Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
When did this change? When did Jesus change this to peace on earth? You hear all the time talk of world peace. But Jesus didn't bring peace to earth when He was here and He didn't tell us to try and bring world peace. He wants us to find peace in Him, for us to promote His peace to others, but not to set a course for world peace. He tells us THINK NOT. He didn't want us to be confused on this issue. So many believe that the Messiah would come and bring peace with Him, today many believe He will come again and bring world peace with Him. But there will be NO world peace until sin is totally gone. Sin will not be totally gone until the day the author of sin is destroyed along with all those that have followed Him. People who spend countless hours, countless dollars are striving for world peace before the Bible tells us there will be world peace are misguided. I know this sounds contrary to a lot of people. Shouldn't we want peace? No, not the peace this world imagines, not peace without God as it's Author. The world will strive for some semblance of peace that it can manufacture, but at it's heart it won't be led by God. Jesus' own words tell us a different story. 'THINK NOT that I am come to send peace on earth, I came not to send peace, but a sword.' That sword is the Word of God, the Word of God is the truth.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Joh 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Jesus didn't pray for world peace and He didn't tell us to seek peace for the world. Do a search online for world peace, you'll find it's something many, many people are seeking. To talk contrary about world peace makes you appear as a rebel, as contrary to something God and Jesus would want. But the Bible tells us differently, Jesus tells us differently. I believe it's very important we have this understanding because we know that the enemy of God likes to appear as an angel of light. The enemy of God likes to set up false hope and situations that are pure counterfeit- meant to appear as if they are from God but they really, really aren't.
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Our battle is with the same enemy of Jesus, and our armor, our weapons the same as Jesus used. We have to wear our armor and we have to wield our sword confidently, practicing and using it daily so that we NEVER are caught without it at our side, unprepared to use the sword when we need it the most.
These verses here tell a story so much different than the one we like to imagine--
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
This is not a pretty picture of peace in the world. This is a picture of the warfare we are part of and if it's a warfare that can hit close to home and heart, what makes us think that it would be better for us with strangers and those who have no ties to us at all?
No, we are not to bring discord, we are to bring truth and if the truth brings discord we are to remain grounded in that truth and any discord that comes as a result is not to be unexpected. We can have the peace of God with us, but still be in a situation of discord. Peace in a storm. The storm may rage all around us, buffeting us unrelentingly, but we can have the peace of our Lord and Savior with us through it all. Satan will try and tell us that all the discord around us proves we are not really followers of Christ, because wherever we go there is upset and angst, but in truth that only proves how much Satan wants to draw us away from the peace by instigating the discord.
May God bless us all richly with His peace, with His amazing, all consuming love. May we hold fast to the truth in ALL things as we fight this battle of spiritual warfare.
By His grace and mercy!
Through His love and in His righteousness forever!
Amen.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
I will deliver my flock
Eze 34:9 Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
Eze 34:10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.
I am against the shepherds.
I will require my flock at their hand.
Cause them to cease from feeding the flock
Neither shall the shepherds feed themselves anymore
I will deliver my flock from their mouth
They may not be meat for them.
Think about this…really think about what this is saying. Shepherds tend their sheep, they feed them, guide them, care for them and yes, often they do this so they can eventually eat from them. In the analogy sense we tend to believe that the good shepherd isn't shepherding his sheep to eat them later, we imagine the sheep being protected and used mainly for their wool, not food. The good shepherd is to guard his flock, keep them alive and well but only until they are needed for something else- even sacrifice. These verses tell a slightly different story. These are the words of the LORD.
The LORD is against the shepherds.
The LORD will require the flock at the shepherds hands.
The LORD will stop the shepherds from feeding their flock.
The LORD will stop the shepherds from eating.
The LORD will deliver HIS flock- He will keep the shepherds from eating of the flock.
The LORD will keep the sheep from being food for the shepherds.
Again in the analogy sense the picture here is clear. Those tending to God's people are corrupted and the LORD intervenes, protecting His people, keeping His people from being devoured spiritually by false shepherds- shepherds that aren't tending God's people as God would have them be tended.
Reading on…
Eze 34:11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out
Eze 34:12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
God will search for HIS people even those not with the flock but scattered away from the protection of the majority. God's people will be DELIVERED from ALL places in the CLOUDY and DARK DAY. When will they be delivered? In the cloudy and dark day. Is there a darker day than the day the world meets it's end? Things will be at their absolute worst right before Christ returns for His people, just like in the days of Noah and the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. Remember- only 8 people were saved in Noah's day and even less in Sodom and Gomorrah. Not even TEN people worthy of saving could be found in that city teeming with self-servers. The last days will be the same.
Reading on…
Eze 34:13 And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.
Eze 34:14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
Eze 34:15 I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.
Eze 34:16 I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.
