Category: Life In Christ

Accepting the Passover Lamb

The bitter herbs to be eaten at Passover were to remind the Israelites that they had been delivered from slavery in Egypt. Today, by the death & resurrection of Jesus Christ let us be reminded that we have been redeemed from slavery to sin and have received a final, one time propitiation (sacrifice) from our former life.

The lamb was to be without blemish; Jesus was the lamb without sin.

The Israelites were instructed to eat the meat right away after draining the blood and marking their doorposts. We should eat the meat of the Living Word immediately once we accept our Savior. How are we marked with His blood? By accepting him, we are passed over in death when we have accepted His eternal life. We are also marked by our demeanor and his light. 

This is how the Israelites were instructed to partake of the Passover, in Exodus 12:11

“And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste.” 

We are reminded again in Ephesians 6:14-17

“Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

We are not to hesitate with preparing ourselves. Stand your ground; don’t let anything hinder you from your faith. Put on the belt of Truth which gives us discernment and the belt protects our vulnerability as well as frees us to move without hindrance. God’s righteousness is to live by the Spirit. Putting on the shoes, sandals & peace of the good news are having a readiness to share the gospel. The shield of faith or your staff is the faith you rely on when you cannot see the outcome and still know God has it under control. Salvation as your helmet is having the mind of Christ. The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God.

When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ. I Corinthians 2:13-16

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1

Grace

The majority of my friends and family members are Awesome and help to maintain my Faith in humanity. Then there are those few that stretch me. At times, they really tttrrrrry my pa-tience and offers of grace, or even desire to show grace! Jonathan, my husband, will sometimes say the latter are the ones who are there for our “perfecting,” meaning that they make our faith grow. And I think, ‘Gee, how much more does my faith need to e-x-p-a-n-d?!!’

He’s right though, because if they are irritating me by the things they do and/or say, it shows I have not reached my own maturity in Faith. If and hopefully when I’ve come to a point that their actions, which are intended to provoke, do not irritate, but bring forth a response of love and compassion, then I’m getting closer to the patterned son, who treated sinner and redeemed alike. What greater love did he show than to give up his life to those who mocked and scorned him? 

What love can face a person who figuratively speaking, spits in their face and turn that anger to repentance without one word? What kind of love can heal? What kind of love, when weary will still minister to those in need? What kind of love is not angered when a close friend doubts their existence and allows them to touch him so they believe he exists? It is love full of grace; it is Perfect Love. I’m not there, but Jesus IS. May I grow to be more like him and exhibit His Grace!


Saved by grace… what does that mean?

Grace (charis in the Greek) is a free gift; something given without expecting anything in return; an undeserved kindness; a favor given by God through Christ Jesus. The one who gives grace offers a kindness or a favor; their speech is pleasing and courteous. One who bestows grace is not hindered by another’s sin or triggered by another’s good works. They are motivated by the heart of Christ Jesus, manifested in and through them. Grace is actuated by joy and imparts joy.  Grace prompts its possessors to confer benefits to others. Grace sustains and aids the efforts of those who labor for the cause of Christ, assisting those who are devout followers to be strengthened in their troubles. Grace is the ability to love those who don’t love you, to lend to others and expect nothing in return, to do without being asked. The one who receives and accepts grace feels gratefulness, homage (honor and faithfulness towards the giver) and respect (esteem) to the giver.

Divine grace – ‘Status gratiae’ in Latin – is the spiritual condition of someone who is governed (held in check) by the Spirit. Salvation is a gift of divine grace; it is a heart changing reality. Divine grace is also a Corporate Expression of the gifts given by God. 1 Peter 4:10 “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”

Jesus is the epitome of grace; he knew how to answer every man, even as a child in the temple, his words were gracious. Luke 4:22 He lived out a life of grace to the very end of his human life. Grace and Truth come from Christ alone. Righteousness is declared by grace to us through Christ Jesus. Romans 3:24 Grace frees us from sin and the penalty of sin. Romans 6:14 “Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law.  Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.”

Grace is to be shared with others. When it is shared and received it brings glory to God. 2 Corinthians 4:15

There is victory in grace, even in the midst of trial because there is joy in the acceptance. Grace given is multiplied. Grace is the sufficiency of God in all that we face in our earthly life. Grace replaces the law. Galatians 5:1-4 Grace produces words seasoned with salt–put into fertile ground – healthy people, salt preserves & purifies. Grace produces wisdom. Malachi 2:7 & Colossians 4:6

Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. (NKJV) “Let us have grace” means let us continue to hold onto grace.

Grace Is inherited. 1 Peter 3:7 & 4:10 Grace can be multiplied through growth. We are encouraged to grow in grace. 2 Peter 1:2-8 The more grace we understand and walk in – the more we copy the pattern of Christ Jesus – the more grace we will be able to show and share with others.

Prayer: Father help me to grow in your grace and use the gifts you have placed within me to serve others. Help me to continue to hold fast to the grace you have shown me that I might grow in the knowledge of you and be able to share your grace with others. Thank you that your grace is Sufficient! In Jesus’ name – Amen

(Note: Words in blue are hyperlinks to some of the verses I based this study on, click on the words to be able to view them.)

Focus on Jesus During the Storms

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+14%3A24-34&version=NLT

I was reading in Matthew14:24-34, 
about the disciples being out in a boat when a storm came up. They saw Jesus walking on the water and thought he was a ghost, but immediately he spoke to them to calm their fears. Peter who was dubious, like the rest, asked Jesus if it was indeed Jesus, to call and ask him to come out to him, which Jesus did. Peter walked on the water also, but as soon as his focus was off of Jesus, he again focused on the storm & started to sink. He called out for Jesus to save him & immediately, Jesus rescued him. When they got back in the boat, the winds stopped and the storm calmed. Then the disciples recognized him. They went on across the lake to Gennesaret. The meaning of Gennesaret, is “the Paradise or fertile ground of Galilee.”

Galilee was the home of Jesus when he was on earth. The literal meaning of the root word of Galilee (galal) is to put one’s trust in God. 

Psalm 37:5 “Commit thy way unto the Lord ; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”

So if you think back on the meanings of this story – when you face a storm in your life, look to Jesus. Call on him and he will rescue you, keep your focus on him, even when the winds are howling and the waves are high. He doesn’t just rescue us, he takes us to The Paradise of his home. We are delivered to his doorstep. It is also interesting that this area, in Solomon’s time, was called Galil by the Jews meaning ‘the Galilee of the Gentiles.’ Jesus delivered both Jews & Gentiles. In Biblical times, Galilee was the largest portion of Palestine. 

Isn’t it just like God, not only to calm us, but also to rescue us, and to deliver us to the most fertile (Gennesaret) and give us the largest portion (Galilee)!! All we must do is to recognize him and keep our focus on Him! Look to Jesus!

I had not thought about the meaning of Genassaret as the paradise or fertile ground before or of Galilee being the home of both the Jews and the Gentiles! What a picture of God rescuing us from the storms of life!!