Tag Archives: Gospel of Matthew

I’m sorry Lord.

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I’m sorry Lord, for the place we have created by the works of our own hands.  We have said, “We don’t need You now.  We have technology”.  We set our feet against the pull of Your Love.  We resist to the point of our own death to jerk loose from Your mercy.  The world has chased lies in lew of truth.  And we are proud that we have become independent of God.

Lies are the rule of the day.  Men create laws so abundant that even the most lawful of men can be caught as a law breaker.  America has become filthy with lies and pride.  You pulled your hand back from protection, and we ran head long after a president who would promise the fulfillment of our desire to break free from You.  And now look.   Lies are all that spew forth from the mouth of the leader of this, once great, county.  Where truth was the foundation of this place, now we pronounce a liar as the greatest among us. 

I am sorry Lord, for the horrible filth we have desired to become.  You remain pure and lifted up above the sins of these people.  And all your judgments will be pure. 

Please have mercy on those who desire to be ruled by Your ways.  Protect and guide those who desire to live. 

By Your Grace.

“Jesus Stuff” or “Jesus’ Stuff”.

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We serve the Lord Jesus as His people.  But how shall we serve Him?  What shall we do and what kind of people shall we be? 

You have heard many speak of what is called a “Wealth” doctrine (teaching).  In this doctrine we are supposed to experience happiness, joy, an increase of our worldly wealth, health in our bodies, and peace among our family and friends.  Some believe that if Jesus is the Lord of a congregation, we will see great harmony and peace among the people.  And, we understand by this doctrine that if one follows Jesus there will be a sure footed nature to his life.  I can’t see it like that. 

With all that I read and all I experience I have a different view of what it’s like to serve Jesus.  As I embrace His Lordship in my life I find many circumstances where I have to chose to lose.  The happiness those people speak of is not that of laughing and a permafrost smile.  Often it’s a furrowed forehead and a grim bend to my mouth.  I find that giving becomes the purpose of my income.  Had I remained in the world I would gather all I could to spend it on what I want.  But the money now belongs to Jesus.  And my soul continually looks to His face to determine what to do with it.  My body wears out just like the unbeliever’s.  Old age takes over and ravages the youth I once was.  Sickness is still part of my personal experience.  But I embrace these things as part of the gift of life God has ordained in this place of testing.  And, if I look at any serious congregation of “saints” I find constant turmoil regarding the direction and intended use of resources. 

Yet in these things is a great peace, joy and health.  For those who follow Jesus don’t rely on the things and measuring sticks of this world.  Our eyes, mind, and body are set toward the Lord of Life.  We never take our eyes off His leading.  

Let the people of this “wealth” doctrine say what they will.  Let them chase after all the things the world loves.  It’s ok with me.  They would not listen to me if I told them they were wrong.  And If they won’t look into these things on their own, they sure won’t hear my words. 

There are two scriptures that come to mind regarding this post.  One finds it’s anchor in the nature of Jesus’ approach to the things of this world:  

 18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

 20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Matthew 8)

And:

 4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

   “God opposes the proud
   but shows favor to the humble.” (James 4)

What you do about this post is up to you.  Perhaps you agree.  Then scream out your agreement from every possible vantage point.  Perhaps you disagree.  Then keep on going in the direction you’re headed.  I didn’t post this to gain friends.  I posted this to uphold the words of He who can not lie.  The way of Jesus’ people must be walked upon a narrow path.  With every step we take we set the next foot exactly with the guidance of Jesus.  And He has marked it out clearly enough in His word.  And even if a man can’t read, there is the Spirit of God, which is given to us, to guide each moment’s decisions. 

Chase after everything worldly if you wish.  But you should be aware that there is a moment of consequence coming.  God is Holy and will call every man to account for every step, word, and intent.  Why would you risk eternal separation from the God of Life?  There is a cost to following Jesus.  If you look at your life and find that the only difference between you and the world around you is that you hang out with a bunch of people who listen to “Jesus stuff” on Sunday, you might do well to consider your future.

By His Grace.

Preface

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Do the people who have hold of eternity dare keep quiet?  We all live and breathe together here with billions who will surely die the second death.  I’m not saying this to put a guilt trip on anyone.  I’m just stating a fact.

What the Lord has created through me is a bag of seeds.  Consider me a reaper of seeds from the throne of God.  I encourage the distribution of this crop. 