Again, in the day of deliverance we will be brought into our own land, the land of heaven. The symbolism of God's land is Israel, the New Jerusalem is in heaven and we who have been tortured and tormented from living in a world of hate against God and God's love will find all the solace we need in our new pasture, with our Good Shepherd. Christ finds the lost, binds up the broken, Christ will strengthen the sick, but all those who are healthy and strong from living in league with the world will be destroyed.
We, right now, live in a world as those lost. We don't belong in this world and God knows that, He knows that His people live lost in a world of sin, needing to be found by Him. We live in a world that breaks our hearts daily with all it's horrors and sin, God will bind up our broken hearts fully. We are sick and in need of Christ- our holy physician- on our own we are far from healthy. There are those who don't seek the Lord but live in the world glorying in its atrocities, being a part of the sin filling our world, making it sick. Those who appear to be healthy will be destroyed, they believe they have NO need of saving, no need of a Savior, they are fine just the way they are.
Some people are waiting for this world we live in to find peace. People will twist the Bible until they are convinced that peace will come to earth while sinners still reign. Christ is going to come again and take us WITH Him. The earth will be made new after ALL sinners are destroyed. Read this…
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ A THOUSAND YEARS.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived NOT AGAIN UNTIL the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are EXPIRED, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
When Christ returns we will rise and meet Him in the air and be with him a 1000 years! Then after the 1000 years the dead are raised - those that weren't taken with Christ when He came- the ungodly, those who never truly repented and never accepted Christ as their Savior. Then they are all judged according to their works and their final punishment set accordingly as they are destroyed completely once and for all, forever. Then and only then will the New Jerusalem come down from God OUT of heaven and it is then the earth is made new.
Those who are expecting peace now are deceived. The Bible clearly reveals the truth. The devil has many deceived and they expect world peace here and now. False Christs, Satan disguised as an angel of light, people who cry peace and safety, these are what we can expect. Unbelievable deception that only those who ….
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
….who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus will be spared the deception. We know there are going to be FEW, we know it's a very narrow path, we know these things and we have to remember these things because while the whole world around us falls under the deception, we alone will stand out as those deceived.
Well, this study certainly took a turn I wasn't expecting, but such is the way of studying sometimes. Christ our Good Shepherd will ultimately take us His sheep and we will be safe in His love. Until the time we are taken with Him we live in this world of sin with the promise of His return as our hope. Living with that promised hope doesn't mean we won't be sick, broken-hearted, tired, weary, worn, it means we have hope even through all the pain and heartache of life. Hope. Faith. Love.
May God keep us in Him always! May our faith be helped… Lord we believe, help our unbelief…just as the father cried out to Jesus. Mk 9:24. Bless us oh Lord, bless us and keep us safe from evil because we are not taken out of the world, we live in this world and need the safety only YOU can give us.
By Your grace!
By Your love!
By Your mercy!
In Your righteousness!
Amen.
Eze 34:10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.
I am against the shepherds.
I will require my flock at their hand.
Cause them to cease from feeding the flock
Neither shall the shepherds feed themselves anymore
I will deliver my flock from their mouth
They may not be meat for them.
Think about this…really think about what this is saying. Shepherds tend their sheep, they feed them, guide them, care for them and yes, often they do this so they can eventually eat from them. In the analogy sense we tend to believe that the good shepherd isn't shepherding his sheep to eat them later, we imagine the sheep being protected and used mainly for their wool, not food. The good shepherd is to guard his flock, keep them alive and well but only until they are needed for something else- even sacrifice. These verses tell a slightly different story. These are the words of the LORD.
The LORD is against the shepherds.
The LORD will require the flock at the shepherds hands.
The LORD will stop the shepherds from feeding their flock.
The LORD will stop the shepherds from eating.
The LORD will deliver HIS flock- He will keep the shepherds from eating of the flock.
The LORD will keep the sheep from being food for the shepherds.
Again in the analogy sense the picture here is clear. Those tending to God's people are corrupted and the LORD intervenes, protecting His people, keeping His people from being devoured spiritually by false shepherds- shepherds that aren't tending God's people as God would have them be tended.
Reading on…
Eze 34:11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out
Eze 34:12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
God will search for HIS people even those not with the flock but scattered away from the protection of the majority. God's people will be DELIVERED from ALL places in the CLOUDY and DARK DAY. When will they be delivered? In the cloudy and dark day. Is there a darker day than the day the world meets it's end? Things will be at their absolute worst right before Christ returns for His people, just like in the days of Noah and the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. Remember- only 8 people were saved in Noah's day and even less in Sodom and Gomorrah. Not even TEN people worthy of saving could be found in that city teeming with self-servers. The last days will be the same.
Reading on…
Eze 34:13 And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.
Eze 34:14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
Eze 34:15 I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.
Eze 34:16 I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.
Again, in the day of deliverance we will be brought into our own land, the land of heaven. The symbolism of God's land is Israel, the New Jerusalem is in heaven and we who have been tortured and tormented from living in a world of hate against God and God's love will find all the solace we need in our new pasture, with our Good Shepherd. Christ finds the lost, binds up the broken, Christ will strengthen the sick, but all those who are healthy and strong from living in league with the world will be destroyed.
