The Life We Live

The Life We Live – Monday – December 31, 2012

Unwavering Faith

2 Timothy 1:8-11 (NKJV) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, and apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, in order to capture his entire thought, sometimes wrote very long sentences. Present day teachers of languages might be appalled if one of their students wrote this same sentence. But, what is Paul’s message, breathed into him by God? At the time of this writing, Paul was in prison in Rome. Persecution of Christians was mounting, and Paul’s loved disciple, Timothy, was witnessing his fellow Christians being arrested and executed. Having lost all his material possessions, but not his faith, Paul encouraged Timothy to hold fast; to expect persecution and suffering, and to continue to preach the gospel. Paul reminds us of God’s grace; that it is He who has called us because He loves us, and sent Christ to die for us, and this was His plan, even before creation. In this present day we must remember that it is not our efforts that make us acceptable to God, but His grace; His pre-creation plan, to redeem us through the vicarious sacrifice of Christ, and that we are to be steadfast in our faith. It is the Lord who gives us strength to carry on, and no amount of earthly suffering should weaken our faith in God’s eternal plan for our life with Him. The Lord is our Savior, our shepherd, our faithful guide, our provider, our healer, our comforter, and our wise counsel.

2 Timothy 1:12 (NKJV) For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

Copyright © 2012 Robert Gunn

The Life We Live

The Life We Live – Sunday – December 30, 2012

Faith

Hebrews 11:6 (NASB) And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Beginning in early childhood, we are taught that our acceptance by others depends on our performance; that even love is often conditional. If we are “good” we are rewarded and accepted by those around us. If we violate this premise, we are likely to be rejected. Coming to God, then, and receiving Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, is difficult for many people because they believe they are not “good enough” to qualify; that they need to behave differently first. But God has presented us with an entirely different concept. He accepts us in any state of wrong behavior, while we are in the deepest of vile sins. He has known each one of His people before creation, and He lovingly and generously gives us the gift of faith so that when we hear His truth we are able to believe, come to Him in godly sorrow and repentance, profess our faith in Christ, and be saved. As a new, spiritually alive-to-God creation, we gratefully begin to change our old behavior to do the good works He desires of us, and He is always beside us as our help and strength in time of need.

Psalm 109:30 (NASB) With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the LORD; and in the midst of many I will praise Him.

Copyright © 2012 Robert Gunn

The Life We Live

The Life We Live – Saturday – December 29, 2012

Lord, Strengthen My Weaknesses

2 Timothy 2:24-25 (NASB) The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

The Scripture is very clear. If I do not control my emotions, if I choose to be argumentative without cause, if I am impatient, if I am unkind, I may drive someone away from God. There may be someone searching, and God may have brought that person into my life for the specific purpose of learning about salvation. The Lord knows I have not been very successful in this area. Patience, gentleness, and kindness–all these attributes are apparent when things go well, but what if things are not going well?

May the Lord grant us strength and resolve to maintain these godly attributes when we do not feel like dealing with people this way. Just one soul saved as a result of kindness, gentleness, and patience is worth the price of humility.

Copyright © 2012 Robert Gunn

The Life We Live

The Life We Live – Friday – December 28, 2012

Desiring Unity

Ephesians 4:4-6 (NASB) There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

Sometimes we seem so distant from one another, and sometimes various churches distance themselves from other members of the body who are in other churches. The reasons for these separations are many–how we understand the Bible, how we look, how we worship, what music we play, where we work, where we live, how we dress, what we eat– all kinds of things. But Paul writes (inspired by God), that every believer is a part of one body and one Spirit. We have one God and one Savior, Jesus Christ. How much better could we accomplish God’s will if we would work together in unity, as believers in Christ. Let us pray for the unity of true believers so that we might serve as witnesses of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, for the benefit of the lost.

Copyright © 2012 Robert Gunn

The Life We Live

The Life We Live – Thursday – December 27, 2012

The Spirit of Adoption

Romans 8:14-15 (NASB) For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ”Abba! Father!”

Every person who has sincerely called on Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior is received into God’s kingdom and is led by the Spirit of God. Our emotions do not always tell us this because we swing from happy occasions to depressing and anxious circumstances. This is what Satan wants: to mislead us and make us ineffective, which is why we must rely on the unchanging, solid, reliable word of God.

