Or it was yesterday. I turned 25... yikes! I'm getting old. :)
I had a great day. I got to speak to my parents! They called me after the evening service (at 11pm their time) and talked for about 20 mins.
The Robinsons had me over to their house for lunch, which was very sweet of them. Ross Robinson is one of our Pastors at North Hills. I was over at their house Saturday night and they found out that the next day was my B-day and they immediately asked me to lunch. Ross and Janiece and their 4 kids (Claire, Brock, Spencer, and Scott) are an awesome family! Truly geniune and super loving. They've kind of adopted me, for some reason... and I've adopted them back :)
Then last night, my sister and brother in-law (Ivan & Tania) came over to my place and we celebrated together. Ivan's birthday was on Saturday, so that was fun. We had cake and then watched "While You Were Sleeping, " which is one of my favorite movies.
It's kind of humorous that my B-day, Christmas, and New Years day all fall on a Sunday this year...
I'm thankful to God for my 1/4 of a century of life and I pray that, Lord willing, the next 1/4 (or until He comes again) will be more glorifying to Him, that I'll draw closer to Him, and continue to be a growing part of His body.
God has put within our hearts a gallery of redemptive artwork. A display of what He gave us to deal with the problem of sin. This is Christ - "that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ." Col. 2:2
The question is are we taking advantage of the gallery or are the lights out? Do we just peak in from time to time?
The artwork Col. 2:1-15
- Wisdom
- Power
- Cancelled Debt
- Freedom
Wisdom for the foolishness of sin
Wisdom is a gift from God. If God could possibly be foolish, the most foolish He could be would be wiser than the wisest that man could ever reach. Wisdom only comes from God. He gives it freely if we ask for it.
"But where shall wisdom be found?
And where is the place of understanding?
Man does not know its worth,
and it is not found in the land of the living." Job 28:12-13
Power to deal with the inability of sin
Awesome. That is God. Sin is like quicksand, the more we struggle to get free the further we sink. God is the only one who can defeat the inability that we face in sin.
"Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways,
and how small a whisper do we hear of him!
But the thunder of his power who can understand?" Job 26:14
Cancelled Debt to forgive and pay for sin
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom. 6:23
"And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross." Col. 2:13-14
Freedom from the slavery of sin
"When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness." Rom. 6:20
"He disarmed the rulers and authorities[b] and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him." Col. 2:15
Conclusion
Sin has been defeated, but it's prescence still remains. The redemptive artwork above was the means by which sin was defeated (aka justification). Now...
"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." Col. 2:6-7
...despite the prescence of sin, we need to continue to look on this gallery as we walk, grow, and abound (sanctification).
Excerpts from Paul David Tripp - Sunday 11/6 @ NHCC
And my two cents...
That's a tough question.
I've recently been asking myself that and my knee jerk reaction is "of course!"
haha...
Then I have to ask who are my leaders and how am I following them. I have to examine myself and point out that I'm just as sinful, prideful, selfish, and stubborn as anyone else. You can always just go to one of your leaders and ask bluntly, but expect to hear the blunt truth.
The Bible gives us the keys to being good followers - Imitation, humility, and obedience.
ARE YOU A JOY TO LEAD?
"Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith." - Heb. 13:7
"Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you." - Heb. 13:17
"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble." - 1 Peter 5:1-7
Reality really sinks in when you think over the fact that you are a leader. Want to or not, whether you know that you are one or not. You are a leader... Yikes! You must watch over, be a good example and give an account for your followers.
be humble