BBD 07.22.05 Getting It Together
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
make this transition and during this time the old website will remain at the
current url http://www.theburningbush.org and the new website will be at the url
http://www.theburningbush.net. Both websites will remain active until the
transition is complete and new devotionals will be posted at the new
website. All of the devotionals written during 2005 are available there.
The new website url is http://www.theburningbush.net
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The Burning Bush Devotional
1,359 New Subscribers since November 2004
07.22.05
Getting It Together
(Originally sent 02.19.03)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have
passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God,
who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the
ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the
world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed
to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ,
as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf,
be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that
we might become the righteousness of God in Him. - 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Dan Rather, the CBS evening news anchor had an interesting experience
recently in Kuwait. He had the opportunity to talk with the man who tried to
steal his car 12 years ago in Texas. It was a chance meeting with U.S. Army
Chief Warrant Officer Tamarsh Thompson who is now a pilot of an Apache
helicopter. Tamarsh had tried to steal Rather's car in Fort Worth, Texas
hotel parking lot. Rather decided not to press charges but did have a talk
with the young man about his choices in life. Rather said about the man, "He
got his life together and is putting it on the line for his country."
We can be glad for Tamarsh that he has his life together and that he is no
longer stealing cars. But does he have it together spiritually? Contrary to
what some have written and said - God is in the business of helping people
get their lives together and he has a long and successful record of doing
so. Perhaps at the top of the list should be the apostle Paul who while
known as Saul viciously persecuted the early church resulting in death and
destruction. God dramatically intervened in Saul's life on the road to
Damascus where Saul encountered the risen Lord and was temporarily blinded
in the process. Saul, in giving his life to the Lord became the apostle Paul
with a fervor for souls that would never die.
God did the same with 11 of the 12 disciples. They were unlearned fishermen,
and tax collectors but through their relationship with the Lord they gained
great wisdom and courage. Their God given wisdom and courage resulted in the
continued spread of the early church even in the face of persecution.
God is still helping people get their lives together today. He certainly has
changed my life and continues to push, pull, provoke, and encourage me to
move forward with Him. Only through His power and efforts does my life have
any semblance of being together. I had no idea when I prayed to receive
Christ as my Savior 33 years ago what a life changing decision I was making.
Through reconciliation with God my life has meaning, and purpose. He keeps
picking me up when I fall, dusting me off and saying, "continue on."
Unbelievable but true is His mercy, His grace, His love.
Want to get your life together? Allow God to come into your life through
Jesus and then you'll understand and praise Him forever. And if you already
know the Lord as your Savior - remember, ".we are ambassadors for Christ, as
though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be
reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we
might become the righteousness of God in Him."
Copyright © 2003-2005. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the
devotionals on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush
website has been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email
version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.
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