Saul was a man living in a way he thought pleased God. The problem is that he didn’t know that he was wrong: that is until he saw the light.
As he neared Damascus, on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”, “Who are you, Lord” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied- Acts 9:3-5
The light proved to be a life-changing experience in Paul’s live. Of course, this wasn’t just any light, it was The Light: Jesus. A man that was previously full of knowledge, but moving in the wrong direction, was immediately impacted by the light shone on his life. The difference: a direct experience with the light. After that experience Saul came to be known as Paul, the greatest missionary of his time.
If we did a poll the result will probably show that most people think the same way as Saul. The truth is that we were all moving in the wrong direction until we experienced the light. Not a light provided by the knowledge of the Bible, but a light provided by experiencing a life-changing relationship with Jesus.
What about those who haven’t experience the light yet? We need to be the light for them. Some might say “I am not Jesus”, but if Jesus is in you, as he promised to his followers, the light is also in you.
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father – John 14:12 (Recommended reading John 14:12-27)
If there are so many believers in the world, why aren’t more people experiencing the light? There might be many answers to this question, but I would like to consider some answers with the purpose of raising awareness among believers, so we all engage in the changes required to be successful witness of Jesus.
- Darkness is taking control over the earth, and some believers don’t see to be so concerned. It looks like everything is fine as long as there is light on our own path. A light that does not serve its purpose is like no light at all.
- Unfortunately, some people that consider themselves believers are living their lives in a way that spread darkness instead of light.
- Some believers are living their lives in such a way that is looks that they are shining light using an energy-efficient bulb. The world needs believers shining their light at full power.
- We are expecting institutions, or even the government, to shine light on the world. Shining the light is not the responsibility of organizations, but of each member of the Christian church.
This reminds me of the movie Antz. This movie is about an ants colony where each ant had a specific function, and the colony survival depended on every ant fulfilling its purpose. There is a part of the movie where the worker ants were required to get together and form a ball, so the ants obediently responded to the need and each one decided to ‘be the ball’.
We can apply the lesson learned from this movie to our lives. The world needs light. So, it is the time for each one of us to be what we need to be: let’s be the light.
The Transformers is an animated television series (an recently, live-action films) in which giant robots transform into vehicles and other objects. The series have two factions: the Autobots (the good guys), and the Decepticons (the bad guys).
As in the animated series, people has the ability to transform. The first transformation took place in the garden of Eden, where our human nature was transformed from eternal beings to mere mortals.
And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” – Genesis 3:22
Sin deprived us of the life that God intended for us. But God loved us so, that he send his beloved son to restore eternal life for whoever believes in him (John 3:16).
If there is any transformer hero, that is Jesus:
- the Word became flesh
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. – John 1:14
- the King became a servant
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. – Mark 10:45
- the Creator became a human
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. – Philippians 2:6-7
- he who had no sin became sin
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. – 2 Corinthians 5:21
- the giver of life gave his life
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! – Philippians 2:8
Jesus, the only one that needed no transformation, transformed himself to show us the way.
Which such example, there is no other acceptable response from us, except to accept his invitation to engage in a transformation process for the glory of God:
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will – Romans 12:2
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. - 2 Corinthians 3:18
who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. – Philippians 3:21
Jesus transformed into something less, so our lives can be transformed into the best.
Tags: Jesus, Transformed
“Energy saving” is one of the phrases most used in these days. Energy saving (or Energy conservation) is achieved through the efficient use of energy, and the reduced consumption of energy services.
The expected results of Energy conservation are:
- preservation of resources for the future
- reduction of emissions, thus reducing the impact in climate change
- replacement of non-renewable resources with renewable energy
- avoid energy shortages
We can usually identify parallelisms between life concepts and our spiritual lives, but not in this case. In fact, the concept of energy saving is diametrically opposed in our spiritual lives. Please let me explain.
Those who trust their lives to Jesus have everlasting life (life = energy)
I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life – John 6:47
but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. – John 4:14
Jesus is our light (the energy that lights our way)
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12
In Jesus…
- energy preservation is not required – it is everlasting.
- emissions reduction is not required – by emitting spiritual energy (preaching the gospel) we positively affect the spiritual climate of our world
- we don’t need to search for renewable energy – we already have it
- there will never be energy shortages
In fact, Jesus’ followers shall not try to preserve spiritual energy, but strive to continuously use it
“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light …Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.” – Luke 8:16-18
This is an interesting concept: As we share the light of Jesus with others, we will be given more. This is truly renewable energy.
