Monthly Archives: March 2014

“But I love sin!”

by

0


A man may say to me, “God cannot save me.  I am too vulgar.  I am too grounded in the things that are wicked.  I adore the pleasure of the body.  And though I would like to be saved, I cannot imagine why God would want me.  I cannot imagine that he would even want to try.”

My friend, by what you say I see two things.  The first is that you know God is Holy, and that he expects holiness from his people.  And the second is that you do not understand the gospel of Jesus Christ.

You understand well enough that you are sinful and hopeless as you live the way you do.  Good.  Then begin where you are.  That awareness is the very first step a man must take.

In regard to the holiness of God we will say these things.  Holiness does not only have to do with righteousness; as if we speak only of judgement.  The holiness of God has first to do with love. 

The love of God is not defiled by opinion.  Nor is it subject to a change in attitude. He is the very definition of all that is pure and lovely. 

If you admire those who are able to love the unlovable, this ability finds its unceasing fulfillment in the love of God.  He loves without ceasing.

Along with this love comes judgement righteousness patience and mercy.  The love of God is what sustains all life for eternity.  If there is the slightest lack in the love of God eternity will cease.  So we are able to trust without fear.  God is love and he is eternal.

In regard to the gospel we will say these things.  What you lack is what you desire.  What you desire has come to us long before you were born.

Jesus is the perfect representation of the love of God.  God’s love compels him to be merciful.  Just as surely as his love compels him to protect eternity from wickedness.

God has sent His Son to be the sacrifice for all who desire life.  Those who run to him will be transformed.  God’s love has so desired you that He has given his son over to death for your sake.  How precious then are you?

For now, you perceive the love of God as law and judgment.  But if you are willing, he is willing to show you differently.  This is why it is written, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.”  That it’s all God requires from you.

He has heard your confession of sin.  He knows that you love wickedness more than life.  And his love has already provided you what you need.

Approach him with these truths that you have told me.  Do not be so ashamed of your ailment that you refuse to go to the doctor. 

He has it in his hand to be able to heal you and cause you to become a righteous man.  He is willing and able to teach you how to live so that your life is pleasing to God the Father.

The wise will understand what has been written here.  Reach deep within yourself and find strength.  Do not look for strength to be a righteous man.  Simply look for the strength to fall to your knees in prayer. 

For now you stand with pride.  That is the strength that will lead to death.  But a humble acknowledgment of these things will lead you to life.

He is waiting for you.  He is not waiting to judge you.  He is waiting to help you. 

I will add this.  You see that I write these things.  You consider that I am a godly man.  But you do not know who I was.  If any man was evil I was his equal, quite likely even more so.  What I have described here is the very path I have taken.  And over the years this is what I have come to be.

Not one ounce of my strength was spent to arrive in this place.  The only model I have fun is to retain a desire for righteousness.  Everything good that I have has been given by Jesus the Son of God. 

If you will only trust him you will rise far above the place where I stand.  This is the firm and trustworthy promise of the Most High God in His Son Jesus his Christ.

By His Grace

My sinful nature

by

0


I would hate to be my sinful nature.  Nothing he desires is right, so he is always wrong.  And if by chance he comes close to something decent, he cannot be praised.  For He desires to spend it on his pleasure.

The only reason patience covers him is to wait slyly for an opportunity.  So even while he appears somewhat godly, an animal lurks behind his skin.

He is always in turmoil.  Not knowing his left hand from his right, he does not know what to do next.  Yet pride will not let him admit his weakness.  And if given a choice between one or another, he will always choose the wrong.

The only time he is right, by any sense at all, is when he is heard fretting over his imminent death.  But even in this he has no understanding.  He must die so that the one he carries will live.

If he is tired and hears his soul speak of taking time for prayer, he begins a multitude of complaint and reasoning.  It is not that he hates God.  He simply loves himself.  God is no more a consideration to him than the rings on his fingers.

Yes, I would hate to be my sinful nature.  But isn’t that what I was before the Lord Jesus released me from his shackles?  Yes!  The only value I had before the Lord Jesus released me was to be fuel for the fire of hell.

Praise be to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  For we who are learning to love the Lord are free from the law of sin and death.  Grace has come but the sinful nature hasn’t even noticed.

By His Grace

Stocking the shelves

by

0


“Go out there and stock the shelves.  People are buying stuff and we gotta know what it is so we can replace it!”  The wild eyed store manager was beside himself.  He barked his order to his only employee and the little guy scurried off.

The store manager was busily  pouring over marketing programs when the little dude returned.  “Sir, I looked through everything and found nothing missing.  Everything on the shelves is messed up!  They, like, rummage through it but they take nothing!”  Slowly it dawned on the little guy that’s his job may be in jeopardy.

It seemed like it took a long time for the manager’s eyes to come up out of his work.  When they met eye to eye, the little employee couldn’t understand what kind of message his boss’ eyes were telling him.  Fear, astonishment, peace, and even a hint of joy, all gathered in those tiny pupils.

The managers lips opened like he was going to say something.  But they just drifted back together.  He let his eyes drift back to the papers.

