by David Peake | Blog
Can any of us say that we are serving our God fully? Sure … we can say it, but can we say it truthfully?
The most likely and accurate analysis of our lives would find that we are not serving Him fully … only One ever did. If we will recognize this simple and inescapable fact, then, we are ready to strive for a fuller service to Him.
The trick is to acknowledge our shortcomings without accepting or declaring defeat. Some might ask “If I am not capable of serving him fully, what is the point?”
The Apostle Paul would have us understand that the point of our lives is discovered in striving to serve Him fully.
There are many days in our lives when we can look back and say, honestly, “ I have not sinned.” But we don’t get to hang our laurels on that day. Instead, we have to focus on the next day and work to do it again.
I submit to you that this is Paul’s message in Philippians 3:12-16:
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
The best question we could ask ourselves today is “does this passage describe me or just the Apostle Paul?”
Paul continues his thought, in part in Hebrews 12:1, where he says “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
What kind of things hinder us from serving our God more fully? What weight are we carrying that we ought to lay down?
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by David Peake | Blog
John 1:4 expresses, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” We do not have a fundamental understanding of Jesus without considering the profound statement, “in Him was life.”
The word “life” appears in the New Testament 192 times — 47 times in the book of John alone — but the idea of life begins in Genesis — the beginning.
To say “in Him was life” and not address creation ignores John 1:1-3:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
In Genesis 2:7 we read, “And Yahweh God ( or Elohiym Yahweh) formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”
Since we know that “all things were made through [Jesus] and without Him nothing was made” (John 1:3) We can infer that Jesus breathed life into Adam inasmuch as the Father did. In fact, Jesus is involved in the creation of all life making the statement “in Him was life” an observation, in part, of His role in creation.
What’s more, 1 Corinthians 15:45 looks back to Genesis 2:7 and says, “the first man Adam became a living being. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” Paul continues in 1 Corinthians, but we understand that “the last Adam” is Jesus, “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn (or pre-eminent) over all creation.” Colossians 1:15
As regards the phrase, “life-giving spirit,” it is understood that this is used to differentiate between the mere mortal Adam and the Divine Jesus. After all, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24
Let’s explore for a little bit now, how Jesus embodies this phrase “in Him was life” …
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by David Peake | Blog
Our thoughts, the things we think about, are of critical importance. In God’s eyes, our thoughts define us as surely as any word spoken or deed done. Proverb 23:7 says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
Our thoughts are the intent of our hearts. Although we cannot know each other’s hearts, God knows each of our hearts … He knows our thoughts. In Matthew 9, it is recorded that Jesus said to a paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven you.” At this, the account continues that the Scribes said to themselves, “This man blasphemes!” At verse 4 it is recorded that Jesus knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?”
You see, the things we say and do are the product of our thoughts and our thinking involves the heart. Not our actual heart, but the core of who we are … our minds. Jesus said in Matthew 15:18-20:
“… those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man …”
Our thinking is important … it is the fertile ground from which our words and deeds spring. Our thinking can defile us or make us pure. To help us achieve and maintain purity, the Apostle Paul has given us practical instructions in Philippians 4:8:
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things.
What are we going to meditate on?
How often to we find ourselves giving our mind’s attention to the negativity in the news, negativity in our family, at work, at our neighborhood and on and on? How often do we believe a lie and let it fester in our lives? How often to we let gossip take up residence in our heads?
Paul shows us a better way!
Are we going to be focused on the things of this world — or — will we be meditating on whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report and what things are virtuous and praiseworthy?
The choice is ours!
by David Peake | Blog
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 This is the attitude and conviction that the Apostle Paul had, what are our attitudes?
Paul begins by saying, “I can do all things,” but we must not confuse this with self-confidence. That is not to say that self-confidence is altogether bad, it just isn’t Paul’s message. Surely we can see that Jesus is at the center of Paul’s message, but the individual is also important.
We know that we can do nothing to save ourselves with our own wit, wisdom and strength. The same is true in our efforts to see others saved. We do not possess the power to save others from within ourselves … but in Christ and through His message, we can accomplish all things that are according to His will.
Where would Paul have been if he had relied on his abilities alone, even as formidable as they may have been? In Philippians 4:13, he acknowledges that it was through Christ that he accomplished great things for Him.
Even so, it seems we must recognize that Christ needs for us to act on His behalf. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Isn’t this true? If this were not true, perhaps the Holy Spirit would have led Paul just to write, “Christ can do all things” … which of course, is also true.
I do not understand this passage as merely a confession of Paul’s faith in his personal life; instead, the Apostle Paul is imploring us to have the same faith in our lives. If we put our faith in Jesus, with never a doubt, we can through Him conquer sin, change our lives, introduce change to the lives of others, and be certain of our home in Heaven.
It would be good for everyone to memorize Philippians 4:13 and when we each have trials in our lives, recall the words as a source of strength. Placing God’s Word in our hearts and minds is one way that we gain strength from the Lord. The Psalmist writes, “Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you“. Psalm 119:11
We all ought to live our lives saying “… through Christ who strengthens me.“
by David Peake | Blog
Imagine that is was illegal to be a Christian.
In many times and places this has been the case. Early Christians were killed for their faith. Even today there are many places where it is not lawful to be a Christian with common beheadings and even crucifixions.
It is not illegal to be a Christian in the United States, but let us imagine that it is … Could any of us be convicted in a court of law as a Christian?
Is there enough evidence in our lives that a jury of our Non-Christian peers would convict us or would they acquit us based on “reasonable doubt?” What might they find?
Would they discover that we regularly attend Sunday worship and behave in a moral, upright fashion? Should this be enough to convict us or would it be too little circumstantial evidence?
If they dug deeper, talking with many witnesses from our family, friends and members of the Church … would they learn that we seldom read the Bible, pray only at meals (if then) and spend little time with other Christians apart from when we are assembled for Sunday worship?
It is reasonable for people to examine our lives in this way. Paul teaches that we ought to be examining ourselves:
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you are disqualified. 2 Corinthians 13:5
And again he says:
But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. Galatians 6:4
Would we be convicted? If not, what will we do about it? Peter has great advice for us:
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8
When I do, finally, stand before the Judge … I want to be convicted and hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant … enter into the joy of your Lord.” Matthew 25:21,23
What is the case against you? Let us be convicted!