We, right now, live in a world as those lost. We don't belong in this world and God knows that, He knows that His people live lost in a world of sin, needing to be found by Him. We live in a world that breaks our hearts daily with all it's horrors and sin, God will bind up our broken hearts fully. We are sick and in need of Christ- our holy physician- on our own we are far from healthy. There are those who don't seek the Lord but live in the world glorying in its atrocities, being a part of the sin filling our world, making it sick. Those who appear to be healthy will be destroyed, they believe they have NO need of saving, no need of a Savior, they are fine just the way they are.
Some people are waiting for this world we live in to find peace. People will twist the Bible until they are convinced that peace will come to earth while sinners still reign. Christ is going to come again and take us WITH Him. The earth will be made new after ALL sinners are destroyed. Read this…
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ A THOUSAND YEARS.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived NOT AGAIN UNTIL the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are EXPIRED, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
When Christ returns we will rise and meet Him in the air and be with him a 1000 years! Then after the 1000 years the dead are raised - those that weren't taken with Christ when He came- the ungodly, those who never truly repented and never accepted Christ as their Savior. Then they are all judged according to their works and their final punishment set accordingly as they are destroyed completely once and for all, forever. Then and only then will the New Jerusalem come down from God OUT of heaven and it is then the earth is made new.
Those who are expecting peace now are deceived. The Bible clearly reveals the truth. The devil has many deceived and they expect world peace here and now. False Christs, Satan disguised as an angel of light, people who cry peace and safety, these are what we can expect. Unbelievable deception that only those who ….
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
….who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus will be spared the deception. We know there are going to be FEW, we know it's a very narrow path, we know these things and we have to remember these things because while the whole world around us falls under the deception, we alone will stand out as those deceived.
Well, this study certainly took a turn I wasn't expecting, but such is the way of studying sometimes. Christ our Good Shepherd will ultimately take us His sheep and we will be safe in His love. Until the time we are taken with Him we live in this world of sin with the promise of His return as our hope. Living with that promised hope doesn't mean we won't be sick, broken-hearted, tired, weary, worn, it means we have hope even through all the pain and heartache of life. Hope. Faith. Love.
May God keep us in Him always! May our faith be helped… Lord we believe, help our unbelief…just as the father cried out to Jesus. Mk 9:24. Bless us oh Lord, bless us and keep us safe from evil because we are not taken out of the world, we live in this world and need the safety only YOU can give us.
By Your grace!
By Your love!
By Your mercy!
In Your righteousness!
Amen.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Cloudy Water
Have you ever set up a fresh water aquarium? I've set up a few over the years and recently I was blessed with a large aquarium so I could get my 3 large fish out of a smaller tank and into a bigger one. The process isn't a difficult, but one thing which occurs when setting up the tanks is the crystal clear water grows cloudy, very cloudy as the tank is transitioning, getting it's balance of good bacteria to grow. I'm not going to go into details of the whys and wherefores about it all but I'll tell you one thing-- I dislike the cloudy water immensely when it's going through that transitioning. The murky water is ugly making the entire tank look unsightly, not to mention how obscure the fish inside the tank become. Not only is it difficult for me to see the fish, the fish themselves aren't seeing all that well either. My three fish are very shy fish but when the water is murky they appear more outgoing, the reason being they can't see us so clearly- just like we can't see them easily. This new tank transitioning took about a month and a half this last time and I kept hoping it'd be quicker. Daily walking by the tank which is centrally located in the house and very hard to miss, just made me cringe. I wanted to hurry the process, I wanted that water clear! My beautiful fish tank was an eyesore and driving me crazy. The fish store has a lot of products out there to help you with cloudy water as well as numerous test kits to test your water to get it just right for the fish, however using them won't make that transition any easier and some say they even make it take longer for it to happen.
What's the point my relating all this to you? Well, we are all in a state of transitioning. We live in a filthy, cloudy, ugly world and it's only through Christ that we'll make the full transition to clarity and come out of this dark world we are born into. All around us are endless reminders of the decay in our world, contrary to that we also get endless reminders of the beauty that is in store for us in the perfect world. Just like a newly set up tank and it's crystal clear water, the beauty of the tank is seen but it's only temporary and the tank begins its transition. The hope of the beauty's return is there, the knowledge that it will be beautiful again exists, but for a period of time the tank seems hopeless, just one big mess. This world is a big mess but there is hope for the beauty of a new world one day. As long as we hold fast to our Lord and Savior no matter how murky life's waters get around us, no matter how much the ugliness tries obscure any and all beauty, we will prevail in Him.
