“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”

There are a couple of things that I would like you to notice with this great verse. First, the word ”lavished” which can be translated extravagantly. In the history of the word “lavished” this word is used to define a very wealthy man… someone who had riches like Solomon who had so much, that if he kept on giving it away, he would never run out! John’s point by using this word is that our God is a God of love who distributes His love in a lavish and extravagant way and that he will never run out of this love! It is in God’s nature to keep on giving it out and giving it out and giving it out!

So here is what John does. He sits back and he ponders concerning this extravagant love that is lavished upon Christ followers by God. Notice the word “See”. We use the N.I.V. version, and in most cases, I believe they made the right choices in the translation. However, the translators made an error of judgment in using the word “See”. It fails to translate the first exclamation: “behold!” Although the word is not in the Greek, there is something that is implied because of the verb tense used in the verse. The word is “see” or KJV “behold”. The actual Greek term means “of what country” and it implies that God’s love is so unusual, and so unique to our experience, that we barely expect its result – that we should be called children of God.

John is saying “Wow”! Ponder the greatness of God’s love! What John is doing in this sentence is calling the reader’s attention to take a heart-moving look at the amazing love that is available to all people, but most of all to the Christ follower. . . the child of God. Let me tell you something. When we see that God loves us, I mean really loves us, not the type of love that is portrayed in movies, and in books. I am talking about real love. It will absolutely blow you away. Amazing love. . . a love that is eternal. . . without conditions.

So, as an encouragement to his congregation, John is calling his readers to God’s amazing love gift. A gift that is extravagant and will never run out. A that is not a conditional or a temporary love, it is a permanent love. This permanent love makes us a child of God. Once we become a Christ follower, this status is permanent! Let me say to each of you. . . when we are down and depressed. . . when we are discouraged and tired. . . here is something to remember. . . The amazing love gift. . . given to us permanently because we are a child of God. Something for us to think about!

New Year’s resolutions are things that we promise to do … but we rarely never keep them! However, here are five resolutions I know we need to keep this year:
1. To reach someone who doesn’t know Christ
God commands us to be salt and light in the world (Matthew 5:13-16); that won’t happen if we spend all our time with just Christ followers. This year, I resolve to befriend someone who’s not a Christian.
2. To become a grateful person
No one enjoys being around whining people. But when we’re grateful, it’s delightful. In the same way, when we appreciate God, it thrills his heart.
3. To spend more quality time with the significant people in my life.
Don’t let the weeds of “other important things”— choke your significant relationships. Resolve to nurture them.
4. To say “no” to something!
Okay, we all know there are simply too many demands, too many choices, and too little time. But part of maturing means learning to postpone something we’d really like to do now to another season of life in order to focus on something even more important
5. To pursue Christ with fresh vigor
As this new year begins, resolve to recapture the joy of our salvation. Let’s vary what we normally do for our time alone with God. Decide on a new topic for Bible study. Begin a fresh journal. If you make some changes but still feel stale, ask God to show you the reason. Is there sin in your life you’re ignoring? A wrong relationship, self-pity, jealousy? The writer to the Hebrews encourages us to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus” (12:1-2). That’s one resolution we can’t afford to break!

For most people, happiness is equated with getting what we want. Marketing is based on this idea. To really be happy, we need a newer car, a bigger house, or any number of items that are better, faster or easier to use than what we already have. We watch the commercials, read the ads, and pursue all the latest fashions, fads and fancy doodads. We buy into the lie that we’re not really happy until we get what we want.

God’s concept of happiness is summed up in the simple proverb: “Happy is the man who wants what he has.” As long as we are focusing on what we don’t have, we’ll be unhappy. But when we begin to appreciate what we already have, we’ll begin to experience the joys of life. Paul wrote to Timothy: “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Timothy 6:6-8).

Actually, we already have everything we need to live a joyful life. A Christ followers we have Christ. We have God’s promise of have eternal life. We are loved by a heavenly Father who has promised to supply all our needs. So, today, be thankful for all we have! Stop reflecting on those things we don’t have.

“His Way is in the whirlwind and the story and clouds are the dust of his feet.”
Nahum 1:3

This is a great verse in a book that I suspect many of us have not read in a long time. I’ve come to the conclusion that life is filled with God-appointed storms. We all experience them and believe it or not, we all need them. God has no method more effective. The massive blows and shattering blasts (not to mention the small, constant irritations) smooth us and humble us and force us to submit to the role He has chosen for us.
William Cowper could take the stand in defense of all I have written. He passed through a period of great crisis in his life. Finally one bleak morning he tried to put an end to it all by taking poison. The attempt at suicide failed. He then hired a coach and was driven to the Thames River, intending to throw himself from the bridge but was “strangely restrained.” The next morning he fell upon a sharp knife but the blade broke! He later tried to hang himself but was found and taken down unconscious . . . still alive. Some time later he took up a Bible, began to read the Book of Romans, and was gloriously saved. The God of the storms had pursued him unto the end and won his heart.
After a rich life of Christian experiences, Cowper sat down and recorded his summary of the Lord’s dealings in the familiar words: “God moves in a mysterious way / His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea, / and rides upon the storm.”

