Sometimes you just have a lot to say and to condense it steals the magnitude of what's being said.
I know that some people scoff at the Old Testament and want to hear on things from the New Testament as if the Old were done away, replaced by the new, which in truth is a conception that we old to with many day to day things. The old becomes obsolete. It's not truth always. Sometimes you need the old to build a platform to the new. Sometimes the older things are the more valuable they become. Sometimes a merger of the two both old and new are needed to reap the most benefits.
It's a shame that more reverence isn't given the Old Testament because that's the only scripture Jesus had when He walked the earth as man to use when He spoke from the scriptures.
Jesus didn't come shouting for all to do away with the Old Testament. He didn't say it was obsolete. He said this...
John {5:39} 'Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. {5:40} And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. {5:41} I receive not honour from men. {5:42} But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. {5:43} I am come in my
Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. {5:44} How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that [cometh] from God only? {5:45} Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is [one] that accuseth you, [even] Moses, in whom ye trust. {5:46} For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. {5:47} But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?'
Search the scriptures- what we know as the Old Testament.
For had you believed Moses you would have believed me for he wrote of me.
But if you don't believe his writings, how shall you believe my words.
Do you see? This is Jesus speaking of the Old Testament. Clearly He is not saying that He has a New Testament that will replace the old stuffy Old Testament which He's making obsolete. He speaks of Moses who wrote of Him. Those who don't believe Moses, how can they believe in Him?
God's love is reveal in the Old and New Testaments.
We might scoff at the Old Testament and say much of it is irrelevant, done away with, replaced, made new, but Jesus never said that. Jesus shed light upon the teachings of the Old Testament, He brought it to life in a way it was meant to be brought to life, He came to fulfil the prophecies spoken of about Him, He came to right the twisted and perverted truths, to be the embodiment of the love God has for us. He showed perfect love for God His Father and perfect love for His fellow mankind.
I've been studying the word truth lately and it lead me to this lengthy bit in the Old Testament- I could just pick up the single verse with the word 'truth' in it but I feel compelled to bring all of this as a we study. When you read it please try to remember that Isaiah was a prophet, he too spoke of Jesus and you'll see it here.
Isaiah
{58:1} Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
** We need our sins revealed so that we may repent of them. As long as they are hidden from us we cannot forsake them.
Isaiah
{58:2} Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.
**Imagine that? Seeking God daily, delighting to know His ways, wanting to know justice, delighting to approach God. How wonderful!
Isaiah
{58:3} Wherefore have we fasted, [say they,] and thou seest not? [wherefore] have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
{58:4} Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as [ye do this] day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
{58:5} Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? [is it] to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth
and ashes [under him?] wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?
{58:6} [Is] not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
{58:7} [Is it] not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou
cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
**
Remember--
Luke
{3:10} And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?
{3:11} He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
God would not have men fast and pat themselves on the back for doing so, calling it righteousness. God would rather we love one another with brotherly love- seeing to one another's needs before He would ask us to fast and call that duty to God over helping one another.
Isaiah
{58:8} Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward.
{58:9} Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I [am.] If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
{58:10} And [if] thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness [be] as the noonday:
{58:11} And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
{58:12} And [they that shall be] of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
**Think about it, when you've helped another doesn't that feed your own soul? Seriously, helping another person makes us feel good, being able to help. We grumble and gripe when asked to do something, when our help is needed in various ways that would interfere with our own plans, and yet helping others is so important. If only we could keep forever in our minds that helping others is truly loving as we want ourselves to be loved. We ask for help and when it is given lovingly we are pleased. We ask for help and when it's given begrudgingly it stirs up things inside us- resentment, ire. Loving one another is such a huge focus of the Bible. We reap so much benefit from helping others lovingly and being able to help is a reward in itself without getting a thing for helping.
Isaiah
{58:13} If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, [from] doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking [thine own] words:
{58:14} Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it.]
**Delight thyself in the Lord. Taking our eyes off ourselves and delighting in the Lord, a weekly reminder of our God, of our loving heavenly Father, delighting solely in Him is so special and yet some make it burdensome, others make it obsolete, is it no wonder the world seems to be so completely engulfed in sin?
Isaiah
{59:1} Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
{59:2} But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid [his] face from you, that he will not hear.
**Sin separates us from God. Our mediator, our healer of the breach is Jesus.
Isaiah
{59:3} For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.
{59:4} None calleth for justice, nor [any] pleadeth for TRUTH: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
**None call for justice, none plead for truth... how incredibly sad. Trusting in vanity, speaking lies, when the focus is on self, and the belief that you and you alone control things, there is little truth, little justice, and people fool themselves that their idea of truth and justice is good when it is vain and wrong, so wrong. Real justice, real truth, these call for looking away from ourselves and to God where it is found.
Isaiah
{59:5} They hatch cockatrice’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. {59:6} Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works [are] works of iniquity, and the act of violence [is] in their hands.
{59:7} Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts [are] thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction [are] in their paths.
{59:8} The way of peace they know not; and [there is] no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.
{59:9} Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, [but] we walk in darkness.
{59:10} We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if [we had] no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; [we are] in desolate places as dead [men.]
{59:11} We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but [there is] none; for salvation, [but] it is far off from us.
{59:12} For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions [are] with us; and [as for] our iniquities, we know them;
{59:13} In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the
heart words of falsehood.
{59:14} And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for TRUTH is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.
{59:15} Yea, TRUTH faileth; and he [that] departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw [it,] and it displeased him that [there was] no judgment.
{59:16} And he saw that [there was] no man, and wondered that [there was] no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
**Truth is fallen, Truth fails, people don't want the truth, they want things soothing to their ears so that they may believe in the falseness that their sins are acceptable. Those that do depart from evil are like a small animal caught in the sights of huge, hungry lion, as the world looks upon them wanting them to die rather than live as a reminder to them of their own evil state. God sent salvation for all those who would turn from evil. Those who set themselves up as prey are given heavenly armor to protect them, maybe not here on earth for this life but the protection is heavenly and will hold true until Jesus comes and takes us to heaven with him.
