abandoned to Christ.

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

~ John 15:13

During our breakfast devotional this morning, we were discussing Good Friday (tomorrow) and Resurrection Sunday (Easter). As we discussed this, I asked our sons, "Why did the Apostle Paul say to the Corinthians, 'For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.' "? (1 Corinthians 2:2)

Why did the Apostle Paul say this? Why did He say that he decided to know NOTHING, except Christ crucified? My youngest son answered first and said, "So that we would remember that Sunday is coming." Then my oldest son answered, "It was so we would remember that we had to be ransomed. A price had to be paid for our salvation." Bingo! What wise sons I have!

God always makes things so simple and clear.

Jesus was, and is still, the best communicator. He took God's word, and all it's mysteries, and made it clear and simple so that His disciples could understand and apply God's precious word to their lives.

So often in Christendom, during this time of year, we only hear about the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But rarely do we hear about His suffering and brutal crucifixion; the ransom that was paid. I'm not sure why this is. But I think it has something to do with the fact that we all, as human beings, like to feel good. We want to be happy. All the time.

We don't want to be angry, we don't want to be sad, we don't want to be anything but happy. I believe it's part of our human nature and also part of the little deceptions that we as a Church allow to enter our minds and hearts, all because it makes "sense" to us. It is the ultimate desire of our flesh.

But in Scripture, we see that sorrow, is a good thing. Pain is a good thing. Sorrow reminds us that sin is desperately wicked and causes great heartache, both to the person committing the sin and to others around them; and more importantly grieves the heart of our Creator and it is what crucified our Savior. Pain reminds us that something more serious and more injurious will happen if we don't stop doing whatever it is that is currently causing us pain. Both sorrow and pain are gifts from God; merciful and gentle warnings that call us to repent from our current course, and turn to Him so that we might truly be fulfilled with all that is good; God

God alone is good and God alone is the Judge and the Justifer. I praise the Lord for revealing this truth!

"It was to show His righteousness at the present time, so that He might be Just and the Justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law."

~Romans 3:26-31


original photo by: Robert Aichinger edited by: Sunny Shell

Most Christians, as well as those who've been around Christians are familiar with the phrase: "We do all things for God's glory alone."

I've often been asked: "Why does God want all the glory, isn't that kind of out of character for Him; to be so self-centered, so self-promoting?"

For many, this just doesn't make sense.

So why is it so important that only God receives all the glory and why does He command it to be done? Is God a megalomaniac? By all means, "No!" But most people are. True?

Most of us walk around thinking we deserve so much good, so much praise, so much...well, everything and anything that's favorable to us. The world's riddled with catch phrases like "You deserve a break today" (McDonald's), "Because you're worth it." (L'Oréal). And we all buy into it. We actually buy into it before we're even old enough to know what these companies stand for. As soon as a toddler can talk, he/she quickly vocalizes "Mine!", "Give me!", "I want!", "Now!" Unfortunately for some, this doesn't stop at toddler age...does it?

God alone is God. He alone is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. He alone is Creator, Giver of Life and Savior. God alone has been, is and will always be. God alone is righteous, holy and perfect. He alone is the Great I AM (YHWH). There is none like Him, nor any that is greater. And that is why He alone is worthy of all glory and praise.

“To whom will you liken Me and make Me equal, and compare Me, that we may be alike? Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship! They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries to it, it does not answer or save him from his trouble. “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all My purpose,’

~Isaiah 46:5-10

Dictionary.com defines "glory" as: very great praise, honor, or distinction bestowed by common consent; renown; something that is a source of honor, fame, or admiration; adoring praise or worshipful thanksgiving; resplendent beauty or magnificence.

Now think about people you know who've received "glory". Picture just one of those people in your mind who have received great praise, honor, fame, admiration, and worship; someone who's been considered absolutely beautiful, talented, prosperous, etc.

With that person pictured in your mind, what do you see? Do you see God's love that is full of humility in service, grace in suffering, peace in trials, sacrifice in loss, compassion in weariness, and mercy in the eyes of hatred? Or do you see man's "love" filled with false humility and a dash of pride, service that is published and promoted, grace only towards those who are useful to them, peace only when everyone agrees with them, sacrifice only if it hits the news media, compassion only when refreshed by others, and mercy only if they deem the other person worthy?