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— Romans 6:4-6

A couple of weeks ago, THE BRIDGE had the opportunity of baptizing three Christ followers. The scenery was awesome. It was at a lake, surrounded by trees with mountains in the background. It certainly was a worship experience to see these three individuals who have been embraced by God’s mercy to be called to be baptized. Although baptism by immersion is a bizarre ritual, it’s what Jesus asked us to do.

Why did Jesus asked us to be baptized? I believe that baptism is a reminder that we cannot save ourselves. Because we were all born in sin, we cannot enter God’s presence. We cannot rid ourselves of this sin. Jesus conquered sin and death for us. Baptism is an external expression of an internal reality. Baptism pictures how we were crucified with Christ. Baptism is something we do after we have accepted Christ. Baptism publicly announces that we are not ashamed of Christ. Something for us to think about!

Why do we worry? It is suggested that we worry because we are not trusting in God to work things out or to provide. Yesterday, I had a “test” and because of my age, I was worried about the result. But God once again reminded me of His promise! I read from Psalm 62: “He’s solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, An impregnable castle: I’m set for life. My help and glory are in God So trust him absolutely, people; lay your lives on the line for him. God is a safe place to be.” Awesome!

Throughout the year I lay aside my summer “must read” book list. While I was on vacation, I read Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath. I was caught by their analogy of an “Emotional Tank.” “The Emotional Tank is like the gas tank of an automobile. If your car’s tank is empty, you can’t drive very far. If your Emotional Tank is empty, you are not going to be able to perform at your best.”

Think with me for a moment, how our emotional connectedness impacts our faith. Belief by itself does not equate to action. The authors point out that, “Everyone believes there is tremendous human suffering in Africa; there’s no doubt about the facts. But belief does not necessarily make people care enough to act. Everyone believes that eating lots of fatty food leads to health problems; there is no doubt about the facts. But the belief does not make people care enough to act.” The authors’ premise: “Feelings inspire people to act.” Or, in biblical terms, “loving God and others as yourself.” Emotional health impacts spiritual, relational and physical wellness!

Loving self has a whole lot to do with resourcing our Emotional Tank. The question of the day is “What is filling my Emotional Tank?” My prayer is that you start each day feeding your mind and your spirit with God’s Word. Keeping in step with the Spirit is a great way to fill our emotional tanks! What fills your Emotional Tank?

God’s Plan for You and Me

Sunday, I spoke about Joseph and how God had a special plan for him. His life teaches us that challenges can be used to prepare us for a special task. Joseph was mistreated by his brothers and sold into slavery. But Joseph lived out the truth of Romans 8:28: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

His brothers thought they would never see Joseph again, but God, through His providence, elevated Joseph to be the second most powerful man in Egypt, in charge of the food supply. So when a famine hit the land and the brothers of Joseph went to Egypt for grain, little did they know they were standing before the brother whom they had betrayed. They didn’t recognize him with the passing of time. And they certainly didn’t expect to see him in that position. But Joseph recognized them, and eventually he revealed to them that he was their brother. He made an amazing statement: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people” (Genesis 50:20).

The same is true for us. Even when bad comes our way, God can bring good out of bad. We often isolate Romans 8:28 and don’t think of the verse that follows it: “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

God’s end game, God’s big plan for you and me, is not to merely make us happy; it is also to make us holy. God’s desire is that we become like Jesus. God’s plan… which seems like “Plan B” is always the better plan!

One thing the resurrection teaches us is that we must not trust appearances. The leafless tree says by its appearance that there will be no second spring. The body in Joseph’s new tomb appears to signify the end of everything for Christ and His disciples. The limp form of a newly-dead believer suggests everlasting defeat. Yet how wrong are all these appearances. The tree will bloom again. Christ arose the third day according to the Scriptures, and the Christian will rise at the shout of the Lord and the voice of the archangel.

Faith can afford to accept the appearance of defeat, knowing the true believer cannot be defeated finally. “Because I live, you also will live.” That is the message of Easter. What a blessed message for the whole world if men would only believe it. A.W. Tozer

Look! Striding across the mountains – a messenger bringing the latest good news: peace! A holiday, Judah! Celebrate! Worship and recommit to God! No more worries about this enemy. This one is history. Close the books. Nahum 1:15
So much in the news these days. Storm clouds without rain. War clouds without relief. Such clouds not only cast ominous shadows of uneasiness, they breed pessimism. Many of us are paying more attention to the bad news according to the news media than you are to the Good News according to Christ Jesus, our Lord. This verse in Nahum reminds me that we are entering a week of sorrow that ends in a celebration of victory! Easter is a celebration that closes the book on the bad news and opens the book on hope and celebration! As the prophet Nahum says; “Worship and recommit to God! No more worries about the enemy!”