Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Joh 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause
Do you ever feel like the whole world hates you? Or do you blame your life and the way it is and the things that happen, on God? Satan is thrilled when we do that. He loves to hear us even think the words, 'Why, God, why!' He revels in our anger towards God. He adores our emnity with God because He is the author of that emnity and it is his life's mission to get as many human beings on board with that emnity as He can. And you know, He doesn't care if the emnity we feel is so minute that we don't even recognize it for what it is. There are many who are comfortable in their lives without any thought of God and when we have no thought for God, we are blind and comfortable in that blindness. Back to the the world hating us. Satan hates us, there is no love in Him whatsoever. Satan is the prince of THIS world and He would have the world hate any that are with God. He will not leave any trick unturned to get us to hate God and that includes using the world's hate to turn us against God by misplacing the blame. We are chosen OUT of the world. We are NOT of this world and yet we think we need to fit into the world and when we don't, when our lives don't fit in place in the world we get dismayed. We don't want to be one of those *crazies*, and sometimes we do want that but on our own terms. We'll be considered a *crazie* for God as long as He keeps our lives uncomplicated. It doesn't work that way. The world will hate those that love God, Satan will hate those who love God. The world hated Jesus without cause. Will we deserve any less? There won't be a reason for the bad things that happen to us in life. There won't be something we can look at and go, 'Oh...that's why.' Without any cause we too will be hated and while our sin filled lives are cause enough, we have to trust God, trust God fully and not look at ourselves for answers. We have to expect a life of being hated and living a life that is unfair in so many ways. We can't get caught up in believing our life is right with God only if things are going good with us. Our lives are right with God when we have faith in Him no matter what life brings us. The next time life turns on you and throws you for a huge loop try placing the blame where it belongs- on Satan, the prince of this world we live in. Cling to Christ's love and Christ's righteousness when it seems as if we are no where near the life God would have us be.
By the grace and mercy of God may we live our lives in Him fully. Protect us Lord, protect us and keep us no matter what befalls us or in what way, Keep us from the enemy within us that would bring us to despair. Create in us a clean heart Lord, renew a right spirit within. Please Lord.
Amen.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
The World Hates You
Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Joh 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause
Do you ever feel like the whole world hates you? Or do you blame your life and the way it is and the things that happen, on God? Satan is thrilled when we do that. He loves to hear us even think the words, 'Why, God, why!' He revels in our anger towards God. He adores our emnity with God because He is the author of that emnity and it is his life's mission to get as many human beings on board with that emnity as He can. And you know, He doesn't care if the emnity we feel is so minute that we don't even recognize it for what it is. There are many who are comfortable in their lives without any thought of God and when we have no thought for God, we are blind and comfortable in that blindness. Back to the the world hating us. Satan hates us, there is no love in Him whatsoever. Satan is the prince of THIS world and He would have the world hate any that are with God. He will not leave any trick unturned to get us to hate God and that includes using the world's hate to turn us against God by misplacing the blame. We are chosen OUT of the world. We are NOT of this world and yet we think we need to fit into the world and when we don't, when our lives don't fit in place in the world we get dismayed. We don't want to be one of those *crazies*, and sometimes we do want that but on our own terms. We'll be considered a *crazie* for God as long as He keeps our lives uncomplicated. It doesn't work that way. The world will hate those that love God, Satan will hate those who love God. The world hated Jesus without cause. Will we deserve any less? There won't be a reason for the bad things that happen to us in life. There won't be something we can look at and go, 'Oh...that's why.' Without any cause we too will be hated and while our sin filled lives are cause enough, we have to trust God, trust God fully and not look at ourselves for answers. We have to expect a life of being hated and living a life that is unfair in so many ways. We can't get caught up in believing our life is right with God only if things are going good with us. Our lives are right with God when we have faith in Him no matter what life brings us. The next time life turns on you and throws you for a huge loop try placing the blame where it belongs- on Satan, the prince of this world we live in. Cling to Christ's love and Christ's righteousness when it seems as if we are no where near the life God would have us be.
By the grace and mercy of God may we live our lives in Him fully. Protect us Lord, protect us and keep us no matter what befalls us or in what way, Keep us from the enemy within us that would bring us to despair. Create in us a clean heart Lord, renew a right spirit within. Please Lord.
Amen.