 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”  (Matthew 13)

I’ve written many things in this blog.  Why?  I write that the children of God might find strength.  I write that the ungodly might consider their plight.  I write to look at what I believe and why.  But most of all, this blog has been a source of Glory for the One who has saved me from that second death. 

Jesus is the reason for this blog.  There were many posts which had to be removed because I let my own critical spirit leak out.  But all things you will find here bring Glory to the Father through Jesus, His Son.

May God bless you for His name sake as you read.

By His Grace.

Walking as Dead

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You have strayed from what is right and run after all kinds of evil.  Your body is wrapped in addictions.  Your mouth is full of cursings and wicked words.  And you think there is no longer any hope for you.

Yet there is hope.  There is no need for you to wander in this darkness any longer.  I testify that I too was encased in all these things.  I too was a fool.  I did things, said things, thought things, and chased after every manner of evil.  But it was Jesus who set me free to stand before The Father with confidence and a clean mind and heart. 

People speak of forgiveness as though it were a “pie in the sky” dream.  I tell you it is real!  When you come to Jesus there is a true transformation which takes place.  Though it’s not an over night experience, you will find evil slip away from you. If you will remain with Him, He will transform you into His desire.  No longer will you chase after evil.  You will begin to desire what is good.  He will teach you what you should do. 

There is absolutely no lie in what I’ve just said.  I testify as one who has been set free of evil.  Though I am still a man and stumble around a bit, it is His leading that will bring me into God’s presence clean and justified.  God is the Judge.  God is the One who forgives through Jesus.  It is God who will lift you up from death to life.  All men and women walk as dead in this world until they are set into The Life by Jesus. 

By His Grace.

A promise from Jesus

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 32“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

 34“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
   ” ‘a man against his father,
      a daughter against her mother,
   a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law –
    36a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[e]

 37“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

 40“He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” (Matthew 10)

How to become a Christian

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There are many who will tell you various ways of ensuring your place with God for eternity.  Some will talk about doing certain things, saying certain things, thinking/praying certain things.  It’s easy to be confused.  If you are expecting me to give you a formula now, you’ll be mistaken.  There are millions who will give you a formula, a step by step proceedure to follow to ensure acceptance by God.  So many claiming to know the “way”.  How can you really know?  But let me ask you something: Who do you seek to be accepted by?  Isn’t it God Himself?  Then why are you looking to humans for the way?  Before you begin, you turn away from God, in that you look to humans for the answers.  The only way to avoid all the pitfalls laid before you is to go to the source. 

Consider something: you’re seeking eternal peace, right?  So why look here on earth for it?  There are some simple truths.   Look at the creation and think it through.  Anyone seeking God, and expecting to please Him must, believe that He exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly seek Him.  So, humble yourself before Him and earnestly (with all your mind, heart, strength, and soul) seek Him.  If you do so, He will be found by you.  You’re not seeking a burger at a fast food joint, so why act like it?

God is the God who searches through out the earth seeking those who humble themselves before Him.  Admit that you are full of lies, hatred, envy, strife, idolatry, and more.  Look inward and consider your ways.  Listen to your mind and you will see it is full of these things.  If anyone says they are without sin, they lie.  So, humble yourself before the Lord of Heaven and Earth.  When the time is right from God’s perspective, He will lift you up. 

Jesus is His Son.  There is Salvation for eternity in His sacrifice.  But you will find that God desires truth from His people.  You will be required to lay down all sin in your life.  Through the cleansing of Jesus, you will find the power to do this.  But make no mistake, the way to eternal life is a VERY narrow path.  There are billions of ways to hell, but ONE way to eternal life.  Walk to God in Faith, Believe Him, accept and admit that your failings are fatal and eternal, then. . . prepare to meet your maker.

Pray and act as though you want His approval.  Be ready to lay down your present life if you find Him.  Consider what he said about that: “IF ANYONE COMES TO ME AND DOES NOT HATE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, WIFE AND CHILDREN, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YES AND HIS OWN LIFE ALSO, HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE.  AND WHOEVER DOES NOT BEAR HIS CROSS AND COME AFTER ME CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE” (Luke 14: 26, 27).

If you want a quick, sure fire way to find God’s favor, go looking.  You’ll find thousands of them.  They might make you feel good.  But they might lead you astray too.  Want God?  Seek God.    “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13, 14).