Tag Archives: Christ Jesus

Suck it up

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Bob got a ticket for speeding.  He didn’t say anything to the trooper when he was pulled over, but for the next hour of driving, he was consumed with the thought that the fault lay in his parents.

He reasoned that he learned how to speed by watching what his parents did when he was a child.  Somehow his brain got stuck on fast.  Oh yeah, that’ll take the ticket away.

There may be some truth to what he thinks.  But in the end, he was the one driving when he got pulled over.

And there’s another issue about Bob that everybody ought to know.  See, Bob’s a Christian.  And by that fact he ought to be an exemplary driver.  And by that fact he ought to take immediate responsibility for his own mistakes.

But Bob is not unique in this problem of blaming others.  A whole lot of his brothers and sisters in Christ do the same thing 24 /7.  Give Bob some time, he’ll remember that, and blame them too. 

But Bob has no reason to point his finger at anyone.  Especially because of something so avoidable as a traffic ticket.

I mean, I can understand why somebody would blame the rapists for the fear they have as they walk down the street.  Or maybe they can put some blame on their mistakes at work because they didn’t sleep well, do to nightmares.  But there’s a difference between emotion and action.  There’s a difference between involuntary fear due to trauma, and embracing bad habits.

There are two reasons why Bob can’t blame his parents.  The first is obvious.  His body is his own, and he can make choices with his own mind.  In that case, it’s absolutely ridiculous to blame someone else for bad habits.

The other part of about a christian blaming others, that shows a red flag of fault, is that the Christian is the one who can receive forgiveness for his sins.  Sure, you’ll take your lumps now and then, while you’re here.  We all get stupid now and then.  But in the end, you walk away unscathed.

Why would anyone with those two vast riches, look to blame someone else for their problems? 

There is one more article of consideration in regard to all this.  There is glory to give to the Lord when we simply endure without complaining, grumbling or blame.  We take it on the chin for the glory of Christ.

I heard that a man said in his prayers regularly, “Heavenly Father please hold no one accountable for any sins against me.  It is impossible that anyone should sin against me.  I am not the standard of holiness.”

What kind of people would we be if we just take our lumps on the head and move on?  The word “holy” comes to mind.

Can you see?

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One man percieves God as hideous monster; full of Holy law and demanding.  Such a man does not know the law of God, he only knows his own hideous sin.  He attributes what he knows to the Holy One.  “Surely God is like me.  He will strike me with death when I die”.

Explain to him that God is love, and out of the fear that is in his heart, he will nod in agreement.  But there is no agreement in his soul.  He keeps on in his way because he sees no hope of any change.  If God is cruel then he is a dead man, even while he lives, and he knows it.

To another man, God is purely love.  In this man’s mind, God throws His own Righteousness and Holiness aside to embrace the sinner.  The man perceives that his sin will be erased by some miraculous working of God. 

But he does not understand his own obligation to do “The Way” of Christ.  He perceives “The Way” is too hard to walk, but he does not consider the power of prayer in Christ Jesus.  This one hungers for acceptance.  He does not hunger for righteousness.

This man thinks he will be granted entry into the perfection of eternity simply because he exists.  Speak to this man of a necessity of holiness and righteousness, and he will count you a fool.

Still another man will perceive that God demands certain rituals from all his worshippers.  This man may have started out in Christianity, by receiving forgiveness for his sins, but he has studied the law of God and has determined to do the law.  This one will add to his worship “a little here and a little there”.  In the end, he becomes far less a Christian then before he began.

Each man holds the perception of God that he has grown to love dearly.  Some hold fear, some hold love, some hold law.  As a man believes so he does.

Each of the above ways is flawed, and will suffer loss.  How very sad, when the answer for wholeness in Christ lay so clearly before us.  If a man will humble himself and pray, God will direct him into what is true.

But men love sin.  Men love pride.  Men love praise.  All three of these, the Holy Most High God abhors.

You can have the perception of God you want.  No one will stop you.  They may try to teach you with all they have, but you will refuse.  You men, as mentioned above, will do as you please regardless the will of God.  The loss is yours.

What more is there to say

That is healthy to say? 

What is written here is true.  