Isaiah
{59:17} For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance [for] clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.
**Remember-
Eph.{6:13} 'Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. {6:14} Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; {6:15} And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; {6:16} Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. {6:17} And take
the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: {6:18} Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints'
There is so much more to this and I know it's going to be very lengthy, that it already is, so I'll break it into two parts.
Truth.
We don't want truth to fail us. We don't want truth to be fallen. We need to hold the truth up high and let it live within us everyday.
The truth of God.
The truth of His love and the beautiful truth of His salvation found in His only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior now and forever! All mercy, all grace in Him.
Amen.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Seek His Truth While It Can Be Found
Isaiah
{38:18} For the grave cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee
they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.
{38:19} The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day
the father to the children shall make known thy truth
The grave cannot praise thee.
Death cannot celebrate thee.
They that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.
Tell me why is that people hope for life immediately after death. Why is they hope that death is nothing at all really, just a transition. Studies on life after death take place all the time. Out of body experiences convince people that there is life after death because they don't want to believe that their mind can have conscious thought after death for a short time and then nothingness. Their proof is in those first few moments when they see themselves out of their bodies, believing their conscience spirit is now moving on and yet...
They don't ultimately die do they? Those who have out of body experiences don't die, they miraculously live. They wake up from their unconscious state and live to tell about dying. They give hope to many with their words of rising out of their bodies. People believe that death isn't a place where there is nothingness, where there is no praising, no celebrating, no truth. They want an existence right after this one where they can rise up and look upon all those near their body, an existence where they can go to a 'light' walking there, moving there some how to where there is all goodness and even loved ones that have passed on before. Death is a transition, not an ending. Death isn't so bad really. Death frees us from our mortal bodies and allows us to live on in a spirit form.
How can any of that be true?
If death is all that, why is it something bad?
Why is death a punishment?
Why is death something to be overcome?
Why did Jesus come to sacrifice Himself, to conquer death?
What significance is there in Jesus rising again?
Why did Jesus lay in the grave and not transition out of His body upon death like so many believe happens? If that is death and he suffered the ultimate death? If he died and overcame death, what was he really conquering if death isn't a bad thing?
If we have another existence as spiritual forms that live on, why do we need to ever revert back to anything else?
Death.
Isaiah
{38:18} For the grave cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee
they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.
{38:19} The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day
the father to the children shall make known thy truth
If we cannot praise and celebrate God upon death, in our transitional form that slips out of the fleshy one, what exactly CAN we do when we die?
The grave cannot praise thee.
Death cannot celebrate thee.
They that go down to the pit cannot hope for thy truth.
Those in a grave pit can't even hope for truth.
There is no praising, no celebrating, no truth in death and yet many would have us believe that it's a wonderful thing- life after death. Tell me how it can be wonderful if we cannot have the truth? If God's truth isn't found in life after death it's pointless to believe we do go on with conscious thought after death.
The living...
The living shall praise God.
The fathers to their children will make known the truth.
Truth exists and is taught during life. You don't find it after death. You need to grasp it before death.
In reality, the out of body experiences can be a transition, they can. The transition however is much the same as one falling asleep. Do you lay your head down and immediately stop thinking? Very seldom to people just lay down and are instantly asleep. There is a thought process still occurring. Sometimes that thought process lulls us to sleep, other times we lay there and it is so bothersome we end up getting up for a bit and trying to get back to sleep again later. How often have you heard someone say, I couldn't get to sleep last night, I just kept thinking and thinking?
When we die it is quite possible that as we enter that sleep of death, that we are still thinking. That there is a consciousness about us that remains briefly as we go from life to death's sleep.
Honestly, I would hate to believe that I consciously go on living even in a spiritual floaty form if I can't praise and celebrate God in that state. If I can't have the truth of God after death, I really hope and pray that the mystery of death turns out to be a deep sleep and I know nothing again until Jesus rises me up from the grave upon His return to earth. Yes, I hope the spiritual part of me that brought me to life, that breath of life in me that goes back to God is kept by Him as I sleep waiting for that day I can praise and celebrate Him in all truth again.
God's truth, we need to learn it now, not think we can learn it later. No one knows when they'll die, and in death there is no hope of truth.
May God help us all to seek His truth while it can be found and not delay.
In the name of His all merciful, all powerful, all wonderful Son, by the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Amen.
{38:18} For the grave cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee
they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.
{38:19} The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day
the father to the children shall make known thy truth
The grave cannot praise thee.
Death cannot celebrate thee.
They that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.
Tell me why is that people hope for life immediately after death. Why is they hope that death is nothing at all really, just a transition. Studies on life after death take place all the time. Out of body experiences convince people that there is life after death because they don't want to believe that their mind can have conscious thought after death for a short time and then nothingness. Their proof is in those first few moments when they see themselves out of their bodies, believing their conscience spirit is now moving on and yet...
They don't ultimately die do they? Those who have out of body experiences don't die, they miraculously live. They wake up from their unconscious state and live to tell about dying. They give hope to many with their words of rising out of their bodies. People believe that death isn't a place where there is nothingness, where there is no praising, no celebrating, no truth. They want an existence right after this one where they can rise up and look upon all those near their body, an existence where they can go to a 'light' walking there, moving there some how to where there is all goodness and even loved ones that have passed on before. Death is a transition, not an ending. Death isn't so bad really. Death frees us from our mortal bodies and allows us to live on in a spirit form.
How can any of that be true?
If death is all that, why is it something bad?
Why is death a punishment?
Why is death something to be overcome?
Why did Jesus come to sacrifice Himself, to conquer death?
What significance is there in Jesus rising again?
Why did Jesus lay in the grave and not transition out of His body upon death like so many believe happens? If that is death and he suffered the ultimate death? If he died and overcame death, what was he really conquering if death isn't a bad thing?
If we have another existence as spiritual forms that live on, why do we need to ever revert back to anything else?
Death.
Isaiah
{38:18} For the grave cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee
they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.
{38:19} The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day
the father to the children shall make known thy truth
If we cannot praise and celebrate God upon death, in our transitional form that slips out of the fleshy one, what exactly CAN we do when we die?
