How does the Gospel impact how we live? Paul summed it up perfectly in Galatians 2:20:

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Today I was reading through Revelation, and in the first three chapters, one particular word caught my attention. It appears six times in the chapters two and three. It’s the word, “repent”.

“Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.” (1 John 3)

Colossians 2

We are taking a journey through the book of Colossians. One day we just have a small portion of the Scriptures for you to reflect on and the next day we have a series of questions about that passage. If you haven’t gone through the other parts of Colossians click HERE  part 2 click HERE , part 3 click HERE

1 I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.

Who are you fighting for? Who are you in constant prayer for? Paul had a passion and deep love for people that reflected the heart of God. Does your heart reflect God’s love and passion for people?

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

If you’re like me, you probably like to think about God, always in the “positives”. You know, God is love, God is merciful, God is kind, God is gracious, God is compassionate, God is comforting and the list goes on. It’s those virtues of God that often get us through the hard days and help us when we feel the fading our own strength.

If you have put your faith in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection as payment for your sins, you are part of an epic battle that has been waging since Adam and Eve chose to eat the forbidden fruit. It’s a battle that exists inside each and every one of us who call on Christ, and it’s a battle we will be part of until our salvation is made complete and we enter the presence of God.

One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” — Proverbs 11:24

These Are My People

Today I am going to do something I have never done before. I am going to take Matthew 9 and make it into a modern day parable. Let me know your thoughts.

Matthew 9:9-13

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. 

 ¹⁰ While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. ¹¹ When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

 ¹² On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ¹³ But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

The Grace Shift

Grace is the ultimate game-changer. Once we understand that grace is not just something God did for us, but something we do for ourselves and each other, it changes everything. Grace must first be embraced from above. We must soak in the bottomless depth of God’s grace and as we do it empowers us to give that grace away.

Grace is God coming to redeem His people. Grace is a father holding his prodigal son. Grace is the mommy calling her adopted child her daughter and treating her as her own. Grace is the boss who forgives the debt of a drunken employee that struggling to kick the habit. Grace is the fatherless child who befriends the lonely outcast at her school. Grace is Jesus choosing to go to the cross to embrace humanity.

With that in mind, think about the last time you really experienced grace.

What happened after Christmas? Mary and Joseph they have traveled so far, only to end up in a stable to have the King of the world. The Savior is born. Does the inn keeper have bad dreams? When the Shepherd’s go back to the fields, are they changed forever? Do Mary and Joseph see if there is a gift receipt to return any of the gifts? Does the star disappear or fade into the distance? We know very little of what happens next. But what we do know is this: this baby marked history forever. His birth would start the beginning of a new era. His birth is the beginning of the transformational process that takes place in our lives. His birth is the beginning of God putting on human flesh. It’s where frailty and unspeakably great power collide. It’s where humility and greatness join. This baby is the glue that holds everything together.

John 1:14

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Colossians 1:17

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

And do not forget to do good, and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased — Hebrews 13:16

God Is Enough

What is it that you are wrestling with today? Inadequacy? Failure? Hatred? Loneliness? Self-medicating? What is it?

God’s forgiveness reaches all.

God’s mercy is big enough.

God’s love is endless.

Do you believe that God is enough for everything you are going through?

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

During one of Paul’s most severe trials, he called out to God and pleaded for Him to intervene. Paul begged God to take away a “messenger of Satan” — this thorn in the flesh — but God repeatedly answered with a “no”. The third time Paul prayed to God, God reminded Paul that God’s grace was sufficient for anything Paul was going to face.

"My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" — Corinthians 12:9

If you recorded every single word you spoke today and then played it back for the TD community to listen to, what words would we use to describe your conversations?

Gracious? Funny? Sarcastic? Cutting? Dishonest? Truthful? Loving? Christ-filled? Selfish? Cruel? Compassionate? Concerned? Angry?

Maybe a little bit of each of those would describe a day of conversation?

Grace

The gospel to me is simply irresistible.

Blaise Pascal

God’s story is irresistible. Our lives are designed to tell that story. His story is one of grace. Here are the cliff notes:

1. God

2. God creates

3. Creation does dumb things

4. Grace

5. God’s Restoration of Creation.

Each one should use whatever gifts he has to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms — 1 Peter 4:10

I spoke at our recovery ministry tonight and got a lot of strange looks. Ok, there might have been a lot reasons for the strange looks, BUT I THINK it had something to do with what I said in my intro. It went something like this:

Hi, my name is Joseph Castañeda and I’m a grateful believer in Jesus Christ.

[Hi Joe]

I’m grateful to belong to Christ.

I’m grateful to be a pastor.

I’m grateful to be a husband to an amazing woman.

I’m grateful to be a father to three pretty amazing kids.

I’m grateful that I have addictions I’m working through.

