Quick Bites: What We’re Not

If you had to describe yourself to someone who has never met you, what would you say? What do you say when you’re introduced to someone new? We usually give our name and what we do:
‘Hi, I’m Donnie, I’m an intergalactic overlord…and I’m also in IT…kidding. I’m also terribly weird and awkward at introductions, obviously.’
Let’s try that again: ‘Hi, I’m Donnie. I’m in IT, a fixer of broken stuff.’
I am _______. I do ________. It’s the standard introduction

Hebrews 10:39 (NKJV) “But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”

It’s pretty standard, really. We have a list of stuff we do; we define ourselves by what we do, join social media groups based on what we do. But what don’t you do? It’s a subtle but powerful shift in thinking. When you start defining what your absolute No’s are, it more clearly emphasizes what your Yes’s are.

The writer of Hebrews defines what the No is, and then defines what the Yes is. We don’t draw back. That’s an absolute no go. Whatever it is that we do, we don’t draw back. And once the No is defined, it makes the Yes so much more obvious. We believe. We push forward. Since we don’t draw back, the path forward is clear- we believe, we push forward in faith. No matter what comes our way, we believe and salvation is our sure end.

What are your No’s? Take a moment to define five No’s for your life: the no go, no way, ain’t gonna happens for your life. Once those are clear, what are your five Yes counterpoints or antidotes for those No’s?

Quick Bites: Good Things

No matter what the circumstances look like today, remember that good things are in your future. There is an otherworldly goodness available for your yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Hebrews 9:11 (NKJV) “But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.“

Christ came not to condemn, but to give good things. Pick your head up. Good things are your inheritance.

Quick Bites: Uttermost, or It’s a Trap

There’s a great scene in Star Wars where this fish looking dude exclaims, “It’s a trap.” The enemy had set a trap for those who dared rebel against the forces of evil and darkness. Our enemy does the same thing.

God could never forgive me of this.
There’s all kinds of variations of that sentence that the enemy tries to bind you with. Maybe it’s just me, but I can start to think that God forgave me of those sins, but not this one. Or, God saved me, but then I did this, so I’ve still got red on my account.

Hebrews 7:25 (NKJV) “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”

But I want to remind you that Jesus died, was buried, and ascended to heaven, and He made the way for all your sins to be forgiven. The Uttermost. Every single tiny little bit. Not just some. Not some sins from a specific point in time, or of a certain variety of sin. All your sins are covered by the blood of Jesus when you confess them and ask for forgiveness. Stop living in condemnation. That’s a trap. And you don’t have to fall for those shenanigans.

Quick Bites: Buffered, or Jesus

Most of my posts are a bit long, but I’ve decided to keep this one short and sweet. I may start a series of ‘Short and Sweet’ posts called Quick Bites. We’ll play it by ear. With that being said, here we go:

2 Timothy 1:1-2 (NKJV) “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”

2 Timothy 4:22 (NKJV) “The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.”

At the beginning of 2nd Timothy, there is Jesus and grace. At the end of the book, there is Jesus and grace. The whole thing has Jesus and grace as its bookends. That got me thinking: my story is much the same.

For those of us who have believed on His name, behind us and before us we are buffered by Jesus and by grace. It’s the beginning of our story, and it’s the end of our story. It is our current present, our redeemed past, and our sure future. Where Jesus and grace are present, there is hope and life. Enjoy the overflowing life that He brings to you.