Tag Archives: God

Amazing Transformation!

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structural1A 40′ X 18″ I Beam weighs about 400 lb.  How excited would man be if he could find a way to construct that same span and strength to weigh only 3 lb?  What kind of material could do that?  I would guess that search has been on since the invention of steel.

But man doesn’t have to look very far to find a material that’s stronger than such a fantasy.  He need only look to his rebellious soul.

Nothing on earth, or in all creation is harder than the rebellious soul of a man.  Yet Jesus is famous for exchanging such a marvelously difficult material into a heart of flesh.  The stone cold heart of man is easily rendered into one that understands and does the will of God.  But don’t think you’re going to do that yourself.

It takes the slightest will, in a man, to yield to Christ.  At that point, a flaw is found in the amazingly hard heart.  It is through that flaw that Christ Jesus begins his work.  Yes, it takes time.  But those who yield early in their life can likely expect to become that elusive material that man has sought since the time of Adam.

The Power of the Powerless

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It is easy for men to divide themselves from those who are wicked.  All it takes are codes of behavior in society, enough money to build fine neighborhoods, and lawful force to deter.  Division is made, and the wicked are forced to live in squalor. 

At their choosing, they can move one of their righteous to the squalor of the wicked.  Or they can elevate a wicked man to a place of prominence.  Why just look at the power they can wield!

But there is an abhorrent  behavior (among men) which they have no power against.  And oh how it galls both the righteous and the wicked to be so powerless. 

They entice with money, but it does no good.  They coerce with position, but it does not end well.  They threaten with squalor, but the victim only smiles. 

They are powerless against the Spirit of God in a man. 

When a man’s soul is set on fire by God, silence is not an option.  Money has no strength against the desire to glorify the Lord Jesus.  And from the fire of God within, the wickedness of man is to profuce to ignore!

They may offer such a man a position among them.  But they will quickly withdraw the offer when they see it has not accomplished the “beautiful” destruction.

They are not allowed to imprison him because of his words (Not today, anyway.)  They are not allowed to beat him into submission.  (As if that were possible.)  They are not allowed to murder him.  All they can do is hope God will take his servant home soon.

By His Grace

Sayings Worthy of Acceptance

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Sayings that are worthy of retention, contemplation, and sharing:

1.  Receiving the Gospel from a man makes the receiver twice blessed.  For you have kissed your sweet brother with an eternal joy, and you have the assurance of sharing that joy together for eternity.

2.  Christ Jesus is first in absolutely everything.  He is not some passing fanciful and ecstatic joy during a worship session.  He is first and comfort even in the most extreme and horrific circumstances.

3.  Rejection of the Gospel does nothing to eternity.  You were dead before you heard it, and you remain dead as you reject it.  The dead are no loss to the Living God.  Pride makes you think you’re something.  Frankly, you’re just not that important.

4.  A Gospel of extortion is no gospel at all.  God does not desire a people who are under duress to serve Him.  The Gospel is free of manipulation.  It does not demand acceptance.  It is a declarative call for free will.  As we love Jesus we will obey.

5.  God is not isolated from anything.  Only the perception of man can isolate one thing from another.  The concept of “Object Permanence” is taught in pediatrics.  Hide a baby’s fingers and watch his face turn to anxiety. 

God owns eternity, for eternity is of God.  Equally, God owns this wicked place of testing.  For every sin is a distortion of eternity.  Just because the hand of God is unseen, doesn’t mean it’s gone

6.  Every man knows he lives a lie.  Ignoring the truth of Christ Jesus does nothing to fix a lie.  Receiving the fullness of the Gospel of Christ, this is the fix. 

7.  Nostalgia brings no permanent joy.  Soon enough, you will be nostalgia for others.

8.  Everything in this world points to Christ Jesus.  For nothing is created here that was not created by him.  And our misuse of his creation does not nullify his signature.

9.  Fear is no excuse for remaining ungodly.  For Christ did not fear to do the will of His Holy Father in heaven.  Fear has to do with unbelief.  As if the one who fears, calls the Holy Son a liar.  What kind of reception should the fearful receive on that Great Day of Judgement?

10.  There is a difference between weakness of flesh and rebellion of soul.  God is able to distinguish between the two.  The one he will comfort and encourage toward boldness.  The other he will dismiss without regret.  The wisdom of God among men gives discernment.

11.  Death brings an eternal seal to every man; what we had become in life, to that we are sealed forever.  It is of the father of lies to speak anything differently.

12.  Let the acceptable threshold of Christianity remain elevated.  The expectation is godliness.  How then shall we set the bar at 0?  Not one man but Christ can reach 100%.  Yet surely there is a number in between, which we can grasp with an iron grip.

There are hundreds more worthwhile sayings.  But these are enough to keep us busy for the remainder of our life.

By His Grace

The Price We Pay

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World War II; the black car pulls into the driveway.  Those who live there know what the messenger brings.  Horror slowly dawns; a son will never come home again.

But the messenger did arrive.  Having arrived, he will certainly deliver the message.

You know me.  I am a messenger from the Holy Lord God Almighty.  I have arrived before your face, and you know the reason why.  Horror slowly dawns on your soul; having arrived, I will not fail to deliver the message.  “Repent or die”.

They did not want to see the black car in their driveway.  They did not want to see the impeccable uniform dismount.  But the soldier will not retreat until he has discharged his duty.  This also, those who live there know.

That is the case for those who deliver bad news.  How much more so for those who deliver the Good News?

What barrier is it for the soldier, that they were not ready to receive him?  What barrier is it to me, that you are not ready to receive me?

By His Grace

Blasphemous Murmurings

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Have you listened to the murmuring of the waters?  Do you understand the definitions of the words they use?

Language is from God.  But wickedness defines the sounds.

There is nothing innocent in the definitions of man.  In everything man says, there is desire to manipulate.

The ear of God plainly hears the blasphemous prattle.  Are your ears tuned to his perception?

Do not think we cannot Hear.  Christ’s promise offers wisdom to discern.

Or do his people also render blasphemous prattle?  Is that the reason why we embrace man’s definitions so readily?  Is that the reason why we are restrained from “becoming”?

By His Grace

To Have, or Not to Have

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It is far better to agree with the Holy Lord, than to be able to raise the dead.  It is far better to die of starvation, if that is His will for you, than to be able to make a banquet appear from nowhere.

It is far better to live in isolation and abandoned by every man, then to distort the Gospel and make it say things for the sake of their itchy ears.  It is better to be crucified for the Holy Name of Jesus the Christ of God, than to be loved by every man, woman and child who ever lived.

The Living God will support the one who agrees with his Holy Son.  But the one who desires appreciation from man, will find himself starkly alone.  It is immeasurably better to agree with the Living God, than to have the smallest of desire granted.

“If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”  Miracles do not provide the willing soul that God desires.  Instead, God is looking for those who will love him regardless what comes.  Isn’t that why he loves his Holy Son so dearly?

By His Grace