Tag Archives: gospel

The Hope of Rahab

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Rahab and the Emissaries of Joshua

Image via Wikipedia

As we live our lives under the rule of Jesus, we are brought from understanding to understanding.  We are always growing in our knowledge of the Love of God.  And everyone of us who are learning to love Him have a testimony to share.  For this reason I drop this tidbit of words for the sake of His Glory:

We hear of how we should strive with all our might to obey all His perfect commands.  And it is impossible to remove any of them from before us.  There is, however, the element of humanity and sin within us.  Though He sets us free from the necessity to obey the sinful nature, we all find ourselves engulfed in evil foolishness from time to time.  This is something the world can’t understand.  They will say, “How can the people of God act so lawless from time to time, yet speak of a life free from ungodly actions?”  This is something rather odd, I readily admit.  But I submit the following for consideration:

Rahab, the harlot, was promised salvation because of one action.  She gave save harbor and escape to the men of Israel when they came to spy on the land they were about to conquer.  The Lord said that she would not be forgotten for this action.  It was in the identification with His people that she warranted being counted among them.  Though most of us won’t risk our lives in defending the Gospel, it is important that we recognize that the Lord is just and will not forget our sacrifices, words, actions, and intentions regarding His Holy people.

I encourage you who strive against great odds.  Many of the Lord’s people come from horrible backgrounds.  And shedding some of those styles of living is extremely hard to do.  Many will never completely rid themselves of these hedious problems before they are in His presence.  But we should strive, above all else, to remember that the Lord is Love, compassion, forgiving, wise, and Holy.  It is the Lord who will be glorified on the day of His appearing.  Man will never receive the same level of glory as will the Lord.  So we rest in that confidence.   This is why we serve Him.

I hope this gives hope to those struggling against despair.  Keep that confidence you had at first.  It is Jesus who saves from first to last.

By His Grace.

No Legs to Stand

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You thought you were expected to right all wrongs.

You considered the power of God a “noneffect”.

It was written about you,

“They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly.”

Then you will stand and present yourself for inspection.

You will give account of yourself and all the things you thought you did with righteousness.

But what will be said?

Perhaps you will say that you gathered all information and stood your ground against wrongs.

Perhaps you will point to others and say that they did not allow you to perform godly actions.

Perhaps you will render all your deeds and realize that God was not part of any of them.

When you are asked to give account of yourself, what pocket will you reach into to draw proof?

What chance will you have to say, “May I have a moment to reflect?”

Your tongue will betray your fear and words will come regardless your desire to stem their tide.

Before Him you are standing, on that day.

He who has provided the power to accomplish God’s will.

But you decided here to do all things according to your own imagination.

You read the Bible and determined that you could obey the Holy Law of God.

How’s that working out for you?

You see social injustice and take it upon yourself to correct the flood of lawless men.

You made a “good” life for yourself and your family.

And it is your hands which have constructed the house you now live in.

Have you never heard the Gospel?

Will you recount, on that day, that everything you have to present to the Holy Father has been done by Jesus His Son?

Perhaps you have not heard this:

 Unless the LORD builds the house,
   the builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
   the guards stand watch in vain.
In vain you rise early
   and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
   for he grants sleep to those he loves.

May God grant you understanding before you stand before Him.

The Rants of an Old Man

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Yelling Bird

Image by Ed Gaillard via Flickr

The story is told of a man; times of old.

Who ran through the streets all alone.

His yell could be heard above all the herd,

As he spoke of judgment to come.

So tired of he, did the people become.

He simply became “just a noise”.

And they went bout their day, without notice of him

Paying deafness, as if his reward.

Till one passerby was struck by the plight,

Of this old man who no one did notice.

So he stopped the old man and spoke with concern,

“Why do you make such a fuss?

You yell and you scream, as if to arouse.

But none of us pay you a thought.

So why do you insist in becoming a stench?

Surely you notice your lot.”

The old man stopped moving, his face became soft.

And his eyes danced as he looked deep within.

Then a frown slowly grew, and his eyes became strong.

And he focused on this one who would ask.

“I don’t scream for you, nor the hoard all about;

These words of Truth and Sure Terror.

I make such a noise, and travel about

For the sake of my own soul, my friend.”

Attack!

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German Shephrd with Muzzle

Image via Wikipedia

We put a muzzle on a dog because we don’t want it to bite anyone.  But no one muzzles an attack dog while that dog is suppose to protect his property.  The dog is loosed within the confines of the owner’s property able to do all it can to defend its charge.

The world is busy fitting a muzzle on the message of God.  They’ve been trying to construct the thing out of materials and resources which present themselves to man’s hand and imagination.  And, this trying has been going on since the fall of Adam.  They have not succeeded.  This is to their shame; a personal disgrace which man alone is responsible.   Frankly, you should feel horrible when you look in the mirror and consider that you are no closer to crushing God’s people than you were 6,000 years ago.  Tisk Tisk (shaking my finger with a scowl)!  Shame on you.  Look how you let yourself down!  Look how futile your arms are to accomplish the desires of your brothers!  Sloth!

Their failure is due to one simple fact.  The Gospel is not within reach of the hand or imagination of man.  This is why, when after doing damage to God’s people in one place, it crops up in another.  The “Dog” of God is still on the loose.  And the world is confined in a place reserved for attack.  God protects what is His own.  And no man will ever touch it, that he should it damage. 

One more item of consideration.  For now the attack of God is muzzled.  But there is a day coming in which the muzzle comes off.  Something to ponder.

By His Grace.

A Painful Understanding

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tears.....

Image by JD | Photography via Flickr

I sat alone.  Sitting in a painful understanding.  More will die than live.  While those who will live are few, their life will be full.  While those who die will be more, they will have no say in their death.  For: those who die are already dead.  And those who live are given a taste of promise.

My mind has come to see this.  What is to come will come.  Though I do not wish to see it appear for the more, there is excitement for the sake of the few.  And how this vision of what is sure to come unsettles the heart.

Though the more deny their fate, they will surely see it.  Though the few render the testimony of truth, they are counted as fools.  Yet God will be glorified among us all.  So be it.  Even so, Lord Jesus, come.

By His Grace.

The Living God Alone is the Strength to Save.

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Hand

We, who are dressed by the Lord Himself, call to you.  The words are spoken in your hearing.  These words are the same words all men have heard from the fall of Adam.  And they will be testified to in the Great Assembly of God’s people.  Heaven will resound with the words you now hear His people speak. 

I do not write that without a purpose.  Consider this, you who rail against God and His people.  What you now hate, in regard to the Holy Words of the Gospel of God, you will hate for eternity.  For if you cannot stand before the Holy words spoken by the lips of man, how will you suppose to stand before the source of those words? 

Rant and rail against God’s people.  Go ahead and have your day.  For there is a day coming when only those who love Him will stand.  I urge you to consider this truth.  I urge you will all hope that you will hear and consider these things with an earnest heart.  I do not wish your death.  But I tell you a truth:  If you remain rebellious before the Most High God, you will surely not inherit His blessing.

Do not suppose that heaven is a place of peace for those who reject His means of peace.  Eternity of peace belongs to those who obey the Lord through Jesus.  Speak what you will.  Your words do not change what is true.  And if you deny the words of God, wether from the mouths of man or the mouth of God, you deny yourself entrance into His Peace. 

And do not let your heart be fooled by the imagination of man.  There is indeed a God who has set this place ablaze with His testimony.  And He has set limits on all men.  The limit imposed on His people is within His hand to deliver.  And His Holy Wisdom dictates what is given to each of His people.  Yet the limit of the wicked remains within the grasp of their fingers. 

By His Grace.