Victory Vitamin Blog – Romans 12:2

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

–Romans 12:2 NIV

Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins once asked, “Why is it that all non-conformists look the same?”  We all conform, we just select the non-conformist group we want to be part of, and we conform to it.  But how we dress and the music we listen to isn’t as important as how we live.  God’s Word pleads with us NOT to conform to the pattern of this world.  What is the pattern of this world?  It’s a pattern of sinfulness.  And that sin manifests itself in different ways in different cultures.  Currently, I see our society in a time of disunity, arrogance, and intolerance with everyone looking for a reason to get angry.  We blame people we don’t agree with for the disunity, but that doesn’t fly.  We have only ourselves to blame.  No ideology can survive without adherents.  Have we adhered?  Have we conformed to the pattern of a society that points fingers and hates those who don’t agree with us?  Be honest with yourself.  Are you part of the problem rather than part of the solution?  God exhorts us NOT to conform to the pattern of this world, but to BE transformed by the renewing of our minds.  We are part of the solution when we admit our sinfulness and humble ourselves.  “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5  God is love and as His people, WE live in love.  1 Corinthians 13 tells us that love is patient, kind, NOT proud, NOT rude, NOT easily angered, and keeps NO record of wrongs.  How are you doing with that list?  As Jesus hung on the cross, He prayed for the soldiers that were crucifying Him.  He didn’t try to cancel them, He prayed, “Father, forgive them.”  Be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in you.  Be transformed by the power of the Spirit working through God’s Word.  Read and pray.  By the Spirit’s power be part of the solution.  Less finger-pointing, more forgiveness, and praying.  We love because He first loved us!

Victory Vitamin Blog – Job 38

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.”

–Job 38:4 NIV

This question is addressed to Job, from God.  Why would God ask such a thing?  Job had suffered greatly and God had clearly allowed it to happen.  Job was frustrated with God and implied that God had acted wrongly.  God wanted to show that Job wasn’t really as knowledgeable as he thought he was.  Job wasn’t there at creation.  Job had no knowledge of how God formed the universe and made the earth habitable for His creatures.  The whole point of this question was to remind Job how limited he was in his knowledge.  The whole point of this question is also to remind us how limited we are in our knowledge.  God is trying to squash arrogance and presumptuousness in us.  God is NOT trying to discourage our quest for knowledge or hinder our journey to understand the amazing creation He has given us.  There are times when God will act in ways that perplex us.  That doesn’t mean God is wrong.  God knows all things, we only know some things.  God sees how all things work together, most of the time we only see the individual events.  Don’t accuse God of wrongdoing, just re-read the question above and understand your limited knowledge of His ways.  Oddly, though we are at times arrogant toward God, God humbled Himself for us to the point of dying on a cross to pay the price for our sins.  So while you may not understand everything God does, you can know that God is love.  Jesus proved that by His death and resurrection.

Victory Vitamin Blog – Romans 8:28

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

–Romans 8:28 NIV

These words are as challenging as they are comforting.  I mean it’s good to know that God is working for good, but it’s torturous to try to see how anything “good” could come from the death of a child or the end of a marriage.  I’m really glad God is ultimately in charge of working things for good because so many times I’ve made choices that I thought would work out for “good” and they didn’t.  God knows what’s good even if I don’t.  The ultimate good is that you spend eternity with Him in heaven.  Does God use both triumphant and tragic times in our lives to draw us closer to Him?  Does He allow times of sorrow so that we’ll be reminded where our true joy lies.  Does God allow things to pass away so that we’ll be reminded of what IS permanent.  In the end, this is a matter of faith.  Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who live Him.”  We know.  WE KNOW that in all things God is working for good whether we understand it or not.  The ultimate good is certain.  Christ’s death and resurrection made sure of that.

Victory Vitamin Blog – Matthew 10:7

“As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’” 

–Matthew 10:7 NIV 

Every now and then things happen in the world that cause people to wonder if it’s all coming to an end.  I’ve heard talk about it again recently.  When Jesus sent the apostles out to preach and perform miracles, He told them to preach that “the kingdom of heaven is near.”  Make no mistake, it is near, but before we worry about how near it is, let’s establish what it is.  What makes a kingdom a kingdom is that there is a king who rules it.  Our king is Jesus Christ.  The Bible calls Him “King of kings and Lord of lords”.  As Christians, we are living under His rule right now.  Through faith in Him, we are His subjects and we gladly subject ourselves to His will because we know He has our best interest in mind.  He proved it on the cross.  One day Christ will return to earth and on that day we will no longer be living in the earthly kingdom of Christ, we will be living the perfect, heavenly, eternal kingdom of our Lord.  The kingdom of heaven is near.  We live in the kingdom of Christ now and gladly carry out His will in this world.  “Soon”, Christ will return and usher in His eternal heavenly kingdom and it is for that day that we no wait, and pray.  Come quickly, Lord Jesus!  Amen.

Victory Vitamin Blog – Matthew 28:19

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

–Matthew 28:19 NIV

These words are likely familiar to you.  They are among the last words of Jesus spoken to His disciples.  One might conclude then, that these words are of some significance.  Jesus chose to make these some of the last words His followers would hear Him speak.  I have to believe Jesus chose these Words at that time with good reason.  The mission is clear.  Jesus wants disciples made around the world and they are to baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  This coming Sunday is Trinity Sunday.  It’s a Sunday on which we try to explain the inexplicable and comprehend the incomprehensible.  I suggest then, that rather than try to comprehend, we just sit back in awe and amazement at who God is.  And remember that you have been baptized into that name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  You are God’s family member now.  He redeemed you from sin and restored your once broken relationship with Him.  Why?  Because He loves you.  He loves you and has brought you into His name, His family, through Baptism.  It’s not that you WERE baptized, it’s that you ARE baptized.  You are a child of God who bears His name eternally.