Joh 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause
Do you ever feel like the whole world hates you? Or do you blame your life and the way it is and the things that happen, on God? Satan is thrilled when we do that. He loves to hear us even think the words, 'Why, God, why!' He revels in our anger towards God. He adores our emnity with God because He is the author of that emnity and it is his life's mission to get as many human beings on board with that emnity as He can. And you know, He doesn't care if the emnity we feel is so minute that we don't even recognize it for what it is. There are many who are comfortable in their lives without any thought of God and when we have no thought for God, we are blind and comfortable in that blindness. Back to the the world hating us. Satan hates us, there is no love in Him whatsoever. Satan is the prince of THIS world and He would have the world hate any that are with God. He will not leave any trick unturned to get us to hate God and that includes using the world's hate to turn us against God by misplacing the blame. We are chosen OUT of the world. We are NOT of this world and yet we think we need to fit into the world and when we don't, when our lives don't fit in place in the world we get dismayed. We don't want to be one of those *crazies*, and sometimes we do want that but on our own terms. We'll be considered a *crazie* for God as long as He keeps our lives uncomplicated. It doesn't work that way. The world will hate those that love God, Satan will hate those who love God. The world hated Jesus without cause. Will we deserve any less? There won't be a reason for the bad things that happen to us in life. There won't be something we can look at and go, 'Oh...that's why.' Without any cause we too will be hated and while our sin filled lives are cause enough, we have to trust God, trust God fully and not look at ourselves for answers. We have to expect a life of being hated and living a life that is unfair in so many ways. We can't get caught up in believing our life is right with God only if things are going good with us. Our lives are right with God when we have faith in Him no matter what life brings us. The next time life turns on you and throws you for a huge loop try placing the blame where it belongs- on Satan, the prince of this world we live in. Cling to Christ's love and Christ's righteousness when it seems as if we are no where near the life God would have us be.
By the grace and mercy of God may we live our lives in Him fully. Protect us Lord, protect us and keep us no matter what befalls us or in what way, Keep us from the enemy within us that would bring us to despair. Create in us a clean heart Lord, renew a right spirit within. Please Lord.
Amen.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Coming Down From Heaven
Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
Jesus came down from heaven.
Think abou it, think about what Jesus did.
We see various movies, it's in various books where a king voluntarily lays aside his crown and goes to live among the common people. Why does the king do that? Perhaps to get a taste of a normal life. The king meanwhile knows that at any time He can pick up his crown again and get out of the life of a common man and more often than not he does after learning some important life lesson which ends up making him a better man. Those are stories we read and watch. In fact on televison right now they're playing a show called 'Undercover Boss' where the CEO of various companies goes undercover for a week to see how his businesses are doing in a unique way- as an entry level employess new to the job with a documentary being filmed on his life going into a new job. Well, I'm not sure how much is a 'story', how different people react when cameras are on them changing normal behavior but I guess barring a hidden camera it's the best way they're going to get this sort of show done. The premise is the CEO is trying to make his company better by understanding what the 'little' man goes through and where things can be improved. A good premise for a show but the ultimate abdication of a crown is the one Jesus laid aside to become human.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
Jesus came in the flesh and is of God.
Jesus came down from heaven. In heaven He was a Spirit like God.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit
Jesus was the Word with God in the beginning.
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Just as on earth we have kings and their sons, princes holding all the power of his father- in heaven we had God the Father and God the Son- both Spirits. Then the Spirit of the Son took on flesh and dwelt among us.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
Jesus a God in heaven set aside His sole spirit form and took on flesh coming down from heaven why? To do the will of God, not His own will.
We need to do the will of God, not our will. If we start our days and give our life to God's will then prayerfully throughout our day we'll walk in God's will and not our own. It's very very hard to do and really, impossible to do on our own. We have to cling to Christ and pray that His righteousness by ours because our own is nothing. We have to rely solely on God to do His will, because of our own selves we can do nothing, just like Jesus of His own self could do nothing, and we are far from being anywhere near like Jesus.
Joh 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
Joh 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Without Jesus we can do nothing. Jesus without God could do nothing.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and our precious all merciful, loving Savior now and forever.
Amen.
Jesus came down from heaven.
Think abou it, think about what Jesus did.