Let the light of Jesus continuously shine in your life.
Tags: Energy, eternal life, Jesus
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life – John 3:16
God loves us. There is no doubt about it. If you have experienced it then you know what I mean. But even after having experienced God’s love, do we really know its dimension?
that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. – Ephesians 3:17-19
The dictionary defines the word “dimension” as measure in one direction. Based on that definition we can say that God’s love is multi-dimensional: it spreads in all directions – width, length, depth and height.
- God’s love can penetrate the depths of your heart.
- God’s love can cover the length of your failures.
- God’s love can bring your hope to heights you never expected.
Those three dimensions show us how great is the love of God for you. If you haven’t experience it yet, I invite you to grasp this life-changing truth.
It is wonderful to know the scope of the love the creator of the universe has for you. But the width of his love shows a fourth dimension that spreads no only to you but also to the rest of the people in the world.
As a loving God one would expect him to require exclusive love from us. However, he want us to share his love with others.
Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:29-31
He wants us to receive his love, but he wants us to spread it to others as well. God love others the same way he loves you. God wants for others what he wants for you. The magnitude of the love of God has its full expression when we receive it in all its dimensions: when we love Him at the same time we love each other.
Why settle for one part of His love when we can have it all? Allow the multi-dimensional love of God to manifest in your life.
During this week’s teaching, the preacher reminded us of a question asked by Rodney King “why can’t we all get along?” This question by itself was enough to make me spend the rest of the week thinking about the answer. But the preacher didn’t stop there and asked the same question a second time, but in the context of the church “why can’t we [the members of the church of Christ] get along?” This wasn’t the core of the teaching, but it certainly left me thinking, “Why?”
Thank God that he always has an answer for a worried heart: “Everybody wants to be the head.” Sounds harsh, but my experience is that I have found myself thinking “I would have done things in a different way.” Lets be honest: who has not had that kind of thought?
The Bible clearly states that Jesus is the Head, and we are the body of the Church. All the instructions for the body are controlled by the head, with the rest of the body following along.
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. – Ephesians 4:4-5
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. – Ephesians 4:15-16
Now, if the church would be run the way each member want to run it, it would be an aberration.
- If each body part does what it wants, the church would be a dysfunctional body with each part moving in a different direction, or
- If each body part was a head, the church would be a multi-headed monster with its heads fighting each other (it is interesting that Revelation presents the enemy of God as a multi-headed dragon [Rev 12:3,13:2,17:3] )
It is sad to find the church fighting itself instead of following Jesus guiding us in the conquer a world in need of him. When a part of a body fails to do its function and dies, it is removed from the body so the rest of the body is not affected. I definitely do not want to be that part of the body. I don’t want to die of spiritual gangrene.
This is not a message with the purpose of making anybody sad, but a wake-up call to let us know that is time to stop listening to the schemes of the enemy against the church, submit to the leadership of the Head through the Holy Spirit, and advance in the direction of victory for all of us, and those who are to come.
Oh God! We have been deceived by our own thoughts thinking that we can lead the church better than others, when the truth is that none of us can lead the church, but only the rightful Head: Jesus. Forgive us for trying to take a role that is not ours, and help us to watch for one another as a single body that is purified by obedience to Your word, and works as one, so Your name is glorified in us.
until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. – Ephesians 4:13
Political correctness is a term that have been increasing in use. This term is mainly used to refer to an effort to avoid language that might offend anyone, especially with respect to gender, race, or ethnic background.
Christians are also called to be careful of how we talk to other people.
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. – Ephesians 4:15
This applies to all our relations: family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and even enemies (“Love your enemies” - Matthew 5:44)
Christians are to make sure that whatever we do is covered with love. However, there is no such thing as “politically correctness” when it comes to speaking the truth: Christians must speak the truth (and never forget to do it in love).
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. – Mark 16:15-16
There is more at stake than the people’s feelings. This is a matter of salvation or condemnation. We were called to preach the Good News. If we don’t, then we fail our commission, and we fail to fulfill the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). If we don’t speak the truth of the gospel to our neighbors for fear of offending their feelings, we might be “politically correct” but at the price of hiding from them the truth that leads to salvation.
It is better to be Spiritually correct than politically correct.
God, help me to always speak your truth in love.
