Greetings in Christ Jesus, Fellow Soldiers.
I have been alerted to the fact that blogs are now blocked by the filters on our military computers. Are any of you still reading this post now that this is the case? Please let me know if any of you are reading it on your personal computer. If so, I will keep blogging here. Otherwise, I'll shut this baby down.
In Christ,
CH Stevo
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Thought of the Day: Measure of Our Lives
Greetings in Christ Jesus, Fellow Soldiers.
How do you measure your righteousness? By the Ten Commandments? If you keep six of them, are you sixty percent righteous?
The reality is that we don't keep a single commandment--the law only kills, it doesn't bring life. Jesus made this point where he explained that anger in the heart is tantamount to murder and lust in the heart is tantamount to adultery (Matthew 5). He tightens the screws to let us know that our thoughts are just as liable to judgment as our deeds.
James (ch4) makes a similar point in that if we know the good we ought to do, but don't do it, it is sin. In other words, it is not just direct acts of sin (sin of commission) that condemn us, but any instances of not being perfectly good (sin of ommission).
The bottom line is that if we measure our lives by the law, we will surely be condemned. We need a Savior who will perfectly keep the law in our place, and will die for our guilt in accordance with the law. That is what we have in Jesus Christ, who measured our worth in His shed blood.
How do you measure your righteousness? By the Ten Commandments? If you keep six of them, are you sixty percent righteous?
The reality is that we don't keep a single commandment--the law only kills, it doesn't bring life. Jesus made this point where he explained that anger in the heart is tantamount to murder and lust in the heart is tantamount to adultery (Matthew 5). He tightens the screws to let us know that our thoughts are just as liable to judgment as our deeds.
James (ch4) makes a similar point in that if we know the good we ought to do, but don't do it, it is sin. In other words, it is not just direct acts of sin (sin of commission) that condemn us, but any instances of not being perfectly good (sin of ommission).
The bottom line is that if we measure our lives by the law, we will surely be condemned. We need a Savior who will perfectly keep the law in our place, and will die for our guilt in accordance with the law. That is what we have in Jesus Christ, who measured our worth in His shed blood.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Question of the Day: God the Tolerant?
Greetings in Christ Jesus, Fellow Soldiers.
For me, tolerance seems to be one of the most disturbing concepts today. It is not a call to love. It asks that you show no regard to another's behavior, but to tolerate them, which seems to imply simply putting up with them. No, this petty concept falls far short of love.
Love involves looking upon someone who is morally corrupt and sinful (like you and me) and desiring their good to the extent that you are willing to lay down your life for them.
This doesn't mean overlooking sin, but it does mean not holding sin against someone. God's eternal love for His people did not overlook their sin, but considered it paid for when it was nailed to the cross with Christ Jesus (Col. 2). He is not a tolerant God, nor will He ever tolerate sin. But has has paid for it for all those who believe in Christ.
As such, when you approach God in prayer, you do not approach an open-minded reflection of man who holds His nose while you talk to Him. No, He embraces you unconditionally because of the perfect life and atoning death of Christ. He delights in you, and that is way better than tolerance.
For me, tolerance seems to be one of the most disturbing concepts today. It is not a call to love. It asks that you show no regard to another's behavior, but to tolerate them, which seems to imply simply putting up with them. No, this petty concept falls far short of love.
Love involves looking upon someone who is morally corrupt and sinful (like you and me) and desiring their good to the extent that you are willing to lay down your life for them.
This doesn't mean overlooking sin, but it does mean not holding sin against someone. God's eternal love for His people did not overlook their sin, but considered it paid for when it was nailed to the cross with Christ Jesus (Col. 2). He is not a tolerant God, nor will He ever tolerate sin. But has has paid for it for all those who believe in Christ.
As such, when you approach God in prayer, you do not approach an open-minded reflection of man who holds His nose while you talk to Him. No, He embraces you unconditionally because of the perfect life and atoning death of Christ. He delights in you, and that is way better than tolerance.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Question of the Day: Still Grateful?
