Triplets of Praise: How to Worship

 

God’s Triune nature is reflected in His creation, His attributes, the names of Christ, Old Testament worship, feasts and prophecies, and the birth of His Son. Not surprisingly, His instructions for worship in the New Testament are also triplets of praise!

God designed mankind to need Him, because only He gives us all we need: life, breath (spirit), and all things (Acts 17: 25). He designed us to be complete only when He indwells us at the moment of salvation. This occurs in a three-step process (Acts 17:27) – we seek Him (an intellectual process involving the mind seeking truth), we feel after Him (an emotional process involving the heart realizing its own emptiness), and we find Him (our spirit places its faith in Him as the only true Savior and living God).

Jesus promised that anyone who asks, seeks and knocks in this fashion will receive, find and gain entrance (Matthew 7:7-8; Luke 11:9-10). From that moment on, we are His, and in Him we live, and move, and have our being (Acts 17:28). Only then can we love Him as Jesus commanded us (Matthew 22:37), and as was foreshadowed when the Lord spoke to Moses (Deuteronomy 6:5), with all our heart, soul, and mind.

When we are born again, we place our faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15) as the only Way to Heaven. Before ascending to Heaven, Jesus Christ gave His followers (including present-day believers) the Great Commission: to go, teach, and baptize (Matthew 28:18-20). When we pray, we pray to the Father (Matthew 6:9), in the name of Jesus Who intercedes for us (1 Timothy 2:5), empowered by the Holy Spirit Who searches our heart and delivers to the Throne Room the prayers we cannot even utter (Romans 8:26).

As Jesus taught His disciples in the model prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), our prayers should include adoration (praise and thanksgiving for Who He is and for what He has done; Matthew 6:9-10,13), repentance (confession of our sins; Matthew 6:12), and supplication (petitions asking for the needs of others and of ourselves; Matthew 6:11,13). The prayer closes by recognizing that to God alone belongs the kingdom, and the power, and the glory (Matthew 6:13).

Prayer is an important part of our corporate worship, as is praise and preaching the Word. The writer of Hebrews (10:24-25) urges us to continue meeting together for worship, especially as we draw closer to Christ’s return. By doing this, we can exhort one another (to refrain from sin) and encourage one another to love and to do good works.

Paul tells us that we can do this by speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and that in addition to uplifting each other by speaking in this way, that we should sing aloud and make melody in our heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19).

When Paul urges us to follow the path Christ has set before us (Ephesians 4:1), He reminds us that we are rooted in one Lord, one faith, and one baptism and that God is above all, and through all, and in us all (Ephesians 4:5-6). God blessed each believer with a special role within the church body, which can broadly be grouped into three categories: for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12).

Jesus tells us that God is spirit (John 4:24), and John tells us that God is light (1 John 1:5), and love (1 John 4:8,16). Accordingly, Paul tells us to walk in the spirit (Galatians 5:16,25; Romans 8:1,4) and in love (Ephesians 5:2), and John tells us to walk in the light (1 John 1:7), Three gifts of grace: faith, hope and love (1 Thessalonians 1:3).enable believers to do this.

May we always worship God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit with triplets of praise!

© 2012 Laurie Collett

Reposted from the archives

Unique

  

Image generated by AI

As a medical journalist, many years ago I wrote an article on the healing properties of rain forest plants and trees. I interviewed a CDC researcher in charge of sending teams to the Amazonian rain forest to collect samples and bring them back to the lab, where they would be analyzed for their potential role as pharmaceuticals.

One such expedition had the scientists truly excited, as they discovered that a sample of bark from a particular tree was extremely effective in neutralizing the HIV virus causing AIDS, without any apparent toxicity to human cells. At that time, there were very few treatment options for AIDS, so they sent a team back to collect more bark from that tree in hopes of producing an anti-HIV medicine.

But to their dismay, upon arrival at their previous collection site along the Amazon River, they found that the particular tree from which they had sampled the bark had been cut down by a logger. The felled tree had been hauled away, but the remains of the stump were surrounded by trees of the same species. In hopes that the healing tree’s neighbors would have similar properties, the team harvested bark from each of these, but to no avail. None of these samples proved to be effective against AIDS, much to the disappointment of not only the scientists, but to all the patients awaiting a cure.

