A Dash of Salt

The Purpose of Salvation

"And with joy giving thanks to the Father who made us sufficient to receive a share of the inheritance of the saints (holy ones) in the light, who rescued us out of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of our sins..."  (Colossians 1:12-14)

"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks."  (John 4:23, NIV)

Have you ever thought about why God saved you?  He didn't have to bother rescuing us from judgment, and we certainly didn't deserve his forgiveness and acceptance.  So why did He do it? 

The Apostle Paul reminds us that one of the ways we should live our lives and please God is so that we can keep on giving thanks to Him for qualifying us to share his inheritance.  As Jesus explained to the woman at the well, God is searching for worshipers, and what better way to recruit people to praise Him than to rescue them when they couldn't save themselves.

Most of the time I overlook how lost I've been in my sin.  I fail to remember the horrible cost Jesus paid to save me.  And I forget the thrill of being with Jesus forever that awaits me.  Such neglect robs me of joy and stifles my worship. 

Styles of worship music do not matter.  Physical posture is not the issue.  What truly inspires heartfelt praise is the growing awareness of how rich and full our salvation is in Christ.  If you haven't recently, take time to remember how much Christ has changed your life.  Review your lost condition and what Jesus did to save you.  Thank Him for rescuing you.  Thank Him for his unconditional love and grace to you.  How lavish is the Father's love for you that He made you his precious child (1 John 3:1)!

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness and into the his wonderful light."  (1 Peter 2:9, NIV)

Are You Qualified to Go to Heaven?

"And with joy giving thanks to the Father who made us sufficient to receive a portion of the share of the saints (holy ones) in the light, who rescued us out of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love, in whom we are having redemption, the forgiveness of our sins..."  (Colossians 1:12-14)

Who has the qualifications to go to heaven?  The Pope?  Mother Theresa?  Billy Graham?  The Dalai Lama?  You and me?  Believe it or not, anyone who by faith depends on Jesus Christ can be certain they are going there.   

In Colossians 1:12-14, Paul explains that the fourth characteristic of Christians who are walking in a way that honors God (Colossians 1:10) is that they are joyful worshipers of God the Father.  Followers of Jesus keep on thanking God for the inheritance they have received from Him, and they do this, not out of duty, but for sheer joy.  They are well aware that they don't deserve to receive any blessings from God, and this conviction makes their praise all the more joyful.  How sad that so many Christians have lost their sense of joy and wonder at God's grace!  They forget that Christ has qualified them to share his blessings in the this life and go to heaven in the next.

Our sinful rebellion disqualifies us from inheriting any of God's blessings, and if we're ever going to make the grade, God the Father has to do the work.  Thankfully, He has made us sufficient to receive a share of the inheritance He is giving to all of the saints who are in the light.  He qualified us to inherit by rescuing us from the authority of darkness and then placing us in His beloved Son's kingdom.  Note the contrast between "the kingdom of darkness" and "saints in the light."  Christians need to live lives set apart from sinning because they have been set free from the kingdom of darkness (Satan's domain).  They are holy because God has taken them to be his possessions through Jesus' salvation work.

Almighty God has already qualified us because He has already rescued and already transferred us into his Son's kingdom of light.  We were redeemed when He purchased out of the slave market of sin and set us free.  Jesus paid the price for our liberation when He died on the cross.  All of our sins have been forgiven, not because we deserve it, but because Jesus graciously took our punishment in our place.  His sacrifice makes our inheritance all the more priceless (1 Peter 1:18-19).

God takes the disqualified and makes them qualified when they trust in his Son, Jesus Christ, for their forgiveness and acceptance with Him.  You can become fit to inherit God's blessings now and heaven later when you depend on Christ to rescue you.  Think about it: If you've been qualified to become a shareholder of heaven, you have a lot to celebrate, so let it show in your praise of God!

