“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ”. (Gal 3:26-27 NIV)

It has been said, though not without some dissention, that “clothes make a man.” I know this to be somewhat true for me in terms of how I act. Jeans, t-shirt and tennis shoes effect an enjoyment of a more casual, laid back experience of life. A coat and tie encourage a more upright, professional demeanor. When taking my wife on a romantic date, out come the more “fashionable” things that communicate specialness for the occasion. Clothes, indeed, help set (or at least complement) the tenor of my behavior.

Do you know that as a believer in Christ, you are wearing a new set of clothes? It’s true! As today’s scripture says, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ”. Through faith, you have been placed “into” Christ (this is what baptism here means), and by analogy you “wear” Christ, like a set of clothes. Unlike earthly clothes which need to be changed, washed and stored away until needed, our “Christ” garment is permanently on us, never needing to be cleaned and certainly not to be stored away.

The Christian does well to remember this picture, for it helps in living a holy lifestyle: “Clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Romans 13:14). Seeing yourself as clothed in this manner will foster change in your behavior. Yes, clothes make a spiritual man.

Have you “put on Christ” (KJV) today? I don’t mean just wearing a WWJD bracelet. I mean walking through this day with the conscious knowledge that you are “in Christ”? All that He is, is yours. You are His child, forgiven, redeemed and a new creature in Christ. When you see who you are in Christ, then you will begin to put on the character of Christ, wear His heart on your sleeve (so to speak), and seek to emulate Him in actions and thoughts toward others. You are a child of the King! Now rise to the standard of the clothes you are wearing.

Now that is a set of clothes worth admiring!

Prayer: Father help me to wear my clothes in such a way you will be proud of me. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

“It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall” Psalm 75:6-7

Eight years ago U.S. Republicans were rejoicing as President George W. Bush was sworn in as the 43rd President of the United States. At the time it was clear we should all be praying for President Bush and his new administration.

Today it is the Democrats turn to rejoice and it is clear we should all be praying for President Obama as the 44th President of the United States and his new administration.

Here are the Top Ten Ways to Pray for President Obama:

1. Pray that President Obama will be protected while in office.

2. Pray that President Obama’s family is comforted in his absence.

3. Pray that President Obama will govern with wisdom of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit.

4. Pray that President Obama will walk in humility before the Father, Son & Holy Spirit.

5. Pray that President Obama receives wise counsel disregarding the rest.

6. Pray that President Obama orchestrates a national reconstruction of our economy.

7. Pray that President Obama chooses wise, holy and righteous judges.

8. Pray that president Obama stands tall against the onslaught of terrorism.

9. Pray that President Obama builds a legacy of peace and prosperity.

10. Pray that President Obama stands holy and righteous before God in his decisions.

Bill Mantel

“I’ve been free for 10 years.” “Last week my wife gave birth to a beautiful child, and on the way home from the hospital, I had a strong urge to relapse, to go back to crack. But, thank God I didn’t.” These are just some of the comments I heard at a meeting of “New Connections” in Ottawa, Canada. Every week a group of men, ex-drug addicts, former alcoholics and fellows who had served prison time meet for prayer and indepth bible study. And I mean “Indepth!” Last week, the topic was a comparison of Aaron’s and Moses’ leadership styles. Aaron was a people pleasing “leader” who followed the crowd. Moses was a self-sacrificing leader who offered his life in exchange for the people’s, he was willing to take the hit for others!

Last night, we compared the failures of Judas (the Betrayer) and Peter (the Disowner). Which is worse, to betray someone or to disown him? In the end, we decided both committed equally serious offenses against the Lord. Peter failed the Lord just as badly as Judas. However, Judas’ suicide, though he was remorseful and returned the blood money, demonstrated in the end he was primarily interested in himself and selfishly relieving his own misery. Peter, though weeping bitterly, did not take the easy way out by ending his life. He lived to hear the absolutely most gracious, wonderful words possible. Imagine his feelings when the women came back from the empty tomb with the message from the Lord: “Go and tell the disciples and Peter” (Mark 16:7). Get that? “… and Peter.” He was specifically named! “Yes, Peter, (as one artist creatively imagines) all is well! I want you to know that I have risen again and I’m not mad at you, Peter!” The last recorded words Peter, appropriately enough, were, “Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.“  (2 Peter 3:18). He grew in grace that resurrection day and he continued to grow in grace! What a message for the men in that meeting. What a message for me!