Thinking back on these events reminds me of how everything God created is unique, and beautiful in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). No two snowflakes have the same design. No two organisms share identical DNA sequences unless they arise from the same parent cell; and no two humans are the same. Even identical twins, with similar genetic structure because of their origin from a single fertilized egg, have different fingerprints. As the twins grow, they become more divergent from one another in appearance, personality, intelligence and abilities because of varying environmental and interpersonal exposures.

As our Creator (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-3) and Intelligent Designer, God made everything and everyone to be unique. He knew the details of His blueprint for each of us before we were even conceived (Psalm 139:13-16), and He knew the plans He had for each of us from before the beginning of time (Jeremiah 29:11). We are His workmanship, individually created for His divine purpose (Ephesians 2:10).

In His omniscience (Psalm 139:1-6), He knew which of us would be saved by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of His Son (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6). He equips every believer with a unique combination of spiritual gifts, natural abilities, talents and attributes, and He places each of us in a unique sphere of influence to use these to bring souls to Him and to edify one another (1 Corinthians 14:1,12; Galatians 5:22-23; Romans 12:4-8).

Under Holy Spirit inspiration, the apostle Paul compared the church, or called-out assembly of believers, to the human body. Each member is important and essential to the well-being of the body of Christ as a whole and must be used as God intended. The eye is of no use for hearing, nor the ear for seeing. Christ is the singular Head of the body, and each member serves a needed function (1 Corinthians 12).

The human body cannot function without its individual limbs, organs, bones, muscles and other parts visible to the naked eye. Its specialized cells comprising each organ and system are also vital for human life, as are the cellular components like the mitochondria needed for energy production and the ribosomes that govern protein synthesis.

Just as the human body dies if the head is removed, the church would not exist apart from Christ, the Head (Ephesians 5:23) and Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4). The church cannot function optimally without pastors and preachers (undershepherds; 1 Timothy 3:1), deacons, teachers, musicians, ushers, greeters, nor without those who are less visible, such as administrators, hospitality planners, nursery workers, grounds and building maintenance, and security.

But within each category of servers, each member is unique. Every preacher brings to his sermon the benefit of his unique experiences, perspective, training, and abilities, as does every teacher to their class. Every pastor, deacon, counselor and mentor has gone through specific trials that God allowed into their life to provide them with empathy and experience to help others going through similar ordeals (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Every singer has a unique voice, the composite of their anatomy, vocal tract, resonance spaces, and training, colored by their emotional and spiritual makeup, enabling them to reach people responding to varying musical styles.

Provided each of these church members is saved and doctrinally sound, and that God has equipped them for a particular role, and that they are willing to commit to preparation and faithfulness with the motive of glorifying Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:23), each is of great value to the work of the church. This includes evangelism to save souls; edifying the believer through preaching and teaching; music to prepare the heart for worship; and fellowship with the brethren so that we can bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).

But a standard of excellence and suitability should be required for every act of service. It would make no sense to allow a person with Tourette’s syndrome to be a preacher or teacher, a person once convicted of embezzlement to be treasurer, a tone-deaf person to sing special music, or someone with hepatitis to serve food.  Service opportunities should be available for every member of the body of Christ, but these should be tailored to their unique God-given abilities and experience.

Even if a local church body is blessed to have many members gifted for a specific area of service, it would be detrimental to those members and to the church as a whole to restrict their opportunities to serve. Corporate worship, teaching and fellowship time should not be dominated by a single individual but should be apportioned among those God has placed there for His specific purpose. Each member who is qualified based on their sincere faith, sound doctrine, Christ-honoring motivation and Spirit-led gifts should be encouraged to grow where God has planted them (Jeremiah 12:2), for each can use their unique abilities to reach those souls that other members could not.

If such individuals are denied service opportunities, the church may discover too late that they are missing when needed the most. What a tragedy it would be for souls to be lost because that unique believer who could have spoken to their heart is no longer able to do so, whether through discouragement, attrition, or even death. May our churches appreciate and utilize the unique position God gave each believer, before they disappear like the unique Amazonian tree that could have saved many lives!