What would you do?

The Common and the Holy

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What’s wrong with the words we use in common speech today?  A great deal is wrong with the words we use in common speech today.

American society is no longer built on the Bible’s vocabulary.  It is built on what is common to man, not on what is Holy before God.

I don’t point this out to make accusation.  I point this out as a matter of fact:  That if I am to speak of the things of God, I must use the vocabulary of man.  It makes no sense to send a man who speaks a certain language and expect foreigners to understand him.

So if I talk about the things of God, I run the risk of ignorance on the part of the listener.  Therefore it is good, sometimes, to paraphrase until a man’s soul strives to understand.

But there are also times when the only words that are of any value, in explaining the things of God, are the very words which God has given to us.  One such word that falls, if you will “to the dirt”, between the things of God and the things of man, is “rejoice”.

Show me a place on Twitter or facebook where “rejoice” is used regularly.  Point to conversation, and show me where two people have used the word regularly and with understanding.  Though it is a simple and self explanatory word, people simply don’t use it.

But in the things of God, it takes first place.  I rejoice at the righteousness of God!  I rejoice at his excellent and unexpected mercy!  And I rejoice that his promises are true and faultless!  I rejoice continually, that my sins are forgiven before the Living God; in Christ Jesus my Holy and Faithful Lord!

How many times I have tried to explain this, and realize I have not found the means to communicate.  Even when I speak to Christians, who know these things, there is a lack of evidence that they understand.  For their lives only reflect a certain portion of such rejoicing.  How then can I expect to relay these things to a people who do not know their left from their right.

But I will testify of what is true.  And by the truth, I am forced to use the word “rejoice”.  (I suppose I could use the word “elation”, but how is that any more common than the word “rejoice”?)

I ask forgiveness from those who do not understand its value.  But it is the only word English has, to properly describe the joy a man experiences at the forgiveness of his sins.

I understand the righteousness of God, because I have read it in His Holy Word the Bible.  I see that I am not able to uphold his Holy Law, for I stumble around as a man in the dark when I try to do it.  Fear becomes my best friend, and drives me to seek His mercy.

So, by “The Faith“, His Holy Word teaches me.  I approach him in prayer with confession.  To my complete amazement, the Sovereign God reaches down to touch me with forgiveness.

With understanding comes a volume of tears.  And when I rise from prayer, confidence fills me, where there was fear before.  I am forgiven of my trespasses, and find the strength, to strive after his Holy Law again.

Who can explain this mystery?  I look within, and find myself void of proof.  I can tell you it’s true, but I cannot prove it.  I am forced to display what God has done in me.  And you are forced to judge rightly according to what you perceive in me.

Is there love?  Yes.  Is there patience?  Yes.  Do I display a hatred for the things of man, while I love the things of God?  Yes. Is there knowledge of His Holy Word?  Yes.  Is there a desire to do the things of God rather than the things of men?  Yes.  Has his love made me different than other men of this world?   The answer is yes.

The forgiveness of God produces these things, which are called fruit.  And it is these things that God is looking for in his people.  “Does the man believe, to the point that he has changed.”  This is the summation of God’s intent.

Without such fruit in a man, he cannot say he has understood the forgiveness of God.  But when the forgiveness of God comes, as I have described, there is a rejoicing that does not cease.

Rejoicing in God is a never ending, that is to say eternal, gift that we give back for the love he has given.  We are forced, by our love, to worship Him with truth, and joy, and desire to do righteously.  What better word might someone use than “rejoice”?

The absence of this word, among the people of America, tells me that they have not received forgiveness for their sins.  Others may say, “This has to do with a lack of Bible knowledge.  It is simply a lack of vocabulary.  Teach them, and they will own it”. 

How can I possibly own what belongs to God unless God gives it to me?

I do not perceive that America lacks vocabulary.  For they talk incessantly between one another.  And they seem well enough able to understand, for they respond in great volume.

Bible language has to do with Bible things.  Bible things have to do with the Living God in Christ Jesus.  Those who do not know the vocabulary of the Bible, do not know the living God.  For the words of the Bible become a living testimony in the one who receives forgiveness of his sins.

