Returned to the Shepherd of our Souls

1 Peter 2:23  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
1 Peter 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1 Peter 2:25  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

     In verse 23 we see that Christ was fully committed to the mission that had been given to Him by the Father.  He did always those things that pleased the Father.  When Christ left glory to come to earth, He understood what lay before Him.  A life of thirty-three years that would end with pain, agony and separation from the Father on the cross of Calvary.  Christ fulfilled His mission on the cross, as He hung there suspended between heaven and earth.  He bare our sins in His body on the tree.  He paid the wages for our sin, which were death.  He enabled us as believers to no longer be in bondage to sin.  We have a choice to follow sin or to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us.  We are to live unto righteousness understanding the price that was paid for us by our Lord.  We were as sheep wandering lost in the wilderness, sheep in need of a saviour.  We returned unto the Christ, the Shepherd and Bishop of our soul.
     Christ sets a wonderful example for us in this passage of Scripture.  How much better would it be if we were totally committed unto Him that judgeth righteously?  If we made the decision to allow everything we did to be pleasing to the Father.  Let's be grateful for what Christ has done in our life.  Let's live our lives as lives of gratitude to the Father for what He has done in our life through Christ.

The Light of the World

John 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
John 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

     In our passage today Jesus is addressing the Jews.  Jesus declares to the Jews exactly whom He is!  He declares that he is the light of the world.  He came to shine a bright light into the darkness of a sinful world.  A world that was trying to work its way to heaven.  The glorious light that Christ was about to shine, was the Gospel, the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.  Christ would die on the cross and pay the sin debt for all of mankind.  If we choose to follow Christ, we don't have to walk in darkness.  We don't have to be in bondage to sin.  We can have the light of life living within us.  We can allow that light to shine into the lives of others.
     Jesus laid down the litmus test for the Jews.  If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.  It was a matter of living a life that reflected the new light that shone within through their belief on Christ.  Their obedience demonstrated the reality of their conversion.  Our obedience demonstrates our relationship with Christ.
     In verse 32 Jesus tells the Jewish believers that they would see the truth of their decision become a reality in their lives.  The power of the truth at work in their life would set them free.  They no longer would be bound to the impossible task of perfectly keeping the Mosaic Law.  They would know the freedom of God's grace as they grew into the new life that God had for them.
     How about you?  Have you put your trust in the Light of the World?  If your world is becoming dark Jesus Christ stands waiting to shed light abroad in your life.  He wants you to know the truth that shall make you free.

The Grief of Wisdom

Ecclesiastes 1:12  I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
Ecclesiastes 1:13  And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
Ecclesiastes 1:14  I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 1:15  That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
Ecclesiastes 1:16  I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
Ecclesiastes 1:17  And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 1:18  For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

Verse 12 identifies whom the speaker of this passage is, it is King Solomon.  The wisest man to ever live according to God's Word.  King Solomon had given his heart to seek and search out by wisdom, the things done under heaven.  He understood how hard and grievous the task was before him.  The king declares that he had seen all of the works done under the sun and he had.  There was nothing withheld from King Solomon, not only was he the wisest man in the world, but also the richest.  He could buy anything that he wanted with his vast wealth.  He recognized some important truths about life.  No matter how much wisdom or wealth he possessed, he couldn't straighten out the crooked.  The needs that he saw around him were without number.  The king knew wisdom, but he also allowed himself to experience madness and folly.  He discovered that madness and folly were vexation of spirit.  They did nothing to fulfill his spirit, but they vexed his spirit through their futility.  King Solomon learned that in much wisdom their is grief.  God had blessed him with great wisdom, but with the wisdom had come great sorrow as he could see needs all round him that he couldn't fulfill.

When we look around us today, we may be tempted to simply give up.  On every hand we see hearts growing cold toward the things of God.  We see people flaunting their sin and living unrepentant lifestyles.  To be perfectly honest, we can't help everyone, the task is truly impossible, but we can pray for everyone.  We can help those that we can by sharing the glorious Gospel of Christ with them.  The ones we simply can't reach, we can pray for.  We can pray that God will send someone along their path to meet their need.  When we get frustrated at our inability, then it's time to rely wholly on God's ability.

Preach the Truth

1Peter 4:11  If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

This verse is primarily referring to a preacher carrying out the ministry that God has given to him.  The truth of the preaching must align itself with the truths of the Scriptures.  Man has no right to wrest the Scriptures to meet his own needs.  God calls men to the ministry and God gives the ability for the ministry to be carried out.  A preacher must be fully reliant upon the Holy Spirit of God in order to do the job that God has called him to.  The whole purpose of every ministry that we find ourself in, is to glorify the Father through Jesus Christ.  God is worthy of our praise.  Focus on the truth of the Gospel and keep sharing it with everyone you come in contact with.

Renew Your Strength

Mark 3:9  And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.
Mark 3:10  For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.
Mark 3:11  And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
Mark 3:12  And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.

Jesus had been healing many during his earthly ministry.  The more that healed, the more people flocked to him seeking a healing.  Jesus commanded that a boat should be made ready so that he could escape the press of the crowd.  The crowd understood the miraculous power of Christ as they pressed upon him, so that they could simply touch him and be healed.  In verse 11 it is revealed that the unclean spirits that possessed men recognized Jesus for whom he was.  They recognized him as the Son of God, the Messiah, the Christ, the deliverer that had been sent to set the captives free.  Jesus forbid the unclean spirits from declaring who he was. Jesus wasn't fully ready for everyone to fully realize who he was.  He was still doing the preparatory work that would eventually lead him to the cross of Calvary.
The practical application that we can draw from this passage is that even Christ understood the need to spend time alone with the disciples in prayer.  Ministry can be a very busy place.  As we seek to use our spiritual giftedness for the cause of Christ, we can find ourselves burning the candle at both ends.  We are busy in the work that God has called us to, but we find that our energy reserves are quickly being depleted.  True ministry is only done through the power of the Holy Spirit of God.  To walk in the Spirit requires us to spend time in intimate fellowship with our Heavenly Father.  We have to make time to get away from the throngs and spend time in sweet fellowship with God.  It's during this time that we find our strength being renewed by his presence.

How are your energy levels today?  Is it time to take a moment and spend some quiet time with God in the place of prayer?

God Has a Plan for You!

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."
What if I asked you right now, "What are your plans?"  Where are you going?  How are you going to get there?  I'm sure you would quickly answer with your goals, dreams and aspirations.  We all have plans for what we want to accomplish in life.  The real question should be, "What is God's plan for your life?"  God has a plan for the life you're living.  His first plan for your life is that you would believe on His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Trust his finished work on the cross at Calvary for you.  His second plan is that once you know His Son,  that you be conformed to the image of Christ.  All of God's plans for you have this plan in mind.  God has a perfect plan for your life.  He has spiritually equipped you for the mission that he has entrusted you with.  God's plan for your life will lead you to a place of peace.  A place that knows the abiding peace that comes through the right relationship with God.  Our verse for today tells us that God will fulfill his plan.  He will give you an expected end.  He will guide and lead you to the place of blessing that He has for you, right in the center of His will for you.