The grave cannot praise thee.
Death cannot celebrate thee.
They that go down to the pit cannot hope for thy truth.
Those in a grave pit can't even hope for truth.
There is no praising, no celebrating, no truth in death and yet many would have us believe that it's a wonderful thing- life after death. Tell me how it can be wonderful if we cannot have the truth? If God's truth isn't found in life after death it's pointless to believe we do go on with conscious thought after death.
The living...
The living shall praise God.
The fathers to their children will make known the truth.
Truth exists and is taught during life. You don't find it after death. You need to grasp it before death.
In reality, the out of body experiences can be a transition, they can. The transition however is much the same as one falling asleep. Do you lay your head down and immediately stop thinking? Very seldom to people just lay down and are instantly asleep. There is a thought process still occurring. Sometimes that thought process lulls us to sleep, other times we lay there and it is so bothersome we end up getting up for a bit and trying to get back to sleep again later. How often have you heard someone say, I couldn't get to sleep last night, I just kept thinking and thinking?
When we die it is quite possible that as we enter that sleep of death, that we are still thinking. That there is a consciousness about us that remains briefly as we go from life to death's sleep.
Honestly, I would hate to believe that I consciously go on living even in a spiritual floaty form if I can't praise and celebrate God in that state. If I can't have the truth of God after death, I really hope and pray that the mystery of death turns out to be a deep sleep and I know nothing again until Jesus rises me up from the grave upon His return to earth. Yes, I hope the spiritual part of me that brought me to life, that breath of life in me that goes back to God is kept by Him as I sleep waiting for that day I can praise and celebrate Him in all truth again.
God's truth, we need to learn it now, not think we can learn it later. No one knows when they'll die, and in death there is no hope of truth.
May God help us all to seek His truth while it can be found and not delay.
In the name of His all merciful, all powerful, all wonderful Son, by the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Amen.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Keepers of the Truth
Isaiah
{26:1} In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.
{26:2} Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.
{26:3} Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee.
{26:4} Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
Which keepeth truth.
Truth. Lest we make the mistake of thinking it doesn't matter what truth is, we really need to think again.
I've heard it said that everyone has their own truth to follow and yet truth by its very definition can not be of a personal interpretation.
truth
1. Conformity to fact or actuality.
2. A statement proven to be or accepted as true.
3. Sincerity; integrity.
4. Fidelity to an original or a standard.
5. Reality; actuality.
Fact. Actuality. Proven, accepted as true. Sincere. Original standard. Reality, actuality.
Actuality.
actuality
1. The state or fact of being actual; reality.
Actual.
Reality.
People have different perceptions of reality, but in truth (and that's what this is about), in truth if everyone had a different reality the world would be pure chaos on such a level it couldn't function in any cohesive manner at all.
Rule and regulations couldn't exist in a world where one person's reality differed from another's entirely.
We all exist in our own little worlds of emotions and things in our world, our reality of existence might effect us differently, but it's the same reality of existence just the effect and how we deal with it can change even minutely from person to person.
We all go to a local football game and watch the same game, was the experience the same for everyone? No. Why? Because our thoughts and emotions are different from person to person. I may be rooting for a player who has an off game and fumbles the ball and it saddens me. You might be rooting for the player who recovers the fumble and scores a touchdown and you're thrilled. All in all it's the same game we're watching but we have a different emotional investment in the game. I may see close up another player tripped up, you may have looked off to the refreshment hawker at that time and didn't see what I saw, same game, different perspective.
All in all there are fundamental truths regardless of perception.
Even our own Declaration of Independence states... 'We hold these truths to be self-evident'
Certain truths to be self-evident.
Fundamental truths.
While some are busy debating God's existence, and still others are caught up in picking apart everything they can in order to refute every instance of God so that faith can't exist with them, the truth of the entire matter is - God is truth.
'Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in'
There will always be those who keep the truth and those who do not, until Jesus comes again and everything changes.
Keeping the truth is keeping God.
Remember-- Eccl. {12:13} 'Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.'
God is the Truth.
John {14:6} 'Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.'
God is the Truth.
Jesus came to live as a man among us with all truth and all mercy.
It's through Jesus' merciful grace that we can go to God. It's through Jesus that we have a chance where before their was none. From the moment sin entered human kind there was the way to be forgiven- the looking for the way, the example of things to come, the reality of the example being made flesh- all ways to be with God. Jesus' sacrifice enables us to come to the Father, and Jesus' way is the truth. God is truth, His ways are truth.
So while the world may be filled with many different perceptions of a situation based on individual emotions and such, just like that football game there are fundamental truths. There was a game. There was a winner and a loser. No one can dispute those truths no matter what they saw during the game.
In life there is only one truth- God. We all have different lives that lead us down many rocky emotional roads, my perception of life will be different from yours, but the fundamental truth is God loves us, God is love, God is the truth we all have in common whether we want to believe in Him or not.
Just because I don't go to that football game doesn't mean it didn't exist.
God exists and not all will follow Him, not all will be keepers of the truth, not all will accept His love, or accept Jesus' sacrifice.
May God help us all as we search for truth in Him. The world will have it's own brand of truth and there will be many trying to confound the truth into obscurity so that it won't matter at all whether it's kept. Regardless of how people individually view the truth, the truth exists. Help us Heavenly Father, help us to recognize the truth in You so that we many enter in as keepers of the truth. Through the mercy and grace of Your Holy, all Merciful Son, Jesus Christ our Savior.
Amen.
{26:1} In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.
{26:2} Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.
{26:3} Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee.
{26:4} Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
Which keepeth truth.
Truth. Lest we make the mistake of thinking it doesn't matter what truth is, we really need to think again.
I've heard it said that everyone has their own truth to follow and yet truth by its very definition can not be of a personal interpretation.
truth
1. Conformity to fact or actuality.
2. A statement proven to be or accepted as true.
3. Sincerity; integrity.
4. Fidelity to an original or a standard.
5. Reality; actuality.
Fact. Actuality. Proven, accepted as true. Sincere. Original standard. Reality, actuality.