A God-Pleasing Lifestyle

"That you might walk about in a manner worthy of the Lord so to please him all respects by bearing  fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, and being strengthened with all strength according to the power of his glory unto all endurance and patience, and with joy giving thanks to the Father..."  (Colossians 1:10-12)

Paul prays for the Colossians that they would be filled with a thorough knowledge of God's will and have the spiritual wisdom and insight to apply it to their lives (Colossians 1:9).  In vv. 1-12 he explains what will happen when they put into action their knowledge of God's will: They'll walk about (live their lives, conduct themselves) in a manner that is worthy of the Lord and pleases Him.  Rather than seeking to advance themselves and satisfy their selfish desires, those who obey Christ live to honor Him and do what satisfies Him.

To behave in a way that is "worthy" of the Lord Jesus means to act in a way that is "suitable" for one who claims to be submissive to his authority as Lord (both the Owner and Boss).  If we claim that Jesus is our Lord, then we need to conduct our lives in a way that is appropriate.  Our behavior must show our devotion and respect for Him and so becomes an act of worship.

The motivation for such behavior is the desire to please Christ and do something that brings a sense of satisfaction to Him.  We are correct to avoid living our lives trying to impress God or earn his approval.  Only salvation through Christ which we appropriate by faith gives us God's full approval.  Yet, just as a parent is pleased and proud when a child freely chooses to obey, so the Lord Jesus is both honored and satisfied when we trust and obey Him. 

It's impossible to please God when we allow ourselves to be controlled by the sinful nature/fleshly impulse we all have within us (Romans 8:8).  Jesus died for us not so that we would please ourselves but seek to please God.

It's impossible to please God when we mix the gospel with other religious beliefs and philosophies.  That's why Paul prayed that the Colossians would receive a thorough knowledge of God's will and not settle for the "special knowledge" the false teachers claimed to offer in their noxious blend of Christianity, magic, and angel worship.

So how do you and I go about pleasing God?  Paul shows us four ways in vv. 10-12: Bearing fruit through good works, increasing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with God's power, and giving thanks joyfully to God.  We'll look at these in greater detail in the days ahead.

What Jesus Thinks Is Important (2)

More thoughts on Jesus and the Greatest Commandments: "Love God with all that you are; love your neighbor as yourself."  According to Matthew 22:34-40, nothing else matters.  How sad that we often let the things that are urgent in our lives crowd out what Jesus considers most important.  I've tried to follow Scot McKnight's advice in his book, The Jesus Creed, to memorize these commands and repeat them to myself at different moments throughout the day.  I haven't been very consistent, but what stands out to me so far is...

I have a personal responsibility to love God and love my neighbor.  The "you" in both commands is in the singular form, and it reminds me that I have to do the loving.  It's "You...yes, you!," not, "You all..."  While the church certainly needs to love God and others, I realize that I must take the initiative to love them, whether or not anyone else does.

I need to be fully engaged in loving God and loving my neighbor.  Jesus said that I have to love them with my whole (all) heart, soul, and mind.  My neighbor needs to be loved just like I love myself.  Nothing should be held back when I give to the Lord or to others in need. 

I live a life of full devotion to the Lord when I love God and my neighbor this way.  All that I do and say must hinge on my loving God and loving others.  Every other command in the Bible flows out of these two.  To me, it sounds like Jesus is saying, "These two are the commands.  Everything else is simply a way to practically apply them in your daily life."

I can't love God if I don't love my neighbor.  Jesus sure seems to be placing equal stress on both commands.  Of course, we must love God first.  But can I say that I really do love Him if I don't love the people He has placed near me?  No, I can't.  Ouch.  The genuineness of my Theology is seen in the generousness of my Hospitality.

Love God.  Love people.  Nothing else matters.

Give Thanks to the LORD, For He Is Good

I am a thankful man today. 
Salvation full and free.
Dawn and our children.
The privilege of serving God.
The family of God at the Chapel.
Good friends and neighbors.
The opportunity to learn and grow.
Way more than enough.  And then some.
"Thank you for it all, dear Heavenly Father. 
Your grace has met my every need."

Today, we Morgans are headed over the mountains to visit my kinfolk.  Tomorrow, we travel south of the border into Maryland to be with Dawn's family.  Saturday, Audrey and Chris come for a visit.  It'll be great to be with them all!

Are You Forgetting Something in Your Prayers? (2)

Another reason for thanking God is this: Thanking God puts me and you in our proper place.  It humbles us by reminding us that we are dependent on God.  I think that this fact alone is one of the main reasons we tend to not thank God or others.  We don't like to admit that we need them.

