Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
ergon
er'-gon
(a primary but obsolete word; to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication an act: - deed, doing, labour, work.
My reward is with me to give every man according to his work (deed, doing, labour, acts, efforts) shall be.
It's easy to consider yourself condemned instantly based upon this isn't it? Rewarded according to our works, our efforts, our acts. We know how far short we fall. Maybe you're counting all your good acts right now, patting yourself on the back for all the good things you do and congratulating yourself for living a life filled with good works. It's possible, people do a lot of good things. If you're not one of those do-gooders you know a few of them don't you? Sometimes you wish if circumstances were different you'd be a do-gooder too, and well, you do the best you can. Isn't that something we console ourselves with? Telling ourselves we do the best we can. But do we? People don't like to believe they have to do anything more than accept Christ and that's it, they've got their first class ticket to eternal life. I'll be the first to stand up and scream we are saved by grace not of works, my Bible tells me so! I'll also stand up and add to that the fact Christ was a living example to us as to how we should lead our lives. He told us how to live and to live any differently is not following Him. If you accept Christ you follow Him. No, we can't become His disciples in the literal sense of following His around here on earth as they did before His crucifixtion, but we can become His disciples in following the principles He left behind for us. He didn't leave us to flounder wondering what now, He told us.
Mat 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
TAUGHT THEM! Taught us, this is a huge lesson for us too. So sit back and imagine yourself living back then and having front row seats to this lesson brought to us by the greatest Professor that ever lived. Maybe you'll start reading this and then stop, thinking it's too long, too much to read, but honestly Jesus taught this -ALL- of this and the people hung on His every word so why don't we make the time to read through it ALL, yes, all 3 chapters. We'll get a good idea of what Jesus wanted us to learn about life and living. Remember, He didn't leave us without instructions and it's true we are only saved by grace, and it is true our works won't save us, but our lives which are comprised of our works reveal our hearts. And don't despair if you think your heart is all wrong, we can pray just like David prayed- Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Sit back, make sure you're comfy and listen to Jesus speak to you...
Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
Mat 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Mat 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
Mat 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Mat 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
Mat 5:26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
Mat 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Mat 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Mat 5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Mat 5:31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
Mat 5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
Mat 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
Mat 5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
Mat 5:35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Mat 5:36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
Mat 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
Mat 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Mat 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Mat 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
Mat 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Mat 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 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;
Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Mat 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Mat 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Mat 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
Mat 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Mat 6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
Mat 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
Mat 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Mat 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Mat 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Mat 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Mat 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Mat 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Mat 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Mat 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Mat 6:17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
Mat 6:18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Mat 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
Mat 6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Mat 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Mat 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Mat 6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Mat 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Mat 6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Mat 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Mat 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Mat 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Mat 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Mat 7:9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
Mat 7:10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
Mat 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Mat 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Mat 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
Mat 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may we listen and learn from Him and live in Him as He wills us to live.
Amen.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Joy in Temptation
Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Jas 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
How often do you find yourself counting it joy when you fall into temptation? Seriously. I know personally when I'm tempted and often fall to the temptation I'm not counting it joy at all. Perhaps we need to learn to look at temptation itself differently- not the falling to temptation but the bit before the fall. Still misery? It really is, isn't it. Take a dieter for example who is tempted to eat from a table filled with sweets. Walking passed that table is it something that will have the dieter smiling? There they are looking at the food, their mouths watering perhaps and that desire rises up hard and fast to take that chocolate covered eclair, or that chocolate covered cream-filled donut, or perhaps that delicious looking piece of apple pie, maybe it's the cookies that get your sweet tooth aching whatever it is can you imagine the situation? It's not fun, it's not joy, in fact it's a certain sort of agony that comes with being tempted- with the wanting, with the desire. Alcoholics, drug addicts, food addicts (yes, this is real), smokers, gamblers, you name the sin and the need to abstain from it and you'll have temptation to give in to it. Maybe the sin you fight is less tangible and more to do with your temper, or your selfishness, or your lack of compassion, your greed, your road rage, it doesn't matter because any sin will come with a temptation to commit the sin. There is a period of time there whether it's a second or an hour, a full day or who knows a week or more. That *hour* of temptation can be fierce and there is an internal warring going on whether to commit the act or not to commit it. You know what I'm talking about I'm sure of it. Now here we have this verse, this Bible verse, the Holy Word of God, and it says 'count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.' Count it joy when you're experiencing this awful battle? This is part of war you know- that war between good and evil, God and Satan. There we are underfire, being assaulted to commit sin and we are to count it joy. JOY. JOY!
