Lesson: "Growing in Christ"

“Think about your life, think about the brevity of it; think about the utter inevitability of your death (unless Christ returns in your lifetime).Think what it would mean, if as many believe, the grave is the ultimate end. You’re here, a spasm of cellular metabolism that does its thing (often in pain, hardship, fear), and then ends; one way or another, when all those cells die, nothing’s left but a carcass on which bugs and bacteria feed until they also expire.

            Such would be the fate of all of us in a universe so large that our planet, much less our individual lives, could appear to be so meaningless as to be nothing but a cruel joke that most of us don’t find funny.

            In contrast to that scenario, look at what we have been given in Christ. Look at what has been offered to us through Jesus. Look at what the plan of salvation tells us about our worth and what was done for us so that we don’t have to meet the fate pictured above.

What have we been given in Christ? What should these things mean to us? How should these promises impact every aspect of our existence?” (Growing in Christ, pg. 90)

“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1Cor. 15:51,52)

"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."(Rev. 21:4)

“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written,” "Cursed [is] everyone who hangs on a tree [fn])," (Gal. 3:13)

“To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” (Eph. 1:6,7)

“And he showed me a pure [fn] river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, [was] the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each [tree] yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree [were] for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name [shall be] on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.” (Rev. 22:1-5)

The Character of Christ

     Christ faithfully fulfilled the plan of God to redeem humanity by laying His life down on the cross. By giving His life Christ perfectly showed the character of God. Humanity in conjunction with Satan fulfilled Satan’s plan to crucify Christ. By crucifying Christ the wicked character of Satan was shown. Read Romans 3:21-26 and tell me what you think. There is such a stark contrast between the character of God and the character of Satan.  Who do we resemble? Who do we want to resemble? Rightly understanding the character of God should be the pursuit of every person. Do you want to know who God is? Start with a simple prayer asking Him to reveal Himself to you, then open the Bible and learn from Him.

Ruth

           Last night I again read the book of Ruth. I have to say that this is one of my favorite books of the bible. I love the story. It is not often that we hear of a woman as faithful, loyal, and committed as Ruth. Not only had Ruth come to love Naomi with such a deep love even blood relatives do not often share, Ruth also came to know and love the God of Naomi. Everything Ruth does in this story is to please God and her beloved mother-in-law.

            Four times Naomi presses Ruth to return to her people. After the third pressing Orpah, Ruth’s sister-in-law turns back and Naomi encourages Ruth to go with her, but Ruth cleaves to Naomi and begs her not to send her away.  Ruth then declares her loyalty to Naomi in that wherever she goes Ruth will follow, even unto death. Ruth also declares that Naomi’s people shall be her people, and Naomi’s God would be her God (ch. 1 vs. 8-17).

            When Naomi and Ruth arrive in Beth-lehem, many of the town’s people come out to greet Naomi, but Naomi charges them to call her Mara for she is bitter. “I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home empty” (ch. 1 vs. 21 first part). Naomi does not know at this point what the Lord has given her in the person of Ruth. At the end of the book the women of the town gather about Naomi after Ruth gives birth to Obed and speak blessings. “Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him” (ch. 4 vs. 14-15).

            There is so much I could say about Ruth and how God used her, but I would like to welcome the comments of others, so, read the book and let me know what you think.