We see various movies, it's in various books where a king voluntarily lays aside his crown and goes to live among the common people. Why does the king do that? Perhaps to get a taste of a normal life. The king meanwhile knows that at any time He can pick up his crown again and get out of the life of a common man and more often than not he does after learning some important life lesson which ends up making him a better man. Those are stories we read and watch. In fact on televison right now they're playing a show called 'Undercover Boss' where the CEO of various companies goes undercover for a week to see how his businesses are doing in a unique way- as an entry level employess new to the job with a documentary being filmed on his life going into a new job. Well, I'm not sure how much is a 'story', how different people react when cameras are on them changing normal behavior but I guess barring a hidden camera it's the best way they're going to get this sort of show done. The premise is the CEO is trying to make his company better by understanding what the 'little' man goes through and where things can be improved. A good premise for a show but the ultimate abdication of a crown is the one Jesus laid aside to become human.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
Jesus came in the flesh and is of God.
Jesus came down from heaven. In heaven He was a Spirit like God.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit
Jesus was the Word with God in the beginning.
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Just as on earth we have kings and their sons, princes holding all the power of his father- in heaven we had God the Father and God the Son- both Spirits. Then the Spirit of the Son took on flesh and dwelt among us.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
Jesus a God in heaven set aside His sole spirit form and took on flesh coming down from heaven why? To do the will of God, not His own will.
We need to do the will of God, not our will. If we start our days and give our life to God's will then prayerfully throughout our day we'll walk in God's will and not our own. It's very very hard to do and really, impossible to do on our own. We have to cling to Christ and pray that His righteousness by ours because our own is nothing. We have to rely solely on God to do His will, because of our own selves we can do nothing, just like Jesus of His own self could do nothing, and we are far from being anywhere near like Jesus.
Joh 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
Joh 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Without Jesus we can do nothing. Jesus without God could do nothing.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and our precious all merciful, loving Savior now and forever.
Amen.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Faint not at my tribulations for you
Eph 3:13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
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.
Glorifying God.
If we honor God with our lives, our actions and such we are glorifying Him. We ask how we can glorify the Lord and our very lives are a testament to God. We don't need to do anything extraordinary. We don't have to be important or do some great work of notority. If we live a simple life to God that is enough to glorify Him. What matters most is we live for God and do His will whatever that may be. Knowing God's will for us isn't something easy. Again we tend to think outside of the normal life and into the extraordinary events. We have to know that it's God's will that we honor Him in all we do. We have to confess Jesus Christ the Son of God as our Lord and Savior and live a life that He calls us to live. It may mean picking up our own crosses and bearing our own heartaches, our own tribulations. We have to realize it's not God's disfavor that tribulation comes to us. God isn't punishing us. God isn't turning His back on us during the worst and darkest hours of our lives. We must cling to Him and confess that He is Lord and Savior, Creator and Redeemer even when our very lives and the lives of others around us are falling apart. Not easy, no, but it is the work we are called to do, God's work is for us to believe on Jesus Christ, His Son. We have to let our light shine, any good that comes from us must be attributed to God, not ourselves, all glory to God in the Highest, forever and ever.
Amen.
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.
Glorifying God.
If we honor God with our lives, our actions and such we are glorifying Him. We ask how we can glorify the Lord and our very lives are a testament to God. We don't need to do anything extraordinary. We don't have to be important or do some great work of notority. If we live a simple life to God that is enough to glorify Him. What matters most is we live for God and do His will whatever that may be. Knowing God's will for us isn't something easy. Again we tend to think outside of the normal life and into the extraordinary events. We have to know that it's God's will that we honor Him in all we do. We have to confess Jesus Christ the Son of God as our Lord and Savior and live a life that He calls us to live. It may mean picking up our own crosses and bearing our own heartaches, our own tribulations. We have to realize it's not God's disfavor that tribulation comes to us. God isn't punishing us. God isn't turning His back on us during the worst and darkest hours of our lives. We must cling to Him and confess that He is Lord and Savior, Creator and Redeemer even when our very lives and the lives of others around us are falling apart. Not easy, no, but it is the work we are called to do, God's work is for us to believe on Jesus Christ, His Son. We have to let our light shine, any good that comes from us must be attributed to God, not ourselves, all glory to God in the Highest, forever and ever.
Amen.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Glorifying God
glorify
glorify (glôr´e-fì´, glor´-) verb, transitive
glorified, glorifying, glorifies
1. To give glory, honor, or high praise to; exalt.
3. To give glory to, especially through worship.
glory (glôr´ê, glor´ê) noun
plural glories
1. Great honor, praise, or distinction accorded by common consent; renown.
2. Something conferring honor or renown.
3. A highly praiseworthy asset: Your hair is your crowning glory.
4. Adoration, praise, and thanksgiving offered in worship.
5. Majestic beauty and splendor; resplendence: The sun set in a blaze of glory.
6. The splendor and bliss of heaven; perfect happiness.
Glorifying God.
