Rooted in God's Love -Max Lucado

The following work is not my own--it is part of Max Lucado's devotional Everyday Blessings.

Rooted in God’s Love

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 10:01 PM PST


We know and rely on the love God has for us. I John 4:16 NIV
The secret to loving is living loved…
Does bumping into certain people leave you brittle, breakable, and fruitless?... If so, your love may be grounded in the wrong soil. It may be rooted in their love (which is fickle) or in your resolve to love (which is frail). John urges us to “rely on the love God has for us” (I John 4:16, NIV). He alone is the power source.


(Reposted from Here)

Called to Christ

Colossians 3:15 (New International Version)

[15] Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.


Peace. What is peace? Let's take a look at the definition straight out of the original.

1) a state of national tranquillity
    a) exemption from the rage and havoc of war
2) peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord
3) security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous)
4) of the Messiah's peace
    a) the way that leads to peace (salvation)5) of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is6) the blessed state of devout and upright men after death

Check out some of these definitions! Particularly take attention to 3, 4 and 5--these are the aspects of peace I'm going to highlight.

3) Security, safety, prosperity, felicity

I think we all can agree that we know about this part of peace. It's family at Thanksgiving, it's the lion playing with the lamb, it's a little touch of heaven-meets-earth.

4) of the Messiah's peace
       a) the way that leads to peace (salvation)


From this definition we get a new idea of peace; that it is a product of salvation. We see that Jesus gave us peace on the cross, a product of his most distressful time on earth. This peace comes after and as a product of tribulation. It is a victor's peace. To expound a little further on this, lets move on to 5.

5) of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is

So peace is security and assurity--that Christ has brought us salvation and that God has pardoned our transgressions. Peace is a knowledge and perception of God.

So let's take another look into Colossians 3:15

[15] Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

What does it mean to be called to peace? What peace is Paul talking about here?

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:7

It struck me this morning as I myself was looking up the definition of peace. We are called to peace--we are called to salvation--to the assurity of knowing God as our redemption--to that which 'transcends all understanding.' Definition 3) Security, safety, prosperity, felicity of what? Definition 4) of a Messiah--of salvation. Salvation from whom? Definition 5) salvation through Christ. Result? (5 cont) and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is. We are called to peace--we are called to Christ.

[20] May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,
[21] equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. -Hebrews 13:20-21

Today's World of Entertainment

Philippians 4:8 (New International Version)

 [8] Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.


There is a subject which will always stir me up; today's world of entertainment. Musics, movies, games, books, what is this generation turning to pass the time with?


Starting this spring I cut movies nearly completely out of my life; I became convicted, realizing that the movies I watched had a direct relationship with my mood, attitude, and actions. They had a handle on my life and time that I should have spent communing with God turned to endorse violence, sexual immorality, crudeness, and vulgarity.
 
"But wait," you say, "Not all movies are like that!"

My answer to that is, Enough of them are. It isn't worth it to me any more to wade through the garbage to find a few good movies--and even 'good' 'safe' movies can take up a good part of your time.

 Horrors and thrillers (generally speaking) open your mind to Satanic influence; it's real and I've seen it happen. Yes there are the few that have good solid themes, but ask yourself this; is it truly worth wading through the pile of pig manure to find one pearl? See No Evil, The Hitcher, Paranormal Activity, Hide and Seek, the list goes on and on and those examples aren't even recent releases. Everything you see and hear has a huge effect on you. Line your movies up with Philippians 4:8, line your movies up with what your conscience tells you, but more importantly, line your movies up with God.



I am truly disturbed at what kids these days are listening to, stuff they call music. Music? It's chalk-full of swearing, themes of sexual immorality, violence, hate, racism, slander, hopelessness... Is that what you want to fill your mind with?


The power of music is incredible, and though I maintain that music in and of itself is amoral--a God-given tool of expression--used wrongly and mixed with today's lyrics it takes a devastating toll. Music has HUGE influences on the mind, it affects all kinds of things simply through the way it is composed at the core. Now let me tell you there are alot of sounds coming out of the record industry that I would be ashamed to call music, and there are words coming out of the headphones of 10-year-olds that I would be ashamed to say to my parents or even my peers.


Christians! Whatever is true! What ever is noble! Whatever is right, pure and lovely! Whatever is admirable or praiseworthy, think about these things!

Christian youth! This is an appeal! Come back to your God, come back to your families, come back to your lives! Stop living in and of the world, stop prostituting yourself to the world and Satan. Come back to your First Love!  Stop living the way you've been living, stop watching and listening to the things you've been watching and listning to; dwell on Godly things! Do not give yourselves up as Israel gave herself up in adultery,to the nations.


This is an appeal; Christians, return to your God. Renew your faith in the great I Am. He is so much more than the world's promise of happiness, entertainment. You cannot serve God and entertainment, so stop and check yourself because He is so much more.

Night Watchman

The night is silent; indeed, silent as the grave. And the mist beyond the window-panes can only add to the illusion and alude the more. The silence is unbroken.
It is a good night to be a night watchman... to be young Samuel, listening to the voice of the Lord. It is a good night to listen. And so here I sit, watching, listening... readying myself for what end I do not know, only that I must be ready.

It is a good day to be ready. It is a good day to be watchful, to listen... It is a good day to hear the word of the Lord. It is a good day for you. NightWatchmen, Samuels, Brothers and Sisters, awake. Awake and see your king coming! Awake and hear the voice of Him. Look and see; tonight is a good night to see. Look, Listen, Trust... Do not slumber!

