GraceUnlimited

Corrie Ten Boom tells the story of how she and other prisoners struggled to thank the Lord for the fleas in their prison cell. Later, she could thank God for the fact that they were able to hold Bible studies unhindered because the guards didn't want to be among the fleas. There is always something to be grateful for. That's Paul's point in 1 Thessalonians 5-18. Christians should always give thanks. Are you a tankful person or do you simply expect people to do things for you- Gratitude also flows into Christians' prayer lives. god desires you to be grateful. When God's desire are your desires, you don't full into the trap of moaning about your circumstances. Swim in his grace in your heart.

Christian relationships need to be real in the local church. It is not surprise that these relationships are set among a huge variety of people. But also by people who all have one dramatic commonality--they are redeemed by the blood of Christ. Therefore, different Christians need to live in peace because of their commonality. This will require warning those who are out of line, encouraging the discouraged, helping the weak.

In these final verses of Luke, we see the apostles worshiping Jesus. He receives that which belongs to God alone. Worship and huge joy walk hand-in-hand. What filled their thoughts was Jesus' blessing and ascension. His blessing resembled the blessing of the priests after they had offered a sacrifice for the people. Here is the God-man, the final Priest and Sacrifice, giving the ultimate blessing. His is then wholeheartedly received by the Father into the glory. His acceptance and glory is the glory and acceptance of his people. This unspeakable reality is the core motivator in the returning apostles and in the heart of every Christian. This sparks and sustains our lasting confidence and joy in Christ.

Salvation is not a small word. Especially when you know that the salvation we are speaking about is God's eternal plan of salvation- Vast, secure, glorious- The reality of the resurrection makes God's salvation an undeniable fact. The world at large remains in disbelief that resembles the inability of the disciples to perceive the reality of God's salvation before Jesus revealed it to them. This kind of eye-opening by God is necessary for any individual to be saved even today. Once Jesus opens the apostles' eyes, they come alive and set the world alight with their eyewitness testimony. They had come into the cosmic salvation narrative foretold throughout the Old Testament- God promised salvation and he never breaks a promise. You will one day die and in that day this promise is your only hope. God's plan of salvation is the only solid reality in this uncertain world. Wisdom requires you to listen to the final words of Jesus.

Does Jesus' death put an end to his illustrious projections- Many people think so. How can his promises come to anything if he dies in the end- Ironically, all who were mocking Jesus while he was dying were actually witnessing Jesus saving. The Old Testament explains how. Jesus had stood against the agenda of the Jewish leaders. Among them was a a secret disciple, Joseph of Arimathea, who comes out after Jesus' death. He acquires Jesus' body from Pilate and places it in his own new tomb. He was so sure of Jesus' illustrious future, in spite of his death, that he does this as an act of worship. The Old Testament foretells Joseph's surprise coming to do this. The tomb was necessary to prove his death and resurrection-as opposed to his body being thrown into a field or being left of the cross, as was the Roman norm. His death was obvious. His death makes his resurrection a thrilling truth.

The cross is central to Christianity. It is the glorious victory that declares Christ's identity as Saviour. While this declaration presents Jesus as a failure, it turns out to be the exact opposite. This is how the criminal dying beside Jesus saw it--Jesus is dying, but the criminal asks Jesus to remember him. In addition to this, creation declares the unique nature of Jesus' death, as the earth is darkened. The Old Testament often connects the moral order to the natural order. The day of the Lord will also be marked by darkness. God also speaks by tearing the temple curtain open. An end of a phase has come and a new one has started. Another remarkable fact is that Jesus is able to call out with a loud voice after hours on the cross. Jesus died with confidence in his Father. In the face of all of these evidences, a soldier praises god for what he had witnessed. The irrefutable final aspect of Jesus' unique death has his resurrection. Until you understand the cross as central to Christianity, you have not understood Christianity.

If your mind was a mug of hot water and the truth a teabag, the truth would have to steep in your mind in order for the flavour of truth to permeate your whole mind. David's meditation on truth had such a pervasive influence on his heart and mind. David found joy in the fact that God knew, understood and loved him deeply. His knowledge extends beyond the details of our physical bodies to our individual selves. he knows our imperfections and fallenness. he knows your longings and pain. His knowledge of all things and his power to rule over them is quite overwhelming. These things also have an overwhelming effect on the Christian who steeps these truths in his heart and mind .such a mind and heart incrementally hates sin and sinful manifestations in people. This is a true indicator of knowing that you are both truly loved and known by God.