Mat 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Let's look at a few other verses on dogs-
Php 3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
We are not being told to beware of CANINES, but of men who are likened unto dogs- evil workers. Dogs as a creature beneath a human being, a lower creature.
Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Dogs-sorcerers-whoremongers-murderers-idolaters, all of which are HUMAN being references, not canine. A human creature that acts more like an animal than a human.
2Pe 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
A dog's behavior is far below that of a human being's behavior. A dog will eat it's own vomit, but a human would not. A freshly cleaned pig would just as soon be dirty- not having the intelligence to desire cleanliness over dirtiness.
We read these references and we have to use them to help us understand--
Mat 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
What do dogs do to people? Not all dogs, but wild dogs and sadly some tame dogs who go feral for one reason or another. They attack people. You can train a dog to attack people. I've seen shows on television that have trained attack dogs go after people dressed up in protective gear and those dogs can be vicious. It's not unheard of for dogs to kill people. More recently Pit Bulls and Rottweilers have received a reputation for being attack dogs brutally attacking and yes, sometimes killing people. Wild dogs that run in packs are very ferocious, and when you hear of them attacking and rending a person into pieces you know exactly how to visualize it. Dogs as our pets don't seem to be dangerous at all, but underneath all their docile ways there is an animal that can bite and do so to inflict great harm, even death.
This verse here is talking about people. People who act like untamed, uncontrolled animals who are letting their base nature take over and not at all encouraging their spiritual connections with God. These people have actually severed themselves from God, choosing to deny Him, choosing to debase Him, choosing to let their flesh nature have full control and we know who is really in control when we choose not to accept God as our Lord and Savior. Satan will take control and when he is in control men begin to act like animals in many, many ways.
We are not to give that which is holy unto dogs- lest they turn again and rend us.
Dogs- those who are completely unreceptive to our Lord and His word, His message of the Kingdom, are not going to listen. How do we tell when someone is unreceptive? I'm sure most of you reading this have had an opportunity to want to share the good news of salvation with others and have faced opposition. Maybe you haven't been ridiculed, or bodily harmed, but even having someone tell you they don't want to hear it is opposition. When opposition is encountered we are NOT to ever force ourselves, our message on others, not ever! Jesus never, not once forced His message on anyone at all whatsoever. Time and time again He riled up a crowd full of opposition and He left, He didn't fight them, he didn't force His will on any. Why people sometimes think they need to try and force their message on people is something I cannot fathom. Forcing ANYONE to listen under any sort of duress is wrong on many levels. The history of Christianity is filled with crusades and campaigns, tortures and inquisitions all in the name of God as people fought against non-Christians wanting them to become Christians as they are Christians. Jesus would be the LAST to approve of any sort of torture in His name! Jesus would be the LAST to advocate any sort of forced message. The choice that needs to be made needs to be made freely without any coercion whatsoever. So when we face *dogs* we cannot force the holy message of the Kingdom of Heaven upon them. Yes, it's awful to imagine people as *dogs*. We don't want to think of family members and friends as *dogs*. Calling someone a dog is very derogatory. No one likes to be called or thought of as a dog. When we call someone a dog we aren't calling them a fluffy, friendly pet. We are calling them a dog in a term that is most offensive.
This isn't about calling anyone a dog though, this is about how we are to react to dogs. Even as I write I don't like to think about people as dogs, it goes against everything I was raised to believe and that is to NOT believe the worst of people, not to judge them. Remember that bit about not judging? Well, we HAVE to be able to judge situations and this is one of those situations.
We are not to give that which is holy unto dogs- lest they turn again and rend us.
We are not to cast our pearls before swine- lest they trample us underfoot.
Wild swine, like wild dogs are both very dangerous and can inflict great harm upon human beings, even death- this is something that is undisputable.
Neither dogs nor swine are worthy of the message of the kingdom, especially when the dogs and swine CHOOSE to be dogs and swine. Unlike the animals- dogs and swine, people who are dogs and swine were at least at one time able to choose between right and wrong. I word it that way because sometimes when we make the choice to be blind we can no longer see. Not everyone is given chance after chance because they've hardened their hearts, they refuse to see, in their heart of hearts they reject salvation from God. It seems impossible to me, but people reject salvation, they do.
Can we really judge who is a dog or a pig? We have to be able to judge when NOT to give that which is holy to them. We have to be able to judge when NOT to cast our pearls before swine. You see the danger is… being HURT by them if we don't listen to our Savior. These are our Savior's words! We can be HURT by these people. We're not invincible. Our spiritual lives can be in danger as well and Jesus wants to protect our spiritual lives more than anything, right? Our bodies can be forfeit for Christ but our spiritual life is never forfeit, never. Our Savior wants to protect our spiritual lives and He is teaching us to do this. We put ourselves in DANGER when we choose to try and give the message of the kingdom of heaven to those who do not want to hear it. Those who are not receptive to the gospel of Christ are likely to turn around and try to destroy our belief in our Savior. They will! Don't for one moment think that the *dogs* and the *swine* won't try, they will trample and rend us every opportunity they get because they are being controlled by Satan.
This isn't an idle half-hearted message given to us by Christ, it's much, much more and we need to take it to heart.
By the grace of our Savior we will be able to tell the dogs and the swine from those who genuinely need and want to hear His word. While we cannot judge any person's eternal life ever, we have to be able to judge actions and by judging actions we can judge responses. When we judge responses we need to pray that the Holy Spirit guides us to discern when we are to speak and when we are not to speak, keeping us protected by His love, His grace, His mercy, His righteousness.
Amen.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Clear Eyes
Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Seeing the faults in others is easy, isn't it? We are so full of self that we can't help but look at others through our own selfish eyes. They are selfish eyes, aren't they? Or maybe it's just me who has selfish eyes, but somehow I doubt it. Do I like having selfish eyes? God forbid! I pray that all my selfishness is refined in the Holy Fire of the Holy Spirit so that I'm purged of it all. I need to have my eyes opened to see the beam in my own eyes. It's so easy to close our eyes to our own failings. Of course, there are those who love to dwell on their own failings, but they do so ironically enough, selfishly. There is a line and I'm not sure how fine a line it is, between realizing our selfish faults and dwelling on our selfish faults making that in itself a fault. Only by the grace of God can we ever hope to be saved and this is the most important lesson we have to learn. Recognizing our selfishness and all the faults that stem from that is important to realizing our dependence upon God.
