Conformed Not Confirmed!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Romans 8:28-29

No one looks at the star that shines next to the bright one! When a verse of scripture is memorized and quoted by millions, the words before and after it seem to pale in significance. Romans 8:28 is such a verse. We all love for God to work all things for our good! What a comfort to read this verse when troubling times come.

But Romans 8:29 is of no less significance. It says that His children are “predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son!” Notice that it does not say that we are predestined to conform, but rather that we are predestined to be conformed. To conform is a choice you make. To be conformed is conformity which comes from an action taken to change your life!

My spell checker in the previous paragraph suggested that I probably meant “confirm” rather than conform! That is the same misunderstanding we are all tempted to embrace. If we were predestined to be confirmed in the likeness of Jesus that would be God’s recognition of how wonderful our life had become. But being conformed is the process whereby we are changed, and the change is one that is radical!

As human beings we do not have the power to conform ourselves to the image of Jesus. The contrast between my human nature and the Devine Nature of Jesus is too great. I might take a small step in that direction by my own power, but then I take two steps backward. But when the Holy Spirit who lives in me begins the transformation process He “works all things for the good.”

I always assumed that things working together for my good meant that it would be pleasant! Not so! The things that work together for my good are the things that, whether I like them or not, transform me and conform me into the likeness of Jesus!

Words Cannot Express!

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

Romans 8:26-27

What is a baby thinking when he is crying? Well, of course the baby is thinking, “I’m hungry, thirsty, or wet.” But the baby begins life and cries before he knows these concepts and of course without any words with which to express his feelings. Over the next few months and years the baby learns to speak words that let his mother know what he feels and needs. These words slowly take the place of screaming about felt needs!

But the limits of language, any language still remain in place. The human capacity for feeling is bigger than any words can express. When you speak the words “I love you” to one who is dear to your heart, you are expressing one snowflake in a blizzard of emotion. As you might guess, I am struggling to find the words to adequately communicate the inadequacy of words!

So when I pray how do I say to God the things that I feel for which there are no words? There are times when I simply cry like a baby! A small vocabulary does not change the depth of my thoughts and needs before God. No one would say that a man and his wife who cannot read or write and have a limited vocabulary cannot have a relationship that is as full and meaningful as a couple with college educations. Vocabulary does not determine relationship. The communication that goes on between couples without words is usually greater and more complex than any words could express.

In light of this, consider these words in Romans 8:26. “The Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”

When you cry out to God the Holy Spirit goes to God on your behalf. He tells God the things that you could never put in to words! The Holy Spirit like a good mother hears your cry and knows immediately what you need.

Don’t spend your life trying to find the right words to say to God. Like a newborn baby raise your voice and cry out to God! There is nothing more beautiful than the first cry of a baby!

Heaven’s Green Stamps!

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Romans 8:22-23

When I was a child we took turns saving S&H Green Stamps! Green Stamps were given out by local stores and pasted in a book which could be redeemed at the local Green Stamp redemption center. The process was simple. You found a favorite item in their catalog and then saved enough stamps to fill a collector’s book. The catalog told you how many “books” of green stamps you needed to trade at the redemption store for your prize. I was not very patient so I always went for the items that required only one book of stamps! I do remember redeeming one book of stamps for a King James Bible.

Romans 8:23 speaks of the redemption of our bodies. My body, like a book of green stamps has almost no value. My body came from dust and to dust it will return. But when Jesus returns my body will be exchanged for a new one. It will be changed from a body of death to an eternal body that will never die!

I still remember flipping through my almost full book of green stamps while dreaming about the prize that was soon to come! Just a few more days and I would have enough stamps to go to the redemption store and exchange the stamps for the thing I have dreamed about for so long!

Today I do almost exactly the same thing as I “flip through my almost full book of life” and dream about the prize that is soon to come. Just a few more days and I will have enough to go to Heaven’s redemption store and exchange my life here for the thing I have dreamed about for so long!

You could not buy Green Stamps and you cannot buy Heavenly redemption. It is the gift of God, but only for those who come to Him by faith in Jesus!

Jesus is Amazing!

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."

Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."

John 4:24-26

Many movies have been made about the witness protection program. Someone is given a new identity and sent away to live without any ties to their former life. I have met a few people who may have been involved, but of course you never know for sure until after their need for anonymity has passed. The stories are always intriguing, but few are told.

When Jesus arrived in Bethlehem two thousand years ago his arrival was announced to the shepherds, the wise men, and Mary and Joseph, but to the rest of mankind He was just another Baby born out of wedlock! As a child there was no halo sitting on top of his head or trumpet blowing angel walking in front as He ran through the streets of Nazareth. Like the rest of us Jesus was hungry, thirsty, tired, and needed a haircut and even a bath!