Copyright 2025 Laurie Collett

We Shall Be As He Is!

 

Photo by John Trainor 2013

Have you ever seen people fold dollar bills or bills of higher denomination so that the President’s portrait or the landmark building on the reverse side metamorphoses into a mushroom or some other image? It’s just a cheap parlor trick, but it does remind us of the truth that what we see may be a distortion of what truly is.

I recently had a dream like that. In the dream, I was viewing photographs of myself from college years and beyond. A software program displayed the images on my computer screen, at first chronologically and one by one, then in kaleidoscopic collages with the individual images rapidly changing in size, position, and juxtaposition.

The flirtatious glance of the young woman seated on the bronze tiger statue at Princeton gave way to the weary, sleep-deprived, and overworked frown of the medical intern. Then the intense, longing look of new love, and the radiant, joyful smile just before the preacher said “You may now kiss the bride.” The elated grin just after delivery, snuggling our precious infant son in my arms.

Images of my face then started to blend with those of my loved ones – my husband, our son, my parents, the Pastor who baptized us once we were saved, my maid of honor whom I led to the Lord -- and it seemed that each of these faces had left their mark on my own. Still more images -- of worry over daily struggles; celebration at holidays and birthdays; grief at funerals; anticipation as our son, now a handsome young man, strode masterfully across the stage to receive his college diploma with highest honors.

With the passing years, my face began to take on the inevitable changes due to the curse of sin, sorrow, and aging traced all the way back to the rebellion of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3). “Laugh lines” that aren’t so funny, and “lines of expression,” even though I know my eyes and mouth would be much more expressive without them.

And then I saw the most amazing image of all! With deft artistry, the software rapidly sorted through all the images, selecting part of a smiling lip from one photo, a twinkle in the eye from another, a few pixels here and a few pixels there, until I saw a completely different representation of “my” countenance.

It was the beautiful face of an innocent young child, yet timeless and ageless thanks to an overlay of wisdom, completion, and maturity. It radiated love, peace and joy. It was a compilation of all my best features, feelings, and experiences, blended by the Master into a unique representation of who I would one day become in Him.

I awoke from the dream longing for the glorified body (1 Corinthians 15:40-49) He has promised each of His children – those who have been saved by faith in His death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6). That body will never age, feel pain or sorrow, get sick or die.

When He returns for us at the Rapture, we will be instantly changed to be like Him, and we will meet Him and one another in the air, never again to leave His radiant presence (1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). Only then will we experience true and eternal joy (1 Peter 1:8), love (1 Corinthians 13:13), and peace (Philippians 4:7).

Each of us will be recognizable to one another, perhaps not through our appearance, but in some way through an amalgamation of our most positive and distinctive qualities and experiences, as in my dream. The resurrected Christ did not lose the nail prints in His hands and feet, nor His spear wound (John 20:27), for these were a permanent emblem of the sacrifice He so lovingly and completely made for us.

When Peter saw Moses and Elijah glorified with Christ at His transfiguration, he instantly knew who they were (Matthew 17:1-4), even though they had died more than hundreds of years before, and he would have no way of recognizing them except in the supernatural.

I believe that when we see our loved ones in Christ in Heaven, we will immediately recognize them even though they will no longer bear the scars of sickness and aging. Regardless of how young or old we are when we go home to Him, we will be youthful, vibrant, and radiant like the risen Christ.

I believe we will still show the distinctive features of our life story, experiences, and earthly relationships, yet transformed by our new purity of heart and absence of sin. We will be changed so much that God will give each of us a new name (Revelation 2:17). The end result may be a face that glows with innocence and His holiness, but that is ageless and timeless because it belongs to a soul transformed by God’s wisdom (Romans 12:2).

This dream also reminded me that God works all things together for our good (Romans 8:28), texturing our countenance, our lives, and our eternal being by allowing trials as well as blessings to shape us, bringing us closer to and more like Him in faith. Like a Master Sculptor seeing Michelangelo’s David in a block of marble, God sees in each of us the potential for a unique, perfect, glorious being truly reflecting His image. He created us in His image (Genesis 1:26-27), and though sin has disfigured us here on earth, one day we shall be as He is! (1 John 3:2)

Slowly and deliberately He chisels our features with the suffering He allows in our life to conform us to His image (Philippians 3:10). Gently He softens the rough edges with the Godly friends, teachers, and pastors He directs to our path (Proverbs 27:17). Faithfully He lights the fire of the Holy Spirit shining through our eyes and glowing in our faces so that we can be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14; Philippians 2:15), just as He is the One True Light (John 1:9; 8:12; 9:5; 12:46).