When we call on Christ for the forgiveness of our sins, believing who He is and that God raised Him from the dead, we are saved! Receiving the ”spirit of adoption” implies that an unbreakable legal process takes place between God and each believer. God, our Father, adopts us as sons, pulling us from Satan’s evil domain and transferring us to a permanent place in His kingdom, guaranteeing this process by the sealing of His Holy Spirit.

There is no greater privilege, nor greater source of joy, than being called by God to enter His kingdom, receiving His grace of faith, love, forgiveness, and eternal life through Jesus Christ. We can truly cry out, ”Abba, Father!” We can now see Him, not out of duty or obligation, but out of gratitude and thanksgiving.

Copyright © 2012 Robert Gunn

The Life We Live

The Life We Live – Wednesday – December 26, 2012

Herod Attempts to Kill Jesus

Jeremiah 31:15 (NASB) Thus says the Lord, “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.”

Jeremiah’s ministry covered the period from 627 B.C. to about 580 B.C. This prophecy occurred before the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. to the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar and looked ahead to the time just after the birth of Jesus. Jacob’s favorite wife, Rachel, was looked upon as the symbolic mother of the northern tribes of Israel, who were captured and deported by the Assyrians into a life of slavery. Matthew quotes this verse as a fulfillment of prophecy. It allows us to picture the soul-wrenching despair of the mothers in Bethlehem after Herod the Great, king of the Jews, ordered the death of all the boys less than two years of age. Herod feared the news that a newborn king would take his place. Like many people today, he did not understand that the reason for Christ’s birth was so that Jesus could establish peace and joy between man and God. Jesus had no need to take Herod’s throne; His throne was already in heaven, as King of the universe.

Matthew 2:16-18 (NKJV) Then when Herod saw that he was deceived by the wise men, he became exceedingly angry; and sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he dad determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Copyright © 2012 Robert Gunn

The Life We Live

The Life We Live – Tuesday – December 25, 2012 – Christmas Day 2012

Celebrating Christmas

To some, Christmas is not much different than any other time of the year. To others, Christmas is a time to vacation or to party with plenty of eating and drinking. Many others experience the social pressure of having to shop for gifts for friends and family, sometimes more out of a feeling of obligation than open-hearted willingness. Then, in the midst of all the busyness, there is the duty-called necessity of attending a church service to attempt to fulfill some unspoken gnawing to acknowledge that one needs to have some sort of a relationship with God. Many hear about the birth of a child called Jesus, who was born of a virgin, and came to be the Savior of mankind. Candles are burned and songs sung, but to so many, none of this really connects to the heart. Finally, when the season is past, some breathe a sigh of relief saying, “Whew! I’m glad that’s over for another year!” Within a few days all knowledge of the birth of a Savior is brushed aside since the real holiday, the roaring good time of celebrating the beginning of a new year quickly approaches. Then, for many of the same souls, New Years begins by waking up to the final roar: a splitting headache and sick stomach from drinking too much. The great “hope” for a good year, a year that will bring positive change, becomes, at least temporarily, paramount.

I know, I know! This all sounds so dreary and negative. But, let’s turn now to the positive. Every Christian should be able to passionately and accurately explain to anyone who asks what Christmas is about, and why Christians celebrate this tremendous event, and what effect the birth of Jesus Christ has had on the world.

Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV) “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” (God with us)

Luke 1:26-28, 30-33 (NKJV) Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.

Copyright © 2012 Robert Gunn

The Life We Live

The Life We Live – Monday – December 24, 2012 – Christmas Eve

Jesus to be Born in Bethlehem

Micah 5:2 (NASB) “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.”

The prophet Micah prophesied a little over 700 years before the birth of the Messiah that He would be born in Bethlehem. The accuracy of Micah’s prophesy demonstrates that we can rely on Scripture as the inerrant and infallible word of God. Jesus, the promised eternal King, came to earth to establish peace between God and man by paying the penalty for all our sins. The Creator and King of the universe, being obedient to the Father, gave up His heavenly position to take on human form and be born in the humble setting of a manger fit only for cattle and sheep. This tiny baby would grow up to die for us and will return, according to Scripture, to rule with righteousness. Let us remember His birth as our Lord and Savior.

Luke 2:4-7 (NKJV) Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Copyright © 2012 Robert Gunn

The Life We Live

The Life We Live – Sunday – December 23, 2012

Offering a Sacrifice Of Praise

Psalm 107:8-9 (NKJV) Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.

