God Is Sovereign Over All Creation

February 23, 2016

God Is Sovereign Over All Creation

Honor the Lord for the glory of his name.

    Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

Psalm 29:2

Psalm 29 is thought to be one of the oldest poems in the Psalms. Seven times in Psalm 29 the psalmist refers to the voice of God. The number seven in the Bible connotes the perfection of God and thus, the theme of the sovereign rule of God is supported by the form of the poem to affirm God’s rule is complete. The psalm also identifies the neighboring countries of Israel to support the thought that God is sovereign over all creation: nature, humankind and nation states.

The theme of Psalm 29 is often repeated in other psalms. As an example, consider the opening verses of Psalm 121: “I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!” Here, the psalmist was contrasting his belief in the LORD to the people who worshipped the god Baal and believed Baal lived in the mountains. This is similar in form to Psalm 20: “Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.”

Our God loves us unconditionally. He died for us while we were yet sinners. He will never, ever give up on us. His sovereign rule is absolute and complete. God is at work in our lives, bringing us to the time when we will joyfully pray, “My life does not belong to me. My life belongs to God. By creation and redemption my life belongs to God.” (See Philippians 2:13)

Because God is at work transforming our lives to become like Christ, today is a good day to examine our life. Will we pray Psalm 29 as our own personal prayer, with joy and conviction? How enthusiastically we embrace God’s complete sovereign rule in our life is a good indicator of how far along the path of transformation we have journeyed.

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, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Little Faith vs. Mustard Seed Faith

February 22, 2016

Little Faith vs. Mustard Seed Faith

Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith.

Matthew 17:19-20a NRSV

The great danger to our Christian life is all the distractions that cause us to take our eyes off of Jesus. We all know our country faces many very serious issues, yet if we watch the cat fights masquerading as political debates, we come away with more despair than hope. This is not unlike the situation Jesus encountered with his disciples and the healing of the epileptic child. (Matthew 17:14-20) The disciples had been empowered by Jesus to take his ministry of healing and hope to the people. They got distracted by the obstacles before them, and with their own self-interests, and became powerless.

It is so very vital today for Christianoi, the people of Christ, to hold firm to our faith in God. We are called to walk by faith, not sight. We are called to exercise   confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; to have assurance about things we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1) “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith” (Hebrews 12:2a)

I know the obstacles to the coming Kingdom of God seem insurmountable. To these obstacles, little faith says the problems are too big and we and our resources are so small. Instead of little faith, we can exercise mustard seed faith. Just last week one of the greeters at our church graciously welcomed a man to worship who had first connected with our community of faith through an outreach to our homeless neighbors. Our ministry has not yet made a dent in the homeless issues of our community, but last Sunday it made a difference to at least one man, to which mustard seed faith says, “Hallelujah, Praise God!”

To which Jesus replies, “Carry on!”  

Where there is faith

There is a voice calling, keep walking

You're not alone in this world

Where there is faith

There is a peace like a child sleeping

Hope everlasting in He who is able to

Bear every Burden, to heal every hurt in my heart

It is a wonderful, powerful place

Where there is faith

4Him

Where There Is Faith

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, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Lord, I Am Coming

February 19, 2016

Lord, I Am Coming

“My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”

And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming”

Psalm 27:8

The Apostle Paul was single-minded in his purpose. He told the Athenians, “In Christ we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28 NRSV), and he summarized his ministry in Corinth as, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). His single-minded devotion to Christ sustained him through very difficult times.

The psalmist David expresses a similar single-minded devotion to God in Psalm 27. His prose, as in verse 4, expresses his heart’s one desire: “The one thing I ask of the Lord—the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.”

Psalm 27 provides us with an excellent pattern to incorporate our devotion to Christ into our prayers. As you read the psalm, notice how in the first six verses the psalmist speaks about God and in verse seven he begins speaking directly to God. In the first portion of the psalm, David rehearses his personal convictions, his personal core values. Having thus grounded himself with a firm foundation for his faith, he then makes his petitions to God. How can we follow this pattern in our own prayer life?

The great affirmations of faith of the Christian church have been mostly lost in the Twenty-First Century, and that is a shame. I know they seem diminished when used repeatedly, by rote, every Sunday in worship. However, I believe if you intentionally used them at home you will experience their power. Just take your time and slowly read aloud the affirmation, and linger a bit as you consider how the statements form the core of Christian beliefs. There are many affirmations of faith, not just the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds – look for them, and use them to your benefit.

When you finish contemplating the core values of our faith, remember how David expressed his turning from talking about God, to talking directly to God: “My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” Now open your heart to the Holy Spirit to shape your petitions to your Abba Father.

Be Blessed!

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, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Revelation Knowledge

February 18, 2016

Revelation Knowledge

Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.

Matthew 16:17

Peter’s confession of faith is one of my favorite passages in the Gospels. (Matthew 16:13-20) Jesus, ever the teacher, engages the disciples in a dialog about the populist perception of him, and his ministry. Peter’s answer is the perfect model of Saint Paul’s imperative that the followers of Jesus are to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7 NRSV). The disciples noted that the popular perception was that Jesus was like John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the other prophets. Then Jesus challenged them with, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Whoa! Where did that come from? I suspect Peter, and all the disciples were stunned at what came out of Peter’s mouth. They needed Jesus to help them grasp the significance of Peter’s declaration: “. . . my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.” Actually, Peter’s declaration is a summary of all that had been revealed about Jesus thus far in Matthew’s Gospel, but this was the first time all the truth about Jesus was put together in one cohesive affirmation.

Peter’s confession is not only a model of walking by faith, not sight, it is also a model of Jesus’ promise for the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives: “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” (John 14:26).

Jesus concludes this teaching episode with his own declaration: Peter has revealed the rock upon which he will build his church and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. What’s the rock? Most commentators of this passage say it is Peter’s confession of faith that is the foundation of the church. Maybe. Certainly Peter’s confession is an integral part of the church’s foundation. However, for me, the central core of our faith is God’s revelation knowledge: “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.” I believe what has enabled the church to remain faithful to her mission for two millennia is the proactive voice of the Holy Spirit leading faithful disciples to live out Peter’s confession in a fallen world.

We are not alone. God is with us. Carry on!

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, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.