God's most significant objective in my life, from salvation until Jesus returns, is sanctification. We want our lives to be comfortable, successful, and predictable, but God is willing to compromise all of these in order to deal with our deepest difficulty: indwelling and remaining sin.
This sequence is described in Exodus 19, when Israel is encamped at the base of Mount Sinai. This tells us that the law was never designed as a means for God’s people to achieve his acceptance. Now liberated from their slavery, they are alreadyobjects of his rescuing grace.
Let me remind and encourage you again: God is sovereign; you and I aren't. This isn't just theology we should proclaim on Sunday; it must be the foundation of our identity every day of the week. God is in absolute control, and he's infinitely good.
As sinners, the most wonderful thing that could ever happen in our life is salvation, or healing. It means that the most wonderful thing that I could ever be called is not boss, or husband, or father, or friend, but "child of God."
By the transformational power of his grace, God reaches into the muck of this fallen world and radically transforms his adopted children from what we are (sinners) into what we are becoming (Christ-like).
Human relationships are unable to provide us with life, contentment, happiness, and joy, so when we ask them to be our source of identity, it's only a matter of time before they fail us.
We can never be reminded of this enough: our identity is only safe in one Person - Jesus Christ!
There are times when we secretly wish we could grab a hold of the joystick and direct the trajectory of our lives. Guess what? God, in love, won't let go.
Your obedience doesn't purchase God's love for you; Christ's blood is the only purchase that could do that. Rather, your obedience is a thankful expression that you understand the significance of God's love being placed on you.
The sacrifice of Jesus appeased the wrath of God and created a reconciliation between God and all who place their faith in him. In more simple words: you don't need to obey to gain God's favor.
I have to say this: a good Creator lovingly created a pleasurable creation. That means that the world we enjoy is not inherently evil. But, even a good thing becomes a bad thing when it becomes a ruling thing in our hearts.
Our culture assumes that something is wrong with us if we're content with what we own and aren't constantly looking for bigger and better. We've grown so accustomed to this message of acquiring that we don't even realize the extent to which we define ourselves by the created world.
We live in a culture that has institutionalized the practice of being defined by Crossfit, six-pack abs, and big biceps. While bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come (1 Timothy 4:8).
Physical things are seductive precisely because they're physical. We can feel their texture, see their shape and beauty, and smell their aroma. While the Bible tells us that the most important things in life are unseen (e.g., 1 Samuel 16:7), creation is stiff competition when it comes to what gets our attention and shapes our living.
The whole reason Christ came to earth was because our performance was inadequate! Rest in the perfect performance of Christ on your behalf and live in humble, loving and grateful relationship with God and others.