Tag Archives: Christian

The Enduring Promise

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Many times death comes unannounced.  People fall in their tracks, as they work out the things of the day.  Sometimes death comes in a protracted celebration.  Some people suffer on their bed for moments, while others suffer on their bed for years.

If I am blessed to spend my celebration on a deathbed, there will be joy in me.  Though my face be racked with pain.  Though my body convulse in agony.  There will be that unspeakable joy of his promise.

How is it possible for any Christian to have a differing view of these things?  As we believe, so is his promise extended.  As we believe, so the Christian receives.

By His Grace

Relinquish With Joy

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The world looks on compassion as a weakness.  They consider that a weakened man cannot sustain his hold on the things he has.  So their hideous greed approaches, emboldened.

Let them take the things their eyes see.  For they do not perceive the Christ of God.  But let your precious belongings be those of Christ.  For these things you will keep though you die.

They cannot steal what they cannot perceive.  They will not take those things which are distasteful and worthless to them.

But let the man add to his treasures, those things of Christ Jesus.  Amass the things that are unspeakably beautiful.  Pile up the things that are eternal.  Become a connoisseur of what is Holy. 

No one will touch your riches.  And you will find yourself void of fear to protect.  Sleep will be peaceful.  And you may even encourage the thief to take more.  For the things of this world can only detract from the riches you are amasing.

If the wisdom of our Holy Lord is determined to take from us all that can be held, how does the man of God say no? 

“No” comes from the lips of the one who is not yet complete.  The weakness in him causes him anguish to consider relinquishing what is filthy.  How can it possibly be right that a Christian should do such a thing?

By His Grace

What Does Jesus Do?

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Jesus will forgive your sins.  How would it feel to have a clean conscience for a change? Will others understand?  No, but you will.

He will teach you to listen.  If you let him, he will teach you how to obey his Heavenly Father.  Even if you are full of rebellion and are difficult to teach, he will provoke you to obedience.  If only you will continue to call on him.

He will teach you of the eternal way.  What men say is good, changes from hour to hour.  He will teach you what lasts forever.

One thing at a time, you will overcome difficulties in your life that you did not even know you had.  Then as the appearance of maturity arrives, you and He will do a significant work to obliterate rebellion.

In the process of becoming a man of God you will develop peace.  With a clean conscience, and proof in your soul that God has accepted you, you will find you have no fear.  And the longer you walk with Him as your Lord, the deeper that peace will penetrate.

You will find yourself teaching others.  Not because someone told you you have to go out and evangelize, but because you simply can’t keep your mouth shut.  And you will not only tell them the words, but you will act them out in the their presence.

In time you will come to know you have eternal life.  You will not just believe the words that you were told, you will know, with clarity, those words are true, and that they belong to you. 

Because he is always reliable, you will find yourself looking to him for every possible solution to every possible problem.  It won’t be a matter of discipline to go to prayer.  You will find you never leave it.

What does jesus do?  He will create such a change in you, that you will not be any resemblance to what you were.  And if you continue in the way, all this will happen to you while you were here.  Yes he can prepare you to be a citizen of heaven here.

By His Grace

Preferring the Child

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Any master of a trade will tell you, it is better to train up an ignorant young man as your apprentice, then to expect obedience from a man who thinks he has already accomplished your trade.

Why has God chosen the weak, the outcast, the wicked, and the sinful to become a part of his Holy Kingdom?  Because they will not put themselves first.  They will never spit in the face of his teaching.  And they will love him with a blazing heart of faith.

It isn’t any more complicated than that.  If you want to serve the Sovereign God in Christ, you have to become like a child.

By His Grace

The Hardest of Things

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What is the hardest aspect of Christianity?  Contrary to popular belief, the hardest thing in Christianity is not found in the do’s and don’ts.  Even the ridicule and shunning of society is a trifle compared to the hardest thing in Christianity. 

If one can master this most difficult aspect, Christianity is a lovely place to live.  No matter what comes against us, either from within or from without, mastery of this aspect makes us invulnerable.

Making the decision to follow Christ comes after the most difficult choice.  And this choice does not fade over time.  It remains the most difficult of all Christian things.

What is the most difficult aspect of Christianity? “Believing.”

By His Grace

Alive in Christ

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We speak the words of condemnation.

Do you listen?

Can you do what you know is right?

We speak the words of Purest Hope.

Can you perceive?

Can you imagine a life without sin?

 

Man is not flesh.

He is soul dressed in flesh.

The world knows this.

The soul has understood what the body denies.

Do they not avert their eyes from one another?

The eye is the window to the soul.

And by these tiny balls, one soul can see another.

 

What if you could live your life without sin?

What if you could drive your flesh according to the will of the soul?

This is not what man does, on his own.

Man allows the things of flesh to direct his soul.

But there is a life, in Christ Jesus, where we learn the inverse.

 

Mysticism teaches about such things.

They call it an “out-of-body” experience.

They perceive the key, but fail to accomplish.

They know that living in the body cannot produce true life.

They speak of leaving this place to experience “more”.

And they will tell you that man can do this himself.

 

Christians will tell you that is a lie.

Christians will speak of living an “in body” experience.

Christians will tell you that there is a place,

Where God will grant a man’s soul to be driven by the Holy Spirit of God.

Christians learn to drive the flesh into obedience to what is Holy.

Christians will testify that the body can become slave to the soul’s holy desire.

 

And Christians will willingly testify that this ability does not come from their own ability.

It is a gift of God in Christ Jesus, the Holy Son of God.

Transformation comes, in time, and the believer becomes the intent of God for man.

All the while Christians learn to obey the Holy Laws of God.

I am not speaking of those who call themselves Christian and go no farther.

I am speaking of those who believe to the “doing of the will of God”.

 

Can you hear what I am saying?

Is there understanding emerging from your soul?

I am not speaking down to you.

I’m trying to wake you to the truth of our life here.

Men go about providing for the flesh all day long.

But what about the, more important, soul?

 

Do you yearn to be free from the wicked things you find yourself doing?

You will not be free if you continue to allow your flesh to dictate the day’s doings.

Condemnation abounds against us for such things.

For your flesh desires only the things of this world.

It knows nothing of heavenly things, nor desires it.

And we all, all men, know better.

For we ARE soul.

 

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.   8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9  “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?   10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?   11  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7)