Norma is at the other end of the country in Puget Sound with her cousins. I usually use these time for spiritual retreat. I'm in the book of James in the New Testament and finding some real practical stuff.
1. To be wise God's way, Live a life of steady goodness and don't brag about it.
Avoid jealousy and selfishness. That produces disorder and evil.
God's wisdom is pure, peaceful, gentle, yielding, merciful and full of good deeds.
2. If your goal is enjoyment, you'll miss God. So humble yourself, resist the enemy.
Draw near to God and He'll draw near to you.
Admit our dependence on Him and He will lift you up.
3. Don't speak evil of others. It's like criticizing God. God judges, so who are we to criticize?
4. Live day to day. Learn to say: "If God wills!"
5. Learn Job's patience. He endured and the Lord's plan finally ended in good.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Up at 3 a.m.
I'm wide awake at 3 a.m. I hate it. But I find it's during these times I get my best ideas. So I'm writing in my journal preparing for some challenging meetings in the days ahead. "Lord, give me wisdom. Let me hear from you."
Monday, September 04, 2006
The Cross-Centered Life
Over summer vacation, I picked up a little 88 page book by C.J. Mahaney entitled The Cross-centered Life: Keeping the Gospel the Main Thing. It’s so easy for those of us who have been followers of Jesus for a long time to think we must move beyond the basics of sin and redemption. BUT, the cross was absolutely central to the teaching of Paul. His life message was that Jesus died so sinners could be reconciled to God. He told Christians at Corinth: “I desire to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”
Sometimes the most important truths are the easiest to forget. George Orwell stated: “The first duty of intelligent men is restatement of the obvious.” I believe we as followers of Christ must go back to the starting point of the Christian life—the cross of Christ. Jesus' work on our behalf must be the central motivation for our life and faith. That message is the main thing.
I’m concerned about creeping legalism that seeks God’s favor through obedience. Noah believed God and it was counted as righteousness. Paul said unequivocally, “There is now therefore NO CONDEMNATION to those who are in Christ Jesus.”Jerry Bridges of The Navigators said: “Preach the Gospel to yourself. Continually face up to your sinfulness and flee to Jesus through faith.” Memorize the Gospel. Review how the Gospel has changed your life. Study the Gospel (Romans, Galatians). And never lay it aside. Never move on.
On Moody Radio, let’s not think we can move beyond the central message of Calvary. Let’s always look for ways we can present the central message of God’s word that Christ Jesus came to earth to save sinners. If George Barna’s estimates are correct, 1 out of 3 listeners to our stations do not have a personal relationship to Jesus Christ. Many are church people who have never come to the foot of the cross in repentance of sin, believing God’s provision and appropriating God’s gift of forgiveness and eternal life.
So what are you focused on? Every airshift, 5 a.m-9 a.m., 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 2 p.m.-7 p.m., 7 p.m.-Midnight and Midnight -5 a.m., there should be a clear presentation of salvation and the call to come to Jesus in confession and faith. Share your testimony, use a Need Him spot, play a “song of the cross.”
We do want to take our listeners deeper into the things of God. But let me say this: There’s no more compelling reason to obey God than gratitude for what Jesus did on Calvary. There is no greater stirring of passion for Christ than to experience the foot of the cross in repentance and faith. There’s nothing that stirs greater love for Christ than the realization of what Christ did for us--dying on the cross in our behalf.
A seminary professor told our class: “As I grow in Christ, the closer I get to a holy God, the greater the realization of my sinful condition.” If you’re lacking in passion for Christ, if there’s a lack of joy in your Christian life, let me suggest--get back to the cross.
So what will be the center of your life? I pray it might be the cross. What will be our central message of Moody Radio? I pray it might be the cross-centered message of Jesus dying so that we might be reconciled with God and live with Him forever. I’ll be holding us to this…and I’ll be listening for the core message of Calvary.
By the way, I’ve asked that “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” be sung at my funeral.
“When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died;
My riches gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.
Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a tribute far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life, my all.”
Sometimes the most important truths are the easiest to forget. George Orwell stated: “The first duty of intelligent men is restatement of the obvious.” I believe we as followers of Christ must go back to the starting point of the Christian life—the cross of Christ. Jesus' work on our behalf must be the central motivation for our life and faith. That message is the main thing.
I’m concerned about creeping legalism that seeks God’s favor through obedience. Noah believed God and it was counted as righteousness. Paul said unequivocally, “There is now therefore NO CONDEMNATION to those who are in Christ Jesus.”Jerry Bridges of The Navigators said: “Preach the Gospel to yourself. Continually face up to your sinfulness and flee to Jesus through faith.” Memorize the Gospel. Review how the Gospel has changed your life. Study the Gospel (Romans, Galatians). And never lay it aside. Never move on.
On Moody Radio, let’s not think we can move beyond the central message of Calvary. Let’s always look for ways we can present the central message of God’s word that Christ Jesus came to earth to save sinners. If George Barna’s estimates are correct, 1 out of 3 listeners to our stations do not have a personal relationship to Jesus Christ. Many are church people who have never come to the foot of the cross in repentance of sin, believing God’s provision and appropriating God’s gift of forgiveness and eternal life.
So what are you focused on? Every airshift, 5 a.m-9 a.m., 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 2 p.m.-7 p.m., 7 p.m.-Midnight and Midnight -5 a.m., there should be a clear presentation of salvation and the call to come to Jesus in confession and faith. Share your testimony, use a Need Him spot, play a “song of the cross.”
We do want to take our listeners deeper into the things of God. But let me say this: There’s no more compelling reason to obey God than gratitude for what Jesus did on Calvary. There is no greater stirring of passion for Christ than to experience the foot of the cross in repentance and faith. There’s nothing that stirs greater love for Christ than the realization of what Christ did for us--dying on the cross in our behalf.
A seminary professor told our class: “As I grow in Christ, the closer I get to a holy God, the greater the realization of my sinful condition.” If you’re lacking in passion for Christ, if there’s a lack of joy in your Christian life, let me suggest--get back to the cross.
So what will be the center of your life? I pray it might be the cross. What will be our central message of Moody Radio? I pray it might be the cross-centered message of Jesus dying so that we might be reconciled with God and live with Him forever. I’ll be holding us to this…and I’ll be listening for the core message of Calvary.
By the way, I’ve asked that “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” be sung at my funeral.
“When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died;
My riches gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.
Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a tribute far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life, my all.”
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