Is it any wonder that we are told to stop looking for the FAULTS in others and start looking at the FAULTS in ourselves? How dare we presume to *FIX* others. Seriously. We think we are being helpful when we reveal to others where we think they could improve but it's more counterproductive than anything else. UNLESS a person is seeking help, UNLESS a person is receptive to being helped- when we presume to help them all they see is our arrogance. Come on, you know what I'm talking about. Surely you've been in the situation before- someone offering to *help* you and you resent it. If you've not been in that situation you're a better person than I am by far. Also, I've been in the opposite situation. I've tried to help and been unable to help, and even if I say the words that I think people believe are almost magical, 'I'm only trying to help.' I could tell there was resentment there for my trying to help. I've had it thrown in my face on several occasions that 'just because I'm perfect…' which you know right away that the help is being resented and any help will do no good. Of course I'd counter with I'm not perfect, but that does about as much good as 'I'm only trying to help.' does.
Is there a conundrum then? Wanting to help but unable to help? I believe we should forever be *ready* to help anyone in anyway we can, but at the same time know better than to try and force our help upon anyone. We really HAVE to be humble and genuinely humble, not forced humble, not falsely humble. Christ has to be working in us, all glory has to go to God.
Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
First we HAVE to look to ourselves but NOT selfishly, but to NOTE our selfishness, to note our intentions, to note that we are fully dependent upon our Savior. What good would it do for us take any beams or motes out of anyone's eyes if our own are filled with them? We need to see clearly, we need to see selflessly if we want to help anyone else. As long as we have our eyes filled- clouded by the faults we possess- we cannot help anyone. No, this doesn't mean when we are called on to help someone we shouldn't do so, but we need to do so praying for the grace of God to help us help only in ways that will be for His glory and in no other way. We can't actively strive to help another imposingly, ever.
By the grace of God may we do His will and only His will, not our own! May we be filled with the Holy Spirit able to get the beams out of our eyes so that we may help others as He wills.
In His love always!
Amen.
Mat 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Seeing the faults in others is easy, isn't it? We are so full of self that we can't help but look at others through our own selfish eyes. They are selfish eyes, aren't they? Or maybe it's just me who has selfish eyes, but somehow I doubt it. Do I like having selfish eyes? God forbid! I pray that all my selfishness is refined in the Holy Fire of the Holy Spirit so that I'm purged of it all. I need to have my eyes opened to see the beam in my own eyes. It's so easy to close our eyes to our own failings. Of course, there are those who love to dwell on their own failings, but they do so ironically enough, selfishly. There is a line and I'm not sure how fine a line it is, between realizing our selfish faults and dwelling on our selfish faults making that in itself a fault. Only by the grace of God can we ever hope to be saved and this is the most important lesson we have to learn. Recognizing our selfishness and all the faults that stem from that is important to realizing our dependence upon God.
Is it any wonder that we are told to stop looking for the FAULTS in others and start looking at the FAULTS in ourselves? How dare we presume to *FIX* others. Seriously. We think we are being helpful when we reveal to others where we think they could improve but it's more counterproductive than anything else. UNLESS a person is seeking help, UNLESS a person is receptive to being helped- when we presume to help them all they see is our arrogance. Come on, you know what I'm talking about. Surely you've been in the situation before- someone offering to *help* you and you resent it. If you've not been in that situation you're a better person than I am by far. Also, I've been in the opposite situation. I've tried to help and been unable to help, and even if I say the words that I think people believe are almost magical, 'I'm only trying to help.' I could tell there was resentment there for my trying to help. I've had it thrown in my face on several occasions that 'just because I'm perfect…' which you know right away that the help is being resented and any help will do no good. Of course I'd counter with I'm not perfect, but that does about as much good as 'I'm only trying to help.' does.
Is there a conundrum then? Wanting to help but unable to help? I believe we should forever be *ready* to help anyone in anyway we can, but at the same time know better than to try and force our help upon anyone. We really HAVE to be humble and genuinely humble, not forced humble, not falsely humble. Christ has to be working in us, all glory has to go to God.
Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
First we HAVE to look to ourselves but NOT selfishly, but to NOTE our selfishness, to note our intentions, to note that we are fully dependent upon our Savior. What good would it do for us take any beams or motes out of anyone's eyes if our own are filled with them? We need to see clearly, we need to see selflessly if we want to help anyone else. As long as we have our eyes filled- clouded by the faults we possess- we cannot help anyone. No, this doesn't mean when we are called on to help someone we shouldn't do so, but we need to do so praying for the grace of God to help us help only in ways that will be for His glory and in no other way. We can't actively strive to help another imposingly, ever.
By the grace of God may we do His will and only His will, not our own! May we be filled with the Holy Spirit able to get the beams out of our eyes so that we may help others as He wills.
In His love always!
Amen.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Judge not
Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again
Judge-
G2919
κρίνω
krinō
kree'-no
Properly to distinguish, that is, decide (mentally or judicially); by implication to try, condemn, punish: - avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.
Condemn not. Punish not. Avenge not. Conclude not. Damn not. Decree not. Determine not. Esteem not. Sue not. Ordain not. Question not. Sentence not. Think not.
We are to judge not, why? So that we are not judged.
Too many people assess themselves with higher praise than they dare give another. Judging others is something we are brought up doing. We judge when we determine a person is beneath us. We judge when we determine a person is above us. We judge when we choose to over look undesirable sorts and take up with those who conform more closely to our own selves. We call this HUMAN nature- this sort of judging. Even as children we begin this sort of behavior- sensing something just isn't quite right about a peer and thus begins the quest to keep away from the one that isn't quite right and not only that, the distinguishing between what is perceived right and not quite right is begun. The not quite right will fall into a few categories- those who are just a little off, and those who are a bit more off, and those who are way off. While a child might shun one who is a little off, and another who is a bit more off, they very seldom shun those who are way off- these become the targets of ridicule which takes on many forms. The purpose of that ridicule is for the child who perceives himself as being 'right' to elevate and secure that position for himself while assuring the way off child who is perceived to be far from right is kept in that position which then only makes the right child feel even more right about themselves.
No, this isn't a sociology lecture- far from it. We talk about judging and might be quick to say we don't 'judge' but the truth is we 'judge' a lot! It's just not called judging. We condemn others all the time and in many ways. Again, I can hear the echo of 'it's just human nature'. Yes, sinful human nature, not the nature God would have us embrace and promote.
Children will learn judging from their parents and from each other in an endless cycle of human nature.
When we judge we are setting ourselves up to be judged by the same measure we are judging.
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again
If we are quick to judge, we will be quick to be judged. If we judge harshly we will be judged harshly. We can't escape this though many believe they do.
As children groups are formed and labeled.
