiveness in Christ. What does your repentance look like? Will you examine your heart today and see if there is any wicked way in you that needs to be changed. Christ makes all things possible.

Linda