//Sin: the Dictator of Our Lives// Hope: Through God//

As it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one;

there is no one who understands,

no one who seeks God.

All have turned away,

they have together become worthless;

there is no one who does good,

not even one.”

**Romans 3:10-12**




 ~~~**~~~

   Hitler, Stalin, Castro, Chavez, Pol Pot...all men who are viewed as dictators of their countries; men who ruled with iron thumbs, not looking out for the best interest of their fellow country men. Many of these men's time in leadership are marked by the drastic extermination of people groups or innocent civilians. Ruled by greed, wealth, status, and power. Driven by the sin in their lives. 

   Like these morally corrupt rulers,we to would have the same heart and motives if not for Christ. For the unregenerate, God gives common grace. "The Bible consistently teaches what theologians have come to call “common grace,” a non-saving grace that is at work in the broader reaches of human cultural interaction. This gift of God’s grace to humanity in general demonstrates a desire on God’s part to bestow certain blessings on all human beings, believer and non-believer alike." (Tim Keller, What is Common Grace PDF) For those who have been called by name to be His, God shows us our corrupt and selfish hearts, brings us to repentance, covers us with His righteousness and places within us a heart that desires to live a moral life not for morality's sake but in order to Glorify Him, magnify His name, spread His gospel and one day live eternally in Heaven with Him.

"The doctrine of common grace helps us to acknowledge God’s goodness in all of creation and enables us to pursue mission with love in a fallen world." ~ Tim Keller

   Meditating on Romans 3:10-12 today, my life before Christ, I became so very thankful for God choosing to place me in a home that taught me His truths and raised me with a Christian world view. Am I saying that those who aren't raised in a Christian home aren't as privileged? By no means! Both have been equally shown the mercy of God in a fallen world, both have been changed in radical way. No matter whether if God called you out of a life of drugs, abuse, prostitution, gang life,  a non-religious morally good life or the opposite, a conservative, christian home where His gospel was taught and shown through example by your parents...God has called you out of darkness. It was Him who placed you in whatever life situation you grew up in; neither are far from His grasp of control or closer to it based on outward appearance. 

   As Romans 3:10-12 reminds us, no one, not the druggy or the innocent church goer are free from sin. It is the dictator of everyone's life, killing all good that we could produce on our own and hardening us to God's work. Apart from Christ, all are equally doomed to a terrible ending, Hell. My friend, do not take this lightly, Hell is a real place that is for all those who do not claim Christ as their savior and Lord. 

   But God....God shows mercy and forgiveness to the sin in our lives. He alone is able to wipe out the dictator, sin, that had taken residency in our hearts and sets up a new kingdom...one filled with hope, peace, security, and a desire to give Him unashamed glory for what He has done in our life.

  "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,  even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—  and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:4-10)

~Grace and Peace~

  

Sovereignty of God {{Exposed}}

Some weeks we see the need for God's sovereignty more than others. We might catch ourselves joyfully living life one day with little thought to God's divine ordination of circumstances while the next day, in the difficult moments, we are constantly reminding ourselves that God has a plan and a purpose for everything; nothing is untouched by the sovereign will of God. We must realize that, in both the good and the bad, God's sovereignty never changes and isn't dependent on whether or not a thought crosses our mind concerning our dependency on Him.

“What defines us as Christians is not most profoundly that we have come to know him but that he took note of us and made us his own.”
― John Piper, Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God 

I am thankful that God saved me. I am thankful that out of the billions of people in the world, He called me His own and sealed me a place with Him forever. I am thankful that every moment of my life has been pre-planned. I am thankful that God is not dependent upon my frail humanity for anything. I am thankful that God is king. I am thankful that He holds the whole world within the palm of His hand. 

"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? Who has gathered the dust of the earth in a measure or weighed the mountains in a balance and the hills in the scales?"

- Isaiah 40:12

Because God's sovereignty touches every aspect of our lives, this means we are free to live a fear free life."Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6. God's plan for your life can not me thwarted. He will not withhold any perfect thing from you that He has already planned to put in your path, nor will any difficulty you face be unmanageable for His mighty power. ALL things work according to His perfect plan. 

"But who are you, a mere man, to talk back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?" Romans 9:20

Who are we to decide when and if we God can be in control of our life? Let me guarantee this, even in the moments when you think you have gained the upper hand, God is still God and is greater and mightier than ever. We are but dust, miniscule and powerless in comparison to Him. Find rest in the knowledge that you aren't in control of your life...your main objective should be to live a life that Glorifies the Lord and leave all the rest to Him. 

