Tag Archives: hope

The Bright and Morning Star

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“Praise the Lord, for He is good!  His Mercy endures forever.

Who is His Mercy?  Jesus the Christ is the Mercy of God.

For by Him we live and move and have our being in the Heavenly Father.

By Him we have strength.  By Him we are bold.

By Him we sing a new song; a song of great strength and hope.

By Him we have warmth; the warmth of the Bright and Morning Star.

By Him we are fed with food which does not come from this world.

By Him we thrive as we were intended to thrive.”

So sings the vibrant Robin in the morning.

Let man consider the faithful and unashamed song of the Robin.

He wakes to hunt.  He wakes to proclaim the faithfulness of the Most High God in the Lord Jesus.

He wakes, and opens his mouth to sing praises for the Life he Lives.

Yes, let us consider the purity of the Robin’s song.

The greatest possible

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It is impossible that a man should find himself standing anywhere other than where he puts his feet.  What he has done and what he is doing is where he is.

All the while the man has traveled to be where he was he was always where he found himself.  Whether he traveled in righteousness or wickedness, there he traveled.

All the while the Holy Lord has remained where He is.  It is man’s to wander and to do.  And everywhere he has wandered the Holy Lord has been aware.

According to a man’s faith, according to what he believes is true, the Holy Lord has either been the greatest of possible friends or the greatest of possible enemies.

The sovereign God does not move between wickedness and righteousness.  This belongs to men.  Either we embrace the Holy Lord and all His righteousness, or by measure upon measure we remain wicked.

Jesus has been sent to draw us to what is righteous.  He has been sent to cause us to cease our wandering.  He has been sent to bring righteousness to where we stand.  So that when we perceive our location we find a friend in the Holy Lord.

When and where will a man submit?  When will he stop and find himself at peace with the Most High God?  He will find himself arriving when he learns to listen to and obey the Son of God.

Either the living God is your greatest of possible friends, or he is your greatest of possible enemies.  Jesus has appeared at the will of the Father to bring us into friendship.  We began as enemies.  By His grace we end as friends.

By His Grace

On your own

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What is the difference between the tears a believer in Christ and the godless?  What is the difference when a believer in Christ is afraid or the godless know fear?  What difference is there when the child of a believer dies or the child of a godless man dies?

If you would cry or be afraid or lose your loved ones, why would you try to do so on your own? 

You will cry.  You will be afraid.  You will lose your children to death.  You yourself will inhabit a life of hopelessness.  So what is the difference whether you inhabit that life alone or with the living God’s help?

Do you know what keeps you from him?  Do you know why you reject the gospel?  It’s not because God is invisible.  And it’s not because this world is so wicked.  You simply reject the gospel because you are simply proud.

You have to face life alone.  You exercise faith every moment of every day.  Why not put your faith in Jesus?  Why not allow humility to take the place of pride?

My heart aches for you.  I know what is coming upon the world.  You will cry.  You will be horribly afraid.  You will lose your children and your loved ones.  Some will starve to death.  Others will die from hideous disease.  Earthquakes and Wars will kill and maim at random. 

Why would you face this?  Most men and women will curse God to his face.  Why would you be one of them?  Humble yourself.  Why is this too much to ask?

By His Grace

“But I love sin!”

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A man may say to me, “God cannot save me.  I am too vulgar.  I am too grounded in the things that are wicked.  I adore the pleasure of the body.  And though I would like to be saved, I cannot imagine why God would want me.  I cannot imagine that he would even want to try.”

My friend, by what you say I see two things.  The first is that you know God is Holy, and that he expects holiness from his people.  And the second is that you do not understand the gospel of Jesus Christ.

You understand well enough that you are sinful and hopeless as you live the way you do.  Good.  Then begin where you are.  That awareness is the very first step a man must take.

In regard to the holiness of God we will say these things.  Holiness does not only have to do with righteousness; as if we speak only of judgement.  The holiness of God has first to do with love. 

The love of God is not defiled by opinion.  Nor is it subject to a change in attitude. He is the very definition of all that is pure and lovely. 

If you admire those who are able to love the unlovable, this ability finds its unceasing fulfillment in the love of God.  He loves without ceasing.

Along with this love comes judgement righteousness patience and mercy.  The love of God is what sustains all life for eternity.  If there is the slightest lack in the love of God eternity will cease.  So we are able to trust without fear.  God is love and he is eternal.

In regard to the gospel we will say these things.  What you lack is what you desire.  What you desire has come to us long before you were born.