How do you glorify God?
How should we glorify God?
God wants us to glorify Him. Our lives are to be lived glorifying God. The greatest thing we could ever do in life is glorify God. Living a life glorifying God.
Eph 3:13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Tribulations for the glory of God?
Joh 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
Joh 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
The works of God should be made manifest in the man blind from birth.
Joh 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
The works of God is that we believe on Jesus.
When we believe on Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior we are doing the works of God. Glorifying God, giving Him the honor and praise, the adoration. When we have any tribulation at all whatsoever, large or small, we need to glorify God and do the works of God throughout the tribulation this is all God asks of us. To believe in Him through it all, through all of life no matter what comes. Easy to say. Horrors exist in our world that would rip apart the very sanity from a person and as we imagine the horrors and trying to glorify God during that horror it seems all but impossible doesn't it? When we are outside of the horrors, the heartaches, the pains, and sicknesses of life, we like to believe we can give glory to God throughout, but once we are in the midst of them it's not so easy. Should it be easy? Should our faith in God be strong no matter what comes?
Someone asked me recently if I were mad at God because of things happening in my life and I said no, and they said they would be. All I could do was say, no, I wasn't mad at God, I wasn't going to blame Him. I felt weak and near caving in but by God's grace I couldn't blame Him. And I mean it... by God's grace! Not by any special power of my own, not because oh, I'm just so wonderful or special quite the contrary. Only by God's grace can I hold fast.
I hear my daughter say- 'God's will be done.' When I don't want God's will to be a certain way and I want to say no... no don't let that be God's will. In fact she had the right of it. It wasn't that she was being callous at all, it was a faith that was manifest that even in the worst we need to pray God's will be done. We might not understand why or how or anything about the horrors that befall people, us included, but we have to pray God's will be done. God be glorified. God's works be done.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, the Son of man, the Son of God now and forever.
Amen.
glorify (glôr´e-fì´, glor´-) verb, transitive
glorified, glorifying, glorifies
1. To give glory, honor, or high praise to; exalt.
3. To give glory to, especially through worship.
glory (glôr´ê, glor´ê) noun
plural glories
1. Great honor, praise, or distinction accorded by common consent; renown.
2. Something conferring honor or renown.
3. A highly praiseworthy asset: Your hair is your crowning glory.
4. Adoration, praise, and thanksgiving offered in worship.
5. Majestic beauty and splendor; resplendence: The sun set in a blaze of glory.
6. The splendor and bliss of heaven; perfect happiness.
Glorifying God.
How do you glorify God?
How should we glorify God?
God wants us to glorify Him. Our lives are to be lived glorifying God. The greatest thing we could ever do in life is glorify God. Living a life glorifying God.
Eph 3:13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Tribulations for the glory of God?
Joh 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
Joh 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
The works of God should be made manifest in the man blind from birth.
Joh 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
The works of God is that we believe on Jesus.
When we believe on Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior we are doing the works of God. Glorifying God, giving Him the honor and praise, the adoration. When we have any tribulation at all whatsoever, large or small, we need to glorify God and do the works of God throughout the tribulation this is all God asks of us. To believe in Him through it all, through all of life no matter what comes. Easy to say. Horrors exist in our world that would rip apart the very sanity from a person and as we imagine the horrors and trying to glorify God during that horror it seems all but impossible doesn't it? When we are outside of the horrors, the heartaches, the pains, and sicknesses of life, we like to believe we can give glory to God throughout, but once we are in the midst of them it's not so easy. Should it be easy? Should our faith in God be strong no matter what comes?
Someone asked me recently if I were mad at God because of things happening in my life and I said no, and they said they would be. All I could do was say, no, I wasn't mad at God, I wasn't going to blame Him. I felt weak and near caving in but by God's grace I couldn't blame Him. And I mean it... by God's grace! Not by any special power of my own, not because oh, I'm just so wonderful or special quite the contrary. Only by God's grace can I hold fast.
I hear my daughter say- 'God's will be done.' When I don't want God's will to be a certain way and I want to say no... no don't let that be God's will. In fact she had the right of it. It wasn't that she was being callous at all, it was a faith that was manifest that even in the worst we need to pray God's will be done. We might not understand why or how or anything about the horrors that befall people, us included, but we have to pray God's will be done. God be glorified. God's works be done.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, the Son of man, the Son of God now and forever.
