Living in Light of God and Eternity

This is my kitchen window reminder to stay focused on God.

This is my kitchen window reminder to stay focused on God.

If we were to live as if there were no eternity and no almighty God, how would our lives be different?  This is the perspective of most people. And to a greater or lesser degree even Christians can tend to live this way. However, people who ignore God, to whatever degree, deprive themselves of fully living. The more accurately we understand God and eternity, and embrace these realities, the richer and more vibrant our lives will be.

Consider this quote from John MacArthur’s study guide on 1 and 2 Peter. “Is it possible for a group of Christians who are facing escalating persecution to live victoriously and joyously in the midst of such hostility? The apostle Peter assierts that not only is it possible; it’s necessary! Writing to believers scattered across Asia Minor, Peter urged a lifestyle rooted in hope, void of bitterness, and focused on the second coming of the Lord.”

Continued quote: “It is, in fact, the certainty of our future inheritance that forms the basis for a victorious Christian experience. As believers become more and more convinced of the sure promises of God, they begin to discover in this life (even in the midst of trial) the marvelous consequences of that future inheritance.”

This Thursday morning I want to encourage you in setting your heart and mind on God and His amazing eternal plans for us. Be prepared to discuss Lesson 2 of our books. If you need a book, please let me know.


Are you Too Easily Pleased?

Did you miss Pastor Chris’s message on Sunday? If you did, you can watch it at discoverybaptist.org; click on Livestream. The very concept our Ladies Bible Study sinks into in 1 Peter 1:1-12 perfectly aligns with everything Chris so passionately presented to us just this past Sunday. In fact the whole idea of finding our delight, joy, peace—everything—in God appears over and over again throughout the Bible. The bent of every one of us is toward the pursuit of these things through what we can see in this physical world. But everything we find here is but a cheap imitation of the genuine, lasting and satisfying delight, joy and peace that only God can give us.

Consider these words from CS Lewis. “If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

My grandsons Noah and Luke showing some good fun with mud :).

My grandsons Noah and Luke showing some good fun with mud :).

Are you “far too easily pleased?” This Thursday morning at 9:30 we will be encouraging one another toward a beautiful Godward perspective concerning our lives. Study Lesson 1 in our books to prepare for class. If you need a book, let me know. Reagan will be waiting to care for your little ones :). See you in person or you may watch online at discoverybaptist.org and click on Livestream.