Risk


To live is Christ.  To die is gain.

It is the Christian who should be willing to take chances, so to speak.  He is the one who has God in his favor.  And he is the one who is promised eternal life.

It is not good to shrink from danger, for the ones who say they believe in the promise.

Imagine a group of five people, one of which is a Christian.  If one must give his life for the other four, which one should it be?

And if we find ourselves vying for the resources of this world, who should take the less?  Isn’t that the one, to whom God has promised all that he needs.

It is the Christian who should be willing to take great risk.  If you pay attention, you will find opportunity every single day.

By His Grace

What Day is This?


Timidity and fear, what do they have to do with the people of God in Christ?  Boldness and peace, confidence and love, now these are the targets to which Christians should shoot their life.

Why are we timid?  Isn’t it because the voice of wickedness is so loud? 

Why do we fear?  Isn’t it because we fail to believe?

How does a Christian become bold?  Isn’t it because he trains his ear to deafen at the roar of the world, entertaining no sound but the beautiful whisper of God in his soul.

If a man will learn these things he will have peace, confidence and love.  He will become bold for Christ.

The more wicked the day, the more opportunity.  What day then is this, that Christians should cower in a corner?

By His Grace

Missing Acquaintance


Where did you go, my tiresome burdensome friend?  Have you gone to pester some other hapless heart? 

Did you not notice me packing in the night?  I could not find you as I put my things where they belong.

I do not long for your accompaniment.  Nor do I desire your council.  But I had more room on my shelves than expected.  By accounting,  I found you missing.

What a pleasant surprise

Is this foretold sunrise. 

The place where you have died,

My old friend, “Fear of Demise”.

By His Grace

For Emergency Only


image

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

You are Invited!


It is possible (Very possible) that someone might think to themselves, “I will wait until I am able to consider myself holy before I testify about God’s things”.  When will that be?  What sign, within yourself, are you expecting to find?

Isn’t the Lord of Life worthy of proclamation?  Isn’t the consistent nature of creation testifying about God’s Holy Son, regardless how men use it?  Dirt is still dirt, whether it covers a corpse or builds a brothel.  The stars remain in their place, though no one has embraced one with a massive hug.  Sinful men testify about what is godly every moment of their pathetic life.  Yes, the Gospel is that replete among men.  What right, then, do Christians have to hide the holy word within themselves until they receive a “certain” sign from heaven?

The testimony goes out regardless how His people keep their mouths shut.  And didn’t He testify to this when it was written, “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Why would you let the Glory of God emanate from what is ungodly?  Have you no respect for the One who bought your worthless soul?  Why would you relinquish your place to proclaim, knowing that the proclamation will come from those who display no godly attributes?  Have you forgotten the phrase: “I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.”

Grip your fear and unwillingness by the adams apple.  Choke it till it gasps to proclaim.  If fear has you, then go in fear.  If you are unwilling, then drag your worthless butt there.  Proclaim or lose the honor of it.

Listen, my brothers and sisters, we dance before the King of kings.  We live before the Living God.  So what if we’re not worthy to carry holy words!  Neither are they who would so accuse us if we spoke them!

The Gospel is an offence against the pride of man.  How humble would a man be who can’t obey the will of God, yet proclaims His Honor anyway?  Wait for that “something more”, and you will be waiting far past the closing of the banquet door.

Rampant Poverty


It is true that in this world there are the poor.  It is also true that the world makes much commotion about this.  They fire one another up to eradicate poverty.  But no headway is ever accomplished.  As soon as they release one into productivity, five more take his place.

Unfortunately what is true in the world is also true in the church.  There is a poverty  that cannot be solved with the resources of this world.  And it does not dress itself in visible rags.

Those who are rich in the forgiveness of Christ often seal up their wealth as if it can be stolen.  And I find myself unable to speak of the power of God absent from display in my brothers.

While the world walks about destitute and ragged, many Christians live happy peaceful lives.  While the resources of the world are gobbled up by greed, the resources of Christ are often hidden from the masses by fear.

Does this make sense to anyone?

The world carries on great campaigns to solve a problem that will never go away.  But doesn’t the “Modern” church find itself doing the same thing?

It has become a virtually impossible task to tell the difference between the “good people” of this world and the “Modern” Christian Church.  No wonder the poverty of soul is so widely spread.

A simple question, addressed to every Christian:  “Are those who know you even aware that you are a Christian?”

I guess there is one place of solace.  Both horrific forms of poverty will find their conclusion at the Holy throne of God.

1 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.(2 Timothy 3)

By His Grace