The Anthem of The Lost

Something to think a about.

The Anthem of The Lost

And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry."' 20 But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' Luke 12:19-20

This so thoroughly describes the mindset of modern America. We are directed, persuaded, and encouraged to obtain an education. With this education, we can then acquire sufficient wealth to allow us to eat drink and be merry in our later years.  

God says to all of this you Fool!!!!!!

He is not raging against proper planning for future events. He is saying without Him all of your future planning will lead to naught. He is saying there is so much more to our existence. Do you want to waste your life with the worthless goal of attainment, constant entertainment, and temporal pleasure?  

We have an eternity to live. God is saying wake up, this is not all there is. There is an entire universe of adventure, knowledge, and pleasure on the other side of the door of this life.  You can attain wealth and all of your dreams, and still, you will die. All of your accomplishments will end up belonging to someone else. After eating drinking and being merry, you will still have to stand before God and give account. 

Living life as if this is it, is foolishness. If you have been sucked into "this is it" worldview I pity you. I can't fathom a life where we are all there is. Where humanity is the pinnacle of existence. We are slowly self-destructing and maybe not so slowly. If I look at the world and see the only hope being the combined intelligence of man it makes me cringe. Humanity throughout its existence has repeated the same sin. We have never learned and worse than that we have not changed. We are still trying to become God. Some of us actually believe we are the solutions to the problems we don't understand. 

Our lack of ability to see every repercussion of every solution has within it the seeds of the next problem. Because we can't know every effect of our actions, our action as well-intentioned as they may be will always lead to another problem.  Even those who appear to have it all, have problems. They have challenges and failures and regrets and pain. Appearances are but a facade covering the pain within.  

Without God, the hopelessness of human supremacy will not bring peace, but ultimately it will bring despair. We were not designed to live independently from God. We were never intended to be the pinnacle of existence. We were not given the ability to resolve all of the world's problems.  We were created to be dependent and in a relationship with God. God the pinnacle of existence can resolve all of humanity's problems. We were designed and intended to be His.

Leia Mais…

Blessings of The Lord

Something to think about.

Blessing of The Lord

“The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.”
Proverbs 10:22 NKJV

When was the last time you received a blessing from the Lord? Was it costly? Did it require something from you? I receive blessings of God on a continual basis. Every day the Lord does something in my life for which I'm grateful. Never have I had to sacrifice anything to receive the blessing of the Lord. It has always been a gift.

Some of the blessings of God are conditional. Even salvation John 3:16 has the requirement of belief in Jesus.

The blessings of God are conditional and unconditional at the same time . The blessings of God are conditional in practice and unconditional in intent. The blessings of God come from the generosity of His heart. For example, redemption is a gift of God. It is something God does for us without condition. You might say that is not true you have to do XYZ to receive redemption. Which is true, however, God did not have to redeem us. There is nothing that required God to redeem us. Forgiveness is another of those unconditional blessings.  He did not have to forgive us. Salvation, restoration, grace, adoption and many other blessing are unconditional. They are unconditional because God is not required to bless us. God is complete and perfect without us. He choose to bless us He did not do it out of need.  A condition is usually in place to benefit the one who grants the benefit. If someone loans you money and the condition is that you pay interest, the interest benefits the one who made the loan. The conditions we must fulfill to receive the blessings of God do not benefit God. By fulfilling the condition in no way, do we add or benefit God.

All of the blessings of God provide us with riches. They may not be momentary but they are rich never the less. When God decided to restore me from my heart attack, it was a rich blessing. Not just because I lived but also because he allowed to serve him. That blessing has turned my life around in ways I didn't know existed. That single blessing has eternal benefits for me my family and friends and even you a stranger.

Every blessing of God is rich because it is not singular in nature. It does not just bless you but everyone around you. It even extends to people you don't know. All the blessings of God are positive in there outcome. 

Deuteronomy 28:1 1"And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. 

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  

 

God's blessings are intended to make your life rich spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, financially. Even though there are actual mechanisms for bringing these blessings to life they are from the heart of God. He offers them too us unconditionally because he wants too. He can't be required to. He chooses to bless us out of his generosity.

Leia Mais…

Kit and Caboodle

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Kit and Caboodle

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ¹⁷ And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17 (ESV)

If this verse only ended with"visible and invisible" but no it doesn't. It goes right on to claim ownership of the whole kit and caboodle.  I am not able to manipulate the words in these verses and turn it into something other than what it says. God is taking responsibility for all things that exist.  Which is only logical if you accept what it says in verse 16, or in Genesis 1:1.