Until we receive our new, timeless countenance, may we let His light illuminate our faces and see others as He sees us, each with the potential to be like Him in glory!

© 2015 Laurie Collett

Reposted from the archives

Headwinds

 

One afternoon while my husband was working on post-hurricane repairs at our vacation home, I decided to walk the beach. The outside temperature was 72 degrees; sunlight was reflected in gleaming silvery streaks moving with the rolling waves; and a few lacy clouds dotted the ombre sky, resplendent in tones ranging from aqua to robin’s egg to royal blue, and even a hint of cobalt.

The local air force brigade, as we affectionately refer to the native pelicans, passed overhead in precise military formation. An auspicious beginning to my afternoon stroll, or so I thought. On our morning walk, my husband and I had set out toward the nature preserve in search of shells and fossils, so I decided to walk the opposite direction along the shore to see what treasures I might find there.

But as soon as I began walking down the beach, the idyllic experience became an unexpected challenge. I was attempting to walk straight into the wind, hanging onto my hat to prevent losing it in the surf. The wind rushing into my face took my breath away. The ground stretching out before me was reminiscent of photos of the Sahara Desert, as the air currents had shaped the sand into furrows, and streams of sand hovered a few inches over the surface, perpendicular to the uncharacteristically hilly terrain. Thankfully, I was wearing long pants and sneakers, or the streams of sand propelled by the wind would have blasted my ankles!

When the hope of gathering a few beach treasures and of reaching my daily goal of 10,000 steps no longer outweighed enduring this struggle, I turned around to go home. As soon as I changed direction, my circumstances also changed! No longer facing the headwinds, I now had a light breeze at my back, propelling me gently down the beach. My hat remained serenely on my head, its brim no longer trying to bear me aloft as if I were the Flying Nun in that old television show. The sand was no longer attacking me but was instead inviting me to sift through it in search of cockle shells and shark’s teeth.

After a short, pleasant jaunt in the warm sun, I finally made it back to our comfortable home, where my husband greeted me with an inviting smile and hug, as well as with approval for the fossil fragments I had found on the return journey.

This beach stroll reminded me of how much easier and more pleasant life can be when we experience tailwinds rather than headwinds! Financial analysts speak of socioeconomic headwinds and tailwinds that may affect a stock’s performance, and air travel reminds us that these can result in a late or early arrival. If we are sailing, biking, hiking, kayaking or just traveling through life, our direction can definitely influence whether we’ll encounter headwinds, and their impact on our journey and destination.

Sometimes we face headwinds because we deliberately choose to fly in the face of obstacles. At other times, as in flying to another city, we have no choice but to follow the designated route, regardless of whether circumstances favor or hinder our journey.  

Spiritually speaking, we can be guided by the gentle breath, or inspiration, of the Holy Spirit nudging us forward, or we can fly straight into His face in a headstrong spirit of rebellion. How much better to have Him as our Comforter (John 14:16), Advocate (1 John 2:1), Counselor (Isaiah 9:6) and Friend (Proverbs 18:24) than to face the wrath of our infinitely holy and righteous God!

Yet even when we are attempting to follow God’s perfect will for our life, we may encounter headwinds. Satan may be throwing obstacles in our path to discourage us, and God may allow it to strengthen our faith in and dependence on Him. Sometimes Satan works through others, perhaps even well-meaning Christian brethren who have forgotten the old tale of the sun and wind arguing over who could get a man walking on the road to remove his coat.

In that fable, the wind huffed and puffed and blew at the man with all his might, but to no avail, for the man only pulled his cloak about him more tightly. But when the sun shone brightly, the man soon removed his coat voluntarily to enjoy the sun’s warming rays. The message of this tale is like the old proverb that it’s easier to catch flies with honey than with vinegar. To paraphrase, we are more likely to shape others’ behavior in favorable ways by being a tailwind to speed them down the correct path, rather than a headwind impeding their progress. 

