Worthless Garbage!

For Thursday, May 2, 2024:

Philippians 3:8 NLT: “Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.”

Q: What’s the most valuable gift you’ve ever received?

A: If you’re a Christian, it’s the gift of eternal life in the presence of the Father as the result of the work Jesus did on the cross, freely given to you out of the Father’s love. If you were thinking of any earthly possession, you’re thinking far too small. Jesus went on ahead to prepare your forever residence, and eternity is a lot longer than we can even imagine!

You know that your human limitations don’t apply to God. So don’t you be the one to limit God by assigning him your human attributes.

Paul had been raised up with certain rules, certain traditions, certain values. He had been taught Jewish laws and was schooled as a Pharisee. And here he testifies how worthless it all is! Garbage! The New Covenant has replaced the Old Covenant. Instead of penalties, Jesus brokered forgiveness. Paul’s world had been turned upside down, and he loved the new way. On a scale of 1-10, the old ways and traditions would only get a 1. But partnering with Jesus gets a 10!

Believers are the hands and feet of God on earth. According to Paul, there’s no better way to live!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Pray!

For Wednesday, May 1, 2024:

Colossians 4:2 NLT: “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.”

We are to be vigilant in prayer, but always praying with thanksgiving for the great things God has done. God wants to know that you’re still in the game with him, but it should be a 2-way conversation. Your prayer should include love and thanksgiving for the Lord, not just personal requests.

Why pray? Jesus told a parable of a judge who did not fear God, or for that matter, men. A widow came to the judge persistently asking for justice. I believe her unrelenting requests wore him down! “Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.”

When praying for justice, don’t think you can wear God down. God has three answers to our requests: yes, no, and not just yet. Yes is easy. The problem is solved, the situation resolved. ‘No’ and ‘not just yet’ can be confusing. Did God say ‘no,’ or perhaps things will go my way later?

The Lord’s Prayer handles this well. “Thy will be done.” Not MY will but THY will! Rather than asking God for YOUR way, ask him to show you HIS way!

You could pray right now if you wanted to!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Christians First!

For Tuesday, April 30, 2024:

Philippians 3:3 NLV: “The act of becoming a Jew has nothing to do with us becoming Christians. We worship God through His Spirit and are proud of Jesus Christ. We have no faith in what we ourselves can do.”

At the time the resurrected Jesus ascended back to the Father, there was no New Testament. It hadn’t been written yet. Those who ministered with Jesus eventually documented what He said and what we should do. But that comes much later.

At that time, those who ministered with Jesus were all Jews who became followers of Christ, hence “Christians.” When they shared the Good News with their friends, those friends were converted Jews as well. So the mistaken notion developed that one needed to first become a Jew to eventually become a Christian. Not so fast!

It was Jesus himself who personally called Paul to itinerant ministry all over Asia Minor. Paul was put in charge of sharing the Good News with Gentiles, the non-Jews. Paul told everyone he met about Jesus – right away! There was no middle step of becoming a Jew first. After considerable prayer and consulting with the Jerusalem elders, the matter was settled. You did NOT have to first become a Jew in order to become a Christian!

God wants people who worship in truth and in spirit. The truth part is obvious, but our spirit needs to also connect with the Lord’s spirit. Each of us needs to accept the free gift offered by Jesus, eternal salvation in the presence of the Father.

By ourselves, no salvation is accomplished; but with God and his Son, everything is possible!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship