Category: Christian Thoughts

Let Him Shape Us Into His Image

A mirror reflects. It has no image of its own. But it’s reflection is not necessarily true – it can be distorted.

boy running in body of water during sunset

Our Christian lives are like mirrors. We’re called to reflect the God’s heart to those around us. How?

Not necessarily by what we say but by the attitude of heart by which we live.

The Apostle Paul spoke about Christ being formed in us. That’s not from bible studies or religiously going to church. The bible as we know it didn’t exist back then. It’s a “molding and forming” that only the Lord can bring from our lives. Like the potter fashions the clay. It’s why we need faith – to let Him shape us into his image.

It all depends on what we want to reflect. Ourselves, someone or something else, or the heart of God?

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV)

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

  • Mark Saunders

FEAR

Fearful sky with fire

Fear is transmitted like a virus as we feed off each other’s fear and pass it on to the next person. Growing and growing until it becomes all encompassing and all you see, think and feel is fear.

2 Timothy 1:7, ESV: “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

In the midst of all this Corona virus chaos, where fear is growing, I have carried this verse in my heart and found comfort and peace with what is going on.

Fear God, Wait for the Lord

Coronavirus fear is having more impact than the virus itself.
The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else.

And the Bible says in Isaiah chapter 8:11-13, “make sure you do not fear what they fear.”

God is taking you through something painful to qualify you for something incredible.

Somebody needs to know that the pit and the prison prepared Joseph for the palace.
This is your season of preparation… God is preparing you for what He promised you.
Don’t resist your preparation… seek understanding for your growing, trust God’s handiwork — this is a setup for your come up.

He will see us through

Isaiah 8:11-13 (ESV)

Fear God, Wait for the Lord

11 For the Lord spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: 12 “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13 But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

The Message Of The Cross

What is love? What ever our answer, it probably links love to things we like. The problem is that our type of love is often self centered and subject to change.

God’s love on the other hand is different. He showed His love by offering us the life of His only begotten Son Jesus.

God’s intention in this was to give us an example of what love looks like and to show us the depth of His love for us.

The ultimate expression of love is found in the cross. This type of love is ready to loose it’s rights, and ready to keep no record of wrongs.

holding hands

Without the work of the cross in our own lives, the challenge of love is impossible. We need the example of Jesus continually in front of us… the message of the cross… and the Holy Spirit to help us live it.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NKJV)
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NKJV)
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

  • Mark Saunders

The Fruit Of A Changed Heart

Growth happens progressively. We all grew and were shaped by the environment around us.

A sapling is often attached to a support to help it grow straight. A fruit tree is pruned to let the light in and help it bear more fruit.

Spiritual growth is the same.

Evidence of growth for a Christian is bearing the fruit of the Spirit in our every day lives.

The most powerful fruit of our faith here on earth is not material possessions, it’s not even miracles healings and great teachings. It’s the fruit of a changed heart.

The cross becomes the support to our surrendered lives and hand of the Lord at work in our hearts is our pruning.

The result, Christians that begin to stand out by the fruit of our lives.

Galatians 5:22-25 (NKJV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

  • Mark Saunders