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At the heart of stewardship is the love of God has shown to us through His Son, Jesus. Because He loves us, He has given us “redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us…” (Ephesians 1:7-8). God is not stingy with His gifts: He “lavishes” them on us. Forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation would be enough, wouldn’t they? But God chooses to give us more gifts – the gifts of His creation to care for, food and clothing, family and friends, and much more. He “richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17). Responsibility comes with this enjoyment, for we “are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share” (1 Timothy 6:18).
We are enabled to shoulder this responsibility because God Himself has called us to be His stewards. Because God has chosen to work through us, we faithfully respond to His love and grace. Because of God’s grace in our lives we are transformed into Christ’s likeness. We read in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
As followers of Christ we are capable of doing marvelous things because of God’s power at work in our lives. God uses us as conduits to share His love and rich supply with others. God not only calls us to His work of stewardship, He sets out the good deeds He wants us to accomplish: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).
God’s love shines through us as we individually share our blessings with others. We can reflect God’s love as we follow His guidance and willingly serve Him with our time, abilities, and money. As the Apostle Paul said, “Therefore, my beloved brothers be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the
Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). May our love never grow cold and may we never tire of doing God’s work. |
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The Legacy of Martin Luther |
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For years Martin Luther had labored seeking to earn God’s favor. He had kept the law; he had prayed and meditated; he had preached and taught. He had fasted and done countless acts of devotion. He walked from Nuremburg to Rome where he climbed the same steps Christ had ascended to the palace of Pontius Pilate in order to free his loved ones from purgatory. Still peace in his soul eluded him.
What changed? What transformed Luther, the pious monk, into Luther, the Reformer? The same thing that transforms us; the Word of God. How
important is this treasure that God has given us! How we cheat ourselves when we neglect this great gift! The weight of the Law is lifted from us, as it was for Luther, when we read Ephesians 2:8-9:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Somehow many miss this truth. Although they have been brought up in the church, have read and studied their Bibles almost daily, the Gospel has eluded them. They strive, as did Luther, to appease God, our judge; they work to earn the favor of the One Who sits enthroned above. They live by the Law, burdened with the guilt of sin of which they can never rid themselves. Let us pray for those who labor under this
load that they may hear the freeing words. “For by grace you have been saved through faith.”
Then having been freed from the constraints of the Law, we can view ourselves as God’s “workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). We are saved by grace, and we are empowered by grace to give ourselves “fully to the work of the Lord, because [we] know that [our] labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). |
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Thursday, 01 September 2011 13:36 |
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Through faith, we live to serve God rather than ourselves. We acknowledge that God has created and redeemed us and that He is in control. Our joy and peace come from worshiping and serving Him. We understand that our purpose in life is to serve our heavenly Father. In contrast, people of the world live to serve themselves. Unfortunately, we live in a “me” era. Our society promotes a selfish and egotistical attitude. Our culture tells us to make every effort “to look out for number one” at any cost. “Have it your way” is a phrase that captures the philosophy of life in America. Money, selfish ambition, power, and success are the important things in life to most people.
In our faithful service for others, we are serving the Lord. Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of My brothers, you did it to Me” (Matthew 25:40). When we help others and extend God’s kingdom, we become channels through which He works. We are His hands, feet, and mouth. We become faithful and dependable workers because “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and goodness…” (2 Peter 1:3). God has equipped us to do His will. Paul wrote, “I can do everything through Him Who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
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Last Updated on Thursday, 09 February 2012 16:22 |
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Tuesday, 30 August 2011 15:01 |
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Webster’s Dictionary defines devotion as “loyalty, deep affection, or religious worship.” We can be devoted to jobs, to families, to hobbies, to attaining success, wealth, or status. We can be devoted to a political party or a sports team. A Christian’s highest devotion should be to His Lord and the Lord’s Church.
We show our devotion to Christ in different ways, but much of our devotion is expressed in what we say or do. To the Ephesians Paul wrote, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).Our good works show our devotion to God for Who He is and what He has done for us. As Christians, we show our devotion to Jesus through the faithful stewardship of our time, talents, and money.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 09 February 2012 16:22 |
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The sudden departures—no, the recent transfers into eternity—of Jenna Young and Corine McDonald—have moved me to refocus my thinking regarding my own death— and ask you this question:
ARE YOU READY?