“What are we going to do sir?”  The little guy heard his voice crack.  A tear formed at the edge of the managers eye.  But when he looked up the little employee saw a big smile.  “He’s finally gone mad”, the little buddy thought to himself.

The managers lips opened finally.  But then they would slam shut.  This went on for a little while in rapid succession.  The little guy stepped back a couple of paces from the desk.

“We’re gonna sell selling!”  The words came out rather loud.  “Sounds good sir.  Um, just what does that mean?”  “We’re not going to charge the people.  They don’t buy anything anyway.  Instead will charge the producer for advertising his product.”

“All we have to do is keep track of how many people come and go.  You take notes of what kind of people they are and what they go look through.  I know this is useful to the producer.  Just keep straightening the shelves.”

So it is with my blog.  I don’t sell anything.  Its all free to come and peruse.  What is here is valuable to the One who provides.  He determines what to display.  And the hearts of men are tested.  I just keep restacking the piles of paper

By His Grace

Personally

by

0


Personally I would rather die
with my hands upon the wheel
of the ship where God has placed me
than some pleasure here to steal.

Let old bones embrace me
while his course I hold so tight.
May his Holy will entice me
As I work with all my might.

Let others put away the things
that brought them now delight.
For I would rather perish
In a storm of Holy Light.

By His Grace

The island

by

0


In the pitch like darkness of the deep ocean a rumbling of silt and sand occurred.  The slime of refuse gave way to molten rock.  Without approval, a mountain began to grow in the darkness.

The place had been desolate and quiet.  Though it had been a place of gathering for refuse, peacefulness and quiet had attended upon it. But now violence erupted where once there was nothing but filth.  The lord was pleased to cause a new place to grow.  And in his pleasure he spoke growth and life.

Lava forced upward the plate of rock that had once been the bottom of the ocean.  Months of great pressure and violence pushed the plate of rock toward the top of the sea.  Light began to touch the surface of the rock and it cringed at the new world it was being forced to inhabit.  Convulsions shook the plate and the edges curled around its new support.  “I am to perish!  Surely I am dying!”

“What are you doing Oh Lord Great God?  Did I not serve you well in the place where I was?  What is my sin that you should rip me from my rest?”  But the plate heard no reply.

Soon the sound of waves crashing at the edge stirred the plate into near panic.  How deeply it desired to return to its former place.  “This is no place of peace!  It is a place of torture!  What have I done to deserve this horrific uprooting?  Was I not content and faithful to support what the world no longer needed?”  Again, there was no sound from the Living God.  Only the frightening roar of water at the shore.  The tumult threatened to rip the rock apart.

In the years of a rock, very little time passed before the silt upon it top begin to produce.  Shrubs and rough grass filtered in to begin the final transformation.  Seeds had appeared by virtue of the birds who came to visit.  All the while the little island was frightened to see his surface so abused.

As the Island got use to its new place it began to see the beauty of the violence.  The Sun would rise and set, warming the rock in a new place called day.  The moon would bathe him in glorious shimmers; not at all like the darkness he had known.  And the sound of the waves often put him into peaceful sleep.  The wind of God shaped him into smooth and various form.  And the storms which came and went were a wonderous delight of activity.

One day, still a great mystery to the island, an animal set foot on his soil.  With great interest he watched this one.  It was not at all like the others who had come to visit.  Nor was it like those who had been a part of his previous world.  For the first time since his peaceful slumber of filth, the island felt pure joy.

“I like this one Lord.”  The island was heard to say.  “He tickles and scratches at my surface.  And now I am pleased for what you have done.  The pain and memory is receding and now there is joy.”

Centuries passed, and the island was a happy place of thriving life for a multitude of creatures.  What he had been before, he no longer desired to remember.  Joy filled his days and his new place produced great fruit for the Sovereign God who had caused him to be.

“Give thanks to the Lord and be faithful for He is good.  His mercy endures forever!  Be faithful and joy filled.  Give thanks and praise to God.”   The island had come to sing a new song.  “Do not be discouraged at the tumult which now attends your days.  For soon you will be thankful for the violent uprooting.”

By His Grace

O’ Worker of Death

by

0


By His mercy we are sent.  We are from the wicked.  He dresses us and sends us back.  Even while we serve, he dresses us all the more.  We are no longer from the wicked.  We are now sent from God.

All men are just like me.  Arms, legs, eyes, mouth, head, body, fingers, desires, dislikes, and frailty are the sum of our freshly days.   And they are startled faces touch my heart.

Pity strikes me.  I see the difference because God has shown it to me.  But I dare not let my pitiful eyes close up the word I have been sent to speak.  Where is love to let them die without warning?

This is why they are urged me to be quiet.  “You are just like us why do you speak so harshly?”  With their fleshly eyes they cannot see that I have been sent.  But my soul knows the truth.

Get behind me, you worker of death!  You have only man in mind.  You are my slave you are not my confidant.  You are my body, my sinful nature, and you have nothing to say.

I will have pity on man.  I will speak the words I am sent to say.  With this I love them, that I tell them the truth.

By His Grace