Actuality.
actuality
1. The state or fact of being actual; reality.
Actual.
Reality.
People have different perceptions of reality, but in truth (and that's what this is about), in truth if everyone had a different reality the world would be pure chaos on such a level it couldn't function in any cohesive manner at all.
Rule and regulations couldn't exist in a world where one person's reality differed from another's entirely.
We all exist in our own little worlds of emotions and things in our world, our reality of existence might effect us differently, but it's the same reality of existence just the effect and how we deal with it can change even minutely from person to person.
We all go to a local football game and watch the same game, was the experience the same for everyone? No. Why? Because our thoughts and emotions are different from person to person. I may be rooting for a player who has an off game and fumbles the ball and it saddens me. You might be rooting for the player who recovers the fumble and scores a touchdown and you're thrilled. All in all it's the same game we're watching but we have a different emotional investment in the game. I may see close up another player tripped up, you may have looked off to the refreshment hawker at that time and didn't see what I saw, same game, different perspective.
All in all there are fundamental truths regardless of perception.
Even our own Declaration of Independence states... 'We hold these truths to be self-evident'
Certain truths to be self-evident.
Fundamental truths.
While some are busy debating God's existence, and still others are caught up in picking apart everything they can in order to refute every instance of God so that faith can't exist with them, the truth of the entire matter is - God is truth.
'Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in'
There will always be those who keep the truth and those who do not, until Jesus comes again and everything changes.
Keeping the truth is keeping God.
Remember-- Eccl. {12:13} 'Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.'
God is the Truth.
John {14:6} 'Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.'
God is the Truth.
Jesus came to live as a man among us with all truth and all mercy.
It's through Jesus' merciful grace that we can go to God. It's through Jesus that we have a chance where before their was none. From the moment sin entered human kind there was the way to be forgiven- the looking for the way, the example of things to come, the reality of the example being made flesh- all ways to be with God. Jesus' sacrifice enables us to come to the Father, and Jesus' way is the truth. God is truth, His ways are truth.
So while the world may be filled with many different perceptions of a situation based on individual emotions and such, just like that football game there are fundamental truths. There was a game. There was a winner and a loser. No one can dispute those truths no matter what they saw during the game.
In life there is only one truth- God. We all have different lives that lead us down many rocky emotional roads, my perception of life will be different from yours, but the fundamental truth is God loves us, God is love, God is the truth we all have in common whether we want to believe in Him or not.
Just because I don't go to that football game doesn't mean it didn't exist.
God exists and not all will follow Him, not all will be keepers of the truth, not all will accept His love, or accept Jesus' sacrifice.
May God help us all as we search for truth in Him. The world will have it's own brand of truth and there will be many trying to confound the truth into obscurity so that it won't matter at all whether it's kept. Regardless of how people individually view the truth, the truth exists. Help us Heavenly Father, help us to recognize the truth in You so that we many enter in as keepers of the truth. Through the mercy and grace of Your Holy, all Merciful Son, Jesus Christ our Savior.
Amen.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Duty of Man
Ecclesiastes {12:8} Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all [is] vanity.
**
Vanity-
1. The quality or condition of being vain.
2. Excessive pride in one's appearance or accomplishments; conceit. See synonyms at conceit.
3. Lack of usefulness, worth, or effect; worthlessness.
vain-
1. Not yielding the desired outcome; fruitless: a vain attempt.
2. Lacking substance or worth: vain talk.
3. Excessively proud of one's appearance or accomplishments; conceited.
4. Archaic. Foolish.
Vanity of vanities-
Uselessness of the useless?
Conceitedness of the conceited?
Worthlessness of the worthless?
Foolishness of the foolish?
All is vanity-
All is useless, conceited, worthless, foolish?
Even though all is foolishness, the preacher was wise. He taught knowledge, he listened and sought many proverbs putting them in order.
{12:9} And moreover, because the preacher was
wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave
good heed, and sought out, [and] set in order many
proverbs.
The preacher looked for acceptable words, good words of truth.
{12:10} The preacher sought to find out
acceptable words: and [that which was] written [was]
upright, [even] words of truth.
The words of the wise are tools of a master, given from one who cares for His flock.
{12:11} The words of the
wise [are] as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of
assemblies, [which] are given from one shepherd.
By those tools, those words be admonished- you could write forever, study for ever, and grow weary of it all being consumed by everything.
{12:12}
And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making
many books [there is] no end; and much study [is] a
weariness of the flesh.
What's the end of the entire matter? What is most important of all the words, all the studying?
{12:13} Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter...
Give reverence and respect to God and keep His commandments, this is the entire duty of man.
{12:13}Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the
whole [duty] of man.
Everything we do, EVERYTHING we do good or evil will be judged.
{12:14} For God shall bring every
work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether [it be]
good, or whether [it be] evil.
**
Talk all you want, study all you want, write all you want, in the end what matters is our duty to God. The duty that Jesus gave us as an example of His life.
No, we can't all be apostles, or teachers, or prophets etc. We can't all be preachers. People are needed for a lot of things. There are shepherds for sheep, farmers for the crops, basic jobs that are timeless even if technology as advanced many of their jobs. All sorts of jobs are needed for people to survive- needed back in Jesus' day, needed in our day. We can't all shun labor and simply study, life doesn't work that way for most of us, not that it isn't the right thing for some people, just not all the people. We can't assume our walk with God isn't strong and good, just because we're not monks, or nuns, or missionaries, preachers, pastors, etc. Yes, Jesus called laborers from their work- tax collector, fishermen, and down the line physicians, tentmakers and such. He told people to follow Him and this was good. He was God with us and His time on earth needed to be seen and memorized by many to bear witness of Him and His life.
Jesus didn't come to do away with God's commandments. He came to show they could be kept, His life bore testament to the commandments and to the duty of man. Reverence to His Father, and the keeping of His Father's commandments, which are just and good and born of love.
In all we do, no matter what our walk in life, a hated job we drudge through day after day, a life of misery born of emotional strain, it doesn't matter what we do but while we do whatever task life has for us we have to Fear God and keep His commandments. Everything we do will be judged. EVERYTHING. You can't hide a single thought from God. Not a single action is hidden from Him. Our hearts, our lives are open to Him.
