Monday Morning Musings
- Jul 24
- 4 min read
For this week’s blog, I thought I would share some thoughts that have been cooking in my head over the weekend. These thoughts have been inspired by what I’ve seen on social media and heard in yesterday’s worship service.
I hope they speak to you as well.
Jesus’ Answers to Marxism and Islamism
Marxist – “There is no god.”
Islamist – “Allah is god.”
Christianity’s reply to Marxism – “There is a God.”
Christianity’s reply to Islam – “There is only one God, and Allah is not Him.”
Since Christianity stands on these truths, it is no wonder why Marxists and Islamists strive to eliminate Christians who bear witness to Jesus as His “embodied presence” on earth.
Jesus’ Breath
When Jesus took His first earthly breath, the seen and unseen world were put on notice that God’s kingdom was coming. (Luke 1:32-33)
When Jesus took His first earthly breath after His baptism, the Holy Spirit descended as the sign that God’s kingdom was coming. (Matthew 3:16-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22)
When Jesus gave His last earthly breath on the cross, the way opened for God’s kingdom to come. (Luke 23:42-43)
When Jesus took His first earthly breath at His resurrection, the way into God’s coming kingdom was sealed. (Acts 1:3; Colossians 3:1)
When Jesus took His last earthly breath during His ascension, He told His disciples to await God’s kingdom as promised. (Acts 1:4-5, 8)
When the Body of Christ took its first earthly breath at Pentecost, God’s kingdom arrived on earth within the believers. (Acts 2:1-2)
When Jesus breathes at His return, the Beast’s kingdom will be destroyed, God’s kingdom will rule on earth, and God’s breath will fill everyone. (2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 11:15; Joel 2:27-29)
Confusing Compassion with Affirmation
The World – “If you love me, then you will affirm me.”
The Christian – “Same standard, then. If you love me, you will affirm me.”
The World – “I will not affirm you, Christian.”
The Christian – “Then by your own words, you do not love me.”
Why are we surprised? “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you.” (John 15:19)
Christians, Culture, Anchor
An anchor doesn’t stop the current. It stops the boat from drifting with the current. God’s word doesn’t stop a twisted, ungodly culture from flowing. It stops the committed Christian from drifting along with the culture that opposes their God.
Three Mindsets to Beware
“Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)
Philosophy: Greek speculation that opposed God’s word and influenced Western thinking.
Empty deceit based on human tradition: All religious practices not based on God’s word, but on human conjecture.
Elements of the world or Elementary principles of the world: The way the world does things, as opposed to God’s way, revealed through His word.
Jesus’ disciples must learn the difference between God’s living word and these Three Deadly Mindsets.
Like Clay on the Potter’s Wheel
When creating a clay pot, the potter must first center the clay on the potter’s wheel. This process usually begins with the potter throwing the clay down on the center of the wheel. Then the potter uses water and manual pressure to slowly slide the shapeless clay to the center slowly. If not centered, the clay will inevitably lose balance, become warped, and fall over as the potter shapes it. If properly centered, the potter begins to build their creation by digging into the heart of the clay and slowly drawing it upward, then outward. The shaping process will continue until the potter is satisfied with the finished vessel.
So it is with a Christian’s life.
When a person humbles themselves before the Lord and pledges their lives to Jesus, they are brought low and placed on “the wheel,” where the Lord washes us with the water and work of the Holy Spirit as He slowly centers us on His word. If we’re not centered on the Lord’s word, even though we’re being shaped into Jesus’ image, according to His Father’s design, we’ll often find ourselves off balance as we whip between living life God’s way or our way. This unrestrained, off-balance life leads to a warped image of Jesus to the world, and most often to a personal collapse. If we remain centered, it’s easier for the Potter to dig into our hearts, change us, and draw us upward toward our heavenly call, and outward to influence the world. The shaping process will continue until the Potter is satisfied with the finished vessel.
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Shining the Light of God’s Truth on the Road Ahead
Pastor Jay Christianson
The Truth Barista, Frothy Thoughts