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Our only hope is in Christ, there is no hope in us, no salvation in us, no righteousness in us, and people who try to get you to focus on yourself rather than pointing you to the only source of our righteousness are only hindering you. We have to rely on Christ so fully, so completely that we are living our lives continuously connected to our source of life. We can't just grab God on the go and get a God fix when needed. We are in constant need of God, an unending need. We can't live in Christ if we set Him aside until our night time devotion, or our morning prayer. No, I'm not saying night time devotions and morning prayers are wrong, no, no, no. What I'm saying is this… our night time devotions shouldn't be like a reunion with one we've not seen all day but rather a special cuddling time with one you've worked side-by-side with all day long. Living in this murky sin-filled world we need Christ by us always in all we do if we're to get through our transition period, going from a sin-filled world to our eventual sin-less world. Unlike my fish tank when there was nothing I could do but wait as the natural process unfolded, we have Christ to cling to and He's seen through all the murky waters to the crystal clear water. We have to hold fast, trusting in Him as the answer to all of life's murkiness.
Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
By the grace and mercy of our loving Savior, in Him ALWAYS!
Amen.
What's the point my relating all this to you? Well, we are all in a state of transitioning. We live in a filthy, cloudy, ugly world and it's only through Christ that we'll make the full transition to clarity and come out of this dark world we are born into. All around us are endless reminders of the decay in our world, contrary to that we also get endless reminders of the beauty that is in store for us in the perfect world. Just like a newly set up tank and it's crystal clear water, the beauty of the tank is seen but it's only temporary and the tank begins its transition. The hope of the beauty's return is there, the knowledge that it will be beautiful again exists, but for a period of time the tank seems hopeless, just one big mess. This world is a big mess but there is hope for the beauty of a new world one day. As long as we hold fast to our Lord and Savior no matter how murky life's waters get around us, no matter how much the ugliness tries obscure any and all beauty, we will prevail in Him.
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Our only hope is in Christ, there is no hope in us, no salvation in us, no righteousness in us, and people who try to get you to focus on yourself rather than pointing you to the only source of our righteousness are only hindering you. We have to rely on Christ so fully, so completely that we are living our lives continuously connected to our source of life. We can't just grab God on the go and get a God fix when needed. We are in constant need of God, an unending need. We can't live in Christ if we set Him aside until our night time devotion, or our morning prayer. No, I'm not saying night time devotions and morning prayers are wrong, no, no, no. What I'm saying is this… our night time devotions shouldn't be like a reunion with one we've not seen all day but rather a special cuddling time with one you've worked side-by-side with all day long. Living in this murky sin-filled world we need Christ by us always in all we do if we're to get through our transition period, going from a sin-filled world to our eventual sin-less world. Unlike my fish tank when there was nothing I could do but wait as the natural process unfolded, we have Christ to cling to and He's seen through all the murky waters to the crystal clear water. We have to hold fast, trusting in Him as the answer to all of life's murkiness.
Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
By the grace and mercy of our loving Savior, in Him ALWAYS!
Amen.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Compassion
1Jn 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
We perceive the love of God…our perception of how God loves us is knowing that He laid down His life for us. We hear of people who in trying to help others lose their lives and we call them heroes. We know in history of people who voluntarily die so others don't have to. Again we call them heroes and in truth their actions are heroic. Giving up your life voluntarily isn't something many would do.
In our day and age we find it hard to put our selves out on little things, and we try and console our conscience with the belief that if we REALLY had to we could lay down our lives for our fellowman.
Sure, I might count it a burden to be asked to do something for you (especially if I'm in the middle of doing something I want to do, or have to do), but ask me to die for you and I'm right on it. Is that logical? Is it self-deception? If we can't be kind to our brethren in small things why do we delude ourselves into believing we'll be able to do something much more spectacular later on if needed? The whole - I'll be there when you REALLY need me, but not in all these little things can be explained away. We see it in movies and read it in books don't we? The grumpy ol' guy ending up being the sweet, caring man because of some big life transforming would be tragedy he found in his heart to avert at the very last moment. It's the Grinch Who Stole Christmas story told in a thousand ways so it's no wonder people believe that when it really matters they'll be able to come through. Do people ever stop to ask themselves what if there is no grand finale? What if their life is wholly made up of countless opportunities to show love in the small things? I'm not saying that we shouldn't be ready to 'lay down our lives for the brethren.' We should, but read on...