In the stillness of night... in the Peace of turmoil.. in the place of suffering, there is your God. There is your God, worthy of all worship, honour and glory. Worthy the Lamb who was slain. Even in this dark night, look! Listen! He who is worthy comes. Watchmen to the high places for he comes, and with him a mighty host of heaven to free the captives. A mighty host of heaven. Do not slumber. Do not sleep.

Watch, Wait, Listen... Obey... Trust and Obey.

[6] This is what the Lord says to me:

“Go, post a lookout and have him report
what he sees. [7] When he sees chariots
with teams of horses, riders on donkeys or
riders on camels, let him be alert, fully alert.”

Isaiah 21:6-7

Romans 13:1-7

Romans 13



Submission to Governing Authorities


[1] Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. [2] Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. [3] For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. [4] For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. [5] Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.


[6] This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. [7] Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Being With Jesus

1 John 1:7 (New International Version)

[7]But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

The Bible calls people who do good righteous. There were many that God specifically named righteous, for instance Job. How do we know that Job was righteous? Because he did right. Yes he was human, and humans aren't perfect, but God was pretty proud of Job, he even considered him blameless.

So how do we live righteous lives? 1 John 1:7 states that purification from all sin comes through the blood of Jesus, and if we would walk in the light as he [God] is in the light, our sins will be purified. So what is light?

Several months back I made a decision to change my habits of entertainment--namely movies--to walk more in this light that John talks about. And what a practical solution it was! The less negative content in my entertainment, the easier it is to fix my eyes on someone much greater, Jesus. And it wasn't difficult to part with many of my previous modes of entertainment - anything that I felt dragging me down in any way I removed from my life. What a freedom I felt!

A very good friend of mine once told me, "Dark things grow in dark places," there was more to it but that was the jist of it. This is why it is so important to walk in the light. Do you want freedom from bondage? Walk in the light! Do you want healing from sickness, depression, sin? Walk in the light!



Walking in the light means simply to walk with Jesus. Not just a few minutes down on your knees by your bed each night, no. Any and every day, twenty-four hours a day, we must seek an active growing relationship with Christ. This is how we must walk in the light. And when we walk in this light, "...the things of this earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."

Will you turn your eyes upon Jesus?

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of this earth
will grow strangely dim
In the light of His Glory and Grace

Lifesong

Revelation 12:11 (NIV)

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

 
There is an incredible power in testimony and today we need to begin to unlock that power. The church sits in slumber because none see the miracles within. In light of that, this is my testimony.
 
Take a moment and read 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. What an awesome passage. Here Paul is telling of a weakness he has--a weakness allowed by God.
 
As I grew up and became more aware of the world around me God allowed me a weakness; or perhaps it was simply a consequence. It all began a number of years ago when I was about ten years old.
 

I grew up believing I could be everything I could be--that is to say, I believed that I had to earn grace and buy my passage to heaven. Until later years I always just figured since I went to church I was, (obviously) going to heaven. And perhaps if I brought my Bible to church every week and learned my memory verse perfectly and did all these things just right, God would love me more. I looked down on most people taller than me, and everyone shorter than me--I thought I had it all. Yep, I was pretty snobby.
 
As I got older I began to realize that I was alone. Sure I had my family--you can never be alone with seven siblings. I had plenty of cousins kicking around too, but that's about all they really seamed to do. And then there was my church. I grew up into it, I knew everyone in it, but the only real friend I had really had then moved away. I was socially challenged, besides, I already knew everyone and didn't know how to go from there. At any rate everyone my age either moved away or was a girl and at that age, this was quite a predicament.
 
It was about this time that, due to a suggestive movie, I fell innocently into lusting after fleshly desires and soon became addicted. For the first six months or so I argued with myself that what I was doing wasn't wrong--and won out. But as I became hooked on porn in the wake of this, my arguments sounded more and more hollow.
 

Overcome by my new secret and loneliness, I fell into depression and turned even more toward my lustful habits for comfort. At the same time I was getting scared. I was convicted of the sin in my life and I knew that if I did not stop my habits, I was going to hell. But I still believed I could earn my way to heaven. So on June 24, 2004 I was baptised--my safeguard on those pearly gates. I thought that baptism was more than a symbol--that baptism was the action itself which it should only have represented.
 
Even though I was baptised I did not feel any different, but now I did have an excuse. When I messed up I could say, "It's okay! I'm baptised! I'm going to heaven anyway!" But even in that I found little comfort. I continued to sink further into depression due to my loneliness, dark secrets, and the feeling that God had abandoned me.
 
2006 was a note-worthy year for me. I was very depressed. I had vowed that year to end my lustful habits, but that vow would not be kept. Because of this I felt that God was failing me--for the simple reason that I was failing him. I was still very tied in to the beliefs that I had to earn God's approval--especially now that I had dark secrets.
 
I thought often of dieing. I didn't have the guts and still believed that even if I was a lost sinner forever I could do something with my life, but these couldn't hold out forever. I remember often praying and crying to God that he would even just send me a friend I could talk to, but no answer seamed to come.
 
 

It was mid-fall of '06 that I met her. Over the last year I had turned to a virtual world on the internet in which hundreds of thousands of people interracted. It was a desperate attempt to gain something of a friendship. I was pushing further and further away from reality and had nothing to do with anyone if I could help it. Brenna was a Christian girl slightly younger than me from the states, and amazingly enough she was in the same time zone as me. Though I never met her in flesh-and-blood, we soon became friends.
 
Brenna was like no one I had ever met before. I told her all about my past and my depression; she didn't judge but loved--did not turn her back but proverbially took my hand and walked me through. She introduced me to a Christian website--little more than a basic blog, but here I met many other young Christians with a faith much like Brenna's; strong, steadfast, based on an undeniable love of God. By the new year I had caught hold of this faith and God began to lift me out of depression.