How are we to count it joy, we're suffering aren't we? Most addicts can tell you that there is pain going through withdrawal, and even pain in temptation. We are sin addicts, we are. We're addicted to various sins and there is help in Christ and Christ only to overcome the sins.
That verse goes on to say, 'Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.'
We are to count it joy when we are tempted, why? Because we know that the temptation is a trying of our faith in God and the trying of our faith will work patience in us. Again a lot of people who acknowledge their addictions and strive to overcome them are told that time will make things easier and for a lot of people that's true, for others it isn't. A food addict can't steer themselves away from all food, a greedy person will have to deal with money, and so on and it's not so easy being in the battle day after day, but that's exactly what life is for us all.
Some might choose not to fight in the battle but rather just that's not possible. We're all in the battle, everyone of us. We choose all the time one side or the other and we fight for either God or Satan. No, we're not perfect and we do stumble and fall but we have Christ there ready to pick us up and help us - yes, day after day. If we given into temptation to sin and don't even care about any of it so that it's not temptation to us but our life we are choosing the wrong side in the war, but it's a choice only we can make.
May God Bless us all and help us to recognize that temptation is going to exist for us every single day of our lives and as we experience the agony of temptation may God help us to count it joy as we suffer, holding fast, and by His grace not succumb to the temptation.
All glory and praise to God! In Christ Jesus our Savior now and forever.
Amen.
Jas 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
How often do you find yourself counting it joy when you fall into temptation? Seriously. I know personally when I'm tempted and often fall to the temptation I'm not counting it joy at all. Perhaps we need to learn to look at temptation itself differently- not the falling to temptation but the bit before the fall. Still misery? It really is, isn't it. Take a dieter for example who is tempted to eat from a table filled with sweets. Walking passed that table is it something that will have the dieter smiling? There they are looking at the food, their mouths watering perhaps and that desire rises up hard and fast to take that chocolate covered eclair, or that chocolate covered cream-filled donut, or perhaps that delicious looking piece of apple pie, maybe it's the cookies that get your sweet tooth aching whatever it is can you imagine the situation? It's not fun, it's not joy, in fact it's a certain sort of agony that comes with being tempted- with the wanting, with the desire. Alcoholics, drug addicts, food addicts (yes, this is real), smokers, gamblers, you name the sin and the need to abstain from it and you'll have temptation to give in to it. Maybe the sin you fight is less tangible and more to do with your temper, or your selfishness, or your lack of compassion, your greed, your road rage, it doesn't matter because any sin will come with a temptation to commit the sin. There is a period of time there whether it's a second or an hour, a full day or who knows a week or more. That *hour* of temptation can be fierce and there is an internal warring going on whether to commit the act or not to commit it. You know what I'm talking about I'm sure of it. Now here we have this verse, this Bible verse, the Holy Word of God, and it says 'count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.' Count it joy when you're experiencing this awful battle? This is part of war you know- that war between good and evil, God and Satan. There we are underfire, being assaulted to commit sin and we are to count it joy. JOY. JOY!
How are we to count it joy, we're suffering aren't we? Most addicts can tell you that there is pain going through withdrawal, and even pain in temptation. We are sin addicts, we are. We're addicted to various sins and there is help in Christ and Christ only to overcome the sins.
