Newness of Life in Being Studious.

  Back in junior high school, we had a block of time during the day that was simply called "study hall." I did most of the three main things it was made for: A- playing paper football (yours truly was the sixth grade runner-up and took home the seventh grade championship), B- daydreaming, and C- reading (the backs of baseball cards). Well, I guess the real point of study hall was the studying, and I did a little of that too.  Somewhere along the way I did begin the important aspects of learning in an environment that was usually quieter and easier to use the resources available to gain knowledge and do the diligent duty of homework.
  In walking in newness of life, study of the Word of God is of utmost importance, not simply for the sake of cramming our heads with Biblical knowledge, but to use what we learn in application in the great adventures of life as we follow Jesus. We do it not to hold the book close to our chest and repeat the words "my precious", but to know the God of the Bible and let Him become more and more precious to us.
  Quiet time alone with God as we study His Word can certainly become the most refreshing and clearly essential time in our life.  So we find a place, find a time that we strategically set aside, turn off our distractions, and turn our attention to Him. A question we can always ask as a prayer to God is "LORD, would you please show me Yourself?" And we begin to learn more about the majesty and mystery and magnificence of the King of the universe.
   Psalm 111 is a place to see that study is vital to life.  It is for people who study, and shows us how we can honor God and please Him and grow in knowledge and wisdom and understanding the truth.
 
  "The works of the LORD are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them." Psalm 111:2

  "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments.  His praise endures forever"- Psalm 111:10

  The psalm shows us three aspects that will always be important to any passage of Scripture:
1. It begins with adoration and thanks to God for His Word (see v. 1),
2. It shows how we see God in His glorious and awesome actions and shows us Himself (how He reveals Himself to us)(see v. 2-9),
3. It lets us know that we must obey and apply what He teaches us as we study. (see v.10)

  "Jesus promises that we shall know the truth, and the truth shall set us free.  We gain access to His truth by believing in Him and then holding to His teaching.  The challenge for every disciple is this: "How much of the Scripture-the truth-is really mine? Am I holding to Christ's Word, or am I drifting in the twilight zone, toward the marshy ground of half-faith?"- John MacArthur
  Each time we study we can love His truth, learn and gain wisdom from His truth, and then live it out loud in front of a watching world and in the quietness of our hearts.

A prayer:
Father in Heaven, please let me treasure your Word as never before and know you and grow more Christlike. Be glorified in this. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Newness of Life As the Son Rises.

  Living in Arizona has a perk of seeing some unbelievable sunsets. And the sunrises can be pretty magnificent too, with the colors bouncing off the clouds and the freshness of a new morning with God's new mercies abounding. No one can paint a scene so perfectly like He does, from sunrise to sunset. May we not forget all His benefits and that He is full of  majesty and power and glory and totally deserving of all praises.
  As Easter Sunday has quickly approached, I am reminded of a different rising, the rising of God's Son from the dead by the resurrection power of our mighty and awesome God.  Without the Resurrection, emptiness would rule our lives and no hope would ever be found.  As we celebrate this Easter weekend, it does us well to remember that all of history funnels through that incredibly important week when the Savior of the world was put to death on a cruel cross on Good Friday, taking the sin and penalty that we deserved. And then He was raised up, risen and alive and supplying the only hope for the world.

  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16

  Have you believed? Have you trusted in Jesus as your Savior and LORD? He waits with open arms.  Today is the day of salvation.  Today is the day, so that your heart will not be hardened. Lay your burdens at the cross, be repentant (turning away from your own acknowledged sins, while turning to God for forgiveness), confess that Jesus is indeed God's Son, believe that the Father raised Him from the dead, and receive promised eternal life from the Only One Who Saves.
  And for those of us who have believed, Easter weekend is an important time of reflecting, returning, and refreshed commitment to the God of the universe.
  Reflection on His justice at the Cross, His love for us as Jesus suffered and died in cruelty, His mercy in taking our place and also giving us His righteousness (right standing before the Father), His grace so amazing that enables freedom for all who believe.  He gives us newness of life as we trust that, since Jesus was raised to life from death, we also can know His resurrection power and live a life that brings honor to the King of kings and lets us enjoy the blessings that He showers down us in such abundance that we have nowhere to turn except to Him in utter thankfulness.

  "Praise be to the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." - 1 Peter 1:3

  It is a time of returning, if we have strayed from where we really should be, and run back to His everlasting arms. Just as the prodigal sons (see Luke 15:11-32) required a much-needed return, we very well may also. I say sons because each had wandered far from home in their own distinct ways. One wandered off and one stayed behind, but with a heart that seemed to grow cold and stonelike. Neither lived a true life of abundance in their Father's house.  Note that out of love, we have a freedom to leave home, but His grace is phenomenal as God welcomes us back upon our return to right fellowship. Though He never lets His people perish, we do sometimes disappoint to put in mildly, but He loves us in our return.  Let today be a beautiful homecoming. And remember that each day can be because of His grace.  And when we struggle or suffer without a clear enough reason why, we also find comfort in Him.
  "Because we have been united with Christ in His resurrection, as well as in His death, life will never be the same-in the future and in the present...So, celebrate this new life whenever you feel discouraged about your present circumstances.  Celebrate it when you find your life disappointing and when things do not turn out the way you expected or dreamed.  Celebrate that God raised Jesus from death so that you could be united with Jesus in His resurrection."- Steven D. Matthewson
 
  Refreshed commitment as we walk in newness of life is vital.  Take today and  get alone for a few moments and open His Word and let Him know your heart and that you are ready to commit your ways and lifestyle afresh to be more like His Son. Christ in us be glorified and His name be praised and lifted high.  And with commitment comes the motivation to share the greatest news and truth of all of history, of Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life (the only way worth going, the only truth worth knowing, the only life worth living).  What person in your circle of relationships needs to hear the incredible message of the gospel?
 
A prayer:
  Heavenly Father,  how could I thank You enough for the gift of Your Son and His death and resurrection and the promises fulfilled by You? Today I offer up my heart to You, completely. Help me live to honor you and tell others about You. In Jesus' name, Amen.