I have no right to ask anyone to love me. For wouldn’t that put the burden of expectations squarely on their small shoulders?
I have no right to ask anyone to respect what I think or what I do. For wouldn’t that nullify their own opinion?
It is better to give love without being asked.
It is better to respect without expectation of return.
For if we do not give we freely, will be miserably surprised at the response. Duress has a price.
I do not respect the customs of Men. I have no regard to the differing “customs” of certain groups. One eats just these things. Another eats other things. Certain clothing is appropriate for differing circumstances, relegated to the demands of pomp, pleasure, and expectations of society. What do I care? Eat what you will. Dress as you desire. What is that to me?
But the things of the soul. Now these things matter! Differing languages, differing customs, differing surroundings, differing expectations of society, what are these things? When it comes to the soul, none of these things have any bearing at all. For we are all created for the singular purpose of being profitable to the Most High God.
Profit, profit, profit! That’s all the body desires. We wake to “do”, that we might gain profit. To one man profit is pleasure. To another, profit is to gain, that he might add to his mountain of treasure. But profit to God is that His Holy and Righteous Son be glorified.
Some call profit for God in various and differing terms, each according to the religion he has been taught. But God has elevated His Holy Son to the place of First Above All. And wouldn’t it matter that God has done this for His Righteous Son? What does it matter if man considers another religion above Christianity? It is God, alone, who dictates what is Righteous.
But let it be said, Jesus is the King of kings. He is the Lord of lords. He is the Mighty One over all! It is to Jesus that every knee will bow and give Glory to God the Holy Father.
You say, “This is your opinion. You were raised up under the constraints of Christian teaching. But we were raised under the constraints of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, Baha’i, Confucianism, Jainism, Shinto, atheism, humanism, [or a million other worthless tripe of human reasoning]. To you, Christianity is singular. Realize that our faith is singular to us”.
But God has chosen His Christ. God has secured salvation by His own Holy Hand. And this is the message that has no dependence on the customs of man. For it comes from Heaven. It is delivered to God’s chosen ones to speak. And it is secured in their souls by the Holy Spirit’s presence.
Do you want profit of Man? Or do you want Profit of God? Seek the Holy Father’s advice regarding this. Strip your mind of the customs you were taught. Strip your expectations from your soul. Seek His Holy Face in Truth. As we humble ourselves before the Living God, so the Living God responds. Likewise, as we stand proud in our own understandings, the Living God is shrewd in his response.
Profit comes from humility. True profit. The profit of eternity that is dressed in the Glorious Living God’s Holy Son, Jesus the Christ.
Now you take offence at these things. For I have spoken that Jesus is the singular means to God the Father. But Christians should take no such stance as you. We do not take offence at the accusations against Christianity. We do not defend the Christ. It is the Christ who defends us. We have no means to sustain our teachings. It is God who sustains the teachings of Christ. We are witnesses, not defenders. We testify that the Living God has secured our salvation. We do not defend the Faith He has given us.
Perceive the difference. Listen to what I am saying. There is no salvation for anyone outside the Holy Son of the Living God.
I can’t tell people what to do to gain eternal life. I can point them to the Lord Jesus. I can mention the expectations of the Most High God regarding His Holy and Righteous Son. But I can’t tell them how to put all that stuff into practice.
I can tell them to read the Bible. But it’s up to them to do it. I can tell them to pray. But I’m not suppose to be privy to such a holy event, no matter how short. I can tell them that they will do well to DO what they learn. But I can’t make em.
So I don’t try much any more. I tried to stick with em. But I didn’t have the stick-to-itive-ness necessary to stick-to-em long enough to see em stick-with-it. I’ll just stick-to-da-road and write about stick-to-itive-ness.
The godly will endure trouble. For this trouble, God is righteous to uphold their cause.
The ungodly and the sinner will also encounter trouble. But how is it they believe God must help them? Wouldn’t God be righteous to allow the trouble to provoke them? Yet his loving mercy is extended even to his enemy.
I read the account in John chapter four, where it speaks of a nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. He begged Jesus to come and heal his son. The Lord replied to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders you will by no means believe”.
It’s hard to miss the fact that Jesus was not pleased with the request. But what is it that would have given the Lord pleasure? The foolish might think the death of the child. But how could that be so?
God is not a charity. He is a purposeful engine for godliness. Though he is merciful to our ignorance, his desire is that we understand.
Let us not be consumed with the things of this world, be they profit, poverty or sickness. But let us understand the will of God, that we should become godly men and women.
God will take care of us as our needs arise. Are we willing to endure for His Holy Name’s sake? Are we willing to let our faith grow? Or do we demand solution for the things we cannot control?
Shall a servant refuse to serve the king until he is fed? The good servant will rise on an empty belly and make sure his master is well taken care of before one morsel of bread touches his tongue. The king will take care of what profits his kingdom. If that is so among men, isn’t it more so among the things of God?
What are you using God for? Let us be truthful and admit that most people use God for some emergency tool. And to the shame of the church, such expectations live among Christians.
By His Grace
The word “have” is very curious. With that word we pronounce ownership. “I have a car.” “I have a coat.” “I have an apple.”
Perhaps there is a moment when those three things can be true. But just like with everything in this world, “have” is destined to face a certain demise. Three of its letters are taken away and one is given. In the stroke of a moment, “have” becomes “had”. (pun intended)
This being the case, it is right to ask the following question. Does “have” own and eternal definition? Is there a place where what we have cannot ever leave us?
And forgive me for meddling in the affairs of men. But why do we place such prominence on the things we cannot keep? Why do we love the word “have” and despise the word “had”, when the second reigns supreme over the first.
I’ll leave it to the reader to think it through.
By His Grace
We all assess by what we perceive. What people do and say means a great deal. Such things tell everyone who they belong to.
I assess the world by the people who belong to its constructs. Are you a good representative of the world’s expectations? Do you believe all the hype about what “righteousness” and mercy are? Do you perform the appropriate hypocrisy demanded by the life you choose to lead?
There are only two camps in all creation and heaven. One is of satan. The other belongs to Jesus, the Christ of God. If you belong to the world, then do the things of satan. Show your allegiance diligently.
Why should I not expect this from you? You readily expect holiness, pure righteousness, uncompromising mercy, and godly love from Christians. Why do you think expectations are only one-sided?
Teach me what the world believes. Show your true colors. But you don’t. You hide behind all kinds of shifting beliefs. Who can nail down what the world believes? Who can point at satan’s kingdom and say, “That’s what he believes forever”?
But what the Lord Jesus is, remains plainly seen. You chide us because we don’t perform according to your expectations. What is that to us? You don’t even know what’s expected from you.
I challenge the entire world to prove what’s true among all men. Remove the Holy Law of God, and prove what’s true to me. You won’t be able to do it. You’ll find yourself full of doubt before you begin to speak.
Why don’t you stop pointing your wagging finger at Christians, and consider your own beliefs? You’ll find hopelessness, but isn’t that why you currently despise those who seek after the Holiness of God? Your ways are hopeless.
The only thing you can rely on is chaos. And you’ve been taught to thrive within that construct.
The Gospel remains among you. Seek it out. Take a long and hard look into it. Expose your very soul to its teachings. There you’ll find the truth you are currently missing.
We: Live, Die, Face Judgment. Jesus or die twice.
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