1Jn 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
God's love cannot dwell in us if we don't have compassion for others in all things, in little things, when they are in need. How compassionate are we? In a world where we have supposedly comedic television shows recording people humiliating others, watching others humiliate themselves, and we know someone is behind that camera showing NO compassion at all, it makes me sick to my stomach. People are enjoying the misfortune of others, using them for their amusement, to make money. No, the entire world doesn't lack compassion- we have other shows televising special concerts and such to raise money to help the needy. There is a lot of compassion, but there is also a huge lack of compassion. We have to answer to God only for ourselves and our own actions. Do we lack compassion? Have we hardened our hearts to others wanting them to fend for themselves just like we have to? How far does our compassion extend- does it reach to the completely undeserving? Do we try and determine who really deserves our compassion? Does the abusive drug addict deserve our compassion? Do we give money to a homeless person who is shaking from withdrawal? Do we only let our compassion go so far as to help as we believe help should be given- do we hand them a sandwich and a bottle of water rather than money because we don't want our money to support their drug habit? Yet what if unbeknown to us the person suffers from a disease that causes the shaking? What if the sandwich and water won't buy the medicine they need? Do we judge based on our perceptions? Do we believe that if only we knew we would have reacted differently? Our compassion has to go beyond our perception. Our compassion has to result in seeing a need and meeting it even if that means taking the time to figure out a need rather than assuming one. What about the person we believe might be lying to us? We don't want to be duped, right? Giving money to a person who isn't poor at all, but rather makes a living seeking money from strangers. Does our compassion extend to those who lie to us? It has to doesn't it? We can't *play* God, that's God's job, not ours. The lies of others are on their own conscience, our ability to be compassionate to any in need is on ours.
1Jn 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Too many love in word-- letting their tongues run wild. Too many seem loving and very compassionate on the outside by the things they say. We need to love in deed- in action- and in truth. God knows how truthful we are…do we?
1Jn 3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
1Jn 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
1Jn 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
When we love in deed and in truth we know we are of truth and we can assure our hearts before God.
Our hearts will condemn us but praise to our loving God He is greater than our hearts and KNOWS ALL things. We can have confidence towards God- if our hearts don't condemn us.
Does your heart condemn you? Are you not loving in deed and truth? We can plead for forgiveness and begin anew seeking to love in deed and in truth. We can pray for a loving heart filled with compassion in all things, not just in things we choose. I know I'm not nearly as compassionate as I need to be especially to those closest to me. It's too easy to take advantage of those who are close to us expecting they'll forgive us, or feeling we are more put out by them. Sometimes it's easier to have compassion on strangers and we need to pray to our Lord and Savior to have compassion on all- as He would, as He has, as He does.
'let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.'
Remember…
Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men
By His amazing love, by His grace and mercy! Through His righteousness! All glory, praise, and honor to our Savior now and forever!!!
Amen.
We perceive the love of God…our perception of how God loves us is knowing that He laid down His life for us. We hear of people who in trying to help others lose their lives and we call them heroes. We know in history of people who voluntarily die so others don't have to. Again we call them heroes and in truth their actions are heroic. Giving up your life voluntarily isn't something many would do.
In our day and age we find it hard to put our selves out on little things, and we try and console our conscience with the belief that if we REALLY had to we could lay down our lives for our fellowman.
Sure, I might count it a burden to be asked to do something for you (especially if I'm in the middle of doing something I want to do, or have to do), but ask me to die for you and I'm right on it. Is that logical? Is it self-deception? If we can't be kind to our brethren in small things why do we delude ourselves into believing we'll be able to do something much more spectacular later on if needed? The whole - I'll be there when you REALLY need me, but not in all these little things can be explained away. We see it in movies and read it in books don't we? The grumpy ol' guy ending up being the sweet, caring man because of some big life transforming would be tragedy he found in his heart to avert at the very last moment. It's the Grinch Who Stole Christmas story told in a thousand ways so it's no wonder people believe that when it really matters they'll be able to come through. Do people ever stop to ask themselves what if there is no grand finale? What if their life is wholly made up of countless opportunities to show love in the small things? I'm not saying that we shouldn't be ready to 'lay down our lives for the brethren.' We should, but read on...
1Jn 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
God's love cannot dwell in us if we don't have compassion for others in all things, in little things, when they are in need. How compassionate are we? In a world where we have supposedly comedic television shows recording people humiliating others, watching others humiliate themselves, and we know someone is behind that camera showing NO compassion at all, it makes me sick to my stomach. People are enjoying the misfortune of others, using them for their amusement, to make money. No, the entire world doesn't lack compassion- we have other shows televising special concerts and such to raise money to help the needy. There is a lot of compassion, but there is also a huge lack of compassion. We have to answer to God only for ourselves and our own actions. Do we lack compassion? Have we hardened our hearts to others wanting them to fend for themselves just like we have to? How far does our compassion extend- does it reach to the completely undeserving? Do we try and determine who really deserves our compassion? Does the abusive drug addict deserve our compassion? Do we give money to a homeless person who is shaking from withdrawal? Do we only let our compassion go so far as to help as we believe help should be given- do we hand them a sandwich and a bottle of water rather than money because we don't want our money to support their drug habit? Yet what if unbeknown to us the person suffers from a disease that causes the shaking? What if the sandwich and water won't buy the medicine they need? Do we judge based on our perceptions? Do we believe that if only we knew we would have reacted differently? Our compassion has to go beyond our perception. Our compassion has to result in seeing a need and meeting it even if that means taking the time to figure out a need rather than assuming one. What about the person we believe might be lying to us? We don't want to be duped, right? Giving money to a person who isn't poor at all, but rather makes a living seeking money from strangers. Does our compassion extend to those who lie to us? It has to doesn't it? We can't *play* God, that's God's job, not ours. The lies of others are on their own conscience, our ability to be compassionate to any in need is on ours.