There is the 'IN' crowd, the 'NOT SO IN' crowd, and there is the 'OUT' crowd. The in crowd is usually made up of very harsh judges who determine where the others fit in. The not so in crowd are left neither harshly judged nor completely free from judgment. The out crowd are judged very harshly. You know what I'm talking about and we can run it around in our heads forever and make a million excuses for the position of certain people but NONE of it makes it right.
Jesus wasn't part of the 'IN' crowd. The 'IN' crowd was made up of the Pharisees and Sadducees, the Priests, the workers in the temple. For awhile it looked as if Jesus were ushering in a NEW in crowd, but the current in crowd didn't allow that to happen.
Jesus advocated for those in the out crowds as He revealed why they more than any others needed kindness, not condemnation. While Jesus associated with those sinners in the out crowd He was doing so to reveal to us that we are NOT to play judge! We take a great risk when we make decisions regarding who is worthy of us. ALL are worthy of us, just as all are worthy to receive Jesus. The WORST of sinners is worthy to receive Jesus' love, Jesus' forgiveness. We have NO right whatsoever to condemn those that Jesus would never condemn.
I've written before on the difference between judging eternal life and judging right from wrong and it still holds true. We can judge NO ONE's eternal life no matter how horrific they might be. We can judge that the actions they are committing are wrong, and therefore we can choose not to participate in them, but we can't judge the outcome of those actions on an eternal level. As soon as we judge another we are being judge by the same measure we are judging. We lose the right to a compassionate judge when we judge without compassion.
It goes along the same lines as forgiving others as we want to be forgiven. In this case we judge as we want to be judged. And if we're smart we'll recognize that we need to be judged by One filled with compassion and ready to forgive us our sinful ways-- every little tiny sinful way. We don’t have to be HUGE sinners to warrant condemnation, and this is something people love to forget about or choose to never really contemplate.
Those children growing up- you know the ones in the in, not so in, and out crowds- they all become adults and often as adults the mindset will continue. The child who learned to judge other children harshly will become adults judging harshly and so on. Does this happen ALL the time? No. We grow up and some who are out now make it their goal to become IN, and once they are in some will choose to forget what it was like to be in the out crowd and they'll go along with the adult IN crowd against the adult out crowd. Do you really think that all that judging simply disappears as we grow up? I used to think so. Many people love to tell children who are in the out crowd that it won't always be that way, things will be different when they're older. Yes, sometimes that's true, but often we escape one setting for another. The outside of things might have changed but the underlying process of HUMAN nature is still at play on another level. Not to be unfair, some of those who are in will become out and sometimes they'll get a taste of being judged with the same judgment they judged- hopefully it's enough for them to repent and take up the words of our Savior to--
Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
By the grace of God we need to live this temporary life as one truly seeking life eternal with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. When we live understanding just how temporary this life is, judging others takes on a whole new context. We don't have to worry about being 'IN', not in this life not ever because the only One who is truly 'IN' is our Savior and it's Him we must live for- not for others and not for ourselves, but for HIM. Everything else is counted as loss when we live for a better life promised to us.
We will ALL be judged and at that time our Judge will know how we have judged.
By the grace of God may we leave the judging up to Him as we seek to only reveal the love of Christ to ALL others.
Amen.
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again
Judge-
G2919
κρίνω
krinō
kree'-no
Properly to distinguish, that is, decide (mentally or judicially); by implication to try, condemn, punish: - avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.
Condemn not. Punish not. Avenge not. Conclude not. Damn not. Decree not. Determine not. Esteem not. Sue not. Ordain not. Question not. Sentence not. Think not.
We are to judge not, why? So that we are not judged.
Too many people assess themselves with higher praise than they dare give another. Judging others is something we are brought up doing. We judge when we determine a person is beneath us. We judge when we determine a person is above us. We judge when we choose to over look undesirable sorts and take up with those who conform more closely to our own selves. We call this HUMAN nature- this sort of judging. Even as children we begin this sort of behavior- sensing something just isn't quite right about a peer and thus begins the quest to keep away from the one that isn't quite right and not only that, the distinguishing between what is perceived right and not quite right is begun. The not quite right will fall into a few categories- those who are just a little off, and those who are a bit more off, and those who are way off. While a child might shun one who is a little off, and another who is a bit more off, they very seldom shun those who are way off- these become the targets of ridicule which takes on many forms. The purpose of that ridicule is for the child who perceives himself as being 'right' to elevate and secure that position for himself while assuring the way off child who is perceived to be far from right is kept in that position which then only makes the right child feel even more right about themselves.
No, this isn't a sociology lecture- far from it. We talk about judging and might be quick to say we don't 'judge' but the truth is we 'judge' a lot! It's just not called judging. We condemn others all the time and in many ways. Again, I can hear the echo of 'it's just human nature'. Yes, sinful human nature, not the nature God would have us embrace and promote.
Children will learn judging from their parents and from each other in an endless cycle of human nature.
When we judge we are setting ourselves up to be judged by the same measure we are judging.
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again
If we are quick to judge, we will be quick to be judged. If we judge harshly we will be judged harshly. We can't escape this though many believe they do.
As children groups are formed and labeled.
There is the 'IN' crowd, the 'NOT SO IN' crowd, and there is the 'OUT' crowd. The in crowd is usually made up of very harsh judges who determine where the others fit in. The not so in crowd are left neither harshly judged nor completely free from judgment. The out crowd are judged very harshly. You know what I'm talking about and we can run it around in our heads forever and make a million excuses for the position of certain people but NONE of it makes it right.
Jesus wasn't part of the 'IN' crowd. The 'IN' crowd was made up of the Pharisees and Sadducees, the Priests, the workers in the temple. For awhile it looked as if Jesus were ushering in a NEW in crowd, but the current in crowd didn't allow that to happen.
Jesus advocated for those in the out crowds as He revealed why they more than any others needed kindness, not condemnation. While Jesus associated with those sinners in the out crowd He was doing so to reveal to us that we are NOT to play judge! We take a great risk when we make decisions regarding who is worthy of us. ALL are worthy of us, just as all are worthy to receive Jesus. The WORST of sinners is worthy to receive Jesus' love, Jesus' forgiveness. We have NO right whatsoever to condemn those that Jesus would never condemn.
I've written before on the difference between judging eternal life and judging right from wrong and it still holds true. We can judge NO ONE's eternal life no matter how horrific they might be. We can judge that the actions they are committing are wrong, and therefore we can choose not to participate in them, but we can't judge the outcome of those actions on an eternal level. As soon as we judge another we are being judge by the same measure we are judging. We lose the right to a compassionate judge when we judge without compassion.
