Before Time Began .
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Have you read the book The Purpose Driven Life? Rick Warren, Pastor of Saddleback Church in California is the author. He is one of my modern-day heroes. Saddleback Church is now a mega-church but it started with two families in the Warren’s living room. I don’t know much about what led Rev. Warren to start that meeting in his home, but I know about the good works he and his church have done.

I highly recommend the book. It was truly life-changing for me. I know that’s an expression that may be overused or exaggerated but my life is evidence of the impact of his book. In one of the chapters he shares that we were created for a purpose. This scriptural reference is obviously the source of that contention.

I find it tremendously reassuring that I am not only created in the image and likeness of God but that He had a specific purpose for me and my life when I was created. Actually, His plan for me began long before I was born. While the universe was still a whirling vortex of dust, God thought of me and what purpose He would place upon my life. It’s just too much to comprehend, isn’t it?!

Notice Paul reminds us we were “created in Christ Jesus to do good works”. In other words, we are new creations because of Christ. Yes, every person ever born had a purpose and a reason for their existence. Because of Christ, though, our purpose becomes even more crucial: to share the Good News of the resurrection!

The prophets and a multitude of others demonstrated their tremendous faith in God. Their lives had meaning and significance as well. Perhaps we feel inadequate to rise to the level of David or Abraham or Moses. Maybe we feel that we are not as “important” in God’s great plan as were these historical figures. Well . . . not so! Remember, we are God’s workmanship.

Some days I feel very small. Sometimes I feel tired and that my small contributions to the world are insignificant in the big scheme of things. Then I remember that I have tremendous significance because I am created for a purpose ordained by God long before the world began.

My prayer today is that you remember where you came from. And that you rely upon Christ for your fortitude and endurance as you go out into the world.

Mary  ¶ 6:22 AM

  A Love So Deep .

John 5:21-24

For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

I suppose it’s sacrilegious to say that God became so confounded by man that He sent Jesus to help Him understand how it feels to be confined to flesh and bone. Only through becoming human could he know first hand the glorious scent of fresh bread baking and the sweet, victorious sound of a baby squalling as it gasps its first breath. He wanted to feel a human touch and see with human eyes, think with human comprehension. He desired to comprehend even the dark, sinful places of our souls. How else could the Savior’s death truly redeem us?

Of course God is God and he doesn’t need anything from us. His taking on human form was the ultimate expression of love. More than that, it was the perfect expression of servant hood. His decision to walk among us, to breathe our air and taste our food, speaks volumes about the power of God. He lowered Himself to be like us. He sacrificed Himself to save us. Jesus changed not only human history, but God’s view of us as well.

Yes, God is all knowing, all powerful, all . . . everything. But just as we create a baby and give it birth, we can never know completely what it is like to be that new person. We know a great deal about the baby – the genetic make up, the temperament, the odd little quirks. But we cannot fully and completely know the thoughts of that newly created life form. We don’t know how it feels when the baby’s heart beats in its chest, even though our heart beats within ours.

I am certain I’ve not made a convincing argument here, and I have perhaps confused my point more than I have clarified it. Jesus was God’s way of empathizing with us. The Cross was God’s way of showing us how to move beyond ourselves, to become more like Him with every breath and heartbeat. Jesus was, indeed, divine. He was, though, also human and he had the same free will God gave to each of us. He did not have to die on the Cross. It was His choice to do so.

We owe Jesus, this God/man, everything! Some may diminish His sacrifice, contending that well He was God so it wasn’t really painful or difficult for Him to be crucified. Ah . . . but He was crucified as a human being! He rose as divine to show us the way to heaven. I know I’ll never be that courageous, obedient, loving or strong. But I have a vision of what courage looks like, an example of absolute obedience, a lesson in perfect love and a model of divinely-inspired strength.

That should be enough to keep me busy until I get to heaven!

My prayer today is that you reflect upon a love so deep, so strong, so compelling and pure that God chose to walk among us. And that you will strive to be Jesus to a world in desperate need of a Savior.

Mary  ¶ 8:02 AM

  A Slave to Everyone .

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NIV

Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

You know at first read, it may seem that Paul is suggesting we put on a fake persona in order to exert undue influence over others. It’s almost as if he is saying pretend to be like whomever you are with so you can win them over more readily.

In a way, that is what he is saying – although there’s no pretending about it. What Paul is saying is that we are to walk in the shoes of others in order to understand them. Once we understand them, we can better express the Good News to them, in ways they will most readily grasp the message.

We aren’t to be anything or anyone other than ourselves. But we are to be ourselves ‘one better’! In other words, we become the weak, the Jew, all things to all people as Christ himself did. Because we are all created in the image of God we all are, at our core, the same. We are broken and flawed, floundering around on our own until we meet Jesus! Once that happens, our lives are never the same!

That’s the message Paul entreats us to share. We are all one, we are each precious and valued. Jesus died for you! He would have died just for you – only for you. And you know what? He did! That news is just too good to keep to ourselves. It’s too amazing not to share with everyone!

I hope today you will be as a slave to everyone you meet so that you may share with them the Good News of the gospel.

Mary  ¶ 9:03 AM

  The Lord of Hosts Is His Name .
Jeremiah 31:35-36

Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar – the Lord of hosts is his name: "If this fixed order departs from before me, says the Lord, then shall the descendants of Israel cease from being a nation before me for ever."

I love to sit out on my deck for a few minutes in the mornings before sunrise. Often the moon and stars are still visible and the sky begins to hint the sun is on its way. As I sit there soaking in the sounds of the sunrise I am comforted that God makes promises to us such as this one in Jeremiah.

Every part of our day, each aspect of nature, every second of our lives is under God’s power. He fixed the order of the universe and guides the sun and moon, the stars, the oceans and even the cicadas and chirping martins and the squirrels that leaping through the trees in my back yard.

As the sky brightens and the evidence of the night fades before me, the train whistle 2 miles away is almost drowned out by the bird calls, the dogs barking and car engines starting as the early risers head off to start their day. I go inside for a second cup of coffee and return to the deck for a few more moments.

The plans of my day seem almost inconsequential. The stress that had already begun to manifest in my muscles and the set of my jaw go on hiatus for a few more minutes as the sun makes its appearance and the last remnants of the moon fade. Nature is quieter now, having greeted the sun. The birds and I are reassured that God reigns yet another day.

God reigns over all of nature and over me. He who gives the sun is bigger than the minor annoyances that are sure to come. He who fixed the order of the moon can take my burdens to Himself. He who stirs up the sea can wash away all the problems I have allowed to overwhelm me. The Lord of Hosts is the Lord of my life. My life is His doing. He made me and I am part of His divine plan.

Sounds of traffic creep into my awareness. I realize that day has begun and I am still on my first cup of coffee! I lift a word of thanks and praise to the God who shall never cease to rule the earth and order the universe and then I go inside to start my day.

I hope today you will turn over every aspect of your life to the Lord of Hosts. And that you rejoice in being a part of His fixed order.

Mary  ¶ 8:57 AM