Tag: Christianity

Peace Through Division

Posted on by FullLifeWord

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34)

A sword divides that which it strikes. By its nature it is associated with conflict. We are called to honor God with all of our being, with all that we are. We do so not out of obligation, but from a continuous loving response to His love for us.

As His people, we are called to be holy. This is a reflection of God’s very nature. The Hebrew word for “holy” means that we are to be “set apart,” such that we may serve God in a manner that is consistent with His nature.

It is from the scriptures that we learn of God’s nature, we know this through God’s word which is made known to us through his Spirit which resides within each of us. (Ephesians 6:17) His word has been described as the “sword of the Spirit.”

We are on a journey in this life, however long or short it might be. In this time, God’s word is penetrating and powerful, it will judge our very thoughts, attitudes, and the true motivations of our hearts and minds. (Hebrews 4:12)

It’s only when we respond honestly; to the reality of what God’s word reveals in our hearts, that we grow, that our journey in this life becomes clear, that His peace reigns over any circumstance we may face.

Are you being truly honest with yourself in what God is revealing about you and your life’s choices, your priorities, or how you’re spending your time and resources? Dividing is painful, but more so when we cling to that which we should let go.

To be set apart is to divide ourselves from our old self and to cling to God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. For only then shall we experience a lasting peace that transcends all understanding.

Amazed

Posted on by FullLifeWord

“When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,” (Matthew 7:28)

I remember as a child, seeing my Dad perform some simple “magic tricks” for my friends at a birthday party one year. They were “amazed,” and so was I! I didn’t know how he did those tricks…but they were amazing!

As a child, I looked upon such moments with wonder and curiosity. As I grew older, I continued to be amazed along life’s way by all kinds of things. But as a teen, my childlike wonderment of the world around me seemed to diminish somewhat, crowded out by the pressures of life that traded wonderment for skepticism. That all changed at the age of sixteen when I encountered Jesus. It was then that I chose to surrender my life to Him.

When Jesus taught in the public places, at synagogues, and in people’s homes, many were “amazed.” The word “amazed” appears no less than forty-five times in the New Testament. Forty of the Forty-five times this word is used, it was used by people who encountered Jesus.

When we truly encounter the living Christ, we cannot help but be in awe, to be amazed. When we surrender our lives to Jesus, our view of the world around us is suddenly capable of seeing life from God’s perspective. It’s as if we shifted from seeing our world in shades of grey, to having available to our senses, the complete spectrum of color and depth. Our wonderment about life returns, and once again, in the manner of a child, we find amazement in the life for which God created us.

As we nurture our relationship with our Creator, our newfound senses are kept fresh in life. We nurture our relationship through worship, prayer, and the diligent study of scripture. Each of these activities brings with them fresh encounters with Christ, and with each encounter, we are left with a sense of amazement, as we gaze upon the heart of God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright 2015 FullLifeWord.com

Do we live a life that overcomes…or are we overcome by life?

Posted on by FullLifeWord

.”…having the form of godliness but denying its power.” -2 Tim 3:5

Today we are under remarkable pressure to dilute God. To qualify Him so that what is left is a façade of godliness without power. It is no wonder that when we face hardships and temptations, we often grow frustrated and powerless to bring meaningful change to our lives.

Jesus shared that His coming from the Father was so that we “may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) Yet for many there is a reluctance to fully embrace all that God is.

Perhaps we accept the life of Christ…but have not claimed the transformational power of Christ. Perhaps we have received Christ as our Savior, but have not given Him the full reign of our life.

If so, then we are denying God the foothold needed to bring His full power into our lives..

Without accepting fully the power of God, we are assured to face the same struggles time and again with victory remaining forever elusive.

In a tangible way, while we cannot see electrical power we know it exists. One only needs to touch a live wire to verify its existence. For obvious reasons of safety, we don’t touch live wires, instead we believe the experts and take if by faith that such power exists and can harm us.

Scriptures tell us that “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Heb 11:1)

Lasting transformation comes only through the power of God, and that can only be received through faith, and while we cannot directly “see” the power of God, we can see our lives changed in ways that we know would not have been possible on our own.

Take a moment now and pray. Ask Him for the faith to receive His power into your life, only then will you begin to live a life that overcomes.

 

Copyright 2013