That verse goes on to say, 'Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.'
We are to count it joy when we are tempted, why? Because we know that the temptation is a trying of our faith in God and the trying of our faith will work patience in us. Again a lot of people who acknowledge their addictions and strive to overcome them are told that time will make things easier and for a lot of people that's true, for others it isn't. A food addict can't steer themselves away from all food, a greedy person will have to deal with money, and so on and it's not so easy being in the battle day after day, but that's exactly what life is for us all.
Some might choose not to fight in the battle but rather just that's not possible. We're all in the battle, everyone of us. We choose all the time one side or the other and we fight for either God or Satan. No, we're not perfect and we do stumble and fall but we have Christ there ready to pick us up and help us - yes, day after day. If we given into temptation to sin and don't even care about any of it so that it's not temptation to us but our life we are choosing the wrong side in the war, but it's a choice only we can make.
May God Bless us all and help us to recognize that temptation is going to exist for us every single day of our lives and as we experience the agony of temptation may God help us to count it joy as we suffer, holding fast, and by His grace not succumb to the temptation.
All glory and praise to God! In Christ Jesus our Savior now and forever.
Amen.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Judge Ourselves
1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Judging ourselves. We don't like to judge ourselves do we? We'd much rather leave that to others and then we like to condemn those who do judge us as those who have no right to judge us, they don't walk in our shoes so to speak. Still and all, we don't like to judge ourselves because we are forced to realize our shortcomings are truly more than we can bear and that leads us to despair and despair continues with the cascading effect of hopelessness and that leads us to more sin because we see the impossibility of ever being worthy. Judging ourselves can have another affect and that is instead of leading us to hopelessness we find our hope in Christ. Understanding that when we are judged and accept the Lord's revelation of our unworthiness we won't be condemn if we realize we need the Lord in all things.
If we neglect to judge ourselves how will we see our need? If we don't see our need then we can't understand how much we need Christ in our lives.
Heb 2:2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him
Every transgression and disobedience receives a just recompence of reward.
What is the reward for transgression and disobedience?
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death...
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?
Our only hope is through Christ and if we do neglect to understand this need, if we neglect to judge ourselves and recognize and confess our sins, if we don't repent and seek forgiveness in Christ we are truly condemned.
Let's not be afraid to judge ourselves and in judging ourselves find ourselves unworthy and seek Christ because it is only in Christ that we are worthy through His righteousness. If when we judge ourselves we are chastened by the Lord we should be happy.
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
May the Lord help us to judge ourselves and to seek forgiveness in Him, to see our unworthiness and count on Him and His righteousness. May we be rebuked and chastened by the Lord, repenting of our sins always.
By the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior now and forever.
Amen.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Judging ourselves. We don't like to judge ourselves do we? We'd much rather leave that to others and then we like to condemn those who do judge us as those who have no right to judge us, they don't walk in our shoes so to speak. Still and all, we don't like to judge ourselves because we are forced to realize our shortcomings are truly more than we can bear and that leads us to despair and despair continues with the cascading effect of hopelessness and that leads us to more sin because we see the impossibility of ever being worthy. Judging ourselves can have another affect and that is instead of leading us to hopelessness we find our hope in Christ. Understanding that when we are judged and accept the Lord's revelation of our unworthiness we won't be condemn if we realize we need the Lord in all things.
If we neglect to judge ourselves how will we see our need? If we don't see our need then we can't understand how much we need Christ in our lives.
Heb 2:2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him
Every transgression and disobedience receives a just recompence of reward.
What is the reward for transgression and disobedience?
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death...
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?
Our only hope is through Christ and if we do neglect to understand this need, if we neglect to judge ourselves and recognize and confess our sins, if we don't repent and seek forgiveness in Christ we are truly condemned.