It goes along the same lines as forgiving others as we want to be forgiven. In this case we judge as we want to be judged. And if we're smart we'll recognize that we need to be judged by One filled with compassion and ready to forgive us our sinful ways-- every little tiny sinful way. We don’t have to be HUGE sinners to warrant condemnation, and this is something people love to forget about or choose to never really contemplate.
Those children growing up- you know the ones in the in, not so in, and out crowds- they all become adults and often as adults the mindset will continue. The child who learned to judge other children harshly will become adults judging harshly and so on. Does this happen ALL the time? No. We grow up and some who are out now make it their goal to become IN, and once they are in some will choose to forget what it was like to be in the out crowd and they'll go along with the adult IN crowd against the adult out crowd. Do you really think that all that judging simply disappears as we grow up? I used to think so. Many people love to tell children who are in the out crowd that it won't always be that way, things will be different when they're older. Yes, sometimes that's true, but often we escape one setting for another. The outside of things might have changed but the underlying process of HUMAN nature is still at play on another level. Not to be unfair, some of those who are in will become out and sometimes they'll get a taste of being judged with the same judgment they judged- hopefully it's enough for them to repent and take up the words of our Savior to--
Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
By the grace of God we need to live this temporary life as one truly seeking life eternal with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. When we live understanding just how temporary this life is, judging others takes on a whole new context. We don't have to worry about being 'IN', not in this life not ever because the only One who is truly 'IN' is our Savior and it's Him we must live for- not for others and not for ourselves, but for HIM. Everything else is counted as loss when we live for a better life promised to us.
We will ALL be judged and at that time our Judge will know how we have judged.
By the grace of God may we leave the judging up to Him as we seek to only reveal the love of Christ to ALL others.
Amen.
Friday, May 6, 2011
O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth
2Th 1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you
IT IS a righteous thing with GOD to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you. Did that say - it is a righteous thing with YOU to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you? No, it did not. In fact read more...
2Th 1:7-10 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
Recompense comes when?
When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels.
Why isn't this enough for us? We feel as if we have this inbred, instinctive, primal need to retaliate. People will even quote the Bible saying- an eye for an eye, and they justify that thing inside them that wants someone to pay for the hurt they've caused us or caused a loved one, or even caused strangers. If we feel an injustice has been done we want justice. If we feel slighted we want to slight. If we've been wronged we want to wrong- all in the name of justice. And justice- meaning it was wrong what was done and it shouldn’t have been done but now that it's been done we want acknowledgment that it was wrong and that acknowledgment means the wrong doer at the very least acknowledges they were wrong. But all the seeking of what we believe justice to be only creates in us something dark. The darkness of revenge fills us, and even if it isn't active revenge, a passive revenge inside of us is just as poisonous as the most active seeking of vengeance.
There IS a passive desire for revenge. In fact we sometimes cloak it in a such a pretty coating of self-justification that we can hardly tell it's passive revenge at all. We aren't out there trying to hurt the one who hurt us, we aren't out there slandering the pain giver, we aren't desiring others to hurt them for us- we are simply living with a darkness inside us that won't go away. Satan wants us to hang onto all those little dark places within us because he loves to use them as it suits his purpose to have us take our eyes off our Savior and put them right back where he wants them- on ourselves.
People think it strange when someone actually, really does TURN the other cheek. They'll sometimes even applaud it, as long as it's on a small scale. With an active darkness in us that wants us to get revenge (active or passive) it's not easy to turn any cheeks.
We can see it so much in just our own lives let alone in the lives of others. We find ourselves snapping at someone when we know we shouldn't, and then we berated ourselves for not turning the other cheek which we want to be natural to us. We want so much to be as Jesus would have us to be. And we need to realize that it's a NEVER ending process. We are being REFINED. And anything worth something isn't refined easily.
Do we want revenge when we are betrayed by a friend?
Do we want revenge when we are lied to by a loved one?
Do we want revenge when we read about a child being beaten?
Do we want revenge when we hear on the news that a whole family was slaughter by a disgruntled relative?
Do we want revenge when we think about masked gunmen killing innocent teenagers in a school?
Do we want revenge when a mad man uses his money to arrange the murder of thousands?
Do we want revenge when our car is deliberately scratched?
Do we want revenge when an innocent animal is tortured?
Do we want revenge when someone we love leaves us?
Do we want revenge when… I'm sure you could fill in the blank over and over.
It's not that desiring justice is wrong, not at all. Vengeance has a time and place and is best left to the ONE who really knows the end from the beginning, the One who knows us all inside and out.
If we all sought revenge for ALL wrongs done to us, no one would be left alive.
Being the sinfilled, flesh-natured creatures that we are, constantly wronging each other (maybe not in big ways but often in tiny ways) we need to ask forgiveness when we wrong any one in even the smallest manner. We can't make others ask forgiveness when they wrong us- well, we can try but making someone ask for forgiveness negates the genuine repentance, the genuine sorrow for the wrong doing.
We as individuals need to understand that vengeance belongs to God and God alone and that darkness in us that Satan has twisted to become acceptable to the masses CANNOT be acceptable in us!
Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Psa 94:1 O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.
Psa 94:2 Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.
Psa 94:3 LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?
Psa 94:4 How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
Psa 94:5 They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.
Psa 94:6 They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
Psa 94:7 Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.
Psa 94:8 Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?
Psa 94:9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
Psa 94:10 He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?
Psa 94:11 The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
Psa 94:12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;
Psa 94:13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.
Psa 94:14 For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
Psa 94:15 But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.
Psa 94:16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
Psa 94:17 Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
Psa 94:18 When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.
Psa 94:19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
Psa 94:20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?
Psa 94:21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
Psa 94:22 But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.
Psa 94:23 And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.
Nah 1:2 God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
Nah 1:3 The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
Nah 1:4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
Nah 1:5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
Nah 1:6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.
Nah 1:7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
Nah 1:8 But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.
Nah 1:9 What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
Heb 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
There will come a day when our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will return, of this there is NO doubt. Those who are His will be forgiven- our Savior having paid the price for us. Those who are not His won't be forgiven- our Savior having paid the price though not being accepted by them. All those who are not forgiven will pay for their own sins- they will fall into the hands of the living God and He will know exactly what the penalty for those sins will be. Make no mistake- God's vengeance will be JUST, there is no other way it could be. The unrepentant, unforgiven evil doers will not be able to escape and every bit of revenge another believed they should have if it is truly warranted it will be given. The evil are getting away with NOTHING when we don't exact our revenge upon them. What they will suffer will be exact justice unlike we could ever give them and then- eternal death - non-existence. So while Satan wants us to worry that people all over the world are not getting what they deserve, we by faith, know they will get everything they deserve. However, how much better would it be for them to repent and come to know and be known of our Lord and Savior?! If only that were possible! Satan is doing everything in his power to see that it isn't possible, in fact he's doing everything he can so well that all but God's very elect will be his.
