the.Sold.Out.Soul

The eternal salvation story

Today we celebrate the birth of our Savior, but this was not the beginning of his work. That birth does not mark the beginning of our salvation story. The victory already was secure before the foundations of the earth were laid. The eternal Christ has been ready and able to save since the beginning.

The joyful grape treader

We do not need to reap a great harvest before shouting and dancing for joy at the Lord's provision. In many ways, He gives us a daily harvest. Whether spiritually, financially or physically, He provides all. Let us choose to respond with praise rooted in joy.

Treasures big and small

God has allowed us to be stewards of some valuable resources.  It is not just money but time, energy and many other things.  It is our choice how we use those temporary treasures to store up eternal treasure.  It might look like we do not have much at times, but God honors even the small acts of stewardship which can amount to a great heavenly prize.

A calling unto death

Esther, Mordecai and the Jews of their time certainly had their flaws.  Yet, God used them in a mighty way, and we are still talking about it today.  For them, the question was simple.  Would they be willing to face death individually and corporately in order to save their people from annihilation?  They would be.  Would we be willing to do the same?

In pursuit of God(liness)

To pursue God and his kingdom is about more than what we can gain.  Blessings, treasures, gifts, mercy and eternal life are great.  Who would not want them? However, pursuing God is about pursuing holiness in us as well, a transformation only He can bring.  If we are not pursuing the development of godliness within us, we are not pursuing God.

Temper, temper

The story of the tortoise and the hare teaches us that slow and steady wins the race.  Spiritually, there is a similar call to slowness, to deliberation in how we comport ourselves.  Let us learn how to take the time to act and speak in a way that shows temperance and honors God.

Any given Sunday

Church unity means a lot of things. If the Church is really united, we can walk into any number of buildings on a Sunday morning and be among God's people worshiping him together in Spirit and in truth.  It should be like family even if we never have met them.  I pray that we all have that.

More on the great delusion(s)

We have covered this general idea recently, but there is a specific delusion among us resulting from people's desire to identify with anything other than God.  As the Church, I believe our job is to pray against the deception and wickedness which leads to God releasing this delusion.  He ultimately gives them what they want, but we can pray that they would want the truth.  Let us pray for those under the crisis of human identity to have their eyes opened and their souls saved.

A reversal of fortune

It should have been that the arrival of Messiah would save Israel and bring the nations to jealousy and a desire to know Israel's God.  Instead, Jesus was rejected by those He came to save, and the Gentiles were grafted in as a way of provoking Zion herself to jealousy.  Let us pray that the fruit of our salvation indeed draws Israel to return to her Lord.

The wisdom of silence

You can measure a man by his words. After all, the bible tell us that the one who can bridle his tongue will be perfect. Sometimes the wisest words we can say are no words at all. This is restraint that only the Holy Spirit can teach us.