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#54/ 3rd December 2002

          P O S I T I V E     W O R D S
               Editor: Peter Wade

       ----- http://www.peterwade.com/ -----
 ... the realities of Christ in you and you in Christ!
     ----- http://www.inChristRadio.net/ -----
     Great biblical teaching 24 hours, 7 days a week


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INSIGHTS FROM MY WRITING
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                      BE TRANSFORMED

"... be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2).

The command, "be transformed," is in the imperative mood in the
Greek. This indicates a command. I will not be transformed by an
action done to me by someone or something, but I am to transform
myself.
   "Be transformed..." If the verse stopped there, it would leave
me in the dark. I would not know if the transformation was to be
accomplished by regular attendance at the midweek prayer meeting,
by putting flowers on the altar, or by paying for a new hospital
in the Third World. I would not know whether I should read the
works of the latest religious TV star, read the Bible through in
one year, or join a home fellowship. The choice of "good works"
is endless. I could be very confused if the verse just gave the
command but did not tell me how to carry it out.
   "... by the renewing of your mind".  The word "renewing" is in
the present tense and indicates a continuous action going on at
this moment. God chose to render the word "renewing" in the
present tense, for it is not something that was done at the new
birth (which would require the past tense) nor is it something I
can expect to happen when I become more spiritual or get to
heaven (which would require the future tense). Renewing is given
in the present tense for it will be a continuous action from the
start of my Christian life right until my death or Christ's
return. 
   Since renewing my mind is a continual process, it must have my
continual attention. What is required is a moment-by-moment, day-
by-day awareness of my need to adjust my thinking to God's Word.
"...God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches
in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). Every hour, every day and
every week I will need to go through the process of reminding
myself that this is indeed God's promise, and reminding myself to
expect and believe and act as if the promise is true -- and it
is! If my need is for divine health, I must remember that His
desire is for me to "prosper and be in health, even as your soul
prospers" (III John 2). (From "Renewing Your Mind", Chapter 2, by
Peter Wade, adapted by Hildy Matthews.)
   AFFIRMATION:  Anything that is going to occupy my attention
for the rest of my life must be of great importance. Each day,
every day, my focus must be on renewing my mind to God's Word.

(My thanks to Hildy Matthews for another year of converting my
writings into daily readings. You are a blessing, Hildy!)

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INSIGHTS FROM EVERY BOOK OF THE BIBLE (G. Campbell Morgan)
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G. Campbell Morgan was a well-known preacher and writer of over
60 books from the first half of the 20th century. In each issue
he gives a comment from one verse in every chapter of the Bible.
We continue with Paul's second letter to the Corinthians.

"Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift" (II Cor. 9:15).

Thus Paul ended all he had been writing about giving. It was an
exclamation, revealing the inspiration of all he had been saying,
and of all these people had been doing, and were now being urged
to continue to do. They had given, they were urged to continue to
give, in order to meet the need of their fellow-believers who
were suffering. Why should they do so? What motive would be
sufficiently strong to inspire them to do so? The answer is found
in this exclamation. They were children of God, and they were
such because He had given His only-begotten Son. It was indeed
"His unspeakable gift." 
   It is safe to say that about nothing in human history has so
much been spoken as about this gift of God. One moment's thought
of all the literature of the Christian Church will prove that
this is so. Yet it remains an unspeakable gift; a gift about
which, however much may be said, the final thing can never be
said. The things spoken concerning it are only of value as they
ultimately lead the soul to the speechlessness of adoring awe and
wonder, in which it comes nearer to apprehension of the ultimate
meaning and value of the gift than in any other way. This gift
then is the inspiration and type of true Christian giving.
Whenever we are called upon to give, let us first think of the
unspeakable gift of God. Then love will be the inspiration of our
giving, sacrifice will be its measure, and real blessing to
others its result.

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A FAVORITE CHRISTMAS CAROL
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From the writer of "There is a green hill far away" comes this
carol especially written for children. Mrs Cecil F. Alexander 
(1818-1895) wrote more than 400 hymns and poems to reach children
and teach the gospel to them. She was the wife of the Archbishop
of Ireland, Dr. William Alexander, and devoted her life to Sunday
School work and ministering to the needs of all people.

Once in royal David's city, Stood a lowly cattle shed. 
Where a mother laid her baby, In a manger for His bed. 
Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from Heaven, Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable, And His cradle was a stall. 
With the poor and mean and lowly. 
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.

And through all His wondrous childhood, He would honour and obey,
Love and watch the lowly maiden, In whose gentle arms He lay. 
Christian children all must be mild, obedient, good as He.

For He is our childhood's pattern, Day by day like us He grew;
He was little, weak, and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us He knew.
And He feeleth for our sadness. And He shareth in our gladness.

And our eyes at last shall see Him
Through His own redeeming love.
For that child so dear and gentle Is our Lord in heaven above.
And He leads His children on To the place where He is gone.

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           CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS TO ALL OUR READERS ! 
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(c) 2002 Peter Wade
http://www.peterwade.com/ 
http://www.inChristRadio.net/