Monday, May 12, 2014

Pssst, I have a Secret

“The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you.”  ~Jesus, Mark 4:11

We all love our secret family recipe, a secret fishing hole, exploring a secret passage, being a kid with a secret knock and code word, and especially, letting a secret out – then pretending we didn’t mean to.  A good thing about the Gospel is that Jesus is up front.  The secret is not to be kept, but to be shared.  After all it is the good news of Jesus — the eternal peace, by grace through faith in Christ Jesus alone.

A “secret”, in Greek, musterion, has a meaning “to shut the mouth,” … Jesus has done the opposite.  Jesus has given us the secret, it is obvious that there is no need for a shut mouth… the secret is out!  We too, like Jesus are to go and share the good news to others of how to be blessed by the mercy, grace, and presence of Christ Jesus.  And, that is not done with a shut mouth, but by divulging the secret without hesitation.  



Don't trust me, I don't keep Jesus' secret,  Owen <><

 


Matt 28:19,
Mk 16:15,
Acts 1:8,
Rom 10:14-15



 
 
 

 
 

 

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Jesus Lifts You Up - To Life

Jesus assures us that, “By standing firm you will gain life” (Luke 21:19). 
 
Our Lord and Savior promises to those who are obedient to him protection.
... No, this isn’t just following rules, but living the Gospel, the “good news of Jesus Christ” which includes having a life to live that pours out of abundance—as Jesus said, “I have come that they [you, followers of Christ] may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10), which is an abundance of peace, joy, and the fullness of God’s Spirit giving you rest.

Yes, that involves an eternity in heaven.  But, best of all and interestingly, it involves our life on earth.  So, as your day, week, months of life become overrun with stress, loss, and heartache; overload at work or sorrow from what is the result of our world in which we live—know this: Christ’s Spirit is but a whisper away, as is the response of God’s servants, such as this one.  You have great abundance and strength of our Lord God Almighty at your disposal, seek his feet and he will lift you up.

In Christ,

Owen <><