Amen.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Sometimes there isn't a sin.
Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
Sometimes there isn't a sin.
When you cry out why me, as life takes a turn that brings you pain, it's common to wonder if perhaps there's been something in how you've lived your life to bring the calamity about. Was there something you left undone? Did you not pray enough? Did you get angry unjustly once too often? Did your coveting stain you? Did you not ask for forgiveness for the selfishness you showed? What about your parents? Sometimes the sins of the fathers follow to the children don't they? Clearly they do.
Here in this Biblical instance Jesus is responding to the disciples asking Him why this particular man was born blind. Being born blind is obviously a curse so to speak and the disciples wanted to know who sinned, him or his parents. Jesus answered....neither. The curse of blindness at birth came about because it was something God wanted to happen for His glory. We think how horrible to deprive a person of their sight from birth to manifest your glory but it's an amazing blessing for this man. God allowed this to happen so that His works could be manifested in the blind man. God chose this man for a special calling to serve Him and is there anything greater than to be used for God's purpose? What a blessing he received. Not only was his physical sight restored to him but he had the blessing of having his spiritual sight opened as well at a time when the pharisees were deriding Jesus as being a miracle worker from God.
Could it be that sometimes we suffer to reveal God's glory?
Did that blind man who received his sight go on to never sin again? That's not for me to say but being human as we are and as Paul says, we are wretched creatures that can only live through the grace of God. Paul died daily and we too must die daily. Our self must die daily so that God's glory may shine through in us by His amazing grace and love.
'That the works of God should be made manifest...'
Things don't always have concrete reasons we can grasp hold of and sometimes it is 'that the works of God should be made manifest.'
May the works of God be made manifest in us all, may the glory of the Lord be our goal, not our own glory.
By the grace and the mercy, the everlasting eternal love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Sometimes there isn't a sin.
When you cry out why me, as life takes a turn that brings you pain, it's common to wonder if perhaps there's been something in how you've lived your life to bring the calamity about. Was there something you left undone? Did you not pray enough? Did you get angry unjustly once too often? Did your coveting stain you? Did you not ask for forgiveness for the selfishness you showed? What about your parents? Sometimes the sins of the fathers follow to the children don't they? Clearly they do.
Here in this Biblical instance Jesus is responding to the disciples asking Him why this particular man was born blind. Being born blind is obviously a curse so to speak and the disciples wanted to know who sinned, him or his parents. Jesus answered....neither. The curse of blindness at birth came about because it was something God wanted to happen for His glory. We think how horrible to deprive a person of their sight from birth to manifest your glory but it's an amazing blessing for this man. God allowed this to happen so that His works could be manifested in the blind man. God chose this man for a special calling to serve Him and is there anything greater than to be used for God's purpose? What a blessing he received. Not only was his physical sight restored to him but he had the blessing of having his spiritual sight opened as well at a time when the pharisees were deriding Jesus as being a miracle worker from God.
Could it be that sometimes we suffer to reveal God's glory?
Did that blind man who received his sight go on to never sin again? That's not for me to say but being human as we are and as Paul says, we are wretched creatures that can only live through the grace of God. Paul died daily and we too must die daily. Our self must die daily so that God's glory may shine through in us by His amazing grace and love.
'That the works of God should be made manifest...'
Things don't always have concrete reasons we can grasp hold of and sometimes it is 'that the works of God should be made manifest.'
May the works of God be made manifest in us all, may the glory of the Lord be our goal, not our own glory.