May God bless us all as we live day to day. May we all holdfast to our duty as human beings, the duty we have to give reverence to God and to keep His commandments, which are summed up in loving Him and loving our fellow man, which are selfless. In a world where we are taught to look out for number one, to look our just for ourselves as if what we desired and want matter more than anything else, help us God, help us to see past the trap of selfishness, of self-focus and to You and others as Your commands to us are.
Thy will God, Thy will, not our will... be done by the grace and mercy of Jesus.
Amen.
**
Vanity-
1. The quality or condition of being vain.
2. Excessive pride in one's appearance or accomplishments; conceit. See synonyms at conceit.
3. Lack of usefulness, worth, or effect; worthlessness.
vain-
1. Not yielding the desired outcome; fruitless: a vain attempt.
2. Lacking substance or worth: vain talk.
3. Excessively proud of one's appearance or accomplishments; conceited.
4. Archaic. Foolish.
Vanity of vanities-
Uselessness of the useless?
Conceitedness of the conceited?
Worthlessness of the worthless?
Foolishness of the foolish?
All is vanity-
All is useless, conceited, worthless, foolish?
Even though all is foolishness, the preacher was wise. He taught knowledge, he listened and sought many proverbs putting them in order.
{12:9} And moreover, because the preacher was
wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave
good heed, and sought out, [and] set in order many
proverbs.
The preacher looked for acceptable words, good words of truth.
{12:10} The preacher sought to find out
acceptable words: and [that which was] written [was]
upright, [even] words of truth.
The words of the wise are tools of a master, given from one who cares for His flock.
{12:11} The words of the
wise [are] as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of
assemblies, [which] are given from one shepherd.
By those tools, those words be admonished- you could write forever, study for ever, and grow weary of it all being consumed by everything.
{12:12}
And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making
many books [there is] no end; and much study [is] a
weariness of the flesh.
What's the end of the entire matter? What is most important of all the words, all the studying?
{12:13} Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter...
Give reverence and respect to God and keep His commandments, this is the entire duty of man.
{12:13}Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the
whole [duty] of man.
Everything we do, EVERYTHING we do good or evil will be judged.
{12:14} For God shall bring every
work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether [it be]
good, or whether [it be] evil.
**
Talk all you want, study all you want, write all you want, in the end what matters is our duty to God. The duty that Jesus gave us as an example of His life.
No, we can't all be apostles, or teachers, or prophets etc. We can't all be preachers. People are needed for a lot of things. There are shepherds for sheep, farmers for the crops, basic jobs that are timeless even if technology as advanced many of their jobs. All sorts of jobs are needed for people to survive- needed back in Jesus' day, needed in our day. We can't all shun labor and simply study, life doesn't work that way for most of us, not that it isn't the right thing for some people, just not all the people. We can't assume our walk with God isn't strong and good, just because we're not monks, or nuns, or missionaries, preachers, pastors, etc. Yes, Jesus called laborers from their work- tax collector, fishermen, and down the line physicians, tentmakers and such. He told people to follow Him and this was good. He was God with us and His time on earth needed to be seen and memorized by many to bear witness of Him and His life.
Jesus didn't come to do away with God's commandments. He came to show they could be kept, His life bore testament to the commandments and to the duty of man. Reverence to His Father, and the keeping of His Father's commandments, which are just and good and born of love.
In all we do, no matter what our walk in life, a hated job we drudge through day after day, a life of misery born of emotional strain, it doesn't matter what we do but while we do whatever task life has for us we have to Fear God and keep His commandments. Everything we do will be judged. EVERYTHING. You can't hide a single thought from God. Not a single action is hidden from Him. Our hearts, our lives are open to Him.
May God bless us all as we live day to day. May we all holdfast to our duty as human beings, the duty we have to give reverence to God and to keep His commandments, which are summed up in loving Him and loving our fellow man, which are selfless. In a world where we are taught to look out for number one, to look our just for ourselves as if what we desired and want matter more than anything else, help us God, help us to see past the trap of selfishness, of self-focus and to You and others as Your commands to us are.
Thy will God, Thy will, not our will... be done by the grace and mercy of Jesus.
Amen.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Buy the truth and sell it not
Proverbs {23:23} 'Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.'
Buying something and selling it not, means what? It's something you want to keep. You value that something greatly and there isn't a price high enough that would make you want to sell it. Do you have anything in your possession like that? Anything you wouldn't sell no matter what? Something you'd cling to if you were to lose everything else?
Maybe you're thinking family heirlooms, or some precious irreplaceable photos, a ring from a loved one, a clay sculpture your child made with their tiny hands, is there anything you wouldn't sell if it were the choice between living and dying? Surely a loved one would understand if you had to sell that precious something in order to live. The memory of that sculpture will last forever, even after you sell it, as well as the memories of the photos. There really isn't much in life a person wouldn't sell if it came right down to the choice of staying alive and dying with that possession.
We are cautioned here to 'Buy the truth and sell it not.'
There are some things we are to buy and never sell and yet it isn't gold is it? There was no 'buy gold and sell it not', it's buy truth and sell it not. It's not some physical possession we can hold in our hands and hide under our beds.
Buy truth.
Anything worth buying has value to us, right? Well, maybe not. Perhaps you've bought many a thing that loses it's value in your eyes even the moment you get it home. Perhaps you bought something and you were not quite sure you really wanted it but the desire is enough so that you buy it just in case you really want it later. A free choice to buy something makes it our decision if it's not something we absolutely need. When we buy things we desire we value them a little more than buying things we have to buy, don't we? A special something saved for and bought, longed for and finally attained, is treasured if the desire holds true and that special thing lives up to our expectations.
As far as possessions go, Jesus tells one man to sell all that he has and follow him. Worldly possessions aren't something we should cling to. However, buying truth isn't buying a worldly possession. Buying truth is a spiritual possession that is worth keeping forever, for all eternity. No wonder we are cautioned not to sell it. If we have a decorative jar of special value, a one of a kind jar and we sell it away, we no longer get the enjoyment from the jar it's someone elses to enjoy. If we sell the truth, giving it away so it's no longer ours we are lost forever.