Let's not be afraid to judge ourselves and in judging ourselves find ourselves unworthy and seek Christ because it is only in Christ that we are worthy through His righteousness. If when we judge ourselves we are chastened by the Lord we should be happy.
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
May the Lord help us to judge ourselves and to seek forgiveness in Him, to see our unworthiness and count on Him and His righteousness. May we be rebuked and chastened by the Lord, repenting of our sins always.
By the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior now and forever.
Amen.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Washed In the Blood Daily
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Rev 4:11 Worthy art thou, our Lord and our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power: for thou didst create all things, and because of thy will they were, and were created.
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to come to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.
Rev 7:14 And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they that come of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Rev 7:9 After these things I saw, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, arrayed in white robes, and palms in their hands
Created the heavens and the earth. Without the earth we would not exist. God created the earth and made it ready for us and then He created us and gave us the earth.
Psa 115:16 The heavens are the heavens of Jehovah; But the earth hath he given to the children of men.
We've been given the earth. We live upon the earth, this is our realm. We act within this realm, live out our lives here using the earth as we need to in order to survive for as long as we possibly can. God allows us to use the earth as we see fit. Men have built up the earth; planting trees and gardens, keeping waterways clean. Men have also destroyed parts of the earth; tearing down forests, ripping up the ground and making it unliveable, polluting and damming up water ways. We have controlled how we use the earth. No, this isn't a big GREEN blog post today, we are talking about the creator and His creations. God is the creator and we are His creations. God is worthy because He created all things of His will. We creatures need to have clean robes and no I don't mean literally, though having clean clothes is always a good thing.
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags
Our righteousness, the righteousness of God's creations, us human beings is as filthy rags; so dirty they're not just lightly soiled but filthy. There is only one way to clean them and that's with blood. How contradictory, right? If we're talking literally then taking a filthy rag and soaking it in blood only makes it even more filthy, right? But we're not talking literally we're talking spiritual. Our righteousness is a spiritual thing and we can be spiritually filthy and nothing spiritually filthy will enter heaven. The blood of the Lamb is the only thing that can clean our spiritual filthiness and we cannot manufacture that blood. We could try for a lifetime to manufacture the blood of the Lamb but it would be impossible. There will be no synthetic cleansing blood- it doesn't exist and will never exist though many will tell you that you in fact can cleanse your spiritual self all on your own. The only thing we can do is present ourselves to the Lamb and ask for His cleasing. He won't hand us a gallon bucket of His blood and send us on our way. Spiritually He will offer Himself to us and we accept the offering allowing His blood to wash away our spiritual filthiness.
How often do we present ourselves to the Lamb of God?
Joh 6:33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Joh 6:34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread
Dan 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime
Luk 1:9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
Luk 1:10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
Exo 30:7 And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.
Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
We are to pray for our daily bread- Jesus is the Bread of Life.
As customary Daniel prayed 3 times a day.
At the time of the incense people are praying. Every day the people are praying. The prayers of the saints ascend before God.
Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper.
1Co 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
Jesus the Bread of Life which we are to pray daily for, the Bread of Life- Jesus dying for us, broken for us. The blood of the Lamb we are to remember often. So how often are we to present ourselves to the Lamb of God, to receive the spiritual cleansing only He can give? Daily. Often.
Most people if given the opportunity will wash daily if not bathing their entire body they'll at least wash their hands and face. We wash our physical selves and we need to have our spiritual selves cleansed and our robes will be made white in Jesus' blood. We will have HIS righteousness that will make us ready before God.
By the will of God, by the mercy and forgiveness, the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Rev 4:11 Worthy art thou, our Lord and our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power: for thou didst create all things, and because of thy will they were, and were created.
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to come to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.
Rev 7:14 And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they that come of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Rev 7:9 After these things I saw, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, arrayed in white robes, and palms in their hands
Created the heavens and the earth. Without the earth we would not exist. God created the earth and made it ready for us and then He created us and gave us the earth.