My beach experience also reminded me of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-31). He was lulled into a false sense of security when he left his Father’s house, headed in the wrong direction, enticed by the pleasures of sin, lured away by his own greed and selfishness, and facing increasing obstacles every step of the way. When he had finally burned through his inheritance and sunk to the utter degradation of feeding and living with swine, he came to the end of himself and came to his senses.

Only then did he repent, or change direction and turn around, realizing he would be far better off as even a servant in his Father’s house. With each step toward home, his feet must have moved faster and the burden on his heart must have grown lighter as he grew more confident of the wisdom of his choice to return. Can you imagine how his anticipation changed to joy as he saw his Father running to meet him, arms opened wide, welcoming him back with a feast, ring, and finest robe?

When we are saved by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6)  it is because the Holy Spirit has convicted us of our sin, shown us that we as sinners must face eternal punishment in hell unless we trust Christ as our Savior, and led us to repentance. Once we confess our sins, we have a change of heart and of direction, turning from rebelling against God to following Him. Then we are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), as our burden of sin is lifted away.

But even mature Christians can rebel against God and must then face the headwinds of the consequences of sin. Although God has given us free will to choose our direction, He loves us too much to allow us to turn away from Him without a struggle. First, He speaks in a still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12). If we ignore that, He may take away our privileges or impose punishment. We may lose fellowship with Him, the joy of His salvation (Psalm 51:12), the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7), our health, wealth, or even our physical life.

But praise God, once a backslidden Christian changes direction to return to the Father, these headwinds may disappear, according to His perfect will and timing, and be replaced by tailwinds spiriting the repentant sinner along to restored fellowship with the Father. Praise God, no matter how far the born-again believer may roam, he will never lose his salvation, for the Father tenderly anticipates his return home!  

Copyright 2025 Laurie Collett

What If the Mayor Calls?

 

I had a dream in which I was attending a professional convention held at an elegant hotel, accompanied by my son, who in the dream was still a small child. We had checked in to a luxurious suite on the penthouse level, provided gratis by the organizer. I had started to unpack the bags that the bellman had delivered, full of beautiful garments and jewelry I didn’t recognize.

I suddenly felt overwhelmed by the urge to explore our surroundings, and in my haste I left piles of clothing on the sofa rather than placing them in drawers, and even left jewelry out on the tables in the sitting area. I grabbed my son’s hand and led him into the hall, not even minding that the door was unlocked and open. Even worse, our suite was by a busy elevator where many people were coming and going, laughing, chattering and dressed for an evening of partying.

“But what if the mayor calls?” my son asked.

I looked at him quizzically, then giggled. “Well, if he does, I’m sure he’ll leave a message.”

We got on the elevator, surrounded by the intoxicating aromas of perfume, cologne, and alcohol swirling through wispy clouds of cigarette smoke. I sighed, starting to regret bringing my son into this tainted atmosphere. Soon we reached the basement and exited near the pool, where the air was heavy with chlorine and the muffled sounds of pump filters and whirlpool jets.

I had thought we might go for a swim, but the pool was packed with seniors doing a water aerobics class. So we boarded the elevator again and exited on the third floor, where a formal ball was in progress. My son had learned to dance when he was five, so I suggested we go back to our room and change for the party.

Thankfully, someone had closed and locked the door of our room after we had left, and it appeared that nothing had been disturbed. My son pointed out that there was a blinking silver light near the ornately carved, ivory telephone with gold filigree trim.

“Maybe the mayor called,” he said.

I shrugged, not really wanting to check messages. “Oh, we’ll worry about that later.”

I awoke with a sense of remorse over not listening to my son’s repeated warning, for out of the mouths of babes comes praise and strength (Matthew 21:15-16; Psalm 8:2). To be saved by trusting in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior Who died to pay for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) to give His followers eternal life (John 3:16), we must have a childlike faith (Matthew 18:3-4; 19:14).