We can share truth with others, that's recommended even, but we're not to sell it. We're to keep the truth forever and share it with all we meet, but never sell it to others, never give it away so that you know no longer possess it.
What else are we counseled to buy, wisdom, instruction, and understanding. These are the riches we need, the true riches that are more valuable than any earthly possession.
Truth
Wisdom
Instruction
Understanding
John {8:32} 'And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free'
May God help us all to 'buy' truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding and never, ever sell them at any cost. Any price we would receive for those precious gifts is not high enough to make up for the loss that selling them would bring to us.
In Jesus' holy precious name, by His grace may we buy these things we need when eternity is our goal, when heaven and a new earth are the homes we long for, when the love of God is most important to us.
Amen.
Buying something and selling it not, means what? It's something you want to keep. You value that something greatly and there isn't a price high enough that would make you want to sell it. Do you have anything in your possession like that? Anything you wouldn't sell no matter what? Something you'd cling to if you were to lose everything else?
Maybe you're thinking family heirlooms, or some precious irreplaceable photos, a ring from a loved one, a clay sculpture your child made with their tiny hands, is there anything you wouldn't sell if it were the choice between living and dying? Surely a loved one would understand if you had to sell that precious something in order to live. The memory of that sculpture will last forever, even after you sell it, as well as the memories of the photos. There really isn't much in life a person wouldn't sell if it came right down to the choice of staying alive and dying with that possession.
We are cautioned here to 'Buy the truth and sell it not.'
There are some things we are to buy and never sell and yet it isn't gold is it? There was no 'buy gold and sell it not', it's buy truth and sell it not. It's not some physical possession we can hold in our hands and hide under our beds.
Buy truth.
Anything worth buying has value to us, right? Well, maybe not. Perhaps you've bought many a thing that loses it's value in your eyes even the moment you get it home. Perhaps you bought something and you were not quite sure you really wanted it but the desire is enough so that you buy it just in case you really want it later. A free choice to buy something makes it our decision if it's not something we absolutely need. When we buy things we desire we value them a little more than buying things we have to buy, don't we? A special something saved for and bought, longed for and finally attained, is treasured if the desire holds true and that special thing lives up to our expectations.
As far as possessions go, Jesus tells one man to sell all that he has and follow him. Worldly possessions aren't something we should cling to. However, buying truth isn't buying a worldly possession. Buying truth is a spiritual possession that is worth keeping forever, for all eternity. No wonder we are cautioned not to sell it. If we have a decorative jar of special value, a one of a kind jar and we sell it away, we no longer get the enjoyment from the jar it's someone elses to enjoy. If we sell the truth, giving it away so it's no longer ours we are lost forever.
We can share truth with others, that's recommended even, but we're not to sell it. We're to keep the truth forever and share it with all we meet, but never sell it to others, never give it away so that you know no longer possess it.
What else are we counseled to buy, wisdom, instruction, and understanding. These are the riches we need, the true riches that are more valuable than any earthly possession.
Truth
Wisdom
Instruction
Understanding
John {8:32} 'And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free'
May God help us all to 'buy' truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding and never, ever sell them at any cost. Any price we would receive for those precious gifts is not high enough to make up for the loss that selling them would bring to us.
In Jesus' holy precious name, by His grace may we buy these things we need when eternity is our goal, when heaven and a new earth are the homes we long for, when the love of God is most important to us.
Amen.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
God- A Forethought Not An Afterthought
Proverbs
{16:1} The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
{16:2} All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
{16:3} Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
{16:4} The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
{16:5} Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
{16:6} By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
The Lord weighs the spirits.
The Lord knows our heart, He knows the spirit within us, He knows where our allegiance lies, and it's just that, our allegiance.
allegiance (e-lê´jens) noun
1. Loyalty or the obligation of loyalty, as to a nation, sovereign, or cause.
Loyalty to God.
Obligation to God.
As our Creator and Redeemer we owe God our allegiance, our loyalty, our hearts, our lives. We need to make decision for our lives and live out that decision. It's not easy with sin pulling at us. It's like being the only white fish in a whole school of black fish, the only black bird in a flock of white birds. We stand out, and we are targets for all to see and in this case, for Satan to see. It's swimming against the tide, and it's seeming fighting a losing battle. I could go on and on with the metaphors but in truth and that's what it is all about, in truth being loyal to God isn't easy. It's easier here in the USA than it is in many countries where worshipping God is against the law, but it's hard here too because while we're allowed to worship, the world has so many enticements to do other things.
Commit thy works unto the Lord.
We have to commit our works to God and he will help establish our thoughts. We fight our wicked thoughts, thoughts that turn us from God, thoughts that are filled with selfishness, thoughts that are prideful and thoughts that will take our mind off God. Having our thoughts established by God is a good thing. Committing ourselves to God and having our thoughts in Him is something beautiful.
By mercy and truth sin is purged.
By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
Mercy and truth.
Jesus, God's son took on humanity and brought with him mercy and truth.
Mercy and truth will do away with sin.
Jesus died to rid the world of sin once and for all.
Wanting all to be saved that can be, the mercy of Jesus reigns. The truth is Jesus, that He is the way, the truth, and the life. The truth is Jesus. There is no other truth we should be concerned about. Jesus' truth that He and He alone saves us, that His way is the only way.
Sin will be entirely purged by the time His plan is fully implemented. His plan to save humanity. To save sin-filled man by giving them an opportunity to have faith in Him, trust in Him to save to the uttermost.
The truth.
'By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.'
We have to give all our reverence to the Lord. We do.
If we truly believe in God, if He is real to us, then we will trust in Him and live as if He is real. It's too easy for us to live with Him as an afterthought and not a forethought. God needs to be first in our lives, in a real place, not second, third...or last.
May God help us, teach us all, instill in us the desire to do this so that we may be His people, filled with His truth, His love, ready and waiting for His return to take us with Him to heaven.