Psa 115:16 The heavens are the heavens of Jehovah; But the earth hath he given to the children of men.
We've been given the earth. We live upon the earth, this is our realm. We act within this realm, live out our lives here using the earth as we need to in order to survive for as long as we possibly can. God allows us to use the earth as we see fit. Men have built up the earth; planting trees and gardens, keeping waterways clean. Men have also destroyed parts of the earth; tearing down forests, ripping up the ground and making it unliveable, polluting and damming up water ways. We have controlled how we use the earth. No, this isn't a big GREEN blog post today, we are talking about the creator and His creations. God is the creator and we are His creations. God is worthy because He created all things of His will. We creatures need to have clean robes and no I don't mean literally, though having clean clothes is always a good thing.
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags
Our righteousness, the righteousness of God's creations, us human beings is as filthy rags; so dirty they're not just lightly soiled but filthy. There is only one way to clean them and that's with blood. How contradictory, right? If we're talking literally then taking a filthy rag and soaking it in blood only makes it even more filthy, right? But we're not talking literally we're talking spiritual. Our righteousness is a spiritual thing and we can be spiritually filthy and nothing spiritually filthy will enter heaven. The blood of the Lamb is the only thing that can clean our spiritual filthiness and we cannot manufacture that blood. We could try for a lifetime to manufacture the blood of the Lamb but it would be impossible. There will be no synthetic cleansing blood- it doesn't exist and will never exist though many will tell you that you in fact can cleanse your spiritual self all on your own. The only thing we can do is present ourselves to the Lamb and ask for His cleasing. He won't hand us a gallon bucket of His blood and send us on our way. Spiritually He will offer Himself to us and we accept the offering allowing His blood to wash away our spiritual filthiness.
How often do we present ourselves to the Lamb of God?
Joh 6:33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Joh 6:34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread
Dan 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime
Luk 1:9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
Luk 1:10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
Exo 30:7 And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.
Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
We are to pray for our daily bread- Jesus is the Bread of Life.
As customary Daniel prayed 3 times a day.
At the time of the incense people are praying. Every day the people are praying. The prayers of the saints ascend before God.
Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper.
1Co 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
Jesus the Bread of Life which we are to pray daily for, the Bread of Life- Jesus dying for us, broken for us. The blood of the Lamb we are to remember often. So how often are we to present ourselves to the Lamb of God, to receive the spiritual cleansing only He can give? Daily. Often.
Most people if given the opportunity will wash daily if not bathing their entire body they'll at least wash their hands and face. We wash our physical selves and we need to have our spiritual selves cleansed and our robes will be made white in Jesus' blood. We will have HIS righteousness that will make us ready before God.
By the will of God, by the mercy and forgiveness, the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Let Not Sin Have Any Dominion Over Me
Psa 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
Such a prayer. This prayer should be one we all pray shouldn't it? 'Order my steps in thy word', we want our lives to be led by God don't we? If our steps are ordered in His word we are following His ways aren't we? We are following the path He would have us take. Adding to that; 'let not iniquity have dominion over me.' we are saying that we don't want sin to rule us. Sin does that, doesn't it? It rules us. It controls us, it dominates us in so many ways. We fall victim to sin and then it starts to consume us. Any addict will tell you the depths of depravity that an all consuming, domineering sin has over them. The craving to sin is intense, the longing to give into the sin to find relief from the pain of not sinning is so intense. Of course then the guilt creeps in after the offense and the self-loathing reigns and the cycle starts all over again. Is it any wonder that David wrote those words- 'Order my steps in thy word and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.'
For those who don't believe sin can have dominion over a person they are wrong. The chains of sin are so strong, so binding.
Luk 13:11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
Luk 13:16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
Satan bound that woman 18 years! 18 years! It doesn't matter if Satan is binding a person physically or mentally, perhaps emotionally, the thing that matters is Satan does have the power to bind a person and sin can have dominion over a person. We are fools to think otherwise. Fools to look at a person and think that their binding sin is trivial just because it's not a sin that tempts us or tries to bind us.
