Details

Published: 19 February 2021

I went to the Chiropractor this past week and the first thing the doctor asked me was, “What’s new?”  Sometimes, I don’t know how to answer that question.  I’m the kind of person who thinks of good answers about two hours later.  I wish I would have said, “Me.” I may be looking older but I am newer than I appear.  I’m not new in the sense of time, I’m getting older.  But in identity and position, I am new.  I am new as compared to what I was before I became a Christian.  The old Mark was in Adam, under sin, under the law, corrupt and being corrupted.  However, as a believer; I am in Christ, a recipient of His righteousness, being made perfect, with the capacity to know God and walk in His ways.  If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature!  Being new requires living new.  That’s the point of Ephesians 4-6.  Since we are the recipients of all spiritual blessings, we should live like it.  But, if Christ has made me new, why doesn’t He just make me new?!  Why do I have to be a participant in the sanctification process?  Well, the easy answer is, I don’t know.  The simple answer is, that I am more than a project to God.  I am His child and part of what we are doing together to build this relationship of ours is the process of sanctification.  In other words, in the process of taking on our holiness, we are growing in relational capital.  I am joining Him in what He wants to accomplish in me.  There’s a lot to make new so we have plenty to do together.  I hope the newness never wears off.   

Details

Published: 12 February 2021

 Sunday is Lover’s Day.  Whether you have a lover or not, you probably have some Valentine’s Day memories.  When I was in grade school, we were “forced” to give Valentine’s Cards to everyone in the class.  That time period must have been a financial windfall for card makers.  Every mom went out and bought the kit with 30 cards and then we had to sit down and put names on them so we could pass them out at school.  I didn’t want to give cards to boys.  In fact, I didn’t want to give them to most of the girls either.  I remember some of the cards had a skunk on them, probably Pepe le Pew, I gave those cards to the people I really didn’t like.  I know that is terrible, I was a punk.  I’m sure glad that God is more loving than me.  He didn’t send His Word to a few people that liked Him back; He loves the whole world.  He loves people that hate Him and/or deny His existence.  “God demonstrated His love for us in this way, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  Would you send a Valentine to somebody who hated you?  God sent His Son.  His Son.  Love is God’s disposition and our manifold blessings are the result of God’s love toward us.  As meet around the Communion Table this week, we’ll talk about how we ought to live in light of that love.  Happy Valentine’s Day!