Jesus is the perfect representation of the love of God.  God’s love compels him to be merciful.  Just as surely as his love compels him to protect eternity from wickedness.

God has sent His Son to be the sacrifice for all who desire life.  Those who run to him will be transformed.  God’s love has so desired you that He has given his son over to death for your sake.  How precious then are you?

For now, you perceive the love of God as law and judgment.  But if you are willing, he is willing to show you differently.  This is why it is written, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.”  That it’s all God requires from you.

He has heard your confession of sin.  He knows that you love wickedness more than life.  And his love has already provided you what you need.

Approach him with these truths that you have told me.  Do not be so ashamed of your ailment that you refuse to go to the doctor. 

He has it in his hand to be able to heal you and cause you to become a righteous man.  He is willing and able to teach you how to live so that your life is pleasing to God the Father.

The wise will understand what has been written here.  Reach deep within yourself and find strength.  Do not look for strength to be a righteous man.  Simply look for the strength to fall to your knees in prayer. 

For now you stand with pride.  That is the strength that will lead to death.  But a humble acknowledgment of these things will lead you to life.

He is waiting for you.  He is not waiting to judge you.  He is waiting to help you. 

I will add this.  You see that I write these things.  You consider that I am a godly man.  But you do not know who I was.  If any man was evil I was his equal, quite likely even more so.  What I have described here is the very path I have taken.  And over the years this is what I have come to be.

Not one ounce of my strength was spent to arrive in this place.  The only model I have fun is to retain a desire for righteousness.  Everything good that I have has been given by Jesus the Son of God. 

If you will only trust him you will rise far above the place where I stand.  This is the firm and trustworthy promise of the Most High God in His Son Jesus his Christ.

By His Grace

O’ Worker of Death

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By His mercy we are sent.  We are from the wicked.  He dresses us and sends us back.  Even while we serve, he dresses us all the more.  We are no longer from the wicked.  We are now sent from God.

All men are just like me.  Arms, legs, eyes, mouth, head, body, fingers, desires, dislikes, and frailty are the sum of our freshly days.   And they are startled faces touch my heart.

Pity strikes me.  I see the difference because God has shown it to me.  But I dare not let my pitiful eyes close up the word I have been sent to speak.  Where is love to let them die without warning?

This is why they are urged me to be quiet.  “You are just like us why do you speak so harshly?”  With their fleshly eyes they cannot see that I have been sent.  But my soul knows the truth.

Get behind me, you worker of death!  You have only man in mind.  You are my slave you are not my confidant.  You are my body, my sinful nature, and you have nothing to say.

I will have pity on man.  I will speak the words I am sent to say.  With this I love them, that I tell them the truth.

By His Grace

Be Not Ashamed

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From his rightful and lofty place above all creatures, the Lord rules with joy.  He is the definition of Good.  Therefore it is His right to define what is good.  He gives life generously to all who set their heart toward Him. 

His righteousness is life.  All His laws are righteous.  Therefore his laws are joy.  He gives the right of righteousness to all who receive the life in His Son Jesus.  And as many as will listen to the Son, will find their lives transformed.

Wicked men attribute their own nature to the living God and His Son.  They think that because they are corrupt, even God must be corrupt.  Because of their depravity they cannot imagine something pure and fully Good.  Still the Holy Lord holds off the end day.  His compassion and His patience are evident among us.

For now, the wicked are encased in a dark, pathetic and unholy accusation.  For it is impossible for them to give glory to a creature such as themselves.  If this is how they perceive while they are here, they are not likely to be able to change their mind when they appear before Him.

If any man will only believe that God lives and is Good, he will open the door for the Lord to come in.  The Great Physician cannot heal a wound if a man will not let Him near.  No matter how great the Lord’s desire, such a man remains in death.

All these things that are written here are true.  Therefore I am not ashamed to testify.  I do not testify as a man who has become righteous by his own strength.  What righteousness now covers me has appeared from the Lord Himself.

Moment by moment He has taught me how to live so that I could please the Holy Father’s righteous demands.  More than just forgiveness, the Lord teaches us how to live so that forgiveness need not be constantly considered.  The freedom of righteousness now takes the place of wickedness.

He is wise, compassionate and patient with His people.  He allows His people time to learn.  And he teaches us how to love His Father’s ways.  What we once perceived as an angry and corrupt God now appears as Good! 

Little by little we begin to live righteously.  Little by little joy overtakes despair.  Strength overcomes weakness.  What is holy destroys what is unholy.  Thread by thread we become dressed, prepared for a great wedding feast.  And the dread of judgment is replaced by a great joyful hope!

Come join us!

By His Grace