Amen.
{16:1} The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
{16:2} All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
{16:3} Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
{16:4} The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
{16:5} Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
{16:6} By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
The Lord weighs the spirits.
The Lord knows our heart, He knows the spirit within us, He knows where our allegiance lies, and it's just that, our allegiance.
allegiance (e-lê´jens) noun
1. Loyalty or the obligation of loyalty, as to a nation, sovereign, or cause.
Loyalty to God.
Obligation to God.
As our Creator and Redeemer we owe God our allegiance, our loyalty, our hearts, our lives. We need to make decision for our lives and live out that decision. It's not easy with sin pulling at us. It's like being the only white fish in a whole school of black fish, the only black bird in a flock of white birds. We stand out, and we are targets for all to see and in this case, for Satan to see. It's swimming against the tide, and it's seeming fighting a losing battle. I could go on and on with the metaphors but in truth and that's what it is all about, in truth being loyal to God isn't easy. It's easier here in the USA than it is in many countries where worshipping God is against the law, but it's hard here too because while we're allowed to worship, the world has so many enticements to do other things.
Commit thy works unto the Lord.
We have to commit our works to God and he will help establish our thoughts. We fight our wicked thoughts, thoughts that turn us from God, thoughts that are filled with selfishness, thoughts that are prideful and thoughts that will take our mind off God. Having our thoughts established by God is a good thing. Committing ourselves to God and having our thoughts in Him is something beautiful.
By mercy and truth sin is purged.
By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
Mercy and truth.
Jesus, God's son took on humanity and brought with him mercy and truth.
Mercy and truth will do away with sin.
Jesus died to rid the world of sin once and for all.
Wanting all to be saved that can be, the mercy of Jesus reigns. The truth is Jesus, that He is the way, the truth, and the life. The truth is Jesus. There is no other truth we should be concerned about. Jesus' truth that He and He alone saves us, that His way is the only way.
Sin will be entirely purged by the time His plan is fully implemented. His plan to save humanity. To save sin-filled man by giving them an opportunity to have faith in Him, trust in Him to save to the uttermost.
The truth.
'By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.'
We have to give all our reverence to the Lord. We do.
If we truly believe in God, if He is real to us, then we will trust in Him and live as if He is real. It's too easy for us to live with Him as an afterthought and not a forethought. God needs to be first in our lives, in a real place, not second, third...or last.
May God help us, teach us all, instill in us the desire to do this so that we may be His people, filled with His truth, His love, ready and waiting for His return to take us with Him to heaven.
Amen.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Provoke to Love
Provoking someone isn't a good thing is it?
When we hear the term provoke we automatically associate it with an antagonistic action.
'Don't provoke me!'
'Don't provoke your sister!'
'Stop provoking your brother!'
'He provoked her, that's why she did what she did.'
'Because you were provoked we'll take that into consideration while discussing your situation.'
'The dog was provoked, that's why he bit her.'
Provocation.
provoke (pre-vok´) verb, transitive
provoked, provoking, provokes
1. To incite to anger or resentment.
2. To stir to action or feeling.
3. To give rise to; evoke: provoke laughter.
4. To bring about deliberately; induce: provoke a fight.
We tend to focus on the inciting to anger and resentment, inducing a negative action when we think of the word provoke.
Provoking also means stirring to action- or feeling, to give rise to; not necessarily bad things in and of themselves.
Read this...
Hebrews
{10:24} 'And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works'
Provoke unto love and to good works.
Provoke unto love.
Provoke to good works.
Another action word, yes? Provoke.
We provoke someone to anger by doing something to upset them, right? A brother can tease a sister, a sister tease a brother and they're provoking them to anger, teasing to get a response of anger. How often do we see someone provoking another to love? It's there, we just don't call it provoking. Helping another is provoking them to love isn't it? Being kind provokes others to kindness, or it can. Provoking to love.
How can *you* provoke someone to love?
How can you provoke someone to good works?
Hebrews
{10:24} 'And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works'
{10:25} Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is but exhorting one another and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching'
Exhorting one another.
We have to get together, we have to exhort one another-
exhort (îg-zôrt´) verb
exhorted, exhorting, exhorts verb, transitive
To urge by strong, often stirring argument, admonition, advice, or appeal
We have to urge each other, admonish one another, appeal to each other.
{10:24} 'And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works'
We need to get together and exhort one another- we have to provoke one another unto love and to good works.
Do you see?
This provoking one another to love and to good works, getting together to do so is necessary.
We have to help each other.
When we get together we have to do it with the purpose of provoking love and good works.
May God help us to do this because it's so needed.
It's so easy to provoke to anger, and yet provoking to love is a whole other story.
I sit here and think - 'How can I provoke someone to love?' And I come up short. We're not provoking to 'be in love' or to 'love us romantically', but love in the way God intended. The loving of our fellow man, the loving others as we would be loved by them is the provoking we are to do. I can easily come up with ways to provoke to anger, and yet to provoke to love?
Provoking emotions.
Or is it more than provoking emotions?
Love isn't just an emotion in this way is it? We're not just provoking a 'good' feeling. Love goes beyond that starry-eyed, that prideful, that self-absorption type of love we get caught up in. It goes beyond the 'I love you because you're family', it's a way of life. When Jesus told us to love them that hate us, to love our enemies did he mean for us to get all gushy inside over them, or feel happy about them? God loves us and we know how exact His love can be. God loves us in all He does, in His admonitions, in His guidance, in His chastising, it's all love. We can punish and still love, love does mean not recognizing wrong. Turn the other cheek, do good to those who use you, these are actions-
Matthew {5:44} 'But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you'
Love, bless, do good, pray...
