The Plotline of My Life

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I have not just been accepted; I have been loved. I have not just been loved; I have been inhabited. I have not just been inhabited; I have been empowered. I have not just been empowered; I have been transformed. I have not just been transformed; I have been kept. And I have not just been kept; I will be glorified. This is the plotline of my life. Nothing has been for naught. Every twist and turn and every high and low has been formed by the unrelenting power of divine grace. Every bit of it, even the confusing and painful things, are pieces of a puzzle, that, when assembled, says, “Blessing.”

– Paul David Tripp in Do You Believe?

Press On!

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I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
(Romans 12:1-2 ESV)

In chapters 1-11 of Romans, Paul has labored to describe our great salvation, including God’s preserving love (ch8). Now therefore, in view of God’s amazing mercy, he tells us to live for God. With your body (v1) and mind (v2), follow Christ. You have been saved by Christ, now serve Him. You don’t serve Him to earn your salvation, but because of it. You are preserved by God (ch8), so now persevere in your faith and walk with Christ.

It is so important that we get the order right. If we think that we must persevere to be preserved, that we must serve to stay saved, then we will slave away on a treadmill of good works trying to earn our continued salvation. But it works other way around. We are saved to serve. We are preserved to persevere. We follow Christ out of love for the one who loves us so much that He will never let us go.

Look long upon Christ. Rest in God your Savior. Keep your gaze set upon Him. Believe in Jesus. And then go forth each day as His servant following Him.

Motivated by God’s salvation for you, press on in your faith and walk with Christ.

Sermon Songs: Hebrews 11:13-16

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In this broken world we are strangers
Seeking a homeland, God’s great city
Where we will dwell with Him forever
Our perfect home, a better country

Chorus
Fast, Fast, Hold fast
Hold fast to Jesus the Better One
Near, Near, Draw Near
Draw near to God through His only Son

© 2023 Brian J. Mikul

(Sing to tune of “Grace Greater Than Our Sin”)

OT Journey 2.0: Deuteronomy

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There are 7 studies for the book of Deuteronomy, which you can find below. You can use them to continue leading a study through the Old Testament or to just lead a study on Deuteronomy. Be sure to read the introduction to OT Journey 2.0 at the bottom of the page here for more information. You are encouraged to use the Bible Project overview video to introduce the study.

Study 1: Deuteronomy 1-4

Study 2: Deuteronomy 5-10

Study 3: Deuteronomy 11-15

Study 4: Deuteronomy 16-21

Study 5: Deuteronomy 22-26

Study 6: Deuteronomy 27-30

Study 7: Deuteronomy 31-34

May God bless you as you study His Word!

Spring Is Coming

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As I write this, the snow is melting in northern Michigan. The weekend promises days in the 50’s. The hope of Spring is in the air.

And yet by the time you read this, it is supposed to be cold again. Back in the 30’s. Chances of snow. Winter isn’t over quite yet.

Jesus has come, and with Him the hope of a new world. He healed the sick, cast out demons, and raised the dead. He died for our sins and gave us a new life in Him.

And yet sickness and evil and death remain. We still sin and fail to live as God has recreated us to live. This fallen world isn’t over quite yet.

But just as we know winter will eventually give way to Spring, so we know that this fallen world will one day give way to a new world. Jesus is coming. Sickness and death will end. Evil will be defeated forever. One day we will no longer sin.

In the final days of winter, as you look forward to Spring, set your gaze a little further to the promise of a new world.

Saturday Strands

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Here are some loose strands to ponder:

What Makes Christian Prayer Christian? – Joel Beeke and Paul M. Smalley (Crossway)
We must confess our prayerless praying to God and plead for the renewal of our souls. Prayer is the thermometer of our souls. Let us then take practical steps toward prayerful praying.

Missiles and Moments of Clarity – Ryan Currie (TGC)
It’s strange how moments of crisis bring clarity. Each defensive burst clarifies realities I was already aware of but had hidden under the hum and drum of everyday life. These missiles provide moments of clarity into what’s most important.

Those Already Present and Those Who Have Not Yet Arrived – Tim Challies
As I heard the announcement, it occurred to me that when it comes to delays, there is a world of difference between those who are already seated on the plane and those who are still rushing to it.

No Life in God’s Service Is Wasted: Three Lessons from a Brief Ministry – Matt Rhodes (DG)
How will we invest our years, our wealth, our energy, our reputations, and our relationships? The choices we make in this short life show how fully we trust Jesus to give us everlasting life.

Flashback: Stand Firm In His Love
God offers us great compassion. Not just a little. Not just some. Not just the leftovers. God offers us great compassion.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day worshiping God with your local church!

Sermon Songs: Hebrews 11:11-12

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Life’s tri-als can seem impossible
Look to God’s promises and believe
Our God is faithful, He is able
Wait on His promise, you will receive

Chorus
Fast, Fast, Hold fast
Hold fast to Jesus the Better One
Near, Near, Draw Near
Draw near to God through His only Son

© 2023 Brian J. Mikul

(Sing to tune of “Grace Greater Than Our Sin”)

For God’s Sake and Their Sake

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Be kind for God’s sake. If you mistreat my son or daughter – who bears my image – you mistreat me. In the same way, if you mistreat a person – bearing God’s image – you mistreat God.

To hate someone is to hate God. To insult a person is to insult God. To ridicule a human being is to ridicule God. To mistreat an image-bearer of God is to mistreat God. How dare we treat people that way! How dare we treat God that way! Be kind for God’s sake.

Be kind for their sake. In Romans 2:4, Paul tells us that it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance. Yes, we had to be convicted of our sins, but it was His kindness in Jesus that drew us to Him.

If what we dish out is judgment and hatred and anger, we will only turn people off from Jesus. A spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down. You attract bees with honey not vinegar. We attract people to Christ not with our condemnation but with our kindness.

World has spades of hatred and anger and insults and ridicule, but we are called to be different. Let us be known as a kind people, so people want to know why we are so kind to them. And then we have opportunity to tell them about Jesus, who was and is so kind to us. Be kind for their sake.