| November 30th - Clay Pots Filled with Glory God lit the darkness with a simple word from His mouth -- hey now that's some light show! Then, as if to say, "You ain't seen nuthin' yet," He went on speaking and created a perfect universe. But even all this doesn't come close to what God truly considers His crowning achievment. His ultimate stellar performance was accomplished in and through His son, Jesus Christ. In the book of Colossians chapt.2, verse 10 we read: "For in Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form and you are complete in Him (if you're a believer) which is the head of all principality and power." Simply put, Jesus is God in an earth suit and it's only by being "in Him" that we are complete. But there's so much more resident in this verse! "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels (clay pots), that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us." (II Corinthians 4:7,8) The same word which spun the worlds into existence has come to us. Jesus is the incarnate word. The bible calls Him the Word made flesh. God sends Him to us. The very best He has to give. "The fullness of the Godhead in bodily form" or as one translation puts it, "the authorized signet ring (or signature) and the very impress of His person..." And in so doing God commands light to shine out of the darkness of our hearts when Christ the word is received. This is God's way of recreating you... from the inside out! Won't you receive the Jesus of the bible today? And become a clay pot filled with God's glory? November 29th - Where You Be? Sumthin' New -- Reinvention of self!? Is there a daily dynamic by which we may redefine ourselves in the changing world around us, a recreative power which enables us to alter our perspectives and be free from confining roles and ruts of the past? The bible challenges us with this question: "Where you BE?" "If any man BE in Christ he is a new creation, old things are passed away, behold all things are become new..." (II Corinthians 5:17) If you BE in Christ you ARE a new creation (a new kind of being which has never existed before). And ALL things become NEW! One translations says it this way: "A new act of creation has been done unto him." I have been in some pretty tight predicaments at times in my life. It is at those times when I've been prompted to ask, "Am I doing my own thing, or am I moving with God?" And have found God to be faithful to rescue me when I turned to Him. Are you ready for a new perspective on your life? A new reality which over-rides all other "realities"? Look to the Jesus of the bible, He invites you: "Come...learn of me; for I am meek and lowly (humble) in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls." (Matthew 11:29) There is the promise of refreshing by the Spirit of the living God. "Repent... and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." (Acts 3:19) To be in Jesus is God's plan of salvation, deliverance and transformation and, oh yes, refreshing for your life. So... where you be? |