The latter is what we see in this world. Though we'd all like to claim the former; especially for ourselves or for those we just happen to love or esteem in some way. With our fallible and gullible eyes and hearts, we often give glory to man, whether in the church or outside of it.

As human beings, we are created to worship and give glory to something or someone. This is an innate God-given desire of every person, whether they want to admit it or not. But sin came into the world and destroyed the beauty of man's unbroken, holy and intimate relationship with God. When worship of God was forever defiled by man's pride and futile efforts to become or create his own god; we perverted the gift of glorifying God and confused it with the contemptuous act of glorifying man.

When people receive glory, it's never handled well. I've sadly witnessed many well-meaning ministers of God's plummet to their own demise as they gorge their egos with the praise of man and believe their own press (Jn 2:24-25, Gal 1:10). They talk more about how many members they have in their congregation, how many "friends" they have on Facebook, how many "followers" they have throughout social media, how many books they've sold and radio programs their on. They also go so far as boasting of the number of saved souls under their teaching or ministry, as if anyone could really know if someone is truly converted or simply playing the part of Simon the Magician (Acts 8:21-23).

When man receives glory: he is like a black hole that collapses within itself, sucking the life out of himself and all those around him; luring all into the abyss of depraved thinking and living. When man receives glory, only he benefits...for a time. But his money, fame, and perceived power does not bring him peace, comfort or the love and approval of God (Ecc 2:10-11). What purpose did his glory serve? To build him up for a time? To collect false friends? To question everyone's motives? To be anxious for many things? To end life with nothing of any true value?

Man's glory is as God says, "vanity...chasing after the wind."

When God receives glory: it's greater than the sun that shines on the earth and gives life to everything in it. When God receives all adoration, worship, praise and exaltation, then the multitudes benefit! Rather than sucking the life out of everything in His path, God's glory produces life—eternal life to all, who by faith, trust in the name of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9-10). When God alone is glorified, hearts are lifted, souls are renewed, lives are transformed and the great gift of fellowshiping in His Holy Spirit is shared among all the saints!

God's glory is life-giving and as God says, stores for us, "treasures in Heaven."

So live today and everyday to do all things for God's glory alone that you may be fully satisfied with His pleasure. Spread the Good News of Jesus Christ for the sake of His name and not your own!

"Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up....that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ...The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil."

~Romans 15:2, 6, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Are Christians sinless? Of course not! But we do sin less. Sin less than who? Sin less than the unbelieving world? Most certainly, but we ought not compare ourselves to those who are blind and live in darkness. So who then shall we compare ourselves? Let’s look to Scripture to find the answer:

“If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.”

~Galatians 6:3-5, ESV

The Lord God spoke through the Apostle Paul and said that when any of us thinks more of ourselves than we ought, we are only deceiving ourselves. This is true. We’re not really fooling anyone else, just ourselves. Seems kind of silly doesn’t it? I mean, who wants to keep lying to...himself?

The Lord goes on to reveal to us that people shouldn’t compare themselves to other people (even other Christians [2 Cor 10:12]), but should test their own actions, but against what? Against the Holy Scriptures of course, after all, only our Creator knows what’s best for us and He has already set the perfect standard in which we all must live.God wrote this standard on the hearts and minds of every man, the Ten Commandments (Romans 2:15).

God also graciously gave us the Holy Scriptures so that we can easily read and understand His word by the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 2:10-13) so that we might know how to live holy lives; dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus alone.This was done so that all who believe and trust in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, might sin less and less and less as we daily participate in the work of the Holy Spirit by crucifying our flesh and it’s wicked desires as we grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus.

The Holy Spirit is faithful to complete the work He started from the day of salvation to the day of our Homegoing. But are you Christian, faithful to complete your part? Are you daily carrying your cross to crucify your flesh and its sinful nature? Be holy as our Father God is holy. Be faithful as He is faithful. Not because it is your duty, but because you are overwhelmed with gratitude for Who God is, and for what He has done.

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins."

~2 Peter 1:3-9, ESV

Don't be blind.

Don't forget what you've been saved from.

Live as if you've received the grace of God through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Because you have.

And now, you are free.

Therefore live as if you are.

"We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in the newness of life...We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin...For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace."

~Romans 6:4; 6-7; 14, ESV

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