We need to pray that sin doesn't have dominion over us. We need to pray for Jesus to set us free.
Jesus read from the book of Isaiah-
Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.
(Found in Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound)
Deliverance to the captives, liberty to them that are bruised, liberty to the captives, opening of the prison to them that are bound.
In Christ we are all made free even if we are suffering afflictions here and now. We can be freed from the dominion of iniquity and make no mistake Satan tries to get dominion over each and every one of us using sins that are particular to us as individuals.
Set us free Jesus, set us free in You, in Your love. Fill us with Your love so that when we are freed from our sins we aren't leaving ourselves open to even more domineering sins to take over. Help us Lord. We pray the words in Your Holy Word--
'Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.' Help us seek your word, let your words fill our lives and please Lord, keep sin from ruling us, ruling our lives.
By Your grace and mercy O Lord, now and forever.
Amen.
Such a prayer. This prayer should be one we all pray shouldn't it? 'Order my steps in thy word', we want our lives to be led by God don't we? If our steps are ordered in His word we are following His ways aren't we? We are following the path He would have us take. Adding to that; 'let not iniquity have dominion over me.' we are saying that we don't want sin to rule us. Sin does that, doesn't it? It rules us. It controls us, it dominates us in so many ways. We fall victim to sin and then it starts to consume us. Any addict will tell you the depths of depravity that an all consuming, domineering sin has over them. The craving to sin is intense, the longing to give into the sin to find relief from the pain of not sinning is so intense. Of course then the guilt creeps in after the offense and the self-loathing reigns and the cycle starts all over again. Is it any wonder that David wrote those words- 'Order my steps in thy word and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.'
For those who don't believe sin can have dominion over a person they are wrong. The chains of sin are so strong, so binding.
Luk 13:11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
Luk 13:16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
Satan bound that woman 18 years! 18 years! It doesn't matter if Satan is binding a person physically or mentally, perhaps emotionally, the thing that matters is Satan does have the power to bind a person and sin can have dominion over a person. We are fools to think otherwise. Fools to look at a person and think that their binding sin is trivial just because it's not a sin that tempts us or tries to bind us.
We need to pray that sin doesn't have dominion over us. We need to pray for Jesus to set us free.
Jesus read from the book of Isaiah-
Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.
(Found in Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound)
Deliverance to the captives, liberty to them that are bruised, liberty to the captives, opening of the prison to them that are bound.
In Christ we are all made free even if we are suffering afflictions here and now. We can be freed from the dominion of iniquity and make no mistake Satan tries to get dominion over each and every one of us using sins that are particular to us as individuals.
Set us free Jesus, set us free in You, in Your love. Fill us with Your love so that when we are freed from our sins we aren't leaving ourselves open to even more domineering sins to take over. Help us Lord. We pray the words in Your Holy Word--
'Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.' Help us seek your word, let your words fill our lives and please Lord, keep sin from ruling us, ruling our lives.
By Your grace and mercy O Lord, now and forever.
Amen.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Teach Us Thy Will
Psa 40:8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
Psa 143:10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Mat 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
Luk 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Heb 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
Heb 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
*
God's will be done. Not our will, but God's. Jesus came to fulfil the will of His Father. Just imagine Him saying this--
'O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.'
He spoke to His Father and submitted to His Father's will doing something that He really would rather not do. How often are we called to do things we would rather not do? And how often do we simply not do it rather than submit? Sure it'd be easier if things were clear cut, but we know how God would have us be. How Jesus came to reveal God to us, to reveal His will that we should love one another and all that entails. We don't love each other, not really. We don't even like each other the majority of the time. Why? Because we are so focused on ourselves and our own feelings, our own desires, our own opinions, our own ways. We are selfish, totally selfish and we put ourselves first before God's will- all the time.