 2 Peter 1:2

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

If you notice throughout Paul’s letter to the church he often address them by saying, "Grace and peace." Grace was essential to the Greeks or gentiles. Peace was essential greeting "Shalom" for the Jewish people. So Paul is combining these two worlds and reminding them that God unites both gentiles and the Jews. God brings both grace and peace into all situations.

Notice that Paul doesn’t encourage us to have just enough peace for the day but he wants us to have these in abundance. How do we receive grace and peace in abundance?

 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast — Ephesians 2:8-9

You ever feel that us and them mentality when it comes to some people? Oh c’mon, you know what I’m talking about — when you look at or think about one group of people and you immediately put up a mental barrier that separates you from them?

For a number of very obvious reasons it’s a very good thing that I’m not God! Apart from all the gimme reasons, here’s one that should leave you with yet another sigh of relief. On my throne room would hang a sign: All who enter here had better be bringing pizza…or had better plan to leave without their head attached!" I know, it’s a little crude and a bit long for a small wood sign but hey, if I was a deity, that’s how I’d roll.

Jimmy V, the great basketball coach from NC State, died from cancer many years ago. During his last year of life, while heroically fighting cancer, Jimmy received an award from Sports magnate ESPN. It was an award honoring him as an amazing coach and a life-changing inspiration to his players, fans, fellow coaches and just about anyone else he came into contact with.

As Jimmy held his ESPY Award, he thanked the people who gave it to him and thanked everyone for the honor of being chosen. Then he started one of the most memorable speeches I have ever heard. I can only compare it with King’s “I have a dream” in its power, emotion and passion.

In two words describe your life.

If you asked ten people you loved today to describe your life in two words what would they say?

Today we are going to look at a man by the name of Stephen–his life was marked by two words. Any guesses?

God loves aliens.

Legal or illegal, God loves aliens.

I’ve been reading the Scriptures lately, and just captivated by God’s grace.  Take some time today and tomorrow to be reminded of the beauty, power and assurance that comes from God bestowing His grace on you and me through faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

“And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” — 1 Peter 5:10

Jonah, 32 of 66

^{Jonah 1:3a}

¹ The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: ² ”Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

³ But Jonah ran away

I love that the bible is filled with real people. I can so relate to these verses. God says, “Go north” and I start running south. Do you ever do the exact opposite of what God wants you to do?

Amos, 30 of 66

I love how Amos gets the Israelites wrapped up in the story of the wickedness of all the people surrounding Israel. He tells of the people’s crimes to the east and the the west of Israel. They must have enjoyed the first couple chapters of Amos’ sermon. It must have stroked their ego and their pious hearts. But after addressing the sins of the surrounding regions Amos gets to the heart of the matter and says, 

 ¹ Hear this word the LORD has spoken against you, O people of Israel—against the whole family I brought up out of Egypt:

 Amos 3:2

² "You only have I chosen 
       of all the families of the earth; 
       therefore I will punish you 
       for all your sins."

Let’s rewind our story from John 8:1-11 and look at it from a new vantage point — that of the religious leaders of the day.  It’s good to read the story again, so start there before moving on:

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.  At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.  The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.  In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?"  They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.  When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."  Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.  Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

"No one, sir," she said.  "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

One of our passions at Tenth Dot Ministries is to encourage you to spend time with God not just learn about God. This week we want to encourage you to read through the book of Philippians. It’s a short 4 chapter book. If you have questions, prayers or thoughts write them in the comment section. Wrestle with God. Ask questions about your life. Let His Word speak into your life.

The mind never thinks without a picture.

-Aristotle

We are an image driven culture. There are thousands upon thousands of images that we are drowning in everyday. I believe this is why God continues to reveal Himself in tangible and visual ways. 

These are words that we long to hear.

Well done, good and faithful servant!

- Matthew 25:21

One of the dangers of following Jesus is becoming complacent: Grace becomes ordinary. Jesus’ sacrifice becomes familiar. God’s love becomes normal. The power of the Spirit becomes something we teach about but never experience. Prayer becomes boring. Life becomes mere existence.

The faith we are a part of is no less than extraordinary. Unless we constantly remind ourselves of the enormous lengths of God’s everlasting love, we will miss out on the life that God designed for us.

Today as you ponder these verses, your life, and God Almighty, let God remind you of the deep and remarkable life He has for you.

Peer into the heart of Jesus, and you will see that He is unquestionably for us. In the book of John, He defines who He is with seven "I am" statements. These statements give us a glimpse into the heart of God:

I am the Bread of Life -John 6:35

I am the Light of the world -John 9:5

I am the Gate for the sheep -John 10:7

I am the Good Shepherd -John 10:11

I am the Resurrection and the Life -John 11:25

I am the Way and the Truth and the Life -John 14:6

I am the True Vine, and my Father is the Gardener -John 15:1

Process these images. What image of God resonates with you the most?