Greetings in Christ Jesus, Fellow Soldiers.
We have been engaged in our work for many months now, and at some point, we grow tired and begin to grumble. We miss our families. We grow tired on the monotony of our work.
A year ago, my pregnant wife had to go under the knife to remove a mass that we thought might take the life of her and/or our unborn baby.
Today, though we live apart, we thank God because we still live together.
Christ promised us not only life, but life to the full. This fullness does not describe our happy feelings, but of God's provision for our every true need in Christ.
If you're mired in bad feelings regarding your circumstances, look anew to all that you have in Jesus Christ. There is always ample reason to be grateful.
We have been engaged in our work for many months now, and at some point, we grow tired and begin to grumble. We miss our families. We grow tired on the monotony of our work.
A year ago, my pregnant wife had to go under the knife to remove a mass that we thought might take the life of her and/or our unborn baby.
Today, though we live apart, we thank God because we still live together.
Christ promised us not only life, but life to the full. This fullness does not describe our happy feelings, but of God's provision for our every true need in Christ.
If you're mired in bad feelings regarding your circumstances, look anew to all that you have in Jesus Christ. There is always ample reason to be grateful.
Thought of the Day: Run With Me!
Greetings in Christ Jesus, Fellow Soldiers.
Just a reminder that we have both a Ruck Run 5k as well as the great Ragnar Relay coming up. If you would like to participate in either event, please let me know. I'd love to run with you.
And whether you run, eat chow, ride in a convoy, or do admin work, do it with the mercies of Christ Jesus in view. In gratitude for His saving work, offer your lives to the glory of the living God.
1 Cor. 10
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Just a reminder that we have both a Ruck Run 5k as well as the great Ragnar Relay coming up. If you would like to participate in either event, please let me know. I'd love to run with you.
And whether you run, eat chow, ride in a convoy, or do admin work, do it with the mercies of Christ Jesus in view. In gratitude for His saving work, offer your lives to the glory of the living God.
1 Cor. 10
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Friday, November 1, 2013
Thought of the Day: Accountabili-buddy
Greetings in Christ Jesus, Fellow Soldiers.
We all struggle. We all suffer. We all sin.
Normally, we can depend upon our spouses to help care for us in all of these regards. They can encourage us, empathize with us, and hold us accountable.
They are not able to fulfill this role as effectively from across the world.
Alongside our regular times in God's Word and in prayer, as well as hearing from God in our chapel services and learning of Him in our studies, we need someone in our daily lives who can encourage us, empathize with us, and hold us accountable.
They can convict and comfort us with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and continually work to "set our minds on things above, where Christ is" (Col. 3).
Who is this person for you?
We all struggle. We all suffer. We all sin.
Normally, we can depend upon our spouses to help care for us in all of these regards. They can encourage us, empathize with us, and hold us accountable.
They are not able to fulfill this role as effectively from across the world.
Alongside our regular times in God's Word and in prayer, as well as hearing from God in our chapel services and learning of Him in our studies, we need someone in our daily lives who can encourage us, empathize with us, and hold us accountable.
They can convict and comfort us with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and continually work to "set our minds on things above, where Christ is" (Col. 3).
Who is this person for you?
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Free Books
Greetings in Christ Jesus, Fellow Soldiers.
Please don't forget that I have plenty of free books and resources. I have Bibles, books on Scripture and Jesus and the Jesus-centered life. I have booklets on many of the hard questions the we frequently wrestle with. I have pamphlets on most any problem you could be struggling with.
And if you come by, I have coffee, candy, and a chair to sit back and enjoy them all!
Please don't forget that I have plenty of free books and resources. I have Bibles, books on Scripture and Jesus and the Jesus-centered life. I have booklets on many of the hard questions the we frequently wrestle with. I have pamphlets on most any problem you could be struggling with.
And if you come by, I have coffee, candy, and a chair to sit back and enjoy them all!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)