With David we should pray-
Psa 40:8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
Psa 143:10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
Teach us God, teach us to do Your will.
In and of ourselves, left to our own we can't know how to do God's will. We must surrender to God's will and when we find ourselves totally self-absorbed and considering our own selves, our feelings, our wants, our needs, we have to stop and consider whether or not what we want is what God wants.
Jesus taught us to pray and pray- Thy will be done, not our will be done.
Please Lord, open our hearts and minds to Your will whatever it is. Let our will be that your will be done, always. Teach us, help us, through the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who prayed Your will be done.
Amen.
Psa 143:10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Mat 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
Luk 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Heb 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
Heb 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
*
God's will be done. Not our will, but God's. Jesus came to fulfil the will of His Father. Just imagine Him saying this--
'O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.'
He spoke to His Father and submitted to His Father's will doing something that He really would rather not do. How often are we called to do things we would rather not do? And how often do we simply not do it rather than submit? Sure it'd be easier if things were clear cut, but we know how God would have us be. How Jesus came to reveal God to us, to reveal His will that we should love one another and all that entails. We don't love each other, not really. We don't even like each other the majority of the time. Why? Because we are so focused on ourselves and our own feelings, our own desires, our own opinions, our own ways. We are selfish, totally selfish and we put ourselves first before God's will- all the time.
With David we should pray-
Psa 40:8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
Psa 143:10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
Teach us God, teach us to do Your will.
In and of ourselves, left to our own we can't know how to do God's will. We must surrender to God's will and when we find ourselves totally self-absorbed and considering our own selves, our feelings, our wants, our needs, we have to stop and consider whether or not what we want is what God wants.
Jesus taught us to pray and pray- Thy will be done, not our will be done.
Please Lord, open our hearts and minds to Your will whatever it is. Let our will be that your will be done, always. Teach us, help us, through the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who prayed Your will be done.
Amen.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Eternal Life in Jeopardy
Mal 2:17 Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?
Making God weary. Saying that those who do evil are good to the Lord, that the Lord is pleased with them even though they do evil. Questioning God's ability to judge.
We can understand a little, and personally because we become tired of people questioning our reasoning and this is fallible, human reasoning. A judge sitting on the bench in court passing judgement won't tolerate people challenging their judgement. They put people in contempt of court if they're belligerent and openingly questioning of decisions they pass. There are proper channels for people to take when they believe a judgement wrong, but to outright challenge a decision is cause for being fined. This is our court system. God is infallible, God's judgment is perfect even if we don't understand it all. When we question God we reveal our lack of faith in Him. Having your faith questioned is very tiring. A couple with one of the partners constantly questioning the others faith is very, very tiresome. We want our loved ones to believe in us and not question our faithfulness, don't we? Imagine how it must be on the level of God.
When we make claims that evil is good and live our lives in what we call acceptable evil, we also weary God. God is in control though many would think otherwise. It's easy to question God when we look at the horrors of life, when we ourselves find it so incredibly impossible to keep from sinning. We become numb to the true horror of sin and we begin to condone it and call it natural and good but in truth, God sees through the thick clouds of confusion we succumb to. We cause the Lord to be wearied by denying the evil that we do, and that others do in His sight, actually claiming that God is delighted in the evildoers, or questioning God's ability to judge, all of this displeases God as it should.
We might question God's ability to be wearied, but there are many forms of being weary and it's not at all hard to imagine God fed up with evil and evil doers.
