I am free from condemnation...
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...
Colossians 1:21,22 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation--
Mike MacIntosh – Today’s Devotion from 11/15/10
"Have you ever been shut-out of fellowship and relationship with someone? Maybe a friend, perhaps a co-worker, a son or daughter, or even a spouse? When someone shuts down that relationship and fellowship, we experience a loss of intimacy with that person we love and trust; it is very disheartening. Being shut out of fellowship is the very alienation Paul is referring to here, in this passage from Colossians.
"Prior to giving my heart to Jesus, that is exactly where I was -- alienated and shut out of fellowship with God. But I wasn't alienated because I didn't pray enough or because I didn't do enough good deeds. No, I was alienated because I was an enemy of God in my mind. And it is in the mind that the devil can attack us so often. Who, reading this, does not have a radio in their car, a television in their home, or a newspaper delivered to their door? Those things are not designed to speak to your feet or your hands; they are designed to speak to your mind. So often radio, TV, movies, the internet, and the newspaper can fill your mind with things that alienate you from God.
"Let me ask you, do you spend more time during your day keeping your mind in harmony with God, building up your relationship and fellowship with Him, or do you let your mind get filled with things that alienate you from Him?
"God sent Jesus down to earth to die on a cross because He no longer wanted you to be alienated from Him, but wanted to have that relationship and fellowship restored.
"'Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things" (Philippians 4:8).'"
SO – Jesus has already done what needed to be done to restore us to fellowship – and if we’ve come to Him on HIS terms, we are restored. This devotional makes a good point, though, that we can allow other things to clutter our mind and heart – and we can start erecting another barrier to replace the one Jesus tore down! I hope you’ll take a few minutes right now to consider what things you’re allowing to come between you and Jesus. He didn’t let ANYTHING stop Him from doing His part – because HE LOVES YOU like no one else ever will! Start tearing down that wall you’ve put up – until each and every brick is lain at the foot of the cross! Sharon
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
I am complete in Him...
Colossians 2:9,10 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority."
Charles Stanley – Into His Presence
"Many believers do not understand the vast riches they already possess in Jesus Christ, an infinite treasure of wisdom and knowledge and all good things. The moment you accept His as your Savior you receive everything God is, everything God does, and everything God provides. You lack nothing. God’s immeasurable, overflowing love and power are available to you by His grace for every trial, every decision, every challenge."
Matthew Henry – Concise Commentary on Colossians
"Under the law, the presence of God dwelt between the cherubim, in a cloud which covered the mercy-seat; but now it dwells in the person of our Redeemer, who partakes of our nature, and is bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh, and has more clearly declared the Father to us. It dwells in Him bodily…The fullness of the Godhead dwells in the Christ really, and not figuratively; for He is both God and man. The Jews thought themselves complete in the ceremonial law; but we are complete in Christ."
I don’t know about you, but I have a really hard time with the process involved in projects. I LONG for completion – yet I’ve learned that for most everything I need and/or want to do I have to be patient with the process of doing it. Whether it’s painting a mural – sewing a dress – putting up new curtains – installing new software – redesigning my garden - there are steps and processes involved to get me from point A to point B. How AWESOME it is to know that I am already complete "in Christ!" The process is done – once I committed my life into His hands I was (and still am) complete! What a comfort that is! I don’t have to strive to follow the letter of the law (I tried that for years – and ended up with a bleeding ulcer) – now I can rest in the finished work of Christ on the cross!
Now – sanctification is another story altogether – that IS a process – a day to day process of growing "in Christ" and allowing God to conform me into the image of Christ – but He’s already done all the work – He’s given me everything I need – and He’s promised to get me to that final finish line where I hope to hear "well done thou good and faithful servant!" Sharon
Colossians 2:9,10 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority."
Charles Stanley – Into His Presence
"Many believers do not understand the vast riches they already possess in Jesus Christ, an infinite treasure of wisdom and knowledge and all good things. The moment you accept His as your Savior you receive everything God is, everything God does, and everything God provides. You lack nothing. God’s immeasurable, overflowing love and power are available to you by His grace for every trial, every decision, every challenge."
Matthew Henry – Concise Commentary on Colossians
"Under the law, the presence of God dwelt between the cherubim, in a cloud which covered the mercy-seat; but now it dwells in the person of our Redeemer, who partakes of our nature, and is bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh, and has more clearly declared the Father to us. It dwells in Him bodily…The fullness of the Godhead dwells in the Christ really, and not figuratively; for He is both God and man. The Jews thought themselves complete in the ceremonial law; but we are complete in Christ."