Now we can get into a philosophical discussion on cause and affect about the genesis of evil and attempt to place it at God's feet. Thereby accusing him for all the evil in the world. After all, he does take responsibility for everything that's been created. Except for taking responsibility for something is not the same as saying I am the creator of the thing. 

For instance, if your child goes out and performs acts of violence as in "Son of Sam" his parents must take responsibility for him but not for his actions. You might argue that the parents are responsible because they bore and raised him. The reality is that at some point you can not continue to blame the parents. The blame is solely on the perpetrator, it is on the child who decided of his own accord to be violent.  Likewise, God is responsible for creating all things, but He is not responsible or to blame for the choices we make. In the end, it is not Gods fault we sin. He created everything for His glory and our pleasure. We perverted that intent of our own accord. By the corruption of perfection with sin, we turned perfection into principalities and powers of evil.  

"All things were created through him and for him." If we accept all things were made by Him, why would have he created evil? All things were not just made by Him they were made through and for Him. So all things have there origin Him, and He is perfect as the bible claims. It is impossible for perfection to come from imperfection as it is impossible for imperfection to come from perfection. Sin was introduced into the world through choice resulting in the corruption of perfection. Evil came into being not because God created it but because He gave man a choice. Man made a choice, and the choice man made lead to evil.  

God is responsible for creating the condition where a choice could be made.  We could have chosen perfection or imperfection. The choice we made had the inevitable consequence of evil. God is still offering us the same choice pick Him and live in eternal perfection, i.e., sinless perfection. Or choose imperfection, i.e., sin which leads to inevitable self-destruction. Whichever choice you make whether perfection or imperfection it will not be Gods fault it will be your choice and hence your fault. 
If you choose perfection, evil can't exist. If you choose to sin, evil is the prerequisite result.

Leia Mais…

Nothing Hidden

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Nothing Hidden

¹³ And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13

If you ponder the beginning of this verse, you will arrive at astonishment, you'll be amazed and in awe of God.  Every creature is naked and uncovered before God. God is so inconceivably powerful that every creature that has ever lived is bare before Him. There is not one that can hide from Him. What kind of power is that? How is it possible that God sees us all so completely as to be entirely naked. It is a power that can only be completed understood when God restores the earth. 

Every knee shall bow. We will all stand before Him on the day of judgment, we shall all give the account of our lives. He will pass judgment on the entire world. He alone is the judge of all life. What power is that? 

We confer power upon individuals through systems. Our president is elected, dictators are supported.  Military power is a combined submission to a central idea. No power on this earth is derived from itself it is always accumulated through the will and support of people. Regardless of the government, there are aways systems created through which the power is exercised. The authority will cease to exist when the systems designed to support that authority vanish. 

This is not the case with God. His power is not derived from the support of others. His power is derived from Himself. He is power. In the book of Genesis, it says he spoke the world into existence.  He did not direct anyone or anything to do anything He merely spoke it, and it happened. The point is He does not depend on anyone or anything to carry out His will. He causes things to happen, to come into existence solely by the power within Him. This concept is foreign to us because there is virtually nothing we can do that is not person dependent. All people in power political, military, business, education are all dependent upon those who fulfill their will. 

We cannot bend the will of God we cannot force His Hand we are impotent to remove His commands. Since He is not dependant on any source for anything nothing is able to assail Him. He is singular in His power. His power is what keeps the universe in place His power is what keeps the blood following through your veins. It is His power that enables you to think. It is His power that allows you to question Him. You are alive because of the power He has within Himself to create life. His power is complete, and we are naked before Him. 

Leia Mais…

Pray

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25 Brothers, pray for us. 1 Thessalonians 5:25 

For my brothers and sister in Christ. Tom, Migdalia, Michele, Oliver, Maria, and Latanya. I pray that you know that God is with you. He is with you everywhere you go. I pray you are comforted in knowing that God is fully committed to you. That he has bestowed upon you incredible gifts and abilities that He wants to bring to fruition and completion. I pray for you that the blessings that are unique to you will be fully developed for your joy and Gods glory.  I pray the presence of the almighty go with you and bless you coming in and going out. I pray you will be blessed in all you do and in all you touch.  I ask God to bless and protect your spouses', children, grandchildren, and families. I pray God would make himself known to all those you love. I pray you know the Love of God in everyday situations. I ask God to bless you physically, spiritually, emotionally, intellectually in every way. That He would shower you with blessings

