2020 January Review

2020-January

This year, I want to end each month with an intentional exercise in Remembrance.  What am I learning and more importantly, what is He showing me?  So, for January 2020:

• I am Elisa Stevens, in Christ Jesus, daughter of God! It is not my activities that define my identity.  It is this new identity that now affects and shows in my activities. I Am His.
• What if it’s all true? How do you reach your loved ones to ask them to turn their focus on this question and to make the effort to answer it for themselves?  What if the purpose of their life is to draw near and worship God?  What if the stress, anxiety, loneliness, unhappiness, and dissatisfaction all relate to the fact that they are separated from the source of love and life that was intended to fulfill them?

God in His wisdom limits our lives to 70-80 years.  Therefore, (a) there is a time limit to figure this out and (b) how much time do you need to finally admit the failures of a self-centered life?

Pride is powerful – it convinces you that being self-centered is still correct, you just need to change your methodology or focus on a different solution to satisfy you.  But time keeps ticking and, in your stubbornness, using a process of elimination, you are slowing ruling out every other option you can come up with… and leaving the almighty God as a last resort.

• God calls His Chosen People, Not Me. But, does my character make the Gospel look attractive?  Would I inspire people to want to know God?
• William Booth (1829–1912) – The chief danger of the 20^th century will be: (1) Religion without the Holy Spirit (2) Christianity without Christ (3) Forgiveness without Repentance (4) Salvation without regeneration (5) Politics without God (6) Heaven without hell
• (A. Begg) All Church Members:  EAT UP – GROW UP – SHOW UP – STEP UP (This cannot be done ‘online’ or alone as there are no opportunities to serve or to be accountable.)  The Chapel calls this process:  KNOW GOD – FIND FREEDOM – DISCOVER PURPOSE – MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

You cannot grow without the company of other Christians trying to do life this way.

• When Jesus mixed with sinners, he was never mistaken for one.

If there is no outward change in our appearance, behavior, speech, attitude… we can doubt our conversion.  God doesn’t sanctify those he hasn’t justified.

• Tony Evans – Without Him, you cannot. Without You, He will not.
• Alistair Begg – The presence of anxiety is directly related to the lack of humility. This is the result of removing God from our lives.

• Bible Study Prayer:    Lord what we know not – teach us, what we have not – grant us, what we are not – make us.  Lord show us ourselves and show us our savior.

• Christian confusion
  • John 5:39 – I do good things so God will save me.
  • Romans 8:28-30 – I believe in Christ; I am free to do anything.
  • Luke 6:46, Eph 5:6 – I am in Christ, through Him I do what pleases God.

We cannot presume justification (Hebrews 6), we may have to start at the beginning – at the cross.

Lord Jesus Christ – I admit I am more sinful that I have ever before believed but through you I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope.  I thank you for paying my debt, bearing my punishment, and offering me forgiveness and I turn from my sin and receive you as my savior.

If God is a ‘JUST’ God, how can He acquit us? Declare us not guilty – when we are? God does not ‘reward’ people for doing their best…. God declares us ‘righteous’ when jesus stands in as our substitute! God is ‘Just’ by punishing all sin at the cross… on Himself… Jesus! This is the great exchange at the cross – Jesus took what was mine and gave me what was His.  He became what he wasn’t so I could be come what I was not. 

God justifies in an instant those who trust and believe in Jesus.  Don’t let any supposed goodness in you keep you from acknowledging you’re a sinner in need of a savior.  And, don’t let any supposed badness keep you from thinking that you don’t qualify for His grace.

And, don’t go presuming you have more time to settle this issue.

Lord Jesus Christ – I acknowledge that I’ve gone my own way. I’ve sinned in thought, word, and deed. I’m sorry for my sins; I turn in repentance from my sins. I believe you died for me, bearing my sins, in your own body. I thank you for your great love. Now come Lord Jesus, be my savior and cleanse me. Be my Lord and King to control me. I will serve you as you give me strength all my life.