Rather than let ourselves be consumed by the evil in the world- the tiniest evil or the greatest they- all have one single penalty- death; let us resolve to surrender all we are to our Savior. Let us welcome the Great Refiner's fire as we are purged of the evil within us- evil the world calls good and acceptable.
~~
Like a few other people lately - I'm disturbed by the recent government sanctioned murder, for a number of reasons and this study reflects that a bit. It disturbs me that so many are so very accepting of this out and out murder. I know I'm in the minority and in my heart there is nothing but sadness for the majority who are deceived by Satan into thinking murder is acceptable at a certain level, under certain conditions. I'm not talking about killing, I'm talking about murder- premeditated murder. This is the very commandment we have from God- Thou shalt not kill. He was talking about murder without a doubt. And as people around the world celebrate murder calling it justice it breaks my heart. There were NO clauses in the commandment- no, murder is acceptable if this or that condition is met. Murder is acceptable if it's a monster with money to promote monstrous acts. I can't find that in the Bible! Murder is okay if you're murdering a murderer. Nope, can't find that in the Bible either! Murder is okay if it's just going to cause a big political stink to keep the person alive. Search, you won't find that in the Bible, either! Justifying murder, what a horrifically sad day we've all been witness to.
May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ know us, forgive us, save us so that we may be in the kingdom of heaven with Him as He returns to take us there with Him. By His Grace, His righteousness, His love! May the eyes of the many be opened before it's too late, please Lord, open the eyes of the blind, unstop the ears of the deaf! Thy will be done, Lord, Thy will!
Amen.
IT IS a righteous thing with GOD to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you. Did that say - it is a righteous thing with YOU to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you? No, it did not. In fact read more...
2Th 1:7-10 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
Recompense comes when?
When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels.
Why isn't this enough for us? We feel as if we have this inbred, instinctive, primal need to retaliate. People will even quote the Bible saying- an eye for an eye, and they justify that thing inside them that wants someone to pay for the hurt they've caused us or caused a loved one, or even caused strangers. If we feel an injustice has been done we want justice. If we feel slighted we want to slight. If we've been wronged we want to wrong- all in the name of justice. And justice- meaning it was wrong what was done and it shouldn’t have been done but now that it's been done we want acknowledgment that it was wrong and that acknowledgment means the wrong doer at the very least acknowledges they were wrong. But all the seeking of what we believe justice to be only creates in us something dark. The darkness of revenge fills us, and even if it isn't active revenge, a passive revenge inside of us is just as poisonous as the most active seeking of vengeance.
There IS a passive desire for revenge. In fact we sometimes cloak it in a such a pretty coating of self-justification that we can hardly tell it's passive revenge at all. We aren't out there trying to hurt the one who hurt us, we aren't out there slandering the pain giver, we aren't desiring others to hurt them for us- we are simply living with a darkness inside us that won't go away. Satan wants us to hang onto all those little dark places within us because he loves to use them as it suits his purpose to have us take our eyes off our Savior and put them right back where he wants them- on ourselves.
People think it strange when someone actually, really does TURN the other cheek. They'll sometimes even applaud it, as long as it's on a small scale. With an active darkness in us that wants us to get revenge (active or passive) it's not easy to turn any cheeks.
We can see it so much in just our own lives let alone in the lives of others. We find ourselves snapping at someone when we know we shouldn't, and then we berated ourselves for not turning the other cheek which we want to be natural to us. We want so much to be as Jesus would have us to be. And we need to realize that it's a NEVER ending process. We are being REFINED. And anything worth something isn't refined easily.
Do we want revenge when we are betrayed by a friend?
Do we want revenge when we are lied to by a loved one?
Do we want revenge when we read about a child being beaten?
Do we want revenge when we hear on the news that a whole family was slaughter by a disgruntled relative?
Do we want revenge when we think about masked gunmen killing innocent teenagers in a school?
Do we want revenge when a mad man uses his money to arrange the murder of thousands?
Do we want revenge when our car is deliberately scratched?
Do we want revenge when an innocent animal is tortured?
Do we want revenge when someone we love leaves us?
Do we want revenge when… I'm sure you could fill in the blank over and over.
It's not that desiring justice is wrong, not at all. Vengeance has a time and place and is best left to the ONE who really knows the end from the beginning, the One who knows us all inside and out.
If we all sought revenge for ALL wrongs done to us, no one would be left alive.
Being the sinfilled, flesh-natured creatures that we are, constantly wronging each other (maybe not in big ways but often in tiny ways) we need to ask forgiveness when we wrong any one in even the smallest manner. We can't make others ask forgiveness when they wrong us- well, we can try but making someone ask for forgiveness negates the genuine repentance, the genuine sorrow for the wrong doing.
We as individuals need to understand that vengeance belongs to God and God alone and that darkness in us that Satan has twisted to become acceptable to the masses CANNOT be acceptable in us!
Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Psa 94:1 O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.
Psa 94:2 Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.
Psa 94:3 LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?
Psa 94:4 How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
Psa 94:5 They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.
Psa 94:6 They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
Psa 94:7 Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.
Psa 94:8 Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?
Psa 94:9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
Psa 94:10 He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?
Psa 94:11 The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
Psa 94:12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;
Psa 94:13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.
Psa 94:14 For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
Psa 94:15 But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.
Psa 94:16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
Psa 94:17 Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
Psa 94:18 When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.
Psa 94:19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
Psa 94:20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?
Psa 94:21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
Psa 94:22 But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.
Psa 94:23 And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.
Nah 1:2 God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
Nah 1:3 The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
Nah 1:4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
Nah 1:5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
Nah 1:6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.
Nah 1:7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
Nah 1:8 But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.
Nah 1:9 What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
Heb 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
There will come a day when our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will return, of this there is NO doubt. Those who are His will be forgiven- our Savior having paid the price for us. Those who are not His won't be forgiven- our Savior having paid the price though not being accepted by them. All those who are not forgiven will pay for their own sins- they will fall into the hands of the living God and He will know exactly what the penalty for those sins will be. Make no mistake- God's vengeance will be JUST, there is no other way it could be. The unrepentant, unforgiven evil doers will not be able to escape and every bit of revenge another believed they should have if it is truly warranted it will be given. The evil are getting away with NOTHING when we don't exact our revenge upon them. What they will suffer will be exact justice unlike we could ever give them and then- eternal death - non-existence. So while Satan wants us to worry that people all over the world are not getting what they deserve, we by faith, know they will get everything they deserve. However, how much better would it be for them to repent and come to know and be known of our Lord and Savior?! If only that were possible! Satan is doing everything in his power to see that it isn't possible, in fact he's doing everything he can so well that all but God's very elect will be his.