 I pray that you would allow God to hold you, love you, protect you and provide for you, for He truly is a good father. More than anything else I ask God to give you the power to walk in Faith. To step out into the unknown knowing that God has already gone before you making a way for you. I thank God for you for you, you are a missing part of my life. I thank you for your help wisdom, love, and guidance. You have all changed my life in ways you will never know. I love and appreciate every one of you and am extremely grateful for all you have deposited into my life. I thank God that he has brought us together to accomplish what He has laid out before us. I thank God for allowing us to attained the highest rank under Gods kingdom, that of a servant. God loves you, He always has and always will. 

²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV)

Leia Mais…

Daily Bears Us Up

 

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Daily Bears Us Up

19 Blessed be the Lord,who daily bears us up;God is our salvation. Psalms 68:19

 

Daily, it says daily, the Lord will bear us up. We often wonder where are you, God? Is the reason we can't find Him because we ignore Him? Is it because we don't acknowledge His presence on a daily basis and as a result can't recognize Him? Have we turned God into something lost in the white noise? Have we alienated him so much that he has become a lost detail in a forest of details? Has His voice become so small you need an amplifier to hear it?

God is there for you every day, just as it says. It is we who have moved away or allowed the cares of the world to overrun the voice and presence of God?

Christians, we've lost the knowledge and experience of the presence of God. We have allowed ourselves to create a divide between our living God and us. We know of God we know about God we spend loads of money doing what we believe God wants. But do we have an experience with a living God? If God is alive, He must, therefore, have expression. He must have a concrete expression on life. Every living thing regardless of size or purpose leaves evidence of its existence.

 

The proof of God is us. It is everything around us. We have attributed everything God has done to happenstance. We have tried to separate the evidence of the divine from the divine. We have taken his evidence and reassigned it to the absurd. However, we reinterpret his evidence we can't remove him from it. Because without him the evidence cannot exist. We are inextricably bound by his evidence. We cannot logically much less spiritually remove him from his expression. 

God is alive because everything living is sustained by Him. Not figuratively but actually. If we could remove God from our lives, all life would cease. Because God is the source of life. Without Him, life would not exist. We are alive because He exists. If He had not created us, he would still exist. Without his daily substance like manna from heaven, we would not survive. He literally bears us up every day.

Leia Mais…

No Ordinary Lamb

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No Ordinary Lamb

29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29
 

John the Baptist refers to Jesus as the lamb of God.  Interesting analogy.  John also describes Jesus in this way.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:1-3

 

In verse 29 John describes Jesus as a lamb. Basically, a defenseless docile creature in need of protection. An innocent, blameless sacrifice, powerless to keep from being killed. In verse 1, he describes Jesus as being at the beginning of time with God. Jesus is the creator of the universe and everything in it. How do you go from the creator of the universe to the Lamb of God? These descriptions of Jesus occur in the same chapter.

Jesus never gave up his deity. He willingly, with full knowledge choose to become the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of man.  While being the lamb of God, He did not give up His power to defeat humanity and the devil. He, as the Lamb of God still possessed the power to end it all.  No, where in the new testament is it stated or suggested that Jesus had abdicated His position as the one true son of God.  He never stopped being the Son of God. Why does that matter? He could have stopped His crucifixion at any time. He had the power as the Son of God to execute His wishes at any time.

This is amazing, at any moment from the time they arrested Him to His death on the cross he could have stopped it. He could have stopped the torture and cleansed humanity by force. In an instant, He could have risen from the torture and vanquished all of His foes.

He chose to die for us. He knew He could have put a stop to it with a word.  He had the right, the power and the ability to stop the torture at any time.

Jesus decided to become a sacrificial lamb not because he had no choice but in spite of having all power.  He became the sacrificial Lamb of God because of His love for us.  The most difficult part for me to understand is, having all the power of the universe at His disposal, He did not use it.

We, all of humanity exist today because He chose not to put a stop to His murder.

 

Leia Mais…

Your Redemption Draweth Near

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Your Redemption Draweth Near

11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and hunger, and pestilence, and fearful things, and great signs shall there be from heaven. Luke 21:11


 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads: for your redemption draweth near. Luke 21:28

With the increased occurrence of natural disasters occurring all over the world, these verses are being quoted more often. I will not address the prophetic implications of these verses.  I would like to discuss the excitement and gleeful anticipation of these verses.

