God has created us all so that trouble among us cannot be removed without Him.  One man thinks a thought.  Now he is hard pressed to convey that thought to others.  His thinking was in experience, Scriptural truth, “pictures”, and the limits of man’s understanding.  Now he must use what is in his control to convey what he has understood.

He begins with the words he knows to speak his thought to another.  But the one who is listening is using all he knows to hear.  Even while God is among the two, the willingness to receive finds a limit.  What shall come of the conversation?

Often, when subjects of difficulty are discussed, we need a time of reflection before we answer.  We need humility (considering ourselves as if less than the other) to intervene.  We need compassion to destroy division.  We need to take the time to learn what God is saying.

“I hear what you said.  I assume you mean only what is best for all.  Please allow me time to consider what you said before I respond.”  For the sake of the Holy Son of God, be patient with one another!  If, in your speaking, the other does not understand, ignore frustration.  WAIT!

Pray as you receive.  A few short words are all that are necessary; “Father, please help me understand.”  Then listen without pride or expectation.  Perhaps the other is saying nothing.  Perhaps the other is saying all.  Regardless, your brother is trying to speak what is true.  Listen with the heart of a loving servant.   Speak with the heart of a loving servant.

If he is saying nothing, what is that to you?  He spoke to you because he needs to love and be loved.   If he is saying all, what is that then to the both of you?  Perhaps Christ has determined to give you both direction.

Regardless, there will be trouble among us for the sake of our limitations.  Recognize that.  Accept that.  Have mercy and refrain from beginning trouble.

My eyes will not see any farther than the sovereign God has allowed.  My ears will not hear beyond what the sovereign God has allowed.  If I am touched there must be contact for the sovereign God has made it so.  My nose will not smell unless the scent is near for the sovereign God has made me this way.

I do not know violence if it is not within my sight.  I cannot hear filthy words unless the sound is near.  I do not feel the impact of hatred unless I am touched.  The smell of human blood and fear evades my nose unless it is near.  All of this is so because the sovereign God has made us this way.

Lovely limits, perfect limits, merciful and righteous limits.  For what human heart can endure the terrors of this place in full?

God protects us all from the unholy horror of our way.  He alone is removed and strong enough to bear the onslaught of sin.  He sees and hears with perfect eyes and ears; nothing man does escapes him.  He feels the ripple of rebellion.  And the smell of fear and blood reaches his Holy Throne.

As we sleep the din does not cease.  As the sun rises the volume increases.  Yet the patient love of God endures.  When he finally vents his wrath a stillness will appear.  All wicked appearances, all unholy words, all violence from our hands, all the putrid stench of our ungodly ways will cease.
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There is vastly more ungodly men then those he has raised up for himself.  When a car or a house passes by me, I can reasonably assume it is full of ungodly people.  I can reasonably assume it contains wickedness.  Yet God is merciful to us all.

For I do not see all wickedness nor could I bear the onslaught.  I do not hear every blasphemous and violent word, nor could I bear the onslaught.  All wicked hands cannot touch me, for I could not bear the onslaught.  And the full stench of violent acts cannot be smelled by the nose he has allowed me to wear, for I could not bear the onslaught.

Lovely limits are placed upon us.  Our fragile state was known even as he created this place.  Therefore he is my God!  Willingness fills me with admiration and worship.  He was righteous before the vast universe was made.  He is Holy and perfect patient love while this place of testing and testimony moves through time.

Therefore test me my God.  Purge from me the things that offend.  Build your holy house of promise around my soul.  Lead me through this day with great patience and strength.  Teach me not to offend.  Seal my flesh lest I add to the din.  Let a peaceful life come upon me for your sake and for your Holy name. 

You are Jesus, the Holy Son of the Most High God!  Glory for all that is good rests on you, and rightly so.  May the Holy Father be pleased by the work that you do upon me.  By your grace I have spoken.  By your grace I have understood.  And by your grace I will accomplish.  May the Holy will of your Father be done forever.  Amen.

By His Grace

When life is a mystery and no one knows the answers, writing and talking about life is fun.  But let someone come along and say they know the answers, and watch the people scatter.  They may ask you to explain, but it won’t be long before they shut you down.

As long as life is held as a mystery you can do anything you please.  But when we begin to speak of a God who demands holiness of all people the mystery tends to vanish.

Hatred for Jesus is not always a hatred for Jesus.  It could be better summed up, from our perspective, as a love for freedom to do as we choose.  They don’t hate Jesus until they hear him say, “Stop sinning.”  That’s when their love of pleasure turns to a hatred for God.  Not to mention a breeze at their back to walk away from you.

By His Grace

If it isn’t holy its unholy.  Have you ever put that into perspective?   What man, other than Jesus, can say he has always been holy?

If it isn’t perfectly right you can’t say it’s righteous.  What man, other than Jesus, has ever been perfectly right all his life?

There are billions of variations to wrong.  But there’s only one absolute right.

As we define what is true we understand how untrue we are.  With that in mind why do people think they will fare well in the judgment?  I would think that’s crazy.  But I remember many people saying, ” I’ll take my chances with the judgment.  I don’t need Jesus.”  As you wish!

By His Grace

Perhaps the Lord has given you a gift for the sake of his work.  Maybe it’s a very fine attention to detail.  And the things you put your hand to, in that regard, end up as a beautiful work.  You can be trusted for the Lord has gifted you.

You may look around at those who serve in your capacity; taking note of their certain lack.  Good then.  Take note of how God has raised you above the others.  But do not boast!

You have never heard a squirrel screaming in the yard, “I know nuts!”  And you never will.  Of course he knows nuts.  He is gifted by God to be a squirrel.  In this squirrels are more faithful than most men.

By His Grace

If I say to a man, “You are a fool.”  I better have a seriously good reason.  For instance, perhaps the man acts and talks and thinks just like me.  Then I would have a good reason to refer to him as a fool.  As the saying goes, “It takes one to know one.”  

But even then mercy ought to have a foothold.  For even this fool desires mercy.  So if I address such a man with the intent to do him good, the label may find an appropriate use.

Let us go to the ultimate authority on fools.  God has said, “A fool says in his heart there is no God.”   Now if I refer to an atheist as a fool, I am not insulting him.  I am telling him the truth.  It would be reasonable to assume I care.

If he takes offense at that level of truth, what hope is there of teaching him anything greater?  His offense is a result of where he stands.  This is the portion of the gospel he needs to learn.

It is like this for a variety of men.  They have come a certain distance in their life and understanding.  And according to where they are the gospel is tailored to that limit.  Nothing can further be taught until they learn the present lesson.

If they take offence  at what teaching is necessary for them, what hope is there to teach them more?  If even a great saint determines he has gone as far as he desires to go, what hope is there to entice him farther?  It is necessary to leave him where he is found.

Two lessons can be learned here.  But since I don’t know the standing of he who reads this, I will leave the two lessons unspoken.  As you ponder these things you will likely get a grasp of where you stand.  And isn’t that the most important lesson.

By His Grace