One day Jesus Christ will return again to defeat the enemies of Israel and the devil himself, and He will then reign over the new Jerusalem for one thousand years as the Mayor of that holy city and as Lord over all (Revelation 21:1-5). We must wait for, heed and follow the Mayor’s call!

As born-again believers (John 3:3-8), we are so blessed to have the privilege of constant communication with Him even now, should we so desire (Hebrews 4:16). Yet He will not force His will or His guidance on us (Revelation 3:20), and so often we are guilty of ignoring His still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12) and not even caring to listen to what He has to say (1 Thessalonians 5:19, Ephesians 4:30).

In the dream, I dismissed my son’s reminders to wait for the Mayor’s call, because I was too distracted by worldly lures, represented by the hints of drinking and flirtation on the elevator. But Scripture tells us to be sanctified, or set apart (Romans 15:16; 1 Corinthians 6:11). We should flee temptation (2 Timothy 2:22; 1 Corinthians 10:13) or risk being dragged down to the basement level. The world offers “solutions” to the consequences of succumbing to these temptations, symbolized in the dream by the chlorine in the pool and rituals to improve physical fitness.

But nothing but the blood of Christ can wash away our sins (Revelation 1:5), and for a daily cleansing we need to be washed in the pure, living water (John 4:10-14) of His Word (Ephesians 5:26) that forever quenches our thirst! What a contrast to harsh chlorine that could burn us and yet not protect us from all bacteria and parasites, representing the filthy contaminants in today’s world. The consequences of sin are disease and death, and only Jesus is the cure (Romans 6:21-23). Physical exercise is of little benefit if we are spiritually unfit (1 Timothy 4:8).

Evangelicals often frown upon all dancing, yet there is a distinction between worldly dancing, used as a sexual provocation (Matthew 14:6-9), and dancing as an expression of joy and worship. Approximately two thirds of references to dancing in Scripture are in the context of offering praise to the Lord (Psalm 150:4), as in David dancing before the Lord (2 Samuel 6:14), Miriam rejoicing over God’s deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage (Exodus 15:20-21), and even John the Baptist leaping for joy in the presence of His Savior while he was still in his mother’s womb! (Luke 1:41-44)

Dancing to me is a unique form of human expression because it involves our whole triune being: body, soul and spirit, reflecting the image of God as the Trinity (Genesis 1:26-27), symbolized in the dream by the third floor where the dance was taking place. Once my husband and I were saved, we realized that God had uniquely equipped us through our dancing experience and training to use this art form as a ministry to reach the lost with the Gospel message.

Upon awakening from the dream, I also experienced regret that I was not saved until my son was 10 years old, and that I had therefore missed the potential opportunity of raising him in a Christian environment before then. But praise the Lord, His timing is always perfect (Ephesians 1:10). Thanks be to God that He did give me the opportunity to share the Gospel and Scripture with my son once I was saved, and our son came to know the Lord soon after we did.

Once we are saved, we are seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3; 2:6), represented in the dream by the lovely penthouse suite He had so graciously provided as a freely given gift. The abundant blessings of clothing and jewelry are reminiscent of our garments of salvation, for the Lord has covered us with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns himself with ornaments, and as a bride with her jewels (Isaiah 61:10).

 
These freely given gifts also reminded me of how the prodigal son was treated when he returned home to his Father (Luke 15:22). Yet, like the prodigal, we often fail to be good stewards (1 Peter 4:10), indicated in the dream by my carelessly leaving these blessings strewn about and unsecured. Praise the Lord, He is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9; 10:13) even when we are not, and in the dream someone else had locked the door, protecting us from the consequences of my being irresponsible.

The dream reminded me to listen and follow when our Lord calls, to remain in the world and yet not of it by being set apart, and to flee temptation. May we be Godly examples to those He entrusts to our care and good stewards of all the many blessings He has provided, until He comes again!

© 2019 Laurie Collett

Edited and reposted from the archives

Are You Too BUSY?

In spiritual warfare, the Commander in Chief of the Christian army is the triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We can march forth victorious knowing that the battle is the Lord’s (1 Samuel 17:47), and that we are on the winning side (1 Corinthians 15:57; Romans 16:20).