In 1947, in the small farming village of Armada, my father just out of the seminary, had become acquainted with a neighbor who was gravely ill—a man who openly ridiculed and discounted the idea of salvation. But during the months of this man’s disorder and decline, my father brought him some small necessities—nothing big, just a few things to let him know he had not been forgotten—for he was alone. As it became apparent that time was running out, this man sent for my father.
The man began the visit: "I didn't ask you here so you could regale me with religion. I did, however, want to thank you for your kindness." Understanding the rules of this conversation, my father inquired, "May I ask one question?" "Only one—as long as it isn't about religion,“ he instructed. “Alright—I'm preaching tomorrow. Quite a few people will be there to hear me. Some, like you, may soon be facing death. What should I preach about?" My father told me that there was a long silence—then finally a reply: "Pastor, preach Christ to them; just preach Christ—I’m not going to make it without Him."
Many people live their lives as if they're going to live forever. Yet the latest research indicates that the mortality rate for humanity is running pretty close to 100% …we all come with an expiration date. So it is sober for us to plan for the end—and assume that the time will come when we will say our earthly farewells— and it is only right that we honestly ask ourselves, "Am I ready?"
The Lord Jesus, knowing that we and this present world are going to pass away, invested His life here—and endured shame, hatred, pain, humility, hostility, suffering, death—so that someday we would be able to confidently say—yes, I am ready to die. Eyewitness testimony is recorded for us—that those who possess a living faith in the Son of God know that nothing can separate them from the love and work of God—which is ours in Christ Jesus. So that even in death—we will be safe in the hands and in the home—of Almighty God.
Christmas was not about the birth of a baby last month—it is about the incarnation of God Himself—a Divine intervention in our history of sin and death. Our Lord put forward a miraculous yet strange economy—He exchanged our natures, our resumes—for our only acceptable Substitute—so that our only way back to God—is through God.
This world in its present form will pass away—but Christians will not. You see Christians were not made for the grave—and are not left alone when they die—because of the first Christmas. Scripture instructs us to heavily invest our time and energy—in prayer, God’s word, the work of the Church— preparing heart and mind—so that when physical death—or our Lord’s return does occur—and it will—we are able to honestly say: I’m ready!
What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. For this world in its present form is passing away.
1 Corinthians 7:29a, 31b; Jas 5.8; Rom 13.11; Rev 1.3; 1 Pet 4.7
-Mark Gade, Chairman, CtK Board of Elders |
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Do you know the legend of a Cherokee Indian boy's ‘rite of passage’? His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove his blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it.
He cannot cry out for help to anyone. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each boy must come into manhood on his own. The boy is naturally terrified. He will hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts may be all around him, or some stranger might do him harm. The wind will blow trees and earth, and shake his stump, but he must sit stoically, and not run away. For once he survives the night, he is a man.
And after the unnerving night the sun will appear, and only then may he remove his blindfold. It is then that he will discover his father was sitting on the stump next to him, and has been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from every danger through the grim ordeal.
The members of Christ the King also are never alone—we have our LORD’S faithful promise—revealed in the work and Person of Christ Jesus—as testified and witnessed by His appointed apostles.
Even when we don't know or feel it, Almighty God is superintending His people, and sitting on the stump, pew or bed beside us. And when trouble comes (and it most certainly does), we must reach out to Him in prayer, remain focused on His Word and trust Him. But often we ‘take off’ our faith before the dawn, and look to feeble emotions and worldly wit in the attempt to get through our personal darkness.
We need to recall Jacob’s flight from his brother. On a disturbing lonely night at Bethel, he dreamed of the stairway between heaven and earth; our Lord revealed, no promised, that He would protect him. Jacob awoke and exclaimed, “Surely the Lord is in this place; and I did not know it.” That’s the basic recipe for the ‘cake’ in our lives—our God is truly with us—the ‘icing’ is that at times, we actually remember and believe it.
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed … so we do not lose heart … for we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 4.8-9; 5.6-7
-Mark Gade, for the Board of Elders |
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