Good Morning Friends,
Today we explore our nature and our need for the nature of Christ in us. We explore levels of perspective in making it a priority to know God as we ask, What Is Real? What Is True? What Do We Really Believe? What Do We Value? How Are We To Behave?
Scripture: When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’“Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’“Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’“The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’“‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”
Luke 14:15-24 (NIV)
Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
Romans 4:20-21 (NIV)
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned— To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.
Romans 5:12-16 (NIV)
Message: Many people would have us believe that man is basically good at heart. Few people seem to understand the power of sin, yet all try to escape its consequences. Paul teaches us an important truth that through the sin of Adam… death passed to everyone’s humanTop of Form heart. This is what Paul meant when he wrote that death reigned from the time of Adam…even over those who did not sin. Many people would have us believe that man is basically good at heart. Few people seem to understand the power of sin, yet all try to escape its consequences. Paul teaches us an important truth that through the sin of Adam death passed to everyone’s human nature. Every human heart is polluted with evil desires that are impossible to overcome without the goodness of Christ living within us. There is a constant inner sense of condemnation in the heart of everyone as a result of inheriting the sin of Adam. Whether people realize it or not, they are hopelessly estranged, hostile and facing the consequences until they find forgiveness through Christ. We are all born into sin and are helpless to escape its consequences without Christ. There is little wonder why most of the world lives in misery and uncertainty if you believe what the Bible says about sin. The answers to today’s questions therefore hinge on how we consider the nature of sin and the nature of Jesus.Paul teaches that sin is manifested in many ways that are all regarded as rebellion against God and His standards. First, sin is transgression against God’s holy attributes. When we fail to live up to the Holy characteristics of God we are falling short of His glory. Second, sin involves going across the line of God’s moral, Biblical and Holy standards. When we cross an intersection when the light is red, we have transgressed against the law. Third, sin involves resistance to the will of God and failure to submit to His authority. Rebels fail to cast their allegiance to eternal authority in both conscious and unconscious ways. Fourth, sin is neglecting to do what we ought to do. Failure to do what is expected of us makes us just as guilty. Fifth, sin is seen in people with a wrong attitude. Paul wrote, “Look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus… who humbled himself and became obedient to death.The sins of disposition make one just as guilty as those who commit a crime. Sixth, sin is witnessed in those who have faulty assumptions. In other words God will judge us according to the motives of every man’s heart. So it is wise to ask the Lord to help us clearly see and then to teach others about our new nature in Christ that saves us from the consequences of Adam’s sin.
And So, it is difficult for some Christians to accept the fact they inherited Adam’s sin because everyone develops their own world-view based on their unique set of experiences, background, and education. Cultures are continually being refined to better adapt to their situational challenges. A world-view helps each person to know their identity, what one is to do, and how one should relate to God, the supernatural, and people. But there is a limitation here if one’s identity is not in Christ. We disagree on what is important and on what is most sacred. We need to be fully convinced in our own minds as to what is true and what we are to believe. We need to behave in a convincing way that confirms we indeed do love God, love others and are striving to make disciples. Basic communication theory teaches us that in order to relate to people, we have to know something about how their worldviews are shaped, developed and influenced. Consider the ways in which people develop a world-view differently from the way faith grows in helping us to have a Biblical view. In order to effect a change of perspective one needs to appeal to one’s root assumptions of reality and the basic assumptions about reality, essential allegiances and facts that are assumed to be true without having to explain it to another. Our view of reality is the core element of a person’s perspective and is based on assumptions that affect the way one looks at everything. For example, a Christian will assume that God is sovereign, omniscient, and omnipotent. Therefore, most believers will assume that God has the right to do what God wants to as the Psalmist writes, “Our God is in the heavens, He does whatever He pleases.” This fact implies that God has the right to alter our plans according to His divine will. This perspective helps people to alter their expectations and set God as a priority. The standard a person uses to determine whether something is factual is also important. When a person is faced with a difficult decision, one will know an individual’s objectively and subjectively held truths by their actions, attitudes, and words. If a person really believes the Bible is true they will change their mind, will and attitudes to reflect its teaching of.Truth. It is not just what a person says, but what they consistently incorporate into the mental, physical, social, emotional, financial, and spiritual dimensions of their life. Truth to one person may be merely a reflection of their traditions, culture or what one’s parents held to be true. But to grow in truth one must not only study the scriptures, but obey them. Here truth is best taught individually by the Holy Spirit.When life becomes difficult, belief is made visible by what and whom an individual puts their trust in. If a person really trusts in Jesus Christ, that individual will manifest the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. These attitudes reveal an abiding attitude of security in the Lord for His greater wisdom and strength.One recognizes a person’s values by observing their priorities with their time, talents and resources. Every person and culture has certain things that they consider most important – this is a reflection of values. If one values tasks more than relationships it will be reflected by how a person allocates their time. By looking at how we spend our money it is a guide to where our most important values lie. My experience is that mature believers give increasing attention to what Christ values in His kingdom and righteousness. Friends, there are four levels much like the four chairs that relate to increasing one’s faith related to this issue. One can have a sensory faith in which a believer relies on what his senses tell him to be reliable. One can have a communicative faith – when a person starts to learn the language of the Bible, and allows this language to develop their faith. One can have an experiential faith – one that helps a person to see the cause and effect relationship between sowing and reaping. And one finally can have a principled faith – where one takes action steps of obedience regardless of one’s feelings. So if you have received Christ, remember your responsibility to experience spiritual GROWTH.
Pray we Go to God in prayer daily. Pray we Read God’s Word daily. Pray we Obey God moment by moment. Pray we Witness for Christ by our life and words. Pray we Trust God for every care and detail of our life. Pray that the Holy Spirit controls and empowers our daily life and witness.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 