In Titus 3:7, the Apostle Paul mentions two things that are so remarkable. In fact, when you read them, it feels almost too good to be true:
“So that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:7
I want to consider two truths:
Truth #1: We are Justified.
Truth #2: We are Heirs.
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“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” — John 15:12
As I write this, I am in a hotel room with my wife and three amazing kids. It has become a summer tradition for my family (along with our extended family) to journey to Lake Powell for our annual “Croswhites Do Lake Powell” family reunion.
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With a heavy and thankful heart, I took a final, sweeping glance around the place my family and I had called home for the last eleven years. Then I locked the door and drove away.
As I did, memories flooded through me. I thought of bringing my two youngest daughters home from the hospital as newborns. And then, there were all the Christmas, birthday, and Thanksgiving dinners with friends and family. Another was the treasure map I made to look old and “hid” in the attic where my son could find it. Along with that came the cloth bag of quarters he dug up in the backyard. So. Many. Memories.
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I’m ready for a new body. How about you? Maybe (like me) your body is experiencing the effects of over doing it a bit while celebrating Resurrection Day last weekend? As I get older, I often yearn for the new body God promises us in the Bible. Read this:
“For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life.” — 2 Corinthians 5:1-4 (NLT)
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“…set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” — Colossians 3:1-2 (NIV84)
Not long ago, I taught about the reality of heaven. It reminded me how amazing heaven will be compared to this earth. We have such a blessing waiting for us. This truth hit home for me during a particularly powerful experience a few years ago.
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In the Parable of the Talent, a master gave three of his servants a set amount of money. He asked them to manage it (according to their abilities) while he was on a journey. When the master returned, he asked for an account of what they did with their talents. Each servant was judged accordingly.
I’ve read this parable before and focused simply on the talent. I mainly related it to what we are to do with our God-given, natural abilities. Recently, I began to think about it more carefully.
(more…)Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Tony D'Amico
“Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” John 6:27
This was Jesus’ reply to the Jews the day after He fed the multitudes. He gave them a beautiful analogy of food to help them understand what He was saying.
Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Tony D'Amico