Monthly Archives: October 2016

The Reason

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The Lord Jesus has not so much saved us from something, but he has saved us to something.  

Yes, he saves us from the anguish of our sins; the guilt of the mind, and the waywardness of the heart.  


But more, he saves us to praise his Holy Father. We find obedience comes easy because we have learned to love him. That love brings us to joy no matter where we find ourselves.  


It is said that the lord Jesus loves humanity enough to die for them. But he died for them and loves them because he loves his Holy Father more than everything else.  


He wants us to do the same. Appreciate creation. Strive to do what is right. Be joyful in the work of Christ on your behalf. Be patient in every affliction. But it is the Lord’s desire, that we do all of these things for love of the Living God. 


Here we see life in a myriad of form. But Jesus lives in an endless symphony of life, that IS his Holy Father. That is what he loves. And he has died to share it with us.  


Religion tells us to see it only from one perspective; “The work of Christ covers my sins”. But love for his Holy Father teaches us the reason why.  


And that same love is the central power that enables us to claim righteousness as if we own it. God’s people love him because God has loved them first.  


Psalm 22

22. I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you.


23. You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!


24. For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.


25. From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows.


26. The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise him—may your hearts live forever!


27. All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him,


28. for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.

River of Life

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Find yourself a comfortable place beside a flowing stream. Listen to the myriad of sounds the water makes. Now let your mind marvel that a singular component of water can sing such a song of variety.   


Water is silent until it encounters and obstacle. The sound you hear is the water speaking of its encounter.  
Sit quietly in your chair and listen to the sound of the Holy Spirit. He is a river of truth. Just like the stream, he makes sounds when he encounters creation. Answer for yourself, what causes the greatest noises from the Holy Spirit?

Never Give Up

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The ingenuity of Man is astounding.      

If he wants something bad enough, he’ll find a way to make it happen.  


Look at every creature, see how it struggles to survive. Catch a fish, watch it thrash about trying to get back to the water. Even the most evil man wants to live.  


And when someone stumbles on the Gospel. Like the fish, they want the water of life. They will do everything they can to get into that life-giving environment. What happens if they can’t? Do they just lay there and die?


Some people do. They try to live on the floor of the boat. That’s simply not gonna turn out well.  


But look at the fish. He will thrash about until he can’t thrash anymore. Anyone would say of the fish, “he wanted to live”. Shouldn’t we take a lesson from all of this?


On the day we stand before God, will he say of us, “This one wanted to live”.   


Regardless your ability, Christ is the living water. Never give up.