I admit I am torn emotionally, spiritually and intellectually.  On the one hand, I am as is every other Christian joyfully anticipating the return of Christ. I can not wait to see Jesus face to face. How can a Christian have any other reaction than joy and utter contentment at seeing Jesus?

On the other hand, I fear it will be the most painful day of my existence. It will be the day when the opportunity of salvation is removed from the face of the earth. It means the day of judgment has arrived. Will it be a day of joy or a day of sorrow? It will be the day when the wheat is separated from the chaff. For me, it may mean some of my friend's and family will not be part of God's family. This prospect is not something I am looking forward to. It is selfish to ask God to advance this day. Is it not contrary to why we are here? We are here to offer the salvation of Christ to the world, Once he returns that offer will be rescinded. Humanity will have no one but themselves to stand before God. Should we not lament those who will be lost? This verse should bring us to conviction, to action.

On that day we will celebrate our reunion with Christ.  Will we, in the back of our minds know we should have done more for the call of Christ?

Leia Mais…

False Prophets

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False Prophets

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matthew 7:15

I used to think this verse referred to people outside the body of Christ. I've learned that the new testament was written for the Christians. Its warnings and directives are not intended for the world at large.  The world as a whole welcomes even applauds those who bring false doctrine. This verse is intended for us who believe. It is for us to expose those within our ranks who are espousing false, contradictory beliefs to the rest of the body. It is for us to hold our leader's teachers accountable to the word of God. I am responsible for challenging those who are bending even accepting the false doctrine. Leaders and teachers who are bowing to the pressures of societies need to be absolved of guilt. We, Christians are responsible for the health of the body of Christ. We need to get closer to the word of God and separate ourselves from the deceptions of the devil.  We are foolish to expect our society to reject false doctrine based on its moral compass. Without Christ,  no moral compass exists.

Leia Mais…

Great Reward

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Great Reward

1 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. Genesis 15:1

The word of the Lord," sometimes we miss the most important, for the immediate or most comforting. The God of creation makes a special connection with Abram. He invades time just to assure Abram. A pivotal time in human history and we pass over it as if it were commonplace. God made time when He spoke to Abram, He did not send a messenger or prophet He talked to him Himself. When was the last time God stop time to speak with you and bless you and through you bless the rest of humanity?

God was blessing, reassuring and encouraging Abram. He also blessed and reassured every one of His descendants to this day. Not only to His natural descendants but also those who are grafted in an adopted through Jesus Christ our Lord. That promise, "I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward" did not end with Abram it is for everyone that calls on the name of the Lord. This promise is for us that are of the family of God.

Leia Mais…

Smite

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Smite

Something to think about.
Smite

3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. 1 Samuel 15-3

God is good He is the provider of all our needs. His love is never-ending. He is long-suffering and patient, kind, forgiving and tolerant. He has given us more than we can hope or think. He has provided for our salvation and eternal life. He made way for us when there was no way. He is gracious beyond measure, and His glory fills our lives. He gives us purpose and fulfillment. He completes our lives. He is good to us. He is perfect, all-powerful, all-knowing. He fulfills and exceeds our expectations. He is better than I can describe.

He is also the one who commanded Israel to utterly destroy the Amalekites. Look at the verse again God commands Israel to kill everything. We want to quote and hide behind the goodness of God. It is almost like we want to present a one-dimensional God. A God who is only a benevolent king. You might say this command about the Amalekites is an aberration. This command is not consistent with the character of God. That is not true. Remember the flood. Remember the 3000 dead Israelite's on their way to the promise land. Remember the generation of Israel that died in the desert. Remember the judgments that were carried out by the enemies of Israel upon Israel. God throughout history has judged people, nations. He has continually judged Israel.

God is a complete God; He is full of compassion, love, and patience. But He is also a God of judgment, wrath, and fury. What I am saying is yes God is good, but He is also going to pass judgment on humanity. His judgment will be both just and fair. Which means some of us will celebrate with complete joy: while some of us will suffer unimaginable pain. Knowing Gods impending judgment is important to Christians. Because we need to be aware of the consequences of sin in the lives of those we love. Those consequences are not just for today they are also still to come. By preaching a one-dimensional God, we are hiding the truth of God's judgment.

Is it just to share only the grace of God and not mention the wrath of God? For me, I prefer to know about every facet of God, not just those things that are music to my ears.

