The Plumbline

28  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  29  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.  30  And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. (Romans 8:28-29) What a joy it is to come to the place where we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is at work in our lives - doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.  Paul says that we "know" - we have come to recognize, understanding completely, become so familiar with God and his ways that we don't question his plans or purposes.  This comes through experience - there is no substitute for seeing God work in our lives - no substitute for the manifestation of his purpose. What is it that we come to know about God and how he works? ...

8  I will listen to what God the LORD says;    he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—    but let them not turn to folly.  (Psalm 85:8) There are tons of things that attempt to get our attention.  The influences we have all around us on a daily basis attempt to tell us how to live our lives, promising us all kinds of enjoyment, fulfillment, and financial peace of mind.  David learned that listening to God is the only true means of finding these things.   Sometimes we are not very aware of what it is that we are listening to - we just listen to whatever has the loudest or most compelling voice at the time.  David reminds us that we need to examine who and what we are listening to.  We are responsible for what we hear and how we respond to what we hear.  If we listen and heed the voice of the world, we are listening to the wrong voice.  The world's voice works on our logic - appealing to our own...

But now you have arrived at your destination: By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God.   Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start.   It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe – Christ’s life, the fulfillment of God’s original promise.   ( Galations 3:25-27) We arrive in style at our final destination in Christ – in an adult faith wardrobe.   In direct relationship with God, we are “more than washed up” for a fresh start.   We are completely transformed.   There is an exchange of character – although we may not immediately see the evidence of it in our daily lives, it has been accomplished.   Through our daily pursuit of his presence being cultivated in our lives, we come to recognize the changes already accomplished.   Paul describes our position in Christ as being in direct relationship with God - having no compromising or impairing element that would keep us apart from a holy God. ...