THIS IS TABLE ROCK FELLOWSHIP – PASTOR RYAN LADEN (DEVOTIONALS)
| Preach to Yourself -Round Two Building off of the previous devotion, it seemed right to explore the practice of preaching the truth of God’s word to ourselves one more time. To quickly recap the principle, we need to see that we must base any and all real evaluation of our actions, motives, emotions, and intellectual pursuits upon the unchanging principles of God’s revealed truth. As we do, we would do well to ask and answer the following questions: Who is God? What has God done on my behalf? How do the actions and promises of God held define me as a person? How should I respond to the work of the Lord as a result? If we will open the message of God’s word as found in the Christian Bible and seek to answer these questions for ourselves based on what we find within, we will set ourselves up for real success in the spiritual discipline of self-examination. To fail to base our examination on the truth of God’s word would be to examine ourselves through the lens of human wisdom and untrustworthy opinion. In the passage that follows we will find another example of what it means to preach to one’s self: “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation — if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”Colossians 1:15-23 NIV11 Let’s use this truth to populate the message we need to preach to ourselves today: Who is God? Jesus Christ is the full and complete image of the Trinity. There is no better expression of the heart and mind of Almighty God than what can be seen and heard in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus Christ is one with God, and is God. The Lord desires to bring all things into a state of completion and wholeness (- not earthly perfection, but heavenly consummation) and is at work making this a reality in the work of Jesus Christ and his church. What has God done on my behalf? God created all things for his own glory, and has graciously included me into his plan. God has revealed himself to me in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has turned me from being an enemy of God into being someone who shares in his holiness and righteousness.If I have accepted the truth and gift of Christ by faith, I now stand in his perfection without accusation or condemnation. How do the actions and promises of God held define me as a person?I am loved by God.I was created by God on purpose. I am part of God’s work of glory. I am no longer an enemy of God but am made one with Jesus Christ. I share in the perfection of the Son of God and in the relationship the Son has with God the Father. How should I respond to the work of the Lord as a result? I should respond to the love of God with acceptance, gratitude, and faith. I should continue in my faith, allowing the Lord to help me be established and firm, not moving from the hope held out in the gospel. I should believe in the promise of heaven. I should ask the Lord to help me share in his eternal perspective. Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, I confess my faith in you. I trust in your work done on the cross. I recognize that I am no longer an enemy of yours, but that because of your great love for me, I am now free in you, and able to stand alongside you in your eternal reality. I confess that you are the full and complete expression of God and all that I will ever need. In Christ, Ryan Laden |
OUR MISSION AS A CHURCH
“TO ENCOURAGE AND EQUIP EACH OTHER IN LOVE TO KNOW JESUS AND MAKE HIM KNOWN”
CONTACT INFO
- (541) 245-2612
- Answers@TableRockFellowship.com
- 3610 N Pacific Hwy
Medford Oregon 97501
DINING WITH JESUS PRODUCTIONS 
You must be logged in to post a comment.