“If there is one single molecule in this universe running around loose, totally free of God’s sovereignty, then we have no guarantee that a single promise of God will ever be fulfilled.”
― R.C. Sproul, Chosen by God

e strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6) - See more at: http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christianity/2008/09/How-to-Face-Fear-10-Bible-Verses-To-Inspire-Courage.aspx?p=5#sthash.sopygeFa.dpuf

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4) - See more at: http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christianity/2008/09/How-to-Face-Fear-10-Bible-Verses-To-Inspire-Courage.aspx?p=2#sthash.1iSugjfP.dpuf

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4) - See more at: http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christianity/2008/09/How-to-Face-Fear-10-Bible-Verses-To-Inspire-Courage.aspx?p=2#sthash.1iSugjfP.dpuf

~**Glorying in the Gospel**~

  
The gospel of Jesus Christ is so wonderful and awe inspiring. Sunday's sermon was on the gospel...yesterday I was greatly encouraged by a video I watched on distinguishing law from gospel...and today I meditated on what the gospel is and how it has impacted my life during devotions. May the below prayer encourage you to focus on the person and work of Jesus Christ who is the gospel itself.


Gospel Prayer

     Thank you Lord for coming as a sinless baby, living a life of perfection unmatched and a billion times greater than even the most heroic figure we can think of. Help me to grasp how much pain and hardship you went through as you prepared yourself to humbly be taken and tried in a court of law that condemned You, a perfect sinless man, to the worst death, a death saved for the scum of the earth. God, thank You for separating Yourself from your most beloved so that I could might come to know you. Thank you for raising Your Son from death and fulfilling the prophecies of old that said He would rise three days after death. I am in awe that you sent the Holy Spirit to be Your earthly presence that would convict me of my sins and draw me to You. May I daily be reminded that without You, I am nothing...I would be enslaved to sin. Because of Your great love, I can now call you Abba Father! May Your praise be continually on my lips.

-Amen-

 ~**~

   ~Gospel proclamations proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior

   ~ The Gospel allows us to be free from the weight of having to be perfect. Christ cvers us with His perfection!

   ~ "In the gospel, God comes after us because we need him not because he needs us. Only the gospel can free us to revel in our insignificance." - Tullian Tchividjian

   ~"For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh..." - Romans 8:3

Bought with a Price - A Story of Redemption: Lecrae

   

   Glorifying God through our actions...

   Glorifying God through our speech...

   Glorifying God in the Morning, Noon, and Night...

   Glorifying God in our career...

   Glorifying God in pain and suffering...

   Glorifying God when all we want to do is take glory for ourselves...

   Glorifying God because He gave us the ultimate gift, salvation from sin...

   Glorifying God is what we are called to, yet do we fully realize what that looks like? As I was browsing through my Facebook home screen I ran across a video post by Lecrae, a Christian Rap artist who writes theologically solid lyrics and has a passion for the Lord, in which he shared his testimony. I was encouraged. Coming from a life of abuse, drugs, rebellion in school, a broken family, and gangs he shares how he came to know God and eventually use his talents as a rapper to point others to Christ. He came to see God as the father he never knew; his ultimate roll model. He is quick to point out that those who are into rapping and listening to rap are definitely a culture of their own...and this is true. Though I am not a huge fan of rap music, I do occasionally enjoy listening to some Lecrae and Shai Linne...but that's not very often! With his music, Lecrae is able to reach into a whole different culture than what most white American Christians can. It is definitely a gift from God!

   I'd like to share with you today the video of Lecrae sharing his testimony. It reminds me to be thankful for all Christ has done for me, calling me out of darkness into light, making me His child, securing a place for me in Heaven, and ultimately giving me the ability to Glorify Him! 

   Today I'd like to encourage you to be taking active steps towards glorifying God with your life. Yes, you and I may not be a public figure, but we can still pursue Christ in a manner that others will see what He has done for us...He has given us Salvation from sin and separation from Him! Here or a few verses to encourage you in your walk with the Lord. 

    1 Corinthians 6:20 ~ "...for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."

    Deuteronomy 31 7b-8 ~ “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

  Romans 8:28 ~  "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,^[a] for those who are called according to his purpose."  

    Romans 5:8 ~ "...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 

   Acts 2:38 ~  "And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

    Also, if you have time, jump on over to the I Am Second website. Many amazing and neat testimonies are shared there. I know I will be taking a look at that site quite often!