Rather than let ourselves be consumed by the evil in the world- the tiniest evil or the greatest they- all have one single penalty- death; let us resolve to surrender all we are to our Savior. Let us welcome the Great Refiner's fire as we are purged of the evil within us- evil the world calls good and acceptable.
~~
Like a few other people lately - I'm disturbed by the recent government sanctioned murder, for a number of reasons and this study reflects that a bit. It disturbs me that so many are so very accepting of this out and out murder. I know I'm in the minority and in my heart there is nothing but sadness for the majority who are deceived by Satan into thinking murder is acceptable at a certain level, under certain conditions. I'm not talking about killing, I'm talking about murder- premeditated murder. This is the very commandment we have from God- Thou shalt not kill. He was talking about murder without a doubt. And as people around the world celebrate murder calling it justice it breaks my heart. There were NO clauses in the commandment- no, murder is acceptable if this or that condition is met. Murder is acceptable if it's a monster with money to promote monstrous acts. I can't find that in the Bible! Murder is okay if you're murdering a murderer. Nope, can't find that in the Bible either! Murder is okay if it's just going to cause a big political stink to keep the person alive. Search, you won't find that in the Bible, either! Justifying murder, what a horrifically sad day we've all been witness to.
May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ know us, forgive us, save us so that we may be in the kingdom of heaven with Him as He returns to take us there with Him. By His Grace, His righteousness, His love! May the eyes of the many be opened before it's too late, please Lord, open the eyes of the blind, unstop the ears of the deaf! Thy will be done, Lord, Thy will!
Amen.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Losing today to tomorrow
Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Is it possible that while we are busy worrying about tomorrow that we neglect the things of today?
You've heard the saying- tomorrow never comes, right? A lot of people would dispute this, but it's true. Events you are waiting for come and go, but when that event comes - there is still another tomorrow. It's events we worry about, future events. Do you think some future events warrant worrying over? A loved one ill? A test to be taken? A court hearing to attend to? Test results to get? Bills that need paying? All of those sound like pretty good things to be worrying about if you're going to worry but you've also had to have heard the saying- worrying changes nothing. That's true too, isn't it? What does worrying accomplish? Does it really help us? It sure doesn't ease our minds because it's our minds that are churning as we worry. We say we can't help but worry and as a BORN worrier, I've sure said that exact thing a number of times myself. I was born that way and that sure seems to be the case. Born that way or not, we are not supposed to be 'born' worriers. We aren't supposed to worry at all. We DO neglect the HERE and NOW when we focus on the worries of tomorrow. Right here and now we have NO control over tomorrow. We don't even know for certain we'll wake up tomorrow, do we? When we do wake up there are a lot of things that remain out of our control. We can't control another's thoughts, we can't control another's feelings. We can let our imagination run wild and IMAGINE all sorts of things others might think or do, or even feel, but the bottom line is our imaginative thoughts are NOT factual.
Do we have to provide for our future? Are there certain things we should do for our futures? Is it wise to lay up goods for winter? It used to be more so before we had grocery stores to go to year round that provide for us. We need to save money for future necessities, right? We need to save money to pay our bills, yes? To a certain point we do have to do these things but never to an obsessive point that proves more than anything else that we are looking to the future as if we know it's ours to have and we are providing for ourselves- without God's hand being involved at all. While we do strive to provide as God provides for us to do so, it should never be done worrying the entire time, should it? No. If the day comes and we have no food then we have to ask that God's will be done in our lives. If the day comes when we lose the home we have for one reason or another, we still need to ask that God's will be done in our lives. We have NO clue what the results of the hardships will be in our lives. We have no idea what sadness will contribute to our ability to show compassion later. The thing is we have to admit we are NOT in control of our lives as much as we like to believe we are.
God is in control of our lives as we surrender to Him and no matter what befalls us God's overall plan for our lives leading us towards the kingdom of heaven will be done. As we suffer through this temporary existence - mentally, physically, emotionally- we must have FAITH that God's will is done and all our worrying helps nothing- but only reveals that our faith needs to grow.
Every bit of worry is another opportunity for a leap of faith. We can choose to embrace the worry and all that means for us, or choose to acknowledge the potential we have to worry and then take that leap of faith by choosing not to indulge in the worrying. Every time we find ourselves being drawn back towards the thing begging us to be worried over we have to pray for the faith to leave it to God- because we know our worry accomplishes NOTHING.
Back to this…
Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Is it possible that while we are busy worrying about tomorrow that we neglect the things of today?
It is VERY possible that we do NOT live for today even while we are living that day and HOW much is missed of the day spent engrossed in worry over tomorrow? If we are constantly living in worry for tomorrow we lose all our today's to worry. It's no wonder that Jesus felt the need to teach us that we are not to dwell on tomorrow because today has enough in it to be concerned about. Why should we worry about losing salvation tomorrow and neglect the idea that we could lose it today?
We are taught to pray for DAILY bread, not weekly bread, not monthly bread, not yearly bread- but DAILY bread- this goes hand in hand with taking notice of TODAY, not tomorrow.
May our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ forgive us of our worrying and help us to give the day we are living more attention than tomorrow.
By His GRACE, by HIS LOVE.
Through His righteousness forever!
Amen.
Is it possible that while we are busy worrying about tomorrow that we neglect the things of today?
You've heard the saying- tomorrow never comes, right? A lot of people would dispute this, but it's true. Events you are waiting for come and go, but when that event comes - there is still another tomorrow. It's events we worry about, future events. Do you think some future events warrant worrying over? A loved one ill? A test to be taken? A court hearing to attend to? Test results to get? Bills that need paying? All of those sound like pretty good things to be worrying about if you're going to worry but you've also had to have heard the saying- worrying changes nothing. That's true too, isn't it? What does worrying accomplish? Does it really help us? It sure doesn't ease our minds because it's our minds that are churning as we worry. We say we can't help but worry and as a BORN worrier, I've sure said that exact thing a number of times myself. I was born that way and that sure seems to be the case. Born that way or not, we are not supposed to be 'born' worriers. We aren't supposed to worry at all. We DO neglect the HERE and NOW when we focus on the worries of tomorrow. Right here and now we have NO control over tomorrow. We don't even know for certain we'll wake up tomorrow, do we? When we do wake up there are a lot of things that remain out of our control. We can't control another's thoughts, we can't control another's feelings. We can let our imagination run wild and IMAGINE all sorts of things others might think or do, or even feel, but the bottom line is our imaginative thoughts are NOT factual.
