Praying for him and...

I love him. I really do. And I long for him when he's working nights and I'm working days. I think of him constantly when we are apart. Well, maybe not constantly, I was distracted by that driver who cut me off in traffic - didn't they know I was late? And I was distracted by the coworker who asked me for help... again... I thought they should know what they were doing by now. But still, I think of him a lot when we are apart. I love him. I really, really do.

And it saddens me because I don't know the last time he read his Bible or the last time he prayed. It's been a while since we've been to church together. So I pray for him. Every day. I pray for him because I love him and want to see him drawn closer to Christ. I pray for him every day.

Today, I was praying: "Direct his steps by Your Word. And let no iniquity have dominion over him." I pray for him because I love him. I love him. I love him.

But it hit me as I prayed, I need to pray this too: "Direct my steps by Your Word. And let no iniquity have dominion over me." Can I say that I am surprised that as I pray for him (because I love him), I am drawn closer to Christ?

You're Not Alone

Everyone with me... Greet those... With you all... Paul wasn't alone Nor was Titus. They were surrounded by other believers in Christ who walked with them on their faith journey and helped them on their mission.

You, dear reader, are not alone. These words of encouragement that Paul wrote long before you were born are words of encouragement for you too. The Grace of God is for you. You are part of the body of Christ. There are many around you that can encourage you. There are also many around you whom you can encourage. Rejoice in this!

Grace be to you!

Being Confident

What are you confident in? Are you confident that you can provide for yourself? Are you confident that you will live a long life, a full life, a healthy life? Are you confident that you will always love your husband and he will always love you? What is your confidence based on?

Paul reminds us here that we can have confident expectation of eternal life. Why? Because we are heirs. It is something that belongs to us because it is being given to us. It is not being given to us because we've earned it, but because we've been justified by God's grace. Jesus' death on the cross made the way for us to be justified, to become heirs, to be confidence.

Having confidence in ourselves is wonderful but at times it can be unfounded. Having confidence in Jesus' finished work on the cross is wonderful and unshakeable. What are you confident in?

Grace Be With You

Paul closes this letter with an admonition he has used elsewhere. Grace be with you. It is also my wish for those I love and for you my dear reader. May God's unmerited favor be with you. May it walk with you. May it come after you and be extended to others as you encounter them. May it come behind you and soothe you and heal you as you deal with the challenges of life. May you know that God has given it to you as a gift and it is truly yours.

Sweet and Salty

Let your speech always... Not just some of the time, but always. Not just with some people you speak with but with everyone 

Be gracious... Affording joy, pleasure, sweetness, and favor to those to whom you are speaking.

Seasoned with salt... Not bland, but bringing out and enhancing the flavor of what you are saying. Not words that will blow away and be forgotten, but words that will last.

So that you may know how you should answer everyone... Know that people will question you and your faith. Know that people may attack you verbally. Also know that people will have questions and come to you. You need to be prepared. Speaking the truth in love, speaking graciously words full of lasting flavor, will help you to respond.

Our words affect those who hear them. Let us make sure to speak words that guide those around us to the Truth.

Why Do You Stll...

Have you ever known someone who you could tell from the way they talked wasn't from around here? Could you tell by the way they dressed or acted? Maybe you know someone who moved from Florida to Massecgusetts and in the middle of winter when there's a foot of snow on the ground, they're still wearing shorts and a t-shirt outside. Would you ask them why they're dressed that way when it doesn't seem to be appropriate? What would you say if they responded, "I'm from Florida. I always wear shorts and a t-shirt." When someone has made such a change in state, they should change their actions in a manner appropriate to their new state.

Likewise, when we have truly become Christ's, having moved from the kingdom of the world and of he law to the kingdom of God and of grace, should we keep living according to the law? Absolutely not! The law may be useful to us, but grace should shape who we are. Never should we fear to step out in faith and follow Christ because we fear what the world will think of us. We are dead to the world and alive in Christ! The chains are broken. You are free! It is easy not to change and still do what you have always done, but you dear reader aren't from around here. Live like it!

Sharing the inheritance

Colossians 1:12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 

Have you ever told yourself "I'm not qualified to do that."  Maybe you were thinking of leading a small group or teach a class or speak in front of a large group of people.  I'm not qualified for that.  Maybe there is some club or group or clique that you long to be part of but I'm not qualified for that.  Maybe you'd love to be like people you see on TV or read about on the internet who seem to be able to do whatever they want whenever they want with no worries about the cost, but I'm not qualified for that.

I hate to break it to you, dear reader, but there's a lot neither you nor I are qualified for.  We are sinners and thus we are not qualified to share in the inheritance of the saints. Our sins are so filthy, we shouldn't even be in the same room. Nothing we can do can qualify us for this blessing. Yet, God the Father qualifies us.  He sent His son, the One who was qualified, to die on the cross for our sin so that we might be qualified.  What love! What a blessing.

Rejoice with me that we have been qualified to share in such a wonderful inheritance!