Godward Orientation

188 posts

The Stone Was Rolled Away For You!

Matthew tells us that an angel from heaven came down in plain view of the soldiers who were guarding the sealed tomb.  The soldiers watched in shock as the angel rolled away the stone from the tomb and sat on it. If we were there we would have expected to see Jesus walk out into the morning light. There was just one problem. The tomb was already empty.  Just as he could not be hindered from entering in a locked room, he could not be contained by the sealed tomb. The stone was not rolled away so that Jesus could escape. It was rolled away so that you would know that the tomb was empty.  With his resurrection Christ was […]

Guest Post: How We Share in Christ’s Glory — Brian G. Hedges

The disciples saw Jesus transfigured and then crucified before their very eyes. They may not have caught on as the events unfolded, but they soon understood—as we can also now—that Jesus’ path to glory was marked by suffering. What seems less clear is how we get to share in his glory. How exactly does that work? The Scriptures give us good warrant for asking this question. Paul describes Christians as those who “rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:2c) and assures us that “When Christ who is [our] life appears, then [we] also will appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:4). God has called us to his kingdom and glory (1 Thess. 2:12). Jesus prayed that his […]

Your Children Were Not Designed For Sin

Your children were designed by God for honor and glory. They were designed for a rich, full, satisfying relationship with God. They were designed for purity and significance. They were to designed to serve and not to be served. They were designed to delight in God and to have all of their deepest needs met in him. They were designed to work hand-in-hand with God to spread his dominion over the planet. They were designed to enjoy the gift of sex in the safety of marriage. They were designed for beauty, joy and wonder. But, then, sin crashed the party. Adam’s sin, your sin and your children’s sin combine to fuel the cravings of the flesh. The beautiful design of […]

The Nearness of God Is Your Good

You often say that God is good. You often hear that he is good. For these statements to be relevant, especially for your children, you must know why he is good. It is a potentially unsettling to believe God is good based upon your interpretation of the circumstances of your life. God is good because that is who and what he is. He remains good regardless of how circumstances appear. His goodness is determined by his own character and nothing else! You and I may affirm his goodness, but we do not determine his goodness. Why is this important? Because any attempt to understand the goodness of God without reference to his character will leave you with a twisted view […]

Is Holy Boring?

You tell your friends that your main focus for 2018 is to make holiness more a part of your lifestyle. It would not be surprising for the response to be, even from your Christian friends, “how boring is that!” Boring? This is the way the enemy of your soul wants holiness to be understood – as drab, boring, and uneventful. Our culture has totally bought into this lie. If you are holy: you can’t enjoy life, you can’t enjoy sex, you can’t have fun, you will be intolerant and self-righteous, you won’t have any friends, your life will be boring! It is no wonder holiness is not an appealing character quality. Even if you don’t believe these things, don’t be […]

God’s Gifts Never Stop

The space under the tree is empty. The presents have been opened. Christmas day is done. I remember as a child on these first days after Christmas thinking that next Christmas was more than a life-time away.. I remember being sad that there were no more gifts to open. As I look back on those thoughts I am amazed at how quickly gratitude was replaced with self-centered longing for more stuff. Not pleasant thoughts! Now as adult, I find, I really haven’t changed all that much. God’s goodness to me is quickly forgotten and replaced with, “I want more.” This thinking clouds reality. The truth is that God’s giving to me and to you never stops! Each morning the gift […]

Your Last Christmas

What if you knew that this Christmas would be your last one on earth? Would it make a difference in how you celebrated, in the gifts that you give, and in the meaning of the day? Obviously, the answer would be yes. But how would it play out in your life? Of course, you can look at things from a statistical perspective and conclude that this will probably not be your last Christmas. But the truth is that the length of our lives is not determined by statistical probabilities. The number of your days are set by the will and plan of God. (Psalm 139:16) We live at God’s pleasure and purpose. Thus, it is not idle speculation to consider […]

Guest Post: Abiding in the Vine — Brian G. Hedges

Abiding in the Vine One of the most vivid and powerful illustrations for the believer’s union with Christ in all of Scripture is that of the vine and branches. Branches bear fruit only when they abide in the vine. So it is for believers: the only way we can glorify the Father with fruitful lives is by abiding in Jesus. This teaching is found in John 15, where Jesus continues to prepare his disciples for his imminent death and departure by instructing them about their calling and mission as his disciples, emphasizing their absolute dependence on him. As Jesus says in verse 5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he […]

Three Truths for Parents

Five words, sixteen letters: for the Lord is good. These five words are the bedrock that gives hope and purpose to your life and to your parenting. They form the lens that will allow you see life with a clear vision. Without them life is blurry, uncertain, even terrifying. These words come from the fifth verse of Psalm 100: For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. These are words of hope when life hurts. They offer assurance when circumstances seem to line up against you. They speak of God’s faithfulness to your children. They are good words! This verse contains 3 foundational truths that provide hope. They provide you with […]

It all comes down to this

If you have issues with life, you have issues with God. Life is often hard. Relationships often hurt. Dreams vanish like the morning mist. The truth is that life easily disappoints us. Disappointment comes when we fail to have what we think is good or fair or just. It comes when we believe we have reached our limit. It comes when those whom we love appear incapable of understanding or caring. So much relational energy is consumed in seeing people and circumstances as obstacles to wholeness. After all of Job’s heartache and pain, after all of his demands to be heard and vindicated he comes face-to-face with the God who had been with him all along. When he finally realized […]