Chosen To Become The Child Of God

July 25, 2014

Chosen To Become The Child Of God

You didn’t choose me. I chose you.

John 15:16a

Those of us with a Wesleyan background will recognize prevenient grace in this statement of Jesus. Prevenient grace is divine grace that precedes human decision. Before we have the capacity to choose God, God chose to reveal himself to us, thus enabling within us an awareness of the love of God and God’s offer of forgiveness through faith in Jesus. We could spend a lot of time pondering the depths of this theological concept, but instead of taking that road, let us back up and ponder the depths of just what it means to be chosen by Jesus.

Sometimes the enormity of scriptural revelation overwhelms us. Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16 NRSV). That passage is so familiar it may have lost some power in our lives. Because that passage is only true if God loves us one at a time, change the text a bit so you can make it personal to you: For God so loved me that he gave his only Son, so that by my believing in him, I will not perish; I have eternal life. Read this personal version a time or two and let it sink deep in your spirit. Own it! With the passage in John 15, no editing is required, but you do need to stand back and let the truth wash over you.

“You didn’t choose me. I chose you.” What a phenomenal statement Jesus made. I am not aware of any of the other religions of the world that have anything that remotely compares to the tenderness, the intimacy, the indomitable power in Jesus’ words: “You didn’t choose me. I chose you.”

Because of the tenderness, intimacy and power in these words of Jesus, we know Saint Paul was absolutely speaking the mind of Christ when he wrote, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:14, 16 NRSV).

You were chosen by Jesus to become the child of God the Father Almighty. Have a nice day!

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.

To Make The Father's Life My Own

July 24, 2014

To Make The Father's Life My Own

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”

Luke 15:20

Henri Nouwen, in his book, The Return of The Prodigal Son, says, "If the only meaning of the story (Luke 15, The Prodigal Son) were that people sin but God forgives, I could easily begin to think of my sins as a fine occasion for God to show me forgiveness. There would be no challenge in such an interpretation. I would resign myself to my weaknesses and keep hoping that eventually God would close his eyes to them and let me come home, whatever I did. Such romanticism is not the message of the Gospels. What I am called to make true is that whether I am the younger or elder son, I am the son of my compassionate Father. I am an heir. . . . as son and heir I am to become  successor. I am destined to step into my Father's place and offer to others the same compassion that he has offered me. The return to the Father is ultimately the challenge to become the Father. Being in the Father's house requires that I make the Father's life my own and become transformed in his image."

How many times do you think his disciples disappointed Jesus? Just about every day they did something, or said something that revealed they were yet to grasp that Jesus was the Messiah. Sometimes their transgressions were pretty absurd, such as wanting to rain down judgment on others, or seeking places of honor at Jesus’ right hand. Sometimes their transgressions were heart breaking, such as sleeping instead of praying for Jesus, or their abandonment of Jesus in his hour of need. Even so, it was to these disciples that Jesus went immediately after his resurrection. Despite his many disappointments, Jesus never lost hope in his disciples.

Henri Nouwen’s insight to the parable of the Prodigal Son, and Jesus’ relationship with his disciples helps us discern what it means to become the Father, to make the Father's life my own and become transformed in His image. Those that we love and care for may well disappoint us as often as Jesus’ disciples disappointed him, and in ways like the father’s prodigal son disappointed him. Even so, through the power of Christ flowing within us, we can be ever ready, with love and compassion, to run to our prodigals and embrace them.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.

I Am Not My Own

July 23, 2014

I Am Not My Own

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.

Psalm 139:14

Last night I felt a twinge of guilt as I sat down for supper. I had marveled at the beautiful setting of our home as I cooked our supper on our grill deck. As I looked down at our more than ample evening meal, my ears were still ringing with the latest news reports from the crisis of unaccompanied children at our borders, Ukraine, Gaza, Iraq, Iran and other hotspots around the world. There is so very much suffering in our world. When we are so far removed from the human tragedies, how are we to feel?

Those thoughts were still with me this morning when I read the passage from Psalm 139:14. A psalmist also says that God keeps our tears in a bottle (Psalm 56), and we know that Jesus was moved to tears over the suffering of his friends (John 11). I am trying to reconcile the juxtaposition today of these passages that speak of God’s utter delight in creating humankind in His image, and the heart wrenching suffering humankind causes one another, and perhaps their Creator as well.

These passages stand in sharp contrast, just as in the sharp contrast of God’s redeeming love for me being fully expressed in the stench of my sin: “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8). It is the truth of this passage, and the truth expressed by the psalmist, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, that empower me to look beyond the blessedness of my existence, and ask God how He can use my life to make a difference for good in His Creation.

The reconciliation I am looking for is found in the words of an ancient prayer that I try to make my own, “Lord, I acknowledge you to be my Creator and my God. I render to you the reverence of my being and my life. I am not my own. I am yours. By creation and redemption I am yours. I will devote myself to your service this day and forever.”

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.

Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart

July 22, 2014

Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart

“. . . giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 5:20 (NRSV)

Many years ago, when I was on a spiritual retreat, I had an encounter with God that profoundly changed the course of my life. The particular moment when I sensed God speaking to me, I was in a Chapel service singing the praise song, “Give Thanks.” That too profoundly changed my life. Since that moment, 99.9% of all of my prayers begin with, “Thank you.” I am sincerely and intentionally implementing Saint Paul’s direction to give thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This spiritual discipline is much more substance than it is form. For me, it is the evidence of a perception, a world view that my life does not belong to me. My life belongs to God. By creation and redemption my life belongs to God. My way of praying is also my personal affirmation that I trust that God is working all things together for His good in my life. (Romans 8:28-29)

My faithful Springer Spaniels, Buster Brown and Hershey, model how I want to live my life as a follower of Jesus. In the mornings when Cheryl and I are gathering our gym bags, they immediately head off to their kennels. They know they are not going with us, and their place while we are gone is in their kennel. Then there are other times during the day when they see me grab my hat and car keys, and I will find them waiting for me by the door to the garage. They don’t have a clue where I am going, and they don’t care; they just want to go with me.

There are times in my life when I sense God wants me to stay put and practice Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God!”  Then there are times when I sense God calling me to follow Him. I’ve long ago given up the notion that I need all the specifics of where we are going and what we are going to do. Sometimes I am like Buster, asleep in the back seat of the car, content to be close to his master. Sometimes I am like Hershey, rejoicing as he sticks his nose out of the sunroof. Always, I am delighted to give “thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.