Monthly Archives: April 2017

How Did Death Die?

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 “… Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

 – 1 Corinthians 15: 54-55 NIV 

Cross-Empty-Tomb

“The foundation of the Christian’s peace is everlasting; it is what no time, no change can destroy. It will remain when the body dies; it will remain when the mountains depart and the hills shall be removed, and when the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll. The fountain of His comfort shall never be diminished, and the stream shall never be dried. His comfort and joy is a living spring in the soul, a well of water springing up to everlasting life.” -Jonathan Edwards

Have you ever thought about death? What is death? And, why is it feared? The Bible tells us that death is an enemy, which eternally separates us from God. [Read 1 Corinthians 15:26 and 2 Thessalonians 1:9] Death came into the world after the first sin was committed. “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—” Romans 5:12 NIV Death was the punishment for sin. But, God loved humanity so much, that He made a way for humans to be reconciled to Him.

  • “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -Romans 6:23 NIV
  •  “so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” -Romans 5:21 NIV
  •  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. -John 3:16 NIV
  • “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” -John 14:6 NIV
  •  “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” -John 5:24NIV

But, we couldn’t have victory over death without the death and resurrection of Christ. “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:13-22 NIV It is only by the sacrifice of a sinless and immortal Saviour, that we are clothed with righteousness and immortality. It is only by the resurrection of Christ, that we have victory over Death. 1 Corinthians 15: 50-56 NIV says, “For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Amen.

 

Reference:  Kurtbubna.com| http://kurtbubna.com/wpcontent/uploads/2015/03/Cross-Empty-Tomb.jpg

En los Ojos de Dios

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“No ha notado iniquidad en Jacob, Ni ha visto perversidad en Israel. Jehová su Dios está con él, Y júbilo de rey en él.”

–Números 23:21 RVR1960

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Los primeros capítulos de Números describen cuántos Israelitas faltaron la fe necesaria para entrar en la tierra prometida y fueron castigados por Dios. Ellos culparon a Moisés por sus acciones, se rebelaron contra sus líderes, y fueron desafiantemente desobedientes a Dios. Balac, un enemigo moabita de los israelitas, fue a Balaam, un profeta malvado (pero no un falso profeta), para hacerle maldecir a los Israelitas a cambio de dinero. Pero, Dios todavía amaba a Israel. No importa cuánto trató Balaam, Dios no permitió que Balaam maldecía a Israel.

“Y Jehová salió al encuentro de Balaam, y puso palabra en su boca, y le dijo:Vuelve a Balac, y dile así. Y vino a él, y he aquí que él estaba junto a su holocausto, y con él los príncipes de Moab; y le dijo Balac: ¿Qué ha dicho Jehová? Entonces él tomó su parábola, y dijo:  Balac, levántate y oye; Escucha mis palabras, hijo de Zipor: Dios no es hombre, para que mienta, Ni hijo de hombre para que se arrepienta. El dijo, ¿y no hará? Habló, ¿y no lo ejecutará? He aquí, he recibido orden de bendecir; El dio bendición, y no podré revocarla. No ha notado iniquidad en Jacob, Ni ha visto perversidad en Israel. Jehová su Dios está con él, Y júbilo de rey en él.”  

 –Números 23:16-21 RVR1960

Efectivamente, “mientras Dios tenía el control de la malvada boca de Balaam, él hizo una declaración increíble: Dios no había visto la iniquidad en Jacob ni vio la perversidad en Israel … Él imputa Su justicia a ellos. Porque, Dios estaba en medio de Israel, cuando Él los miró, Él no vio su pecado- Se vio a Sí Mismo. “(Nortker, 3-Minute Devotionals For Women, pág). Aquí Israel es descrito como un cuidad  totalmente perverso, pero Dios vio la justicia, porque  Él estuve en medio de la ciudad y se vio a sí mismo. Del mismo modo, el Espíritu Santo mora dentro de nosotros, si tenemos salvación (nacida del Espíritu Santo). En Juan 3:8 RVR 1960, el Espíritu Santo es descrito como el viento: “El viento sopla de donde quiere, y oyes su sonido; mas ni sabes de dónde viene, ni a dónde va; así es todo aquel que es nacido del Espíritu.” El Espíritu Santo sopla a través de nosotros tocando cada parte de nosotros Cuando Dios nos mira, Él no ve nuestros pecados, sino que ve el Espíritu Santo y nosotros somos justos en Sus ojos. Amén.