By the grace and the mercy, the everlasting eternal love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Suffering Wrongfully
1Pe 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
1Pe 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1Pe 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
*******
Suffering wrongfully. Would you say that you've suffered wrongfully? Would you declare that you've suffered unfairly? Would you say that in your life you've been made to suffer without cause? Do you believe that your suffering has been wrong, that you did nothing to deserve the suffering? Has God allowed things in your life to occur that make you angry at Him because you think you didn't deserve those things? I could say simply you're a sinner and you deserve every bad thing allowed to happen to you and it'd be true, right? We don't get to pick and choose what comes our way as a result of our sinning. You turn your life around and give it over to Christ your slate is clean you're walking the straight and narrow way and the worst agony you've every felt is allowed to befall you for no apparant good reason. You've been forgiven, you've suffered and Christ has suffered for you so why, why are you being allowed to suffer so much more than you ever suffered when you were lost in sin's strong, deadly grasp? Instantly you begin to believe that if you're going to suffer so much as God's when you've denied yourself so much to follow Him, you might as well stick to being a blatant sinner because you suffer no matter what and you might as well suffer for something you know you're doing wrong rather than for no good reason. What good is following God if we are called to suffer? What good is it if we devote our lives to Christ and then when we seemingly need His help the most it's gone? He's gone. Bottom line- we don't want to suffer anything. We don't want to be face with a temptation that calls for our suffering to over come, we want supernatural power to resist the temptation. When we find out all our lives we've suffered and lived a life full of compromise and then we see the life we SHOULD have had, a life with real love and no suffering, a life that should have been ours but is NOW out of our grasp because of the path we've walked down, it's painful and it's horrific and it's a slap in the face to have to deny ourselves something that should be ours. We rail against God for what we perceive as injustice. We cry out that we need help to overcome the temptation to sin and when we don't find that help and the sin overwhelms us we blame God for not giving us what we needed to beat the temptation. We spend our lives blaming God for allowing the unjust pain to occur, we blame God for not saving us from ourselves, we blame God for our weaknesses and in truth God has done all He had to do, all He could do to save us. Every day, every hour, every minute we have to believe that everything that comes our way- every temptation, every injustice, every pain, every heartache we suffer is NOTHING compared to the suffering of Jesus, innocent Jesus who took on our humanity setting aside the divinity that would keep Him from death. He had NO special power to use, not if He wanted to save us. He USED no power to keep Himself from the agonies of life, the temptations. We get it twisted in our thoughts that He was special and it was EASY for Him to live as He did and die as He did. We choose not to grasp the magnitude of what He suffered because if we keep from really comprehending it as far as we are able then we allow ourselves to believe we suffer more somehow because we aren't special as He was special and had the power to overcome- special power. The truth is He only had the same power we have right now today- God. He relied on His Father for all things and didn't trust things to His own power.
Joh 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
Jesus suffered in ways we'll never be called to suffered because we know we are sinners, He never was. And even after we come to Christ and devote our lives to Him fully, seeking and obtaining forgiveness for our sin filled lives, and we think suddenly we are entitled to some special power that will keep us from feeling temptation and pain, a special power that will make us feel as if God is always with us and not abandoning us. Didn't Jesus cry out...
Mar 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Did God forsake Him? NO! He was resurrected but Jesus certainly felt as if God had left Him didn't He? So why should we even begin to think that we should have some special treatment that will afford us the feeling that God never leaves us on our own, suffering? We do though. We stomp our feet and rail our fists in the air and we scream at God for His lack of being there for us when we need Him the most. We suffer and we expect something special, to be treated better than God's own sinless Son.
We are CALLED to suffer and to suffer unjustly. God won't leave us, though it may feel as if He has abandoned us and left us to Satan's devices. We blame God and our lives go on and we continue to suffer and we console ourselves with worldly evils telling ourselves that it's just as well because God isn't really who He says He is and nothing is as it should be and when I loved Him the most He left me.
1Pe 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
1Pe 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
God forgive us! GOD FORGIVE US! Because we are so weak. We give in when we suffer, we blame God for the suffering, we are so incredibly weak and lack so much in faith. Please God, please forgive us...forgive us for presuming to know Your ways and to accuse You of wrong. Forgive us God, forgive us and please Lord, please...restore us to you. We know our sins are many and willful and we've shunned You and turned our backs on You, we've blamed You and cursed You time and again, please Lord! For Jesus' forgive us, for Love forgive us and bring us to You fully once more knowing that anything and everything we are to endure will somehow work out for Your glory. Please Lord, we don't even know for what we should pray or how to pray, let the Holy Spirit intercede for us with You. We are so unworthy and only You are worthy. Lord we believe, help our unbelief! Please Lord! Help our unbelief! By Your perfect mercy, Your perfect grace, Your perfect rightousness in Jesus Christ our Lord and our Savior now and forever!
Amen.