Tags: condemnation, love, Politically correctness, Salvation, truth
Early on the first day of the week… Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to their homes. – John 20:1,3-10
Many things happened in the lives of the disciples in the days before the first day of the week. The disciples were going through a very difficult time. They had just witnessed the death of their teacher. Although Jesus said that he would rise from the dead, they really had not processed that information in their hearts. So it was probably a time of deep sadness and despair, as they were not sure what would happen to them. Two of the disciples went to the tomb, saw it empty, and believed. However, when they returned to their homes, they locked their doors because of fear of the Jews.
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews – John 20:19a
Did their faith fail? Sometimes problems cloud our understanding. Lets be honest: we can go through a great spiritual experience in the morning, and then act as if there was no hope a few hours later. I guess it is human nature. In the midst of a problem we all lock our “doors”.
when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. – John 20:19b-20a
The good news is that if you have a relationship with Jesus, he will show up even if your doors are locked. He knows how we feel, and he knows our weaknesses, so he will not show up to ask us why we locked our doors. He will show up to bring his peace to our troubled hearts.
What would have been your reaction if you were in that locked room when Jesus showed up?
The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. – John 20:20b
Overjoyed is a good word to identify the feeling (or maybe any of its synonyms: charmed, delighted, deliriously happy, elated, euphoric, happy as a clam, happy as a lark, joyful, jubilant, on cloud nine, only too happy, over the moon, rapturous, ravished, thrilled, tickled pink, transported). It doesn’t matter the circumstances that we are going through, that same joy is available to us.
Are your doors still locked? Don’t lose your hope. Jesus will show up, and you will be able to experience his peace.
Investment: An asset or item that is purchased with the hope that it will generate income or appreciate in the future.
I don’t know much about investments, but I was told that I shall make some investments now if I want to have enough income for my retirement. I have also heard that when it comes to investment I must be patient, and not worry about market fluctuations. The goal is to make earnings in the long term, and patience will allow for any lost to be eventually “recovered”.
People also invest in their careers so they can give their family a better future.
So we could say that investments means sacrifices in the present for a better life in the future. Sounds good, but even if our investments generate good returns it is uncertain if we will be able to enjoy them because no one knows when our time in this earth will be over. So, if we worry about an uncertain future, how much more shall we worry about eternal life?
Everybody will have eternal life, the difference is the destination (“those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.” – John 5:29). That is a good reason to invest in eternal life.
Through Jesus there are no sacrifices required, but we must patiently follow his teachings, and keep our hope in his promises.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. - Galatians 6:9
Following Jesus will not always be an easy road, but will for certain result in higher returns that any other investment you can make in your life.
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. – Romans 8:18
If you haven’t already done so I invite you to make the most important investment of your life: Jesus
I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. – John 5:24
Tags: eternal life, Investments, Jesus
A few days have passed since the celebration of Good Friday. During that day many of us turn to God and meditate on the things he has done so we can enjoy His love.
Jesus wanted us to remember what happened that day.
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. – 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Why Jesus wanted us to remember his sacrifice? Because of the meaning it has for our lives.
His death meant the payment for the debt for our sins and, as a result, reconciliation with God.
His resurrection meant victory over death and, as a result, eternal life for those who believe in Him.
Remembering his sacrifice is intended to produce a transformative effect on our lives. It reminds us that we moved from condemnation to salvation, and from death to life.
Certainly this event is not to be remembered only once a year but continuously. Why? Because God knows us, and He knows that we tend to focus too much on the everyday things and lose our focus on the most important things. We get easily burdened and stressed by everyday problems.
That is why it is necessary that every day we remember the sacrifice of Jesus, and be transformed by the hope of glory that he brought to our lives. Let’s remember Jesus each day, and allow His peace to reign over our circumstances, and His guidance to lead us in the moments of confusion.
Thank you Lord.
Isaiah 1
15 When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even if you offer many prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are full of blood;16 wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds
out of my sight!
Stop doing wrong,17 learn to do right!
Seek justice,
encourage the oppressed.
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.18 “Come now, let us reason together,”
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the best from the land;20 but if you resist and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword.”
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
It is easy to read this and judge the people of Israel. But I think this warning is also for all of us. We have no problem at all in awarding ourselves with the promises given to Israel, but when it comes to the warnings we think it was just for them.
We should not forget that “the word of God is living and active” (Hebrews 4:12), and it applies to us the same way that it applied to the people of Israel.
Let’s take a moment and meditate about this scripture. If we are taking the right path, let’s just make sure we continue on it. If not, let’s reason together with God, change our path to obedience, and move forward to the promised land.
