HOPE!


Do you want hope that cannot be crushed?  Then allow yourself to believe the following words of Christ. 

Though these words were not spoken to the disciples at the outset of Christ’s ministry, still they are indelible truth.  As we travel with Christ, toward Christian maturity, the beauty of these words shines brighter, even to the magnificence of Christ himself. 

“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14)
Believe.

By His Grace

Lessons Begun


Things I have begun to understand in the last three days:

Any school boy can understand words, even good words.  But there is a place where good words begin to come alive in a man.  It is the latter which provokes this post.

Lowered eyes that cannot be raised, may be a sign of humility.  (Keyword being “cannot“. Shame can have the same effect.) While eyes that will not lower, often are accompanied by the chin.

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As a man desires, so he will become.  The man who desires the things of this world, has already attained them.  Even though they are not yet in his hand.  Likewise, with the man who desires the things of Christ Jesus.

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As a man compares himself to others, godliness leaves him.  While the man who is able to be satisfied with what he has, is capable reaching toward godliness.  The former sins by his comparison.  While the other opens himself to the peace of God.

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In the matter of godliness: The young man may think he has attained.  But he does not know the extent of what is required.  The old man has begun the journey.  But no man can live long enough to attain all there is to attain.  Continuance for both must be established.

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In summary:  Our dependence on the Holy Righteousness of Christ Jesus does not diminish with our accomplishments.  It only grows stronger the higher we climb on the Mountain of holiness.  Toward the pinnacle, the fall increases.  While at its base, pride remains king.

Woe to those who do not consider these things, for what they lose, no man can count.  And the sadness of their loss will never cease.   For if it is difficult for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?

Yet who can tell where a man may begin?  Those who remain In the Way of Christ may well accomplish great things.  Perhaps the “greatest” has not yet been born; whether of flesh or spirit.

These things have come to me as I have entered 61 years of living.  Why should those of lesser years give up now?  And these things have come to me in a relatively short three years.  What great hope lays, therefore, before my seniors?

It is necessary to encourage one another as the days grow more wicked.  As these things become known, it is not right that we should bottle them up. 

And it is not a righteous thought to believe that others will recognize the truth as they as they see it displayed in us.  Where is the wise word of counsel from those who know?  Laziness and fear are not godly traits.

By His Grace

Beyond the Veil


Just beyond the veil of your weakness and fear lay all the strength and promise any man can have.  No man can remove this veil, anymore than plucking out his own eyes will cause him to see better.

The eyes you now use to perceive your weakness and fear are useless in the gaining of this magnificent strength and promise.  To gain what is more you must receive.  Yet how can a man receive by taking from what he already has?

This is how many Christians live.  They strive to obey from their own resources.  But that does not come from the message they first heard.

They realized they were helpless so they turned to look for an answer.  But when the answer was provided, they turned back to their old way. 

How can they “become”?  How do they think they can now provide what they were not able to achieve before?

If peace was delivered by believing the power of God to transform, how is it we now turn to our own strength to do what is more?  By this error, born of pride and folly, many have shipwrecked their own faith.

The answer remains where it was found in the beginning.  Humble ourselves before the living God.  Ask with earnest and continuous prayer.  Read the Bible again and again; that you may learn the language of salvation.

If you will not do these things how can any man help you farther?  The sad part is you may not want what you think you want.