1Pe 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1Pe 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
*******
Suffering wrongfully. Would you say that you've suffered wrongfully? Would you declare that you've suffered unfairly? Would you say that in your life you've been made to suffer without cause? Do you believe that your suffering has been wrong, that you did nothing to deserve the suffering? Has God allowed things in your life to occur that make you angry at Him because you think you didn't deserve those things? I could say simply you're a sinner and you deserve every bad thing allowed to happen to you and it'd be true, right? We don't get to pick and choose what comes our way as a result of our sinning. You turn your life around and give it over to Christ your slate is clean you're walking the straight and narrow way and the worst agony you've every felt is allowed to befall you for no apparant good reason. You've been forgiven, you've suffered and Christ has suffered for you so why, why are you being allowed to suffer so much more than you ever suffered when you were lost in sin's strong, deadly grasp? Instantly you begin to believe that if you're going to suffer so much as God's when you've denied yourself so much to follow Him, you might as well stick to being a blatant sinner because you suffer no matter what and you might as well suffer for something you know you're doing wrong rather than for no good reason. What good is following God if we are called to suffer? What good is it if we devote our lives to Christ and then when we seemingly need His help the most it's gone? He's gone. Bottom line- we don't want to suffer anything. We don't want to be face with a temptation that calls for our suffering to over come, we want supernatural power to resist the temptation. When we find out all our lives we've suffered and lived a life full of compromise and then we see the life we SHOULD have had, a life with real love and no suffering, a life that should have been ours but is NOW out of our grasp because of the path we've walked down, it's painful and it's horrific and it's a slap in the face to have to deny ourselves something that should be ours. We rail against God for what we perceive as injustice. We cry out that we need help to overcome the temptation to sin and when we don't find that help and the sin overwhelms us we blame God for not giving us what we needed to beat the temptation. We spend our lives blaming God for allowing the unjust pain to occur, we blame God for not saving us from ourselves, we blame God for our weaknesses and in truth God has done all He had to do, all He could do to save us. Every day, every hour, every minute we have to believe that everything that comes our way- every temptation, every injustice, every pain, every heartache we suffer is NOTHING compared to the suffering of Jesus, innocent Jesus who took on our humanity setting aside the divinity that would keep Him from death. He had NO special power to use, not if He wanted to save us. He USED no power to keep Himself from the agonies of life, the temptations. We get it twisted in our thoughts that He was special and it was EASY for Him to live as He did and die as He did. We choose not to grasp the magnitude of what He suffered because if we keep from really comprehending it as far as we are able then we allow ourselves to believe we suffer more somehow because we aren't special as He was special and had the power to overcome- special power. The truth is He only had the same power we have right now today- God. He relied on His Father for all things and didn't trust things to His own power.
Joh 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
Jesus suffered in ways we'll never be called to suffered because we know we are sinners, He never was. And even after we come to Christ and devote our lives to Him fully, seeking and obtaining forgiveness for our sin filled lives, and we think suddenly we are entitled to some special power that will keep us from feeling temptation and pain, a special power that will make us feel as if God is always with us and not abandoning us. Didn't Jesus cry out...
Mar 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Did God forsake Him? NO! He was resurrected but Jesus certainly felt as if God had left Him didn't He? So why should we even begin to think that we should have some special treatment that will afford us the feeling that God never leaves us on our own, suffering? We do though. We stomp our feet and rail our fists in the air and we scream at God for His lack of being there for us when we need Him the most. We suffer and we expect something special, to be treated better than God's own sinless Son.
We are CALLED to suffer and to suffer unjustly. God won't leave us, though it may feel as if He has abandoned us and left us to Satan's devices. We blame God and our lives go on and we continue to suffer and we console ourselves with worldly evils telling ourselves that it's just as well because God isn't really who He says He is and nothing is as it should be and when I loved Him the most He left me.
1Pe 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
1Pe 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
God forgive us! GOD FORGIVE US! Because we are so weak. We give in when we suffer, we blame God for the suffering, we are so incredibly weak and lack so much in faith. Please God, please forgive us...forgive us for presuming to know Your ways and to accuse You of wrong. Forgive us God, forgive us and please Lord, please...restore us to you. We know our sins are many and willful and we've shunned You and turned our backs on You, we've blamed You and cursed You time and again, please Lord! For Jesus' forgive us, for Love forgive us and bring us to You fully once more knowing that anything and everything we are to endure will somehow work out for Your glory. Please Lord, we don't even know for what we should pray or how to pray, let the Holy Spirit intercede for us with You. We are so unworthy and only You are worthy. Lord we believe, help our unbelief! Please Lord! Help our unbelief! By Your perfect mercy, Your perfect grace, Your perfect rightousness in Jesus Christ our Lord and our Savior now and forever!
Amen.
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