1Jn 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Too many love in word-- letting their tongues run wild. Too many seem loving and very compassionate on the outside by the things they say. We need to love in deed- in action- and in truth. God knows how truthful we are…do we?
1Jn 3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
1Jn 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
1Jn 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
When we love in deed and in truth we know we are of truth and we can assure our hearts before God.
Our hearts will condemn us but praise to our loving God He is greater than our hearts and KNOWS ALL things. We can have confidence towards God- if our hearts don't condemn us.
Does your heart condemn you? Are you not loving in deed and truth? We can plead for forgiveness and begin anew seeking to love in deed and in truth. We can pray for a loving heart filled with compassion in all things, not just in things we choose. I know I'm not nearly as compassionate as I need to be especially to those closest to me. It's too easy to take advantage of those who are close to us expecting they'll forgive us, or feeling we are more put out by them. Sometimes it's easier to have compassion on strangers and we need to pray to our Lord and Savior to have compassion on all- as He would, as He has, as He does.
'let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.'
Remember…
Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men
By His amazing love, by His grace and mercy! Through His righteousness! All glory, praise, and honor to our Savior now and forever!!!
Amen.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Ask for the old paths....
Jer 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Stand ye in the ways
See and ask for the OLD paths - where is the good way
Walk therein
Find rest for your souls
This is very applicable to us today. We're like a bunch of chickens running around with our heads cut off. We are going in all directions at once. We are trying to find our way in a world piled thick and deep in sin so vile it's been called good and acceptable. We are fighting against raging rapids. We are in the midst of the worst part of a hurricane, caught up in a tornado, drowning in a flood, facing searing flames…we really are and the sad part about it is while we are immersed in these many spiritual tempests we think we are safe and secure and have peace. We've become so conditioned to live in the worst of the worst of sin-filled ways that we think it's normal. We've stopped crying at tragedies. We've laid down in the bed of false solace covering ourselves with a thick, soft down comforter of ignorance, our heads resting on the most relaxing pillow of peace in existence and shut out the horrors of our lives because to dwell on our wretched state only upsets us.
Harsh words.
Harsh reality.
We want soothing words, a gentle reality.
The fact is we are living in a battlefield. When we are living in a battlefield we should be aware of our surroundings. A soldier living in a battlefield who goes about in a daze, in a pretend state of contentment will eventually find himself dead. When we stop crying over the horrors of sin we risk cloaking the truth and that is something that should NEVER be cloaked.
We are to stand in the ways.
We are to see and ASK for the old paths- where is the good way and walk therein if we are to find rest for our souls. If we don't look for God's ways of old, if we don't trust and follow our Lord as He's wanted us to do from the beginning, any supposed rest we have will be a false one. Are we following the Lord as we should be? Are we following the Lord as He commands? Are there things in our lives troubling us terribly that threaten to pull us from the path altogether?
We need rest for our souls but ONLY if we are on the right path, only if we are in the good way. We should never seek rest outside of our Lord and Savior, He is the way even the way of old. Let us cry bitter tears for the state of our world, let us grieve for the world overflowing in sin and degradation, and pray to be shown the right way-- always, daily, hourly, minutely. Let us be shown the right way and by the grace and mercy of our Lord let us live in that way.
'But they say we will not walk therein'. People don't want to walk in the old way, people don't want to walk in God's way. People don't want to see and ask for the old path- people want to walk in their own way- an easier way- down a WIDE path that offers much comfort, much temporary soothing, much… death.
We know this…
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.
That old path is very narrow, but a few WILL find it.
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Praise God we will be among the few, by His righteousness, through His grace and mercy, all stemming from His LOVE.
Amen.
Stand ye in the ways
See and ask for the OLD paths - where is the good way
Walk therein
Find rest for your souls
This is very applicable to us today. We're like a bunch of chickens running around with our heads cut off. We are going in all directions at once. We are trying to find our way in a world piled thick and deep in sin so vile it's been called good and acceptable. We are fighting against raging rapids. We are in the midst of the worst part of a hurricane, caught up in a tornado, drowning in a flood, facing searing flames…we really are and the sad part about it is while we are immersed in these many spiritual tempests we think we are safe and secure and have peace. We've become so conditioned to live in the worst of the worst of sin-filled ways that we think it's normal. We've stopped crying at tragedies. We've laid down in the bed of false solace covering ourselves with a thick, soft down comforter of ignorance, our heads resting on the most relaxing pillow of peace in existence and shut out the horrors of our lives because to dwell on our wretched state only upsets us.
Harsh words.
Harsh reality.
We want soothing words, a gentle reality.
The fact is we are living in a battlefield. When we are living in a battlefield we should be aware of our surroundings. A soldier living in a battlefield who goes about in a daze, in a pretend state of contentment will eventually find himself dead. When we stop crying over the horrors of sin we risk cloaking the truth and that is something that should NEVER be cloaked.