There were lots of handshakes and hugs and prayer concerns for others who have not yet found freedom, or are in the process of finding it. Concern for those that haven’t come out to the meeting in a while, fear that maybe they have relapsed. Concern for those who have not yet been broken. I was soooo blessed.

“Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 3:18).

He is 21 years old and had John 3:16 written right on his face! In black and white, you couldn’t miss it! I mean literally, it was written with a grease pen on his cheeks. It broke all the “rules” about making a relevant witness for the Lord. We are supposed to be subtle, non-tacky, not so blatant. We are to be culturally sensitive, some might even say we should be “cool” in our presentation. Things like simply showing by our lives the true character of Jesus and waiting for people to ask. But, John 3:16 so front and center, and then not the words, but just the verse reference—come on, didn’t any one every tell him how to witness effectively. That kind of stuff gives Christians a bad image!

On second thought…this young man has made a lasting impression. His name is Tim Teabow, and he was last year’s Heisman Trophy winner (most outstanding player in US collegiate football) as a sophomore, this year’s runner up for the same trophy, and last night his team, the Florida Gators, won out over the Oklahoma Sooners with their current Heisman trophy quarterback. Teabow was named the most outstanding player of the game. At 21, a junior in college, his team members call him “superhuman” for his leadership abilities, athletic skills, and his unusually high commitment and character.

Born into a Christian family that sold everything and moved to the Philippines to do missionary work, Teabow was home schooled for much of his youth. He has gone on numerous missions trips himself to multiple countries, serving the needs of the poor. How did I hear all this? By simply listening to the game day commentators on TV. One announcer said, “I’ve heard so much about this young man, but when I met him for the first time this week for an interview, I found out that nothing I had heard about him before does justice to who he is. He is a remarkable young man.” He commands respect where ever he goes.

And as the announce spoke, the camera brought Teabow’s face in for a close-up. Through the helmet you could see clearly as could be, the word “John” written in white on top of the black anti-glare streak under his right eye, and the notation “3:16” on the black streak under his left eye. Every single close up during the game shown on national television, there it was! You couldn’t miss it. The whole TV audience couldn’t miss it. His teammates couldn’t miss it. The trainers, waterboys, cheerleaders, his coaches, the fans viewing the jumbotron. Everyone watching the game! No one could miss it.

Tacky? No. Faithful? Yes. Success doesn’t cloud this young man’s higher commitment and purpose in life. Athletic success means simply a greater platform to reach out with the life changing message. I know the world at times mocks the John 3:16 signs at sporting events. Many Christians also think it is in poor taste. But, I wonder how many people will now take message more seriously, go look it up the verse, or ask a Christian what it means. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” As for me, I say, Go Teabow! You did well. (And you played a pretty good ball game, too.)

Revenge was his life. But, he was happy. A native Frenchman, he was going along with his life and engaged to be married. Working at the time as a member of a French labor union, life meant getting one step up on the next person. Yes, he was happy. That is, until his non-union boss at work challenged him and his fiancée to study the Bible. If he was so smart (he is now engaged in post-doctoral studies ) why wouldn’t he read the most influential book of time? He couldn’t shake the observation that the Christians he encountered had something more than happiness. They had a deep peace, which he didn’t have. Well, study the Bible they did, he and his wife. It came alive. Eight months later, a week before their wedding, he bowed to the Lord Jesus Christ. Seven days later on the very day of their wedding she opened her life to Christ as well. And they both found a deep peace.

Now, three years later, and with an 18 month old child, they are a vibrant, growing Christian couple, rejoicing in their salvation. Sitting across the table from them last night, my heart was thrilled, as I listened to their testimony. Studying in Canada for a year, their broken English was absolutely no barrier to the sharing of hearts and spiritual fellowship we experienced with them. Out of the spiritually parched, “post-Christian” land called France, the Seed of God had taken root and has continued to flourish.

If God can reach this young couple, he can also raise up fruit in the arid ground of your relatives, neighbors and work associates. Don’t give up praying for them; sow the Seed of the Word of God. The more you sow and the more widely you cast it, the more likely seed will find good ground!

Matt 13:3, 8, 23 “ And Jesus spoke many things to them in parables, saying, ‘Behold, the sower went out to sow . . . and (some seed) fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty . . . And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.’ ”