The Greatest Comeback

Everyone loves a comeback.

The sporting team, the race horse, the singer or band, the terminally ill person, even the politician… who against all odds comes back to win.

The name Lazarus is synonymous with comebacks. He was dead for four days but against all odds came back to life. It was nothing he did … after all, what can a dead man do!? It was all Jesus.

Jesus raised him back to life as a sign that he truly is the Son of God who has power over death.

Jesus did this as a sign also pointing to an even greater comeback. On that first Easter in A.D. 33, Jesus was nailed to the Cross for the sins of the world and three days later (against all odds!) came back to life.

In doing this Jesus showed he is the resurrection and the life. In him is a new order and reality to life. His resurrection begun the Last Days; now life is all about serving the risen Lord Jesus. Do you believe this?

In Christ,

Tory

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Walgett Collarenebri Church Easter Services 2016

Don’t play with sin!

A Youtube™ video shows a couple playing with a lion. Apparently, the lion was hand-raised and so is ‘tame’. The man has the lion on a chain, but while playing the lion pounces on the woman and mauls her. I’ll leave the rest to your imagination.

It seems like absolute folly to play with a lion. Lions will be lions and will kill humans.

Yet, so often we fail to see it as absolute folly to play with sin. Sin will be sin, and will kill.

In Proverbs 5–9, the father warns his son to not even go near the door of the adulterous woman. She will lead to the grave.

The graphic image he gives helps us understand the appeal and lure of all sin, not just adultery. It seduces and offers much, but is an empty promise. It ruins.

In the Cross of Christ, God shows us the power of sin. We are no match; only Jesus could kill it for us. Let’s not play with sin but turn to Christ; hiding from it in him.

In Christ, Tory Cayzer.

Wise with all your heart.

The key to being wise is taking God’s commands to heart. Proverbs 3:5 says to us…

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.

Similarly, Proverbs 4:4:

Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live.

Because, Proverbs 4:23:

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

To be wise we need to be reading God’s word in Scripture and letting it soak in. But even more, constantly doing his word with obedient hearts.

Our world says get experienced, get skilled, get educated, get connections, then you’ll succeed. Proverbs says: ‘No you won’t!’

Instead for real wisdom we need to get God’s word into our hearts. Then we are wise to live, for everything we do flows from him.

In Christ, Tory Cayzer.

Where do we get wisdom?

There are many places people seek wisdom: pay a professional, get educated, listen to experience, pragmatism (‘If it works, do it!’), listen to your heart, or ask ‘Dr Google’!

The Bible book of Proverbs is about getting wisdom. It tells us that wisdom begins with fear of the LORD (Proverbs 1:7).

Fear of the LORD is right relationship to God. So wisdom is living within the framework of right relationship to God and his world.

Of course, for the Christian that means living with Jesus smack-bang in the middle of our life. We relate rightly to God and the world through Jesus, so he is wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:18–25). Perhaps another way of saying ‘fear of the LORD’ is honouring Jesus in every part of our life.

This is hard work. It involves careful prayerful study of the Bible, and dependence on God in all decisions and choices each day in light of the gospel of Jesus.

Let’s pray for each other to live wisely!

In Christ, Tory Cayzer.