We are to stand in the ways.
We are to see and ASK for the old paths- where is the good way and walk therein if we are to find rest for our souls. If we don't look for God's ways of old, if we don't trust and follow our Lord as He's wanted us to do from the beginning, any supposed rest we have will be a false one. Are we following the Lord as we should be? Are we following the Lord as He commands? Are there things in our lives troubling us terribly that threaten to pull us from the path altogether?
We need rest for our souls but ONLY if we are on the right path, only if we are in the good way. We should never seek rest outside of our Lord and Savior, He is the way even the way of old. Let us cry bitter tears for the state of our world, let us grieve for the world overflowing in sin and degradation, and pray to be shown the right way-- always, daily, hourly, minutely. Let us be shown the right way and by the grace and mercy of our Lord let us live in that way.
'But they say we will not walk therein'. People don't want to walk in the old way, people don't want to walk in God's way. People don't want to see and ask for the old path- people want to walk in their own way- an easier way- down a WIDE path that offers much comfort, much temporary soothing, much… death.
We know this…
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.
That old path is very narrow, but a few WILL find it.
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Praise God we will be among the few, by His righteousness, through His grace and mercy, all stemming from His LOVE.
Amen.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Whatsoever ye do...
Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men
This is a verse that really deserves a lot of consideration… a lot.
It doesn't say whatsoever you do SOMETIMES.
It doesn't say when you do a few things.
It doesn't say pick and choose things to do heartily - as to the Lord.
It says…
WHATSOEVER. That word is all encompassing, isn't it? It means no matter what you do. It means in all you do. We can't leave the Lord out of ANYTHING we do. We can't set the Lord aside for awhile and do things then pick Him back up. We can't treat the Lord like we treat people in our lives. We are seldom EVER with any one person at all times, yet we are to be with the Lord always in all we do. If we are going places and doing things where we have to keep the Lord out, we aren't fully accepting of Christ in our lives.
Yes, this verse talks about our actions towards others too. We are to do all we do as if we were doing it to the Lord NOT men. This is how we are to treat one another! Think about it! Seriously. If we were treating everyone as we would treat our Lord then we'd probably be treating them a lot differently wouldn't we? Everyone, every man…as the Lord. All our actions should be done with the thought in mind that Jesus would have us treat all others just as we'd treat Him. The next time we're fighting with someone we need to ask if we'd fight with our Lord this way. We are to do unto others as we'd want to be done to, we want to be treated with respect, with love, with kindness and if we want that we have to give that.
All our actions should be done as if the they were being done for the Lord.
We really, really need to pray for this to be true in our lives. We are so far from where we should be. It's so amazingly hard, yet the victory will be found in Christ and ONLY in Christ. We can't find the victory in ourselves, of our own selves.
By the grace and mercy of our Savior may we be transformed by Him into what He'd have us to be. May we be the people He wants us to be for Him, not because we deserve it but because He died to save us.
In His love!
Amen.
This is a verse that really deserves a lot of consideration… a lot.
It doesn't say whatsoever you do SOMETIMES.
It doesn't say when you do a few things.
It doesn't say pick and choose things to do heartily - as to the Lord.
It says…
WHATSOEVER. That word is all encompassing, isn't it? It means no matter what you do. It means in all you do. We can't leave the Lord out of ANYTHING we do. We can't set the Lord aside for awhile and do things then pick Him back up. We can't treat the Lord like we treat people in our lives. We are seldom EVER with any one person at all times, yet we are to be with the Lord always in all we do. If we are going places and doing things where we have to keep the Lord out, we aren't fully accepting of Christ in our lives.
Yes, this verse talks about our actions towards others too. We are to do all we do as if we were doing it to the Lord NOT men. This is how we are to treat one another! Think about it! Seriously. If we were treating everyone as we would treat our Lord then we'd probably be treating them a lot differently wouldn't we? Everyone, every man…as the Lord. All our actions should be done with the thought in mind that Jesus would have us treat all others just as we'd treat Him. The next time we're fighting with someone we need to ask if we'd fight with our Lord this way. We are to do unto others as we'd want to be done to, we want to be treated with respect, with love, with kindness and if we want that we have to give that.
All our actions should be done as if the they were being done for the Lord.
We really, really need to pray for this to be true in our lives. We are so far from where we should be. It's so amazingly hard, yet the victory will be found in Christ and ONLY in Christ. We can't find the victory in ourselves, of our own selves.
By the grace and mercy of our Savior may we be transformed by Him into what He'd have us to be. May we be the people He wants us to be for Him, not because we deserve it but because He died to save us.
In His love!
Amen.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Why call ye me, Lord, Lord...
Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
You don't listen to me so why bother calling me your Lord? Seriously, we have to LISTEN to our Lord or He's NOT our Lord. It's really that simple, but we want to make it all complicated. We want to twist things so that people get all confused. There are thousands of religions and more and more growing each day, I'm not kidding. People who don't believe what the *big* churches are saying are branching off into their own little groups forming their own little churches with their own beliefs. What the bottom line really is, we have to listen to our Lord. We have to be followers of our Lord, true followers.
A true follower of someone believes in them, has faith in them, and will do what they say to do. We like to call that brain washing today don't we? We don't like people *following* people, or ideas that aren't mainstream. Every four years we have a presidential election and people choose to follow the candidate for president they like best and then begin to support them, even if it's with a single vote on election day, they are showing their support of that person- doing what that person wants them to do- vote for them. When a person follows something they are labeled. When a whole lot of people follow something it becomes acceptable. When a few people follow something it's more cultish and less acceptable.
Our Lord wants us to do the things He says- then we can call Him Lord, Lord.
We can find out what the Lord wants us to do by reading His word. We won't get a daily memo, we won't get a chore list, we won't get a telephone call, we're not going to be tweeted by the Lord. The Lord will not show up on facebook and post a personal message for you. We have to seek HIM.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
We have to ask to know the will of the Lord. We have to seek to know the will of the Lord. Our heart's desire has to be to know the will of the Lord and when we know it, follow it.
Many people already know what the Lord would have them do.
Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Most people know what Jesus means when He says this… 'and do not the things which I say'. Most people know what those *things* are. We can't lie and say we don't know. We know. We've read about them. Pick up Your Bible and read one of the Gospels and you'll know. So if we do know, why don't we do the things Jesus says to do? Why?
Self often gets in the way of selflessness and therein lies a big part of our problem.
A lot of time, simply because I cannot say all the time, but a lot of time it's that simple to understand. Self gets in the way of selflessness and Jesus is selfless and wants us to be selfless. We are not selfless. One of our BIGGEST problems is selfishness, the world revolves around selfishness and it's often disguised as benevolence. A show of selflessness, but that's all it really is. We can deceive ourselves as well, many will be deceived. Many who think they are followers of our Lord really aren't followers at all. I know I talk about this a lot, but it must be something close to my heart- the fear of being among those who call out Lord, Lord and He turns to them and tells them He never knew them. God please forbid that from happening to me. I want to know my Lord! I want my Lord to know me! I want to be a true follower of my Lord and do as He says.
By His grace, by His love, through His mercy!!!! In HIS righteousness, now and forever!
Amen.
You don't listen to me so why bother calling me your Lord? Seriously, we have to LISTEN to our Lord or He's NOT our Lord. It's really that simple, but we want to make it all complicated. We want to twist things so that people get all confused. There are thousands of religions and more and more growing each day, I'm not kidding. People who don't believe what the *big* churches are saying are branching off into their own little groups forming their own little churches with their own beliefs. What the bottom line really is, we have to listen to our Lord. We have to be followers of our Lord, true followers.
A true follower of someone believes in them, has faith in them, and will do what they say to do. We like to call that brain washing today don't we? We don't like people *following* people, or ideas that aren't mainstream. Every four years we have a presidential election and people choose to follow the candidate for president they like best and then begin to support them, even if it's with a single vote on election day, they are showing their support of that person- doing what that person wants them to do- vote for them. When a person follows something they are labeled. When a whole lot of people follow something it becomes acceptable. When a few people follow something it's more cultish and less acceptable.
Our Lord wants us to do the things He says- then we can call Him Lord, Lord.
We can find out what the Lord wants us to do by reading His word. We won't get a daily memo, we won't get a chore list, we won't get a telephone call, we're not going to be tweeted by the Lord. The Lord will not show up on facebook and post a personal message for you. We have to seek HIM.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
We have to ask to know the will of the Lord. We have to seek to know the will of the Lord. Our heart's desire has to be to know the will of the Lord and when we know it, follow it.
Many people already know what the Lord would have them do.
Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Most people know what Jesus means when He says this… 'and do not the things which I say'. Most people know what those *things* are. We can't lie and say we don't know. We know. We've read about them. Pick up Your Bible and read one of the Gospels and you'll know. So if we do know, why don't we do the things Jesus says to do? Why?
Self often gets in the way of selflessness and therein lies a big part of our problem.
A lot of time, simply because I cannot say all the time, but a lot of time it's that simple to understand. Self gets in the way of selflessness and Jesus is selfless and wants us to be selfless. We are not selfless. One of our BIGGEST problems is selfishness, the world revolves around selfishness and it's often disguised as benevolence. A show of selflessness, but that's all it really is. We can deceive ourselves as well, many will be deceived. Many who think they are followers of our Lord really aren't followers at all. I know I talk about this a lot, but it must be something close to my heart- the fear of being among those who call out Lord, Lord and He turns to them and tells them He never knew them. God please forbid that from happening to me. I want to know my Lord! I want my Lord to know me! I want to be a true follower of my Lord and do as He says.
By His grace, by His love, through His mercy!!!! In HIS righteousness, now and forever!
Amen.
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