Can you remember a time when you got something and you were finally able to say, “That’s mine”? Maybe it was a car or paying off the mortgage on a house or a new bike. This happens all the time after the Christmas or birthday gifts are opened. You can finally say, “That’s mine.” Hopefully you don’t say that in a selfish way, but I think you know what I mean. You finally have what you’ve long awaited for. The beauty is that nothing changes the fact that the new bike is now yours; nobody can take it back; you get to enjoy it everyday.

I was thinking about this in terms of our relationship with God after salvation. God claims us as His own. This is what the LORD said in Isaiah 43:1,

“But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.’”

Once we belong to God nothing changes that fact. Is anybody greater than God? Can anyone take us from God? Does God lose anything that is His? Here are a couple of other verses that come to mind.

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:28-30)

“And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:39-40)

Are we secure? Absolutely! Nothing, and nobody, has either the right or the power to take us away from God. So why do we feel so distant from God?

First, we let circumstances dictate security. We let events change the way we feel about how God feels about us. But honestly, has God changed His mind and decided He didn’t want us anymore. You know that’s not going to happen. We just can’t allow bad news to negatively affect how we view our relationship with God.

Second, we let sin disrupt fellowship. Sin devastates us and it throws a money wrench into our relationship with God. It definitely isn’t God’s fault; we have to own our own disobedience. God hasn’t gone anywhere. We are the ones hiding in the jungle trying to cover our own nakedness, and God is the One seeking us wanting to cover it for us (cf. Genesis 3:7-13, 21).

In either case we need to repent, soak our minds and hearts in God’s promises, and soar above and beyond both our sin and circumstances.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

The very centerpiece of human history is the cross. With the coming of Jesus Christ God split time in half, and it was the cross (and His perfect life leading up to it and His resurrection and ascension following it) that signaled this cosmic, time-altering event. Thus the cross becomes the centerpiece of our individual lives as well, or at least it should be.

The cross is what brings redemption to our lives. It was through the cross that Jesus absorbed God’s wrath against sin. He took our place so that we could have a place with the Father in heaven. We call this the obstruction of justice. Jesus said,

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45 [emphasis added])

Jesus rushed out, faced sin full on, and destroyed its penalty and power over our lives. He did this by sacrificing Himself on the cross. That is the gospel and the gospel changes everything.

Those who are saved have a new life to live, and the cross teaches us how to live that life. The cross-centered life is one of sacrifice and redemption.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God. Who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)

This is the type of life Floyd Ferguson (“Papa”) lived. He put others before self and loved Jesus above all, and his conversations were filled with redemption as He shared His love for Jesus with anyone around. During the last several years of his life Toy Elder became a close friend, and Toy saw this cross-centeredness. As God was prompting Toy and Gale to do something in memory of this dear friend, they thought of the cross. On Sunday, December 29, 2013 the Hoovers unveiled a cross the Elders commissioned to be built in memory of Mr. Ferguson.

It is the most amazing cross I’ve ever seen. It is a wonderful addition to the auditorium and will stand as a centerpiece to remind us of the great price Jesus paid to redeem us. It will also encourage us to live how Jesus called us to live – taking up our cross and following Him, just like Papa Ferguson did.

You just have to come by and see it.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

gen·er·os·i·ty

ˌjenəˈräsitē/

noun

noun: generosity

1. the quality of being kind and generous

2. Calvary Baptist Church of Boiling Springs, SC!

Yeah, that’s pretty much what I think of when I think of the folks at Calvary. No, we aren’t a bunch of rich people from the world’s point of view, but we are rich when it comes to God’s grace. And I just happen to believe that those who’ve genuinely encountered God’s lavish grace can’t help but to respond in kind. You see, the believers at Calvary have a long history of generosity. They understand the principle Jesus was teaching in the parable of the wise and faithful manager: “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required…” (Luke 12:48)

I believe it is important that when the followers of Christ see a need and have been given the resources to meet that need that they respond by giving generously. We really don’t own anything; everything is God’s; He only gives us the responsibility to manage it. So instead of saying, “It’s mine”, we learn to say, “It’s mine to give!” Do you see the difference? I hope so.

The purpose of generosity is two-fold (at least). There is both a practical purpose and a theological purpose. The practical purpose of generosity is to meet the need. Needs abound; we don’t need to look very far to see someone very close to us in need. If someone says, “I just don’t see anyone in need.” I really have a dumb look on my face, like, are you kidding me? The theological purpose of generosity is always to point others to a generous God. It is through God’s generosity that our greatest need was met: salvation. When God lavished on us the gift of His Son, Jesus, He made possible the eternal reversal of our situation.

One of my prayers is that more than just a few will be generous. I pray that all of those who’ve been transformed by God’s generosity will not hesitate to be generous to those around us.

Grace & Peace,

Scott