Do we have to provide for our future? Are there certain things we should do for our futures? Is it wise to lay up goods for winter? It used to be more so before we had grocery stores to go to year round that provide for us. We need to save money for future necessities, right? We need to save money to pay our bills, yes? To a certain point we do have to do these things but never to an obsessive point that proves more than anything else that we are looking to the future as if we know it's ours to have and we are providing for ourselves- without God's hand being involved at all. While we do strive to provide as God provides for us to do so, it should never be done worrying the entire time, should it? No. If the day comes and we have no food then we have to ask that God's will be done in our lives. If the day comes when we lose the home we have for one reason or another, we still need to ask that God's will be done in our lives. We have NO clue what the results of the hardships will be in our lives. We have no idea what sadness will contribute to our ability to show compassion later. The thing is we have to admit we are NOT in control of our lives as much as we like to believe we are.
God is in control of our lives as we surrender to Him and no matter what befalls us God's overall plan for our lives leading us towards the kingdom of heaven will be done. As we suffer through this temporary existence - mentally, physically, emotionally- we must have FAITH that God's will is done and all our worrying helps nothing- but only reveals that our faith needs to grow.
Every bit of worry is another opportunity for a leap of faith. We can choose to embrace the worry and all that means for us, or choose to acknowledge the potential we have to worry and then take that leap of faith by choosing not to indulge in the worrying. Every time we find ourselves being drawn back towards the thing begging us to be worried over we have to pray for the faith to leave it to God- because we know our worry accomplishes NOTHING.
Back to this…
Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Is it possible that while we are busy worrying about tomorrow that we neglect the things of today?
It is VERY possible that we do NOT live for today even while we are living that day and HOW much is missed of the day spent engrossed in worry over tomorrow? If we are constantly living in worry for tomorrow we lose all our today's to worry. It's no wonder that Jesus felt the need to teach us that we are not to dwell on tomorrow because today has enough in it to be concerned about. Why should we worry about losing salvation tomorrow and neglect the idea that we could lose it today?
We are taught to pray for DAILY bread, not weekly bread, not monthly bread, not yearly bread- but DAILY bread- this goes hand in hand with taking notice of TODAY, not tomorrow.
May our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ forgive us of our worrying and help us to give the day we are living more attention than tomorrow.
By His GRACE, by HIS LOVE.
Through His righteousness forever!
Amen.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Seek FIRST...
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
The KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS!
First, not second, not third, not fourth, not fifth…not last…but FIRST! Nothing comes before FIRST. If you are first in line then there is NO ONE in front of you. If you are first on a list, no one tops you. If you are first in thought, there is no thought before that thought. If you are seeking the KINGDOM of GOD and GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS first you are NOT seeking other things FIRST.
2Ch 31:20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.
2Ch 31:21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
Hezekiah- to seek his God, he did it with ALL his heart.
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Rom 14:18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
The kingdom of God is…. RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, JOY - in the Holy Ghost!
2Th 1:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
That you might be counted worthy of the kingdom of God- for which ye also SUFFER.
Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
HUNGER and THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS!
Mat 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
We might think we are giving up a lot when we compare our lives to the lives of those who don't live with the kingdom of God first in their thoughts, but what can truly compare to everlasting life with our God?
We do suffer, I'm not saying that people who desire the kingdom don't suffer- but all that suffering is worth it, isn't it? At the time when the pain is fresh, the agony is raw and new, we HAVE to understand that it is TEMPORARY. All the heartache, all the pain, all the suffering, all the sacrifice is TEMPORARY. If we live to 100 years old and each day is filled with sacrifice, each day is filled with pain, heartache… we can know it is ONLY TEMPORARY.
No one wants to suffer! No one wants bad things to befall them! No one wants life to throw them for a loop! No one wants to suffer INJUSTICE, and there is SO MUCH INJUSTICE IN THIS WORLD! We don't want heartache and pain, who would???? All that occurs in our lives- all the bad, all the good, and all the in-between them both is what we are called to endure and keep GOD FIRST, remember our reward isn't anything at all in this life, it just isn't. We seek for earthly treasure here and sometimes we find a bit of treasure and we are happy, we get caught up in the earthly treasure. We seek for earthly treasure and sometimes we fine A LOT of earthly treasure and we are very happy. The trouble with seeking earthly treasure is it keeps us from seeking heavenly treasure. Our heart needs to be in heaven, always!
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Seek FIRST the kingdom of GOD and HIS righteousness!
Not -seek first our pleasure.
Not- seek first our happiness.
Not -seek first our peace.
Not -seek first justice.
Not -seek first life.
Not -seek first ANYTHING.
But seek FIRST the kingdom of GOD!
Then… seek other things. It isn't that we are to ignore the other things in life but first and foremost has to come God! When we put God anywhere else all those other things don't matter a single bit no matter how wonderful they might seem to be. It's true. It's truth. This is something taught by our Savior Himself. WE NEED TO LEARN at the feet of our SAVIOR!
In His love! In His grace! In His righteousness!
Amen!
The KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS!
First, not second, not third, not fourth, not fifth…not last…but FIRST! Nothing comes before FIRST. If you are first in line then there is NO ONE in front of you. If you are first on a list, no one tops you. If you are first in thought, there is no thought before that thought. If you are seeking the KINGDOM of GOD and GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS first you are NOT seeking other things FIRST.
2Ch 31:20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.
2Ch 31:21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
Hezekiah- to seek his God, he did it with ALL his heart.
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Rom 14:18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
The kingdom of God is…. RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, JOY - in the Holy Ghost!
2Th 1:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
That you might be counted worthy of the kingdom of God- for which ye also SUFFER.
Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
HUNGER and THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS!
Mat 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
We might think we are giving up a lot when we compare our lives to the lives of those who don't live with the kingdom of God first in their thoughts, but what can truly compare to everlasting life with our God?
We do suffer, I'm not saying that people who desire the kingdom don't suffer- but all that suffering is worth it, isn't it? At the time when the pain is fresh, the agony is raw and new, we HAVE to understand that it is TEMPORARY. All the heartache, all the pain, all the suffering, all the sacrifice is TEMPORARY. If we live to 100 years old and each day is filled with sacrifice, each day is filled with pain, heartache… we can know it is ONLY TEMPORARY.
No one wants to suffer! No one wants bad things to befall them! No one wants life to throw them for a loop! No one wants to suffer INJUSTICE, and there is SO MUCH INJUSTICE IN THIS WORLD! We don't want heartache and pain, who would???? All that occurs in our lives- all the bad, all the good, and all the in-between them both is what we are called to endure and keep GOD FIRST, remember our reward isn't anything at all in this life, it just isn't. We seek for earthly treasure here and sometimes we find a bit of treasure and we are happy, we get caught up in the earthly treasure. We seek for earthly treasure and sometimes we fine A LOT of earthly treasure and we are very happy. The trouble with seeking earthly treasure is it keeps us from seeking heavenly treasure. Our heart needs to be in heaven, always!