Still, to be effective, we must know our enemy and his strategies. Satan is not God’s equal or even His opposite; as a fallen angel, he is a being who was created by God to have supernatural powers that are limited by God Himself. When he was Lucifer, an angel of light, God endowed him with great beauty, wisdom and talent. But when his sin of pride caused him to rebel against God’s authority and to exalt himself above his Creator, God exiled him from heaven, along with those angels who joined in the rebellion (Luke 10:18; Isaiah 14:12-15).

God allowed Satan temporary control of the world, its institutions and its governments (Ephesians 6:12). God allows Satan to tempt and attack even His own children, but always for our own ultimate good (Romans 8:28). Satan can do nothing to us that God Himself does not allow (Job 2:6). God turns Satan’s evil weapons into instruments designed for our good, to conform us more to the image of His Son through suffering (Philippians 3:10), to strengthen our faith in Him, to give us compassion and experience to help those going through similar trials (1 Corinthians 10:13), and even to give us greater joy in our mountain top experiences.

We should not be afraid of Satan or his demons, for God’s perfect love for us casts out all fear (1 John 4:18). Even so, we should respect the devil’s power and understand his strategies. Satan may try to intimidate us, but we can prayerfully use the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6: 11-15) to fight him off, just as Jesus did when tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11).

As a former angel of light (2 Corinthians 11: 14), Satan may appeal to our sense of beauty, working through the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh (1 John 2:16), just as he did with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:6). He surely will appeal to our pride, trying to convince us that we are self-sufficient and don’t need God. And as the father of all liars (John 8:44), he will distort the truth, which is why we need the discernment to realize that anything added to, taken away from, or changed in God’s Word makes it a lie.

All Satan wants is one little piece of our heart where he can set up shop (Ephesians 4:27). We must resist the devil, and flee from temptations that can harm us (James 4:7; Proverbs 6:27; 1 Corinithians 10:13). If we give in to that bad seed of doubt or fear that undermines our faith, or to that one sin that so easily tempts us (Hebrews 12:1), or to that false teaching that perverts the Gospel ever so slightly (2 Peter 2:1), Satan has established a stronghold. A single virus-infected email can crash your computer. A tiny drop of cyanide in a glass of pure water turns it to poison. Breathing in an anthrax spore can destroy our whole body. It is even more vital that we use the whole armor of God t0 repel Satan’s seemingly innocent intrusions.

When all else fails to neutralize effective, fruitful Christians, Satan tries to keep us BUSY. According to an Irish web designer in Galway, BUSY stands for Being Under Satan’s Yoke. Mature believers who are in God’s will may keep from sinning, at least in their actions. Yet they may all too easily get distracted by things that are not bad, but that keep us from God’s best. God wants us to be productive, but not so busy that we lose our focus on Him and fail to hear His voice. Unlike Satan, Jesus promises us a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light because He will give us rest (Matthew 11:28-30).

Do we want to be like Martha, who loved Jesus but became too burdened with serving to sit at His feet, or do we want the joy and peace her sister Mary experienced by keeping her quiet time with Him her first priority? (Luke 10:38-42)

Time is the one resource that constantly gets depleted and can’t be bought back. When an opportunity passes by to witness to an unsaved soul, to encourage a fellow believer, to minister to someone in need, or to share love and joy with your family, it may never come again. Satan loves to keep us BUSY.

Do we serve on so many committees that we never have time to read God’s Word? Do we spend so much time tracking worldwide news that we don’t pray for missionaries risking their lives around the globe? At church functions, are we so preoccupied with preparing food, or passing handouts, or managing the sign-in, that we ignore those who need a kind word or a loving touch? Do we spend so much time at home cooking, cleaning or paying bills that we don’t notice when our loved ones just want us to spend quality time with them? Satan loves to keep us BUSY.

For those who have turned from their sins and trusted in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the only Way, our eternal destiny in Heaven is secure. But how sad it would be to learn of His perfect plan for our lives that we missed because Satan kept us too BUSY.

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Copyright 2011 Laurie Collett

Reposted from the archives

Christ’s Earthly Ministry: Triplets of Love

 

As the world prepares to celebrate Valentine's Day and its homage to earthly "love," Christians can experience, appreciate, and give thanks for the perfect love of Jesus Christ. The holiday on February 14 exalts eros, or romantic, sensual, and physical love, but born-again believers (John 3:8) can honor Christ's agape, or self-sacrificing, boundless, and transformative love every day of the year.