Remember the story in Luke 17:11-19 of Jesus healing the ten men with leprosy?  It's a lesson on the power of Jesus and the power of gratitude:

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"

When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."  (NIV)

"Your faith has made you well."  By so blessing the grateful Samaritan, Jesus shows that thanksgiving is an expression of our humble, trustful dependence on God.  In a very real sense, ungratefulness = pride.  When we don't give thanks, it might be because we actually trust in ourselves.

"If a person, at the same time that he receives remarkable kindness from God, has a sense of His infinite greatness, and that he is but nothing in comparison of Him, surely this will naturally raise his gratitude and praise the higher, for kindness to one so much inferior." (Jonathan Edwards)

But even as it humbles us by exposing our neediness, thanksgiving also reminds us of God's past faithfulness.  It encourages my continued faith in Him.  When I give thanks, I remember that God is good and great, and that even though life is hard and full of trials, He remains faithful in his love for you and me.  Our circumstances change, but our faithful God does not.  We can trust Him now.  The Psalmist understood this:

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.  (Psalm 100:4-5, NIV)

Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.  (Psalm 105:1-2, NIV)

Our giving thanks strengthens our faith.  Our giving thanks testifies of God's greatness to the world.  Our giving thanks tells our children that they can trust God, too.  Maybe we Christians would be a more persuasive witness in the world if instead of protesting we spent more time giving thanks for all that God has done.

I'm looking forward to our Thanksgiving Praise Service tonight at the Chapel.  It's a tradition, yes, but it's also alive.  When I hear of all that God has done in our church family this past year...I come away full, overwhelmed by the Lord's faithfulness to little ol' me and my brothers and sisters in Christ.  The simplicity of it all is remarkable.  Just us, God's children, telling our Daddy in Heaven that we are thank-full to Him.

Giving thanks is powerful!  Do you understand the impact your thanksgiving can have on your own faith?  Do you see how it can influence others to trust God as well?  Are you full of thanks to God?  When will you tell Him?

Are You Forgetting Something in Your Prayers? (1)

We're quick to pray, but are we quick to give thanks?  Scripture constantly reminds us to not only ask for God's help, but also to praise Him when He comes to our aid.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  (Philippians 4:6, NIV)

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  (Colossians 4:2, NIV)

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV)

Why does God want us to give thanks?  I think there are at least three reasons for thanksgiving, and we can ill afford to misunderstand God's purposes for it.  I'll share these simple ideas with you over the next several days.

Let's start with the most obvious reason for thanking God: He certainly deserves it!  He's God, and we owe all that we are and have to Him.  "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."  (Psalm 118:1, NIV)

I often struggle with remembering that God is worthy of my thanks, and I guess that makes me a lot like Bart Simpson.  Bart brashly prayed what many of us think during a Thanksgiving episode several years ago:  After his mother, Marge, asked him to say grace before the meal, Bart prayed, "Dear God, we paid for this ourselves, so thanks for nothing."  Many viewers were shocked by Bart's comment, but as Lee Stroble observed in a sermon entitled “What Jesus Would Say to Bart Simpson,” many people live their lives with the attitude that they’ve earned what they’ve received, and that God really had nothing to do with it.  Stroble concluded that "in ways, Bart is merely more honest than most.” 

Convinced that our hard work and lucky breaks have brought our blessings, we don't bother to thank God.  We could not be more wrong!  There is a danger in not thanking God.  Ungratefulness is the first step toward an all-out rejection of God.  Paul warns us,

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  (Romans 1:20-21, NIV)

Persistent thanksgiving halts this slide toward living a life without God since gratitude is an act of worship.  Christians worship God by offering sacrifices of thanksgiving along with their good deeds to Him.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.  (Hebrews 13:15-16, NIV)

A grateful person recognizes how gracious and kind God has been in his or her life and so appreciates Him.  To such a person, giving thanks is an act of worship, a heartfelt expression of their love for God.  Thanksgiving just wells up within them.  They don't need a special day to thank God; it's their daily habit.

So, are you forgetting anything in your prayers?  What are you thankful for?  Have you given thanks to God?