When the woman at the well met Jesus in John 4 she thought she was talking with an ordinary man until He declared to her that He was the Messiah! It was a simple conversation about needing water, the fact that she had no husband and then she threw in a religious question. Finally, she let Him know that she believed that the Messiah would come and Jesus revealed Himself to the woman!

If you want to know something of great spiritual significance from Jesus you must first engage Him in simple conversation. Don’t approach Jesus like a prosecuting attorney and pepper Him with questions for your outline of theology.

Speak with Jesus about the matter at hand and listen carefully when He answers. Everything about your day is of concern to Jesus. The answer Jesus gives always goes far beyond the question you ask! If you ask Jesus how He likes your haircut, He can tell you how many hairs were cut and how many you have left! Isn’t that amazing?

War Stories!

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

Luke 13:34

There is a big difference in an army of volunteers and an army that is drafted into service. When you are forced to take up arms and fight, your heart may not be, and usually is not in the war!

The rousing Vacation Bible School song, “I’m in the Lord’s Army” has a serious foundational concept that is worthy of pause. If you are in the Lord’s Army then how did you get there and what is your job?

When Jesus calls together the Army of His followers there is no room for fear. Like Gideon, Jesus tells His followers who are afraid that they are excused from service in the present battle. Jesus has an all volunteer army. If you are not willing to participate in spiritual warfare you will not be forced to do so. That does not mean that while you stand idly by you will not be pummeled by Satan in his rampage through the world.

It seems that there are some Christians who are conscientious objectors, not to earthly war, but to spiritual war! They love wearing the uniform and marching in step on the parade field. They certainly enjoy the war games and especially the Army-Navy football game where they can gain bragging rights over other Christians. But when it comes to stepping on to the field of battle where real bullets are flying they have no heart for it.

As the spiritual war rages around you today you have a choice. You can choose to lay down your weapons and simply dodge bullets while you find a place to hide, or you can take up your Sword and enter the fight!

Remember, the most powerful testimonies of Christians are when old soldiers tell war stories!

Built by the Branch!

‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the LORD. It is he who will build the temple of the LORD, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.'

Zechariah 6:12b-13

This prophecy about Jesus tells us that He will build the temple of the Lord, be clothed in majesty and sit and rule on His throne.

Of all the occupations that existed when Jesus was born, it does seem appropriate that Jesus would learn to be a carpenter. Jesus must have learned to build many things out of wood. Trees have been important in the Bible from the very beginning. It was the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil” that sidetracked Adam and Eve from God’s original design. It is the “Tree of Life” that we, one day will be able to eat from its fruit and live forever! Mankind was saved when Noah built an ark out of gopher wood. And Jesus was crucified on a tree not on a rock!

So Jesus Christ was a carpenter while on this earth, but He has been a builder in a much greater sense for more than two thousand years. The Bible says that followers of Jesus are in their own bodies the Temple of God! The Holy Spirit lives in those who follow Jesus.

Jesus is building His Church and it is the Temple of God. Jesus also sits on His throne in your heart and rules!

When it comes to Jesus’ work in my life there is an “Under Construction” sign on my heart! Every day His work moves forward or I refuse to let Him work. Some days I even tear down something He is working on in my life! So today, I set my heart and mind toward allowing Jesus to do His work in me!

Every carpenter is an expert when it comes to nails. Jesus bought me by letting the soldiers put nails in His hands and feet as they hung Him on the cross. For Jesus to do His work in my life, I must let Him put nails in my heart as He fastens me to the Tree of Life!

Say Amen!

Come near, you nations, and listen;
       pay attention, you peoples!
       Let the earth hear, and all that is in it,
       the world, and all that comes out of it!

The LORD is angry with all nations;
       his wrath is upon all their armies.
       He will totally destroy them,
       he will give them over to slaughter.

Their slain will be thrown out,
       their dead bodies will send up a stench;
       the mountains will be soaked with their blood.

All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved
       and the sky rolled up like a scroll;
       all the starry host will fall
       like withered leaves from the vine,
       like shriveled figs from the fig tree.

Isaiah 33:1-4

Which nation in today’s world is honoring the Lord by the way it conducts its affairs? Is there a righteous nation by the standards of heaven? The United States still does wonderful things when reaching out to tragedies around the world, but we take the glory for doing it and praise the goodness of the American people not the God who made us!

Why would the Lord not be angry with all nations today? And if He is, then what is my responsibility as His follower?

First of all, I need to cling on to Jesus with all my strength. Unless I stay close to Jesus I will be of no use to anyone else. As the terrible times come on the world, those who wander away from Jesus will find that they, themselves are blowing with the wind or drifting on the waves. But those who hold on to the Lord will become light houses and rescue stations for the lost!

My job is to be the body for the incarnation of the Holy Spirit! When Jesus was alive there was only one human body which was filled with power from on high! Now every believer who walks in the light is another example of “Christ in you.” To this you must daily say AMEN!