Reference:

Brigitta Nortker, comp. 3-Minute Devotionals For Women. Uhrichsville: Barbour, Ohio. Print.

What are the 7 Marks of a Good Mentor?

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“Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.”

 1 Timothy 1:18-19 NIV

 Screen Shot 2017-04-03 at 11.20.29 AMIn 1 Timothy 1, we get a glimpse of the relationship between Apostle Paul and Timothy. Paul calls Timothy son. Now, Timothy was not the biological son of Paul, but Paul saw him as a son. And, Timothy saw Paul as a father and more importantly spiritual mentor. What is a mentor (spiritual mentor)?  “A mentor is someone who passes truths on to his [her] student. In this rushed century we are inclined to forget this. We need a mentor’s help with our reading, thinking, and our work. We need someone to help us see the bigger picture. Someone, who through his [her] experience will pass knowledge and wisdom on to his learners in a way they will understand. Like Jesus taught His disciples.” (Solly Ozrovech, A Season of Hope, p. March 24)  Do you have anyone like this in your life? If so, what made you reach out to this person? What made you believe this person could mentor you? I believe that a good mentor is set apart by a certain set of traits/qualities:

A good mentor is:

An Example   

When looking for a mentor, you will want to find someone that you aspire to be like. Their life should be filled with spiritual fruit. Matthew 7:16 NIV says, “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” Is this someone, who is strong and mature in their faith? “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.” – Hebrews 13:7 NASB  

Wise 

A good mentor will have plenty of wisdom, knowledge, and experienced advice to offer you. Proverbs 13:20 NIV says, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” However, as a mentee, you must be willing to accept not only your mentor’s advice, but their rebukes.  “… rebuke the wise and they will love you.Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.” -Proverbs 9:8-9 NIV “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” – Proverbs 12:15 NIV

Trustworthy

When seeking out a mentor, you should look for someone you know that you can trust. 1 Corinthians 4:2 NIV says “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” Is this a person you can trust?

An Overcomer

A good mentor is someone, who has experienced failure. They have made mistakes and have regrets. This is a person who has fallen down, but has gotten up stronger. Micah 7:8 NIV says, “… Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.” This person will tell you where the pitfalls are on your path. “Who will hear these lessons from the past and see the ruin that awaits you in the future?” -Isaiah 42:23 NLT As a mentee, you must be completely open to and willing to learn from failures of your mentor.

A Visionary

A good mentor is a visionary. This person has the ability to see your potential. This person can see beyond the surface. In 1 Timothy 1:18 NIV, Paul reminds Timothy of the prophecies made about his future and encourages him to keep up the good work. In a similar way, a visionary sees all that you are capable of, believes in you, and encourages you to keep fighting.

A Challenger 

A good mentor will not only see your potential, but also see your weaknesses. They will help you identify your weak points and challenge you to overcome them. A mentor will not be afraid to tell you things the way they are.  “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17 NIV When two surfaces rub against each other, there is usually friction. As a mentee, you must be willing to face the challenges that your mentor presents to you. A good mentor will challenge you to become your best version of you.

A Nurturer (protector)

 A good mentor loves and thus nurtures their mentee. There is a certain selfless-ness about being a mentor. A good mentor always thinks about what is in the best interest of their mentee. This person will guide you in a gentle, but strong way as a mother would. Paul writes “As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children. We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.” -1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 NLT A good mentor will protect you from making their past mistakes and encourage you to be better than them.

Dear Lord Jesus, please help us to be good mentors and mentees. Please help us to reflect your love in mentorship. Amen.