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Seek FIRST the kingdom of GOD and HIS righteousness!
Not -seek first our pleasure.
Not- seek first our happiness.
Not -seek first our peace.
Not -seek first justice.
Not -seek first life.
Not -seek first ANYTHING.
But seek FIRST the kingdom of GOD!
Then… seek other things. It isn't that we are to ignore the other things in life but first and foremost has to come God! When we put God anywhere else all those other things don't matter a single bit no matter how wonderful they might seem to be. It's true. It's truth. This is something taught by our Savior Himself. WE NEED TO LEARN at the feet of our SAVIOR!
In His love! In His grace! In His righteousness!
Amen!
Our Heavenly Father knows
Mat 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Mat 6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Mat 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Mat 6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Mat 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
We are much better than birds there is no question there. Better in the respect that we are made in the image of God. We are given an intellect far beyond that of a bird. Can a bird sin? No. Birds have no awareness of sin- no awareness of right from wrong. There is no higher thinking in a bird. Birds are taken care of by God. Birds depend upon God to take care of them. If God takes care of a creature that was not made in his image how much more will He take care of one who has been created in His image? Seriously. We go to great lengths to *take care of ourselves*. We take credit to ourselves for *taking care of ourselves*. In truth, we HAVE to give God the glory for making it possible for us to do the things it takes to claim that we take care of ourselves. We HAVE to give God the glory not take it to ourselves. We have to recognize ALL the times God has taken care of us. Even when times are extremely hard and we're on the verge of … well, death… it does happen. God knows the overall picture and if we give God the glory we know that if our death is part of that overall picture for His will to be done in our lives and the lives around us- then that is for the best. God takes care of us.
We can't *think* ourselves taller- this is a fact that cannot be disputed. You can think about being taller until you die and if you live 1000 years, a 1,000,000 years you still will not be able to add a single smidgen to your height.
Why do we *worry* about clothing? God clothed all His creation and did so in ways much grander than we ever could or can no matter how hard we try and we DO try a lot! Fashion to a lot of people is a huge deal. God clothes His flowers beautiful, flowers that will wither and fade and die away. We have to believe God will take care of us, maybe not by giving us the latest pair of hip jeans on the market, or the star approved footwear, or the latest style of shoes or tennis shoes, but He will take care of us.
We have to have our thoughts on things eternal, trusting God to provide for us our necessities.
Can we get caught up in things like food and clothing? Yes. In fact we can get caught up in just about anything if we don't put our trust in our Savior.
Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
The gentiles- those not in a true, real relationship with our God are gentiles. Those who have no real relationship with God will get caught up on the material world, they will get caught up in things not eternal.
Our heavenly Father KNOWS. We have to TRUST. We have to BELIEVE. Is it easy? No. Satan will use every trick he has to get us caught up in this world. If one tactic doesn't work he'll use another and if that doesn't work he'll try YET another and another and another, he has nothing but time on his hands and that time is growing short and the shorter it gets the harder he'll use that time to keep after God's people. He won't bother with his people because he has them and that's that. He abuses those who are God's and will slip in using any weakness in us he can spy. Wholly God's, that's what we have to be. We have to trust in God like we trust in no one else.
Needs. He knows our needs. A lot of time we call our wants our needs but God knows the truth even if we don't. When we aren't receiving something we believe we need, maybe, just maybe we NEED to take a step back and ask ourselves if it truly is a need. In the grand scheme of things… the next verse we'll study really sums it up for us.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
More on this tomorrow by the grace of God.
In His love always!!!
Mat 6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Mat 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Mat 6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Mat 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
We are much better than birds there is no question there. Better in the respect that we are made in the image of God. We are given an intellect far beyond that of a bird. Can a bird sin? No. Birds have no awareness of sin- no awareness of right from wrong. There is no higher thinking in a bird. Birds are taken care of by God. Birds depend upon God to take care of them. If God takes care of a creature that was not made in his image how much more will He take care of one who has been created in His image? Seriously. We go to great lengths to *take care of ourselves*. We take credit to ourselves for *taking care of ourselves*. In truth, we HAVE to give God the glory for making it possible for us to do the things it takes to claim that we take care of ourselves. We HAVE to give God the glory not take it to ourselves. We have to recognize ALL the times God has taken care of us. Even when times are extremely hard and we're on the verge of … well, death… it does happen. God knows the overall picture and if we give God the glory we know that if our death is part of that overall picture for His will to be done in our lives and the lives around us- then that is for the best. God takes care of us.
We can't *think* ourselves taller- this is a fact that cannot be disputed. You can think about being taller until you die and if you live 1000 years, a 1,000,000 years you still will not be able to add a single smidgen to your height.
Why do we *worry* about clothing? God clothed all His creation and did so in ways much grander than we ever could or can no matter how hard we try and we DO try a lot! Fashion to a lot of people is a huge deal. God clothes His flowers beautiful, flowers that will wither and fade and die away. We have to believe God will take care of us, maybe not by giving us the latest pair of hip jeans on the market, or the star approved footwear, or the latest style of shoes or tennis shoes, but He will take care of us.
We have to have our thoughts on things eternal, trusting God to provide for us our necessities.
Can we get caught up in things like food and clothing? Yes. In fact we can get caught up in just about anything if we don't put our trust in our Savior.
Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
The gentiles- those not in a true, real relationship with our God are gentiles. Those who have no real relationship with God will get caught up on the material world, they will get caught up in things not eternal.
Our heavenly Father KNOWS. We have to TRUST. We have to BELIEVE. Is it easy? No. Satan will use every trick he has to get us caught up in this world. If one tactic doesn't work he'll use another and if that doesn't work he'll try YET another and another and another, he has nothing but time on his hands and that time is growing short and the shorter it gets the harder he'll use that time to keep after God's people. He won't bother with his people because he has them and that's that. He abuses those who are God's and will slip in using any weakness in us he can spy. Wholly God's, that's what we have to be. We have to trust in God like we trust in no one else.
Needs. He knows our needs. A lot of time we call our wants our needs but God knows the truth even if we don't. When we aren't receiving something we believe we need, maybe, just maybe we NEED to take a step back and ask ourselves if it truly is a need. In the grand scheme of things… the next verse we'll study really sums it up for us.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
More on this tomorrow by the grace of God.
In His love always!!!
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