Tag Archives: Lord Jesus

Any Beating is better Than Death.

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After sleep comes the bowed head.  No tears threaten to well up.  The sorrow is felt in the soul.  Yet the heart hears a different tone.  The Lord of Perfect Beauty is calling.  And He calls to one who has sinned before Him.  I knew better.  Was it stubbornness?  Was it simple weakness?  Was it a lust for things past?  What do any of those questions matter now?  I sit here afraid yet not afraid.  It is the eyes of He who sees which gaze at me and softly scan my heart.  I have transgressed His demands of me.  And I am not misguided in my assessment of the situation.  There will be punishment to endure for the acts done.

After reflection and thanks for the simple things He whispers something odd.  “Yes, there will be punishment to endure.  But you will gladly accept My judgment when you see the alternative.” 

   47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12)

Jesus sits enthroned in Heaven.  The oil of joy is poured upon Him by the Father in Heaven.  He rules all eternity and is willing to share His joy.  For those of us who are being humbled by a collision with Holy and foolish sinful tendencies:  Consider yourself for a moment.  If you had a million dollars and were standing in a great place of poverty, would you help those around you?  Of course you would.  And would you judge those around you while you gave them food and clothing?  Of course you wouldn’t.  If that is how you who are full of sin would handle riches, how much more will the Lord of Glory share all good things with those who call out to Him for help?

Let your back be bent and your head be bowed for a time.  It is good to ponder the seriousness of your offences before the Most High God.  Allow yourself to really listen to Jesus’ calling, however.  Listen to what He is saying.  He knows your plight.  But He also knows where He is now enthroned.  He calls to all men to humble themselves before Him that in due time He might lift them up.  Only submit to the Lord of Love and consider yourself dead before the foot stool of the consuming fire that is God.

By His Grace.

Comfort

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I awoke during a storm.  And wrote the previous post.  As I pondered the situation developing and sensed the urgency, the Lord revealed the following to me.   I post this for my own memory.  But it is useful to all who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.

“You have spoken [in buttermilk80.wordpress.com].  Whether they listen or not is up to them.  Your name is written in My presence.  You do not work for salvation, rather you work for your place.  Consider what you have from Me.  And hone what is within you.”

May God be a shelter and warrior for all who trust in His Holy Name.

By His 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.

A Word of Correction to Popular Thinking.

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You say to yourself, “I don’t need to get into all that God stuff”.  You will view the following words as the words of a man.  And if you respect them or not is none of my concern.  But these are words of absolute truth:

The wicked will pay for ALL their sins, both great and small.  Yet it is the wicked who call on the name of the Lord Jesus now.  If you think you will be able to sway God’s judgment because you have become a “good person”, you will be undone on that Day.  The verdict of God’s court has already proclaimed all men as unfit, evil, liars, and wicked to the very heart.  Judgment day is a day of assigning.  It is not a day of judging and there will be no arbitration.

By His Grace.