The third Greek word for love, in addition to eros and agape, is philia, or brotherly love. Eros, often translated as lust, diminishes its subject to the status of an object for the lover's gratification or pleasure, often without consideration for that person's well-being. Philia is based on common interests and beliefs, and the relationship typically benefits both parties, as in the colloquialism "You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours." But agape, exemplified by Christ's love for us, gives all to the loved one with no expectation of receiving anything in return.

After all, what could the Lord Jesus Christ, Creator of all (Genesis 1; John 1:3), King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16), need from us? Yet He suffered, bled on Calvary's cross, and died to pay our sin debt in full, while we were still His enemies (Romans 5:10). The agony He experienced to save us was not only physical torture, but the emotional pain of betrayal, rejection, and abandonment, and, as He became our sin, the spiritual ordeal of momentary separation from God the Father, with Whom He had been since eternity past (John 1:1).  

The Lord Jesus Christ proved His divinity when He rose again on the third day so that all who trust Him would be justified in God the Father's sight (Romans 3:24,28), reconciled to Him (2 Corinthians 5:18-20), and adopted into His family (Romans 8:15).

As joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), our love gifts from Him include eternal life with Him and our loved ones in Him (John 3:16), an eternal home of unimaginable splendor in Heaven (1 Corinthians 2:9), and glorified bodies that will never age, die, or experience sin, pain, or sorrow (1 Corinthians 15:35-58). Even in this world, He gives us abundant life (John 10:10), joy in His salvation (Isaiah 61:10), and peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). We are blessed that He calls us His friend (John 15:13-15), bride (Isaiah 61:10), and ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8) – throughout all time He was, is and will be Almighty God. He represents and is the fullness of the Godhead – Father, Son and Holy Spirit -- as cited in three verses (Ephesians 3:19; 4:13; Colossians 2:9). Even in His earthly ministry, which lasted three and a half years, we see the signature of the Trinity reflected in triplets of love.

The apostle John described the Trinity in Heaven reflected in the life and work of Jesus Christ through the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: for these three “agree in one” (1 John 5:6-8). 

John further explained that Jesus came in the flesh (i.e. with human blood and born out of the water in Mary’s womb), empowered by the Holy Spirit. We see the water and the blood again when a spear pierces His side (John 19:34) and Jesus lays down His life to suffer and dies on the cross, which was possible only through the power of the Spirit.

At His baptism marking the beginning of His earthly ministry (Matthew 3:16-17), we see all of the Trinity in one picture: Jesus the Son being baptized, the Holy Spirit descending on Him in the form of a dove, and God the Father announcing that Jesus is indeed His beloved Son.

This was the first of three proclamations from God the Father Himself that Jesus is His Son, worthy of God’s love and glory and our praise and obedience (Matthew 3:17; 17:5; John 12:28). The second of these Divine revelations was the transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1-8). His inner circle of Peter, James and John witnessed three glorified beings: Jesus, Moses, and Elias, prompting Peter to want to build three tabernacles.

After Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be tested by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11). Three times the devil tempted Him, appealing to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16) and each time Jesus rebuked the devil by quoting Scripture – three times He replied, “It is written…”

Jesus’ closest friends, apart from His disciples, were Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (John 12:1-3). The precious ointment Mary used to anoint Jesus’ feet was worth three hundred pence (John 12:5). Lazarus was one of three people Jesus raised from the dead (John 12:9), the other two being Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:35-43) and the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-15).

Jesus summarized His work on earth in terms of three types of miracles: spiritual healing, physical healing, and His own perfection, or resurrection from the dead (Luke 13:32). That perfection occurred on the third day, when He had paid all of our sin debt by suffering and dying on the cross, was buried, and rose again, so that all who believe this may also have eternal life (1 Corinthians 15). 

May we all trust in His completed work and become joint heirs with Him (Romans 8:17), His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20, and rulers in the Millennial Kingdom! (Revelation 20:4)

© 2012 Laurie Collett

Reposted from the archives, edited and expanded