A friend of mine walked into my office one day several years ago to talk to me. I could see that he was distraught because of difficult circumstances. During our conversation he asked, “What has God ever done for me, anyway?” He did not like my reply, but after he thought for a moment he saw my point. I asked him, “Well, maybe you should ask, ‘what have I ever done for God?’ Have you ever thanked Him for giving you life? Have you thanked Him for your family and friends? Have you thanked Him for giving you a Savior, Jesus Christ, His only Son?”

Our Lord God cannot be taken for granted, ignored, or take second place to other priorities in our lives. He has created us for the purpose of having close fellowship with Him, and when we do this we are in our happiest state. His very first commandment is “You shall have no other Gods before Me.” Exodus 20:3. God desires our worship and our praise as our acknowledgment that there is no one higher; that He is the supreme, divine, eternal Creator of all that is. How can we ignore His love for us, knowing that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, to be with us in human form in order to die for us so that our sins would be forgiven? Our only reasonable response is to praise Him for His love and to thank Him for His goodness. In so doing, we are separated from the problems of life, and enter into a close, secure, and loving relationship with Him.

Psalm 63:3-5 (NASB) Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth offer praises with joyful lips.

Copyright © 2012 Robert Gunn

The Life We Live

The Life We Live – Saturday – December 22, 2012

Are There Moral Absolutes

Isaiah 5:20 (NASB) Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

We often wonder why there is so much trouble in the world. In this age of relativistic thought the distinction between good and evil has become blurred to much of the world. We hear things like, “If it feels good, do it!” If someone points out a wrongdoing, they risk being accused of being judgmental and intolerant. Rather than condemning wrong behavior, we are expected to try to “understand” and appease the wrongdoer. When terrorists blow up a train or bus, killing and injuring innocent people, some say they are “freedom fighters,” and those who do good, or are passive, must receive the wrath of those who are angry because the innocent are really to blame; the real evildoers! Is this what God intended? Absolutely not. Not according to the Bible, the word of God. The Bible teaches us God-Law; the morals and ethics that come from above. Unfortunately, much of the world, including some Christians, conduct their lives based on the law that comes from below and flows upward; humanistic and autonomous in nature. Any moral and ethical speculation that comes from the mind of man is man-centered, and degrades, ignores, or denies God-Law. Ultimately, couched in man’s fallen nature, man’s speculation is doomed to failure, and we hear things like, “There is no absolute truth,” and what may be right for one is wrong for another, depending on the beholder. How can we live without a moral foundation that is formulated in the mind of God, rather than man? It is evident we cannot. We cannot live a life uncontrolled by God and His Law and, at the same time attempt to justify ourselves as ethical and moral beings. When man becomes a law unto himself, we justify returning evil for evil, adultery becomes justified in many situations, divorce becomes commonly accepted, abortion becomes a daily and worldwide practice, pornography becomes justified under “free speech,” as well as filthy language, and all types of rebelliousness becomes commonplace. As pride becomes the guide of men, disrespect for others and their lives justifies mindless murder and mayhem.

The Law of God is meant for our well-being and happiness. It points us to the knowledge that, as fallen creatures, we cannot possibly live up to God’s standards; His moral absolutes. Martin Luther called the Law a mirror, and a hammer. Looking into the mirror of God’s Law, we see our faults; our sin and guilt. The hammer of God’s Law crushes our pride and self-righteousness. Luther said, “The Law is a whip that drives us to the cross.” It is at the cross that we find Jesus Christ, the One who cleanses us and forgives us, the One who has taken all our sin and guilt upon Himself and justifies us before God by imputing His righteousness to us. Jesus lived according to God’s perfect standard for us, since we cannot. He fulfilled the Law. There are many who claim that they live their lives in such a way that they never hurt anyone, they help the poor, and pray for their friends and neighbors, therefore they believe they are acceptable in God’s eyes. But God says this way of thinking is incorrect. Romans 3:10 (NKJV) “There is none righteous, no, not even one.” Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV) “And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.”

Where, then, is our hope? It cannot be in doing more, in trying harder, nor can it be in ignoring the fact the Christ died for us and just hoping that, somehow, because of God’s goodness, we will make it to heaven one day. Our hope lies in believing that the Lord Jesus Christ suffered and died for us; that we can live by the same power of His resurrection; forgiven of all sin and guilt, being saved from wrath and appointed for eternal life with Him. Only then can we be free of the bondage of men’s philosophies and serve God in gratitude for what He has done for us; living with the right motives.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NASB) For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

Copyright © 2012 Robert Gunn