All actions- the looking beyond the feeling. We treat those we love with respect, we care for them and want what is best for them. We can bless someone without having overwhelming affectionate feelings for them. Loving our enemies doesn't mean liking what they do that makes them our enemies, the evil they do rightfully should sadden us. Sadden us more than anything because of the sin involve, the lack of love involve. Us choosing to do good to those who hate us, praying for those who use us despitefully, are choices we make. We're not going gush over them, and force *feelings* of love. We're going to treat them as we would be treated, treat them as God would treat them in love and forgiveness, and let God Himself mete out the punishment they deserve. We're not going to let any of those who are sinful towards us control our actions and work sin in us, or rather we shouldn't. When we choose to hate, to despise, to revile others in return for the way they treat us we are just as bad as they are in what they do to us. We try to justify it by saying they did it first but that's not something that can be justified. Sinning because we've been sinned upon. What a vicious cycle that would be, vicious and ultimately deadly.
Love is a choice, it doesn't have to be an emotion.
We choose loving ways, loving actions, loving deeds not out of feeling but out of a sense of right doing, of doing what is right, what is good; which is what God would have us do.
The ONLY way for us to find any sort of contentment on earth is in Christ, not others, not in our lives here and now. Love is a choice, a choice we make all the time in all our actions.
Provoking to love.
If we are loving we provoke others to love, right? They can choose to be unloving, but as long as we choose to love and be loving in our actions we call upon God to be loving through us and we can hope that the love we show through Christ is a love that will provoke others to the same, not to be like us, oh nooooo, but to be like God.
God help us all to let Him work in us, help us to provoke to love not to anger or hate, not to sin.
By the grace and mercy of Jesus.
Amen.
When we hear the term provoke we automatically associate it with an antagonistic action.
'Don't provoke me!'
'Don't provoke your sister!'
'Stop provoking your brother!'
'He provoked her, that's why she did what she did.'
'Because you were provoked we'll take that into consideration while discussing your situation.'
'The dog was provoked, that's why he bit her.'
Provocation.
provoke (pre-vok´) verb, transitive
provoked, provoking, provokes
1. To incite to anger or resentment.
2. To stir to action or feeling.
3. To give rise to; evoke: provoke laughter.
4. To bring about deliberately; induce: provoke a fight.
We tend to focus on the inciting to anger and resentment, inducing a negative action when we think of the word provoke.
Provoking also means stirring to action- or feeling, to give rise to; not necessarily bad things in and of themselves.
Read this...
Hebrews
{10:24} 'And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works'
Provoke unto love and to good works.
Provoke unto love.
Provoke to good works.
Another action word, yes? Provoke.
We provoke someone to anger by doing something to upset them, right? A brother can tease a sister, a sister tease a brother and they're provoking them to anger, teasing to get a response of anger. How often do we see someone provoking another to love? It's there, we just don't call it provoking. Helping another is provoking them to love isn't it? Being kind provokes others to kindness, or it can. Provoking to love.
How can *you* provoke someone to love?
How can you provoke someone to good works?
Hebrews
{10:24} 'And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works'
{10:25} Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is but exhorting one another and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching'
Exhorting one another.
We have to get together, we have to exhort one another-
exhort (îg-zôrt´) verb
exhorted, exhorting, exhorts verb, transitive
To urge by strong, often stirring argument, admonition, advice, or appeal
We have to urge each other, admonish one another, appeal to each other.
{10:24} 'And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works'
We need to get together and exhort one another- we have to provoke one another unto love and to good works.
Do you see?
This provoking one another to love and to good works, getting together to do so is necessary.
We have to help each other.
When we get together we have to do it with the purpose of provoking love and good works.
May God help us to do this because it's so needed.
It's so easy to provoke to anger, and yet provoking to love is a whole other story.
I sit here and think - 'How can I provoke someone to love?' And I come up short. We're not provoking to 'be in love' or to 'love us romantically', but love in the way God intended. The loving of our fellow man, the loving others as we would be loved by them is the provoking we are to do. I can easily come up with ways to provoke to anger, and yet to provoke to love?
Provoking emotions.
Or is it more than provoking emotions?
Love isn't just an emotion in this way is it? We're not just provoking a 'good' feeling. Love goes beyond that starry-eyed, that prideful, that self-absorption type of love we get caught up in. It goes beyond the 'I love you because you're family', it's a way of life. When Jesus told us to love them that hate us, to love our enemies did he mean for us to get all gushy inside over them, or feel happy about them? God loves us and we know how exact His love can be. God loves us in all He does, in His admonitions, in His guidance, in His chastising, it's all love. We can punish and still love, love does mean not recognizing wrong. Turn the other cheek, do good to those who use you, these are actions-
Matthew {5:44} 'But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you'
Love, bless, do good, pray...
All actions- the looking beyond the feeling. We treat those we love with respect, we care for them and want what is best for them. We can bless someone without having overwhelming affectionate feelings for them. Loving our enemies doesn't mean liking what they do that makes them our enemies, the evil they do rightfully should sadden us. Sadden us more than anything because of the sin involve, the lack of love involve. Us choosing to do good to those who hate us, praying for those who use us despitefully, are choices we make. We're not going gush over them, and force *feelings* of love. We're going to treat them as we would be treated, treat them as God would treat them in love and forgiveness, and let God Himself mete out the punishment they deserve. We're not going to let any of those who are sinful towards us control our actions and work sin in us, or rather we shouldn't. When we choose to hate, to despise, to revile others in return for the way they treat us we are just as bad as they are in what they do to us. We try to justify it by saying they did it first but that's not something that can be justified. Sinning because we've been sinned upon. What a vicious cycle that would be, vicious and ultimately deadly.
Love is a choice, it doesn't have to be an emotion.
We choose loving ways, loving actions, loving deeds not out of feeling but out of a sense of right doing, of doing what is right, what is good; which is what God would have us do.
The ONLY way for us to find any sort of contentment on earth is in Christ, not others, not in our lives here and now. Love is a choice, a choice we make all the time in all our actions.
Provoking to love.
If we are loving we provoke others to love, right? They can choose to be unloving, but as long as we choose to love and be loving in our actions we call upon God to be loving through us and we can hope that the love we show through Christ is a love that will provoke others to the same, not to be like us, oh nooooo, but to be like God.
God help us all to let Him work in us, help us to provoke to love not to anger or hate, not to sin.
By the grace and mercy of Jesus.
Amen.
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