Leia Mais…

Forever

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Forever

51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. John 6:51

Our world is facing some monumental issues. Problems, so complicated their solutions are difficult to find. I ask you in a million years what will they matter? If humanity survives for a million years will the most egregious of offenses be recognized?

What will matter a million years from now? Jesus says "forever," "he shall live for ever." For humanity, this concept of forever is not easily understood. We are conditioned by our reality to find an end to everything. You die. It is an inescapable reality. We will all die, this is the reference point with which we live. It is the understanding that we can relate to. All our lives are lived with this end in mind. We will cease to exist and hence all of our concepts are intertwined with an ending. We expect there will be an ending to every situation regardless of the outcome.

Along comes Jesus and says, "he shall live for ever," and changes the paradigm of our existence. He throws a monkey wrench into our concept of life. He turns a finite existence into an eternal one. By doing so, He changes our concept of life. The possibilities of eternity change everything about the way we live. It opens a door into a reality we are not prepared for. We are prepared to die, we are prepared to cease to exist. We are prepared to be lost in the faceless eons of time. Along comes Jesus and gives us a concept which turns the world on its head. We can and will live forever.

All of a sudden what you do matters. If we live a life with an end, no one we lived with will be alive in a million years. No one will remember much less care of your existence. If you live a life of eternity everyone, you know will know you in a million years. The possibilities of eternity are mind boggling. This concept of forever is one which needs to become our reality. It needs to become our expected outcome, more so than certain death. If we Christians believe in eternity, we should be behaving as if it were a reality, not a possibility. This "forever" existence that Jesus is talking about should change the way we wake up, work, love and live. If you believe "forever" you should be living the life of forever now because you are living the life of forever now. If you're living the life of "forever" your life matters it has value it is important. It is not the meaningless pointless worthless life of the evolutionist. It is a life filled with hope, aspirations, expectation, glory and love. It is purposeful and joyous. The adventure of eternal existence is before you take hold of it and live "forever."

Leia Mais…

Are You Ready?

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Are You Ready?

 

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 1 Peter 3:15

 

Are you ready? Can you give an answer to any man who asks you the question why do you believe? If you do not have an answer, you do not believe. The answer is not a long dissertation or a doctoral thesis. It is a simple statement like this one.

 

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

 

Christianity is based on this verse. It's not complicated. It is not a mystery; it does not need immense intelligence to understand. God did all He did because He loves you. Your statement does not have to be new or unique. It does not have to be revelational to the world. But it does have to be the cornerstone of your belief system. It is the one thing that cannot change. For me, I believe Jesus was resurrected from the dead.  Not figuratively or metaphorically just as it says in the bible. I believe it happened. For me, everything else flows from the resurrection.

 

Are you Ready?

Leia Mais…

It's A Matter Of Value

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It's A Matter Of Value

By the end of this day, most of Florida will have experienced the worst of Hurricane Irma. Between now and then lives will be changed. All the worry and anxiety will have passed, and real life will resume.

27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! Luke 12:27-28

Jesus is speaking to His disciples when he tells them about the lilies of the field. He is saying if God spent so much effort in creating something that is here today and gone tomorrow. How much more valuable are you, who have an eternal existence. God knows who you are He knows what you need. He can and will provide and protect you. If you are in the midst of the storm or out on the furthermost edges of its power God values you more than you can imagine. He will come to your rescue if you call on Him.Jesus is speaking to believers in Him. Faith is the identifier of those who are called God's children. Faith is the doorway to protection, provision, and the favor of God. Faith is the determiner of your value.

6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

Whether you are in the midst of the storm or on the outer edges, put your faith in Jesus, and He will provide a way. You and your family will be saved.

Leia Mais…

All These Things

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All These Things

As we in the path of Hurricane Irma prepare for its arrival we need to put things in proper perspective. First is turning to God before this hurricane arrives. He knows what is happening and can protect those who call out to Him. So before we go out doing what needs to be done first turn to God and seek Him. Seek His guidance and protection. As it gets closer, and it becomes more ominous, do not allow all the prognostications and predictions drive you to anxiousness and fear. If you seek God first none of those things will assail you.

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.Matthew 6:31-33 ESV

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Nails in His Hand

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Nails in His Hand

 

In Jeremy Camp's song "The Man" some of the lyrics are.

 

Would you take the place of this man? Would you take the nails from his hands?