I understand a debate that may form by what I just said.  But I ask you to leave it where it is, that men may ponder this in their soul.  If men see us debate the issue they will leave the job to us.  What good is then accomplished?

“Yes!”

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God says, “Yes“.  And he has engraved that Holy Word in the Holy Blood of his Holy Son across all creation!

He says “yes” to our desire to live forever.  He says “yes” to everything that is righteous and good.

If we do not live, as if he has said “yes” to us then, by whatever measure we fall short, we call him a liar.  It is established that God cannot lie.  So then who are we to refuse his answer?

He says “yes“, and so there is sure joy toward the promise of eternity.  He says “yes“, and so we become a righteous people in His Holy Christ.

The first is to believe and be set free from all the things that bring failure and shame.  The second is to “become” and overcome sin and temptation.  The first gives us strength to honor his Holy Name and testify with great boldness, even in the face of hatred and ridicule; even in the face of wicked and unholy doubt. 

The second gives our testimony the strongest possible foundation.  This is the strength to stand with glory; that standing which causes men to wonder and marvel.  We become His “yes” before their very face

God has said “yes” in the very suffering and blood of His Holy Son.  He has said “yes” to the destruction of all who do not believe and remain in the filthy death of unbelief.   He has said “yes” to any man who desires righteousness from his Holy Hand, and looks for it earnestly.

How do we dare say no?  Let us combine our knowledge with faith, and rise up to give Him the glory that is rightfully His! 

Let us not be like those who fell, dead forever, in the desert!  Let us be as the example of Stephen, his holy and righteous servant!

A good man?

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If by chance you think of yourself as a good man, I have something for you.

I will grant that of all men who have lived, there may be one (possibly two) that have lived their entire life with minimal sin.  It is also very highly likely that you are not one of them.  Therefore your definition of the word “good” likely lacks horribly.

But let’s put that aside, without accusations farther.

The Lord Jesus is faultless.  I am not talking only about his life in a body on this earth.   But he was with the Father in the beginning of all things.  From that indescribable moment until now, and throughout eternity, Christ Jesus will be faultless and good.

It is impossible that any creature should ever match the Majesty of Christ.  So if you think of yourself as a good man, I suggest you study the Scriptures for a better definition.

The Search

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I am not an accomplished professor of all things.  There are vastly more things I do not know than what I do possess.  I am not a smart man, as men would call one smart.  I am vastly more a fool, than wise and elderly.

The time I have left, to be among the things of this world, is far less than the years I have already seen.  And my time to become what men speak of a “special” is passing quickly.  If it has not passed already.

But I will impart what I have learned.  Perhaps there is benefit to some.

I have examined the world from the perspective of sin, and found it utterly lacking.  In the way of sin, I have walked more vigorously than most.  And so I can testify with surety.  Life is not there.

I have examined other religions from a distance, as I sought release from my pathetic state.  I did not have time, nor inclination to immerse myself in their teachings.  To do so would have required pledging myself.  I did not possess such earnest intent.  Nor would time allow.

But every religion established by man is full of fault and worthless tripe.  None of them held sufficient truth to remedy my plight.  They said “do”, but I could not.  Therefore life is not found among them.

I examined the law of God and found it true.  I speak of the law of God as found in the Holy Bible, not as men say is the law of God.

I found the law of God in the Holy Scriptures to be founded on eternity.  But one does not need read far, to realize the Holy Law of the Living God is more than man can accomplish.

In the law of God I found life.  But by the law I found I was put to death.  At last my struggle is over.  But what should I do, am I to die?  Is that the summation of this struggle?  I still had desire to live.  So though law of God is life, I found myself dead in its reading.

Now I will testify of what I have found. 

There is one who has fulfilled the law of God on behalf of all men.  He is willing to enter a man’s sin and drive it out.

Now this is life!  All he asks is that I am willing.  Having searched what is, of course I am willing.

I have proof in my soul that he has come and made drastic change.  I have proof in this testimony that he is true and able to save.  I find that I believe.  So I proudly wear that name.  I find myself doing the things I thought were too hard for a man.

If I had last words, these would be it.  Search for all you will, you will not find anything greater than Christ Jesus.  He is Life!