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Nov. 7, 2006
ALL THINGS
Our Pastor spoke on Romans this past Sunday night. I truly enjoy sitting under his teaching. I have been thinking about his message and in particular the point he brought up about sanctification. Sanctification is the act of the Holy Spirit making us to be more like Jesus Christ. We have a position in Heaven, but unfortunately we do not always live up to that position - that's where Sanctification comes in. Rom. 8:28 says "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. vs. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." Many of us have heard that verse time and time again - but I am seeing it in a different light now. God has already determined the plan for our lives - to be conformed to the image of His Son. How is He doing this? Through ALL THINGS! If we allow Him He will use ALL THINGS to conform us to the image of Jesus. I began reading today Cosmic Christmas by Max Lucado. There is a scene in the first Chapter where God is about to send His Gift to earth through the messenger Gabriel. satan shows up on the scene to condemn and boast to God about how he thwarts "everything You do! You soften hearts, I harden them. You teach truth, I shadow it. You offer joy, I steal it." He continues boasting by saying; "The betrayal of Joseph by his brothers - I did that. Moses banished to the desert after killing the Egyptian - I did that. David watching Bathsheba bathe - that was me. You must admit, my work has been crafty." "Crafty? Perhaps. But effective? No. I know what you will do even before you do it. I used the betrayal of Joseph to deliver My people from famine. Your banishment of Moses became his wilderness training. And yes, David did commit adultry with Bathshba - but he repented of his sin! And thousands have been inspired by his example and found what he found - unending grace. Your deceptions have only served as platforms for My mercy. You are still My servant, satan. When will you learn? Your feeble attempts to disturb My work only enable My work. Every act you have intended for evil, I have used for good." As I read that this morning I was reminded that even when we fail, when we mess up, when things don't go as we want, ALL THINGS can be used to conform us to Christ's imagie if we will allow it. satan doesn't want us to find that unending mercy so he feeds us lies - we've messed up too bad and God can never use us now - LIE - God can use it to conform you to the image of His Son - now that is Good News. My prayer is that I will allow the ALL THINGS of my life to chisel away anything that doesn't look like Christ ; and that He will use the ALL THINGS to build in me the missing character traits of Christ. I know I have a long way to go - but My God is Able and ALL THINGS happen in my life daily :0)
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