We live in a world that promotes instant life after death. That death is just a slip into a new existence and more often than not we stress that people should go towards a light- to the good life that waits. We have shows on television that portray people after death struggling to find the right path after death and the majority seem to find it and go the right way with the minority succumbing to the evil, dark side. The Bible tells us that the broad is the way that leads to death and narrow the way that leads to life, and it also tells us death is a sleep and the dead will wake to their judgement. Matt.7:13,14; 1 Thess. 4:14-18
We also read this-
Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
There is no instant life after death and the reality of it all is that FEW will be resurrected to life, the majority of people will be resurrected to damnation. We don't WANT to believe this. We want to sugarcoat salvation and believe that everyone will go to heaven. We'll see our loved ones in heaven even is we know they've led a life contrary to God, it's because God is good and forgiving, right? The Bible doesn't teach us that the majority will find Salvation in Christ, it teaches the opposite. We have to question whether we are among those that call evil good, if we say God is delighting in the evil- because we are calling that evil good. Truthfully it's easier to believe that the evil doesn't matter because few want to truly realize the possibility of their own eternal life in jeopardy.
May God bring to light and reveal to us any evil in our lives and in revealing it help us to overcome through Christ. We find salvation in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, through forgiveness of our sins-- may we recognize our sins so that we may ask for forgiveness, may we not sugar-coat our sins trying to fool ourselves that they are good.
By His Grace and Mercy now and forever.
Amen.
Making God weary. Saying that those who do evil are good to the Lord, that the Lord is pleased with them even though they do evil. Questioning God's ability to judge.
We can understand a little, and personally because we become tired of people questioning our reasoning and this is fallible, human reasoning. A judge sitting on the bench in court passing judgement won't tolerate people challenging their judgement. They put people in contempt of court if they're belligerent and openingly questioning of decisions they pass. There are proper channels for people to take when they believe a judgement wrong, but to outright challenge a decision is cause for being fined. This is our court system. God is infallible, God's judgment is perfect even if we don't understand it all. When we question God we reveal our lack of faith in Him. Having your faith questioned is very tiring. A couple with one of the partners constantly questioning the others faith is very, very tiresome. We want our loved ones to believe in us and not question our faithfulness, don't we? Imagine how it must be on the level of God.
When we make claims that evil is good and live our lives in what we call acceptable evil, we also weary God. God is in control though many would think otherwise. It's easy to question God when we look at the horrors of life, when we ourselves find it so incredibly impossible to keep from sinning. We become numb to the true horror of sin and we begin to condone it and call it natural and good but in truth, God sees through the thick clouds of confusion we succumb to. We cause the Lord to be wearied by denying the evil that we do, and that others do in His sight, actually claiming that God is delighted in the evildoers, or questioning God's ability to judge, all of this displeases God as it should.
We might question God's ability to be wearied, but there are many forms of being weary and it's not at all hard to imagine God fed up with evil and evil doers.
We live in a world that promotes instant life after death. That death is just a slip into a new existence and more often than not we stress that people should go towards a light- to the good life that waits. We have shows on television that portray people after death struggling to find the right path after death and the majority seem to find it and go the right way with the minority succumbing to the evil, dark side. The Bible tells us that the broad is the way that leads to death and narrow the way that leads to life, and it also tells us death is a sleep and the dead will wake to their judgement. Matt.7:13,14; 1 Thess. 4:14-18
We also read this-
Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
There is no instant life after death and the reality of it all is that FEW will be resurrected to life, the majority of people will be resurrected to damnation. We don't WANT to believe this. We want to sugarcoat salvation and believe that everyone will go to heaven. We'll see our loved ones in heaven even is we know they've led a life contrary to God, it's because God is good and forgiving, right? The Bible doesn't teach us that the majority will find Salvation in Christ, it teaches the opposite. We have to question whether we are among those that call evil good, if we say God is delighting in the evil- because we are calling that evil good. Truthfully it's easier to believe that the evil doesn't matter because few want to truly realize the possibility of their own eternal life in jeopardy.
May God bring to light and reveal to us any evil in our lives and in revealing it help us to overcome through Christ. We find salvation in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, through forgiveness of our sins-- may we recognize our sins so that we may ask for forgiveness, may we not sugar-coat our sins trying to fool ourselves that they are good.
By His Grace and Mercy now and forever.
Amen.
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