I don’t know about you, but I have a really hard time with the process involved in projects. I LONG for completion – yet I’ve learned that for most everything I need and/or want to do I have to be patient with the process of doing it. Whether it’s painting a mural – sewing a dress – putting up new curtains – installing new software – redesigning my garden - there are steps and processes involved to get me from point A to point B. How AWESOME it is to know that I am already complete "in Christ!" The process is done – once I committed my life into His hands I was (and still am) complete! What a comfort that is! I don’t have to strive to follow the letter of the law (I tried that for years – and ended up with a bleeding ulcer) – now I can rest in the finished work of Christ on the cross!
Now – sanctification is another story altogether – that IS a process – a day to day process of growing "in Christ" and allowing God to conform me into the image of Christ – but He’s already done all the work – He’s given me everything I need – and He’s promised to get me to that final finish line where I hope to hear "well done thou good and faithful servant!" Sharon
In Christ - I am complete in Him
I am complete in Him...
Colossians 2:9,10 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority."
Charles Stanley – Into His Presence
"Many believers do not understand the vast riches they already possess in Jesus Christ, an infinite treasure of wisdom and knowledge and all good things. The moment you accept His as your Savior you receive everything God is, everything God does, and everything God provides. You lack nothing. God’s immeasurable, overflowing love and power are available to you by His grace for every trial, every decision, every challenge."
Matthew Henry – Concise Commentary on Colossians
"Under the law, the presence of God dwelt between the cherubim, in a cloud which covered the mercy-seat; but now it dwells in the person of our Redeemer, who partakes of our nature, and is bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh, and has more clearly declared the Father to us. It dwells in Him bodily…The fullness of the Godhead dwells in the Christ really, and not figuratively; for He is both God and man. The Jews thought themselves complete in the ceremonial law; but we are complete in Christ."
I don’t know about you, but I have a really hard time with the process involved in projects. I LONG for completion – yet I’ve learned that for most everything I need and/or want to do I have to be patient with the process of doing it. Whether it’s painting a mural – sewing a dress – putting up new curtains – installing new software – redesigning my garden - there are steps and processes involved to get me from point A to point B. How AWESOME it is to know that I am already complete "in Christ!" The process is done – once I committed my life into His hands I was (and still am) complete! What a comfort that is! I don’t have to strive to follow the letter of the law (I tried that for years – and ended up with a bleeding ulcer) – now I can rest in the finished work of Christ on the cross!
Now – sanctification is another story altogether – that IS a process – a day to day process of growing "in Christ" and allowing God to conform me into the image of Christ – but He’s already done all the work – He’s given me everything I need – and He’s promised to get me to that final finish line where I hope to hear "well done thou good and faithful servant!" Sharon
Colossians 2:9,10 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority."
Charles Stanley – Into His Presence
"Many believers do not understand the vast riches they already possess in Jesus Christ, an infinite treasure of wisdom and knowledge and all good things. The moment you accept His as your Savior you receive everything God is, everything God does, and everything God provides. You lack nothing. God’s immeasurable, overflowing love and power are available to you by His grace for every trial, every decision, every challenge."
Matthew Henry – Concise Commentary on Colossians
"Under the law, the presence of God dwelt between the cherubim, in a cloud which covered the mercy-seat; but now it dwells in the person of our Redeemer, who partakes of our nature, and is bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh, and has more clearly declared the Father to us. It dwells in Him bodily…The fullness of the Godhead dwells in the Christ really, and not figuratively; for He is both God and man. The Jews thought themselves complete in the ceremonial law; but we are complete in Christ."
I don’t know about you, but I have a really hard time with the process involved in projects. I LONG for completion – yet I’ve learned that for most everything I need and/or want to do I have to be patient with the process of doing it. Whether it’s painting a mural – sewing a dress – putting up new curtains – installing new software – redesigning my garden - there are steps and processes involved to get me from point A to point B. How AWESOME it is to know that I am already complete "in Christ!" The process is done – once I committed my life into His hands I was (and still am) complete! What a comfort that is! I don’t have to strive to follow the letter of the law (I tried that for years – and ended up with a bleeding ulcer) – now I can rest in the finished work of Christ on the cross!
Now – sanctification is another story altogether – that IS a process – a day to day process of growing "in Christ" and allowing God to conform me into the image of Christ – but He’s already done all the work – He’s given me everything I need – and He’s promised to get me to that final finish line where I hope to hear "well done thou good and faithful servant!" Sharon
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