Daily Archives: March 1, 2015

By Faith?

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You read the first chapter of Genesis and take note that its all the way to the 26th first before God pronounces the reason for creation.  “Let us make man in our image.”

And then you read in 1st Peter chapter 1, an allusion to something similar.  “Even angels long to look into these things.”  And this remark is given after a short discourse on the value of faith.

Everyone of us has wondered why faith is so important.  It is because faith has to do with performing God’s will even though we don’t know the outcome.

Take note as to how all the creatures involved in creating what is creation, did not hear the reason until some distance into the building.  And even while salvation among men is in full swing, the angels still long to look into these things.  Unless the translation is wrong, I noticed that Peter did not use the past tense of the word “long”.

Remaining obedient though  we have no clue, is not only essential now, it is a pattern of behavior for all God’s creatures for eternity.  And this ought to renew our devotion to serve without full understanding.  Frankly folks, that will be our state of affairs forever.

Surely there are moments  of revelation,  or revealing, like when a truly disasterous experience comes to us, only to reveal later, it was the only way to a magnificent blessing.  

But there is a great plenitude of times that we will simply have to serve in pure faith.  I would take this to strongly urge myself to produce a willingness to believe.

We love him.  We trust him.  And our love and trust never disappoint us.  If he asks us to rub two asparagus together for an hour and a half, who are we to question his orders? 

(Frankly, I can’t imagine the slightest possible good that can come from rubbing two asparagus together for an hour in a half.  But it was the most ridiculous exercise in faith that my imagination could conceive. 

. . . If the lord ever asks any of you to do that, please take the time to drop me a line and tell me what the outcome is.)

By His Grace

True Excitement!

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Sometimes the prospects of heaven excite me.  To hear the name of Jesus spoken by His Holy Father.     That name only his father knows.

To listen to the stories of ages past long before this world was created.   The exploits of our Lord, and all the noble deeds of great creatures.

To see the great honorable ones of different ages.  And to worship among billions with not a shred of shame or doubt.

By His grace we have such a great hope! 

By His Grace

How to Start Your Soul

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A few years ago they gave me a tractor to drive that was rather odd.  In order to start it, you had to push two unmarked switches simultaneously while turning the key to start the engine. 

Anyone who was not trained how to start the tractor, could not possibly steal it (unless of course they towed it away).  Fortunately for me, the company wanted me to drive the tractor so they explain the process.

I know a man who is convinced that God has lied.  The man has a certain tendency toward sin.  He has heard what others have said.  They speak about freedom in Christ.  They speak about forgiveness and the power to overcome.  But in his search this man did not find either.  So he assumed that Jesus has lied.

God wants us to live a life of overcoming and freedom.  And he has written a manual as to how we can accomplish that.  But the man I spoke of does not read the manual.  How then can he know?

He refuses to believe the testimony of others.  He refuses to believe there’s something he doesn’t understand.  He cannot start his soul.  So he blames the one who made it.

Now, the way I explained it doesn’t sound reasonable at all.  But it makes perfect sense to this man.  And I will say he is not alone. 

There are millions who have not been able to grasp the freedom of forgiveness and strength to overcome.  Perhaps they are not as bold as this man, in that they do not call God a liar.

But if God has promised the freedom of forgiveness and the strength to overcome, their actions speak louder than their lips.  For they have ceased struggling for what is expected of them.  And they quietly wait their turn to be judged by God.  I really can’t imagine what they’ll tell him.

Let’s sum this article up with what is simple and obvious.  If you want the freedom of forgiveness and the strength to overcome sin, all you have to do is read the Bible and pray.  Yep.  It’s that easy.  (Did I mention you have to believe?  Yes those two unmarked buttons work just like they said they would.)

By His Grace

Words and Actions

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Do the angels in heaven fail to tell one another that they love God?  No they say it in praise to Him openly and to one another.  Is only among men the such words and praise are forbidden.

But who should we align to?  Shall we join men or shall we join the angels in heaven?  For we will surely be among them.  Will it be known of us that we were ashamed before men?

Let us not praise God only with words, but with actions also.  But good actions among men are a welcome addition to society.  It’s the words they hate so much.  And those who keep them to themselves for fear of reproach, prove that they hate those words also.

By His Grace

Foreign Language

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I had been of the persuasion that the Gospel could be communicated in a way that was “less offensive” to the ears of man.  To a certain degree, I still am.  I find that stories, parables, and examples from life, are quite fit for consumption by those who do not have the Spirit of God in them.

But it must be recognized that The Gospel speaks an entirely different language than the language of man.  And why not?  The Gospel comes from Heaven and Eternity.  Man is of time, suffering, rebellion and death.  How can the two speak the same language.

Certain phrases and alignment of words are completely foreign to man.  One such alignment of words is “I love God”.  Now man is quite willing to allow that God is love.  It’s kind of cool to think that there is at least someone who loves.  So they don’t mind hearing that.  But if you tell them you love God, they come unglued.  If they are willing to try to understand what you just said, they might accept it for a moment or two.  But as you show and speak the things of God, that live within you, they will quickly label you a freak (At least in their mind.  And to my experience, they will often let that thought pass through their lips.  I have even been told I am insane for just such an alignment of words.)

So what’s this mean?  It means that there’s a place where hiding your foreign language from man is not reasonable anymore.  You’ve tried to speak to them in their own language.  You’ve spoken things that man thinks are wonderful, wise and beautiful ideas.  You’ve spoken about wisdom, as man likes to hear.  But you see no connection within them yet.  Well maybe it’s time to pull out the “big guns”.  Maybe it’s time to tell them plainly that you love God.  Just be ready.  When you do that, you’ll see their true feelings about the things of God.