 

As I was preparing a piece of furniture for spraying this song played on the radio. I contemplated the lyric. "Would I take the place of this man"? Knowing the death Jesus experienced my immediate response was no. As I gave it more thought, I came to my conclusion, absolutely not. Not under any conditions what so ever would I take His place. I would not take nails from His hands. 

 

Before you say well, that's because you don't love Him let me explain. Had I taken His place on the cross had I taken the nails from His hands, only Jesus would have been saved. Only Jesus, because of His righteousness, not mine. If the entire human race were sacrificed, it would not warrant the salvation of one person. We, in total, do not possess the currency to pay for our sin. If I or anyone else had taken His place the resulted would be the damnation of humanity. It had to be Jesus who paid for our sin. He is the only one who possesses the currency to pay for our sin. The currency is righteousness, and Jesus is the only who possesses righteousness. He is the only one who could save the world from our sin. Anyone else would be powerless to forgive sin. His righteousness is why He is Lord. Only he could do what we could not. Only he is our propitiation.

 

2 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2

Leia Mais…

Overlooked

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Overlooked
 
6 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:12

It has become common to preach and advocate the second part of this verse while ignoring or overlooking the first. We need to be honest with each other and the world. The first part of this verse has not been invalidated or eradicated. "For the wages of sin is death" this is still the promise for the unforgiven. It will be their reality at the return of Christ. Both parts of this verse will be realized in the future. We need to be aware that this is a reality for those who sin. Life with Christ will be a reality for those who receive God's gift. They are both concrete future realities. Let us not gloss over or misrepresent the reality that the separation from God will be a hideous existence. Let us not perpetuate the ideology that death is the cessation of life. Death is the complete separation of the living from God. We are not going to cease to live. We are going to cease to live with God which is death. Or we can accept "but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  As wonderful as the expectation of living with God is we must also be aware and conscious of the utter sorrowfulness of living totally without God will be.

Leia Mais…

Absolutes

Something to think about.

 

Absolutes 

 

11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."Acts 4:11-12

 

There are statements in the Bible that are unmistakable. These statements can not be reinterpreted or redefined. They can't be manipulated to mean some thing other than what they mean. This is one of those verses. It clearly and unambiguously states Jesus is the only way to salvation. This is a Christian absolute. We claim to believe and are affirmed in the validity and absolute certainty of  Jesus Christ as the only savior of the world. This is non-negotiable. Jesus is the only one with the authority and power to save those unto eternal life. 

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The Armor of God

Something to think about.

The Armor of God

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11

 Do you do this daily? Is it the first thing you do in the morning? The world assaults you not just because you are a Christian. Life happens, and at times it is negative. Are you naked when it does, defenseless vulnerable? Every day we need to put on the armor of God. It is a conscious action it will not happen by osmosis. Prepare yourself every day by consciously and intentionally putting on the "whole armor of God."

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Stand Fast

Something to think about.

 

Stand Fast

 

13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. II Thessalonians 2:13-15 (KJV)

 

"Beloved by the Lord, chose you for salvation through sanctification by the spirit." These are wonderfully inspiring declarations made about you. Why is verse 15 in this prayer? After the marvelous truths that are revealed in verses 13-14 why is it necessary to say "stand fast"?

 

The writer is writing to Christians. True, they are probably all new or recent converts to Christianity. After all, this is being written at the birth of Christianity. But these Christians are not far removed from the death and resurrection of Christ. They have probably witnessed the power of God, by the miracles performed by the apostles. This is the closest generation to Christ Himself. And they are told to "stand fast."

 

Why are we told to "stand fast." Because we have a serious problem with our God memory. We have short-term memory long-term memory, and we have God memory. The first one to fail us is God memory. We have a tendency to quickly forget all that God has done for us. Since creation over short periods of time we allow him to dissipate from our minds.

 

We must be in a relationship with God to "stand fast." It isn't memory that is lacking, it is experience. It is the lack of constant experience. In other words when was the last time you had an experience with God. Was it this morning, was it while you are reading this?

 

He created us to know him. Not in a distant mystic or other worldly way. He created us to walk with Him in the cool of the day.  Not just from the written pages of a book. But also in valleys and the mountain tops when He walks and talks with us. Stand fast till your next encounter with Him. Remember Him until you see and experience Him again. Humanity has proven we lack the ability to remain faithful to " Stand fast" for longer than a minute. To "stand fast" we need more than the knowledge that we are the "beloved of God, chosen for salvation, sanctified by the Spirit." We need constant contact. We need an ongoing vibrant personal relationship with Him.

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