"'I have loved you,' says the LORD. But you say, 'How have you loved us?'" - Malachi 1:2
"I have loved you," says the Creator of the universe.
Did you know that God loves you? Did you know that He cares about you? Did you know that He has not abandoned you? Nor has He turned away from the death that so engulfs our world today from Syria to Kenya to Pakistan.
"I have loved you," says Jesus Christ on the cross.
Did you know that He wants you? Did you know that He put Himself through excruciating torture for you? Did you know He has died for you?
"I have loved you..."
Christian, please don't forget this love. Non-Christians, please don't doubt this love as the people in Malachi's days did. Do you want to be loved? That's what it means to be Christian. Repent and believe in Jesus Christ. You won't just receive forgiveness. You'll also receive love, wonderful, amazing love.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Meditations on Vision
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| Photo by helgabj |
Vision.
To think, plan, and imagine a future. To know the possibilities and to act upon it. To see it so vividly that it feels like one can reach out with one's hands and simply grasp it...
Vision.
To see a world so lost that it hurts. To feel the traumatizing pain that is killing billions of people across the planet. To weep because they are dying. To weep because no one else seems to care.
Vision.
To see my own sin so clearly that I feel repugnant of myself. To hate it and to mortify. To scream out Romans 7:24. To feel utterly broken...
Vision.
To understand what it takes to change all of this. To calculate the steps. To count the costs (cf. Luke 14). To embrace suffering. To deny oneself. To be restored by the cross.
Vision.
To have no pride. To see only that one thing. To want only that one thing. To have only that one thing... Christ in me, the hope of glory (cf. Col 1:27).
The fruition of a vision is not measured by money or influence or ministry success or planting a church! Its fruition is measured by seeing a smile from God Himself and hearing on that day, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matt 25:23). Yes, that is enough.
Lord, grant me vision. Let Your smile be the only thing I want to see, Your embrace the only thing I want to feel, Your presence the only thing I want to know. Amen.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Good News Week - A Summary
Hey guys! Let me share some good news with you!
I am here at Moody Theological Seminary! I'm actually here! Sitting in my room on campus, I realized that it has only been a week since school started. Since then, God has done so much. In fact, I prayed very specifically that God would give me a piece of good news each day that I can share with you all. God answered.
Some of you may not know this, but US immigration and I don't really get along. We haven't for the past 5 years since they kicked me out. In fact, at the border two weeks ago, I was almost refused entry. I don't blame them though, it's my fault. But still, the very fact that I am in the US is by God's grace and really a miracle. For those more legally inclined, have you ever heard of someone entering the US without an I-20? Ya, I did that.
I have also started learning both Greek and Hebrew in an official capacity, thoroughly enjoying the lessons. I look forward to every class I attend, bathing in the knowledge and wisdom of my professors, men of God from whom I can learn much. I've been encouraged and inspired by my peers, men and women with a vision for what God can do in our lives. I got a free number, countless new friends, and even a job I didn't ask for! God has really given me something exciting to share each and every day.
See, Facebook, blogs, or any kind of social media is ideal for sharing good news. We do it all the time when we use instagram or write status updates. I had plenty this week. But every single day, I actually had better news to share. I have something that I want more than anything (cf. Psalm 73:25), a piece of news that allows me to get up in the morning (cf. Lam 3:22-23), a hope that both drives and sustains me (cf. Psalm 119:116)...
This my friends is the best news of all: That there is a God. And this God has revealed Himself in the Bible and in the person Jesus Christ. Compared to knowing God, me getting a job means nothing. Compared to receiving His love, me making friends amounts to nothing. Compared to feeling the intimacy and warmth of His embrace... I want nothing else.
God is worth more than my job, my education, my home, my hopes, my dreams, my plans, and yes, even my life... I now know more than ever what my purpose in life is, to make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:19), to proclaim the gospel wherever I go (Mark 16:15), to preach as long as there is breath in me, to cry out every day, "Here I am! Send me" (Isa 6:8).
Christian, don't you dare waste your life on trivial things and petty games. Live for God! This was the best decision I made in my life and the best news that I've been told: that I need only repent and believe in order to be a son of God. If you haven't done that yet, you need to. Right now. I have and I've never looked back since.
I am here at Moody Theological Seminary! I'm actually here! Sitting in my room on campus, I realized that it has only been a week since school started. Since then, God has done so much. In fact, I prayed very specifically that God would give me a piece of good news each day that I can share with you all. God answered.
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| The Moody Campus |
Some of you may not know this, but US immigration and I don't really get along. We haven't for the past 5 years since they kicked me out. In fact, at the border two weeks ago, I was almost refused entry. I don't blame them though, it's my fault. But still, the very fact that I am in the US is by God's grace and really a miracle. For those more legally inclined, have you ever heard of someone entering the US without an I-20? Ya, I did that.
I have also started learning both Greek and Hebrew in an official capacity, thoroughly enjoying the lessons. I look forward to every class I attend, bathing in the knowledge and wisdom of my professors, men of God from whom I can learn much. I've been encouraged and inspired by my peers, men and women with a vision for what God can do in our lives. I got a free number, countless new friends, and even a job I didn't ask for! God has really given me something exciting to share each and every day.
See, Facebook, blogs, or any kind of social media is ideal for sharing good news. We do it all the time when we use instagram or write status updates. I had plenty this week. But every single day, I actually had better news to share. I have something that I want more than anything (cf. Psalm 73:25), a piece of news that allows me to get up in the morning (cf. Lam 3:22-23), a hope that both drives and sustains me (cf. Psalm 119:116)...
This my friends is the best news of all: That there is a God. And this God has revealed Himself in the Bible and in the person Jesus Christ. Compared to knowing God, me getting a job means nothing. Compared to receiving His love, me making friends amounts to nothing. Compared to feeling the intimacy and warmth of His embrace... I want nothing else.
God is worth more than my job, my education, my home, my hopes, my dreams, my plans, and yes, even my life... I now know more than ever what my purpose in life is, to make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:19), to proclaim the gospel wherever I go (Mark 16:15), to preach as long as there is breath in me, to cry out every day, "Here I am! Send me" (Isa 6:8).
Christian, don't you dare waste your life on trivial things and petty games. Live for God! This was the best decision I made in my life and the best news that I've been told: that I need only repent and believe in order to be a son of God. If you haven't done that yet, you need to. Right now. I have and I've never looked back since.
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