I met a young man who is vividly angry at Christians. To him we are a horrible blight on the world. And no matter how light the conversation his only response to my words and intent were vulgar and demeaning.
This anger he now feels will be multiplied a million fold when he stands before the Most High God. For he hated the Lord’s people. Then he will hate the Lord. He is now jealous of our joy and peace. Then, what will be his plight?
By His Grace.
By speaking openly for the Lord I realize I have taken the place of a saint who is now with the Lord. And this causes me to wonder who will take my place when I pass through The River?
They say he ran a carnival, he used to come to town
‘Til one September afternoon he shut it down
They tell me something happened, some say he lost his mind
Now most September afternoons this is what you’ll find
An old man on the corner where he used to sell his show
Now he shouts what sounds like foolishness
As the people come and go
CHORUS:
New lives for old
Warm hearts for cold
Have I got a deal for you today
C’mon, step right this way
And get your new lives for old
He puts it in the paper, he goes from door to door
The people say he’s such a fool to come back for more
Old friends are mostly puzzled, they don’t know what to say
Cause ever since that afternoon he’s just been that way
It’s like the old man died and someone came to take his place
Now he just stands out there bellowin’
A smile upon his wrinkled face
Repeat CHORUS
Remembering the story as I once passed through that town
I thought I ought to stop and see if he’s still around
There was someone on that corner where I heard he’d always stand
And he chuckled when I asked where I could find the man
He said “Thank God that crazy fool finally died last spring”
And I said “I’ll take up where he left off then
‘Cause I’m pushing the same thing”
Some concepts are worthy of repeating:
“New Lives for Old” by Wayne Watson.
Image via Wikipedia
It would be to our advantage to make sure that our religion causes us to do what is right before the Father’s eyes. It is not possible that religion can suffice in itself.
Suppose an Angel was told to take charge of a star and make sure it burned with the certain intensity that God ordained it should. It would be good for that Angel if he monitored the star and feed it according to the will of God. But suppose that Angel said to himself, “The star is mine to watch over. God has considered me a great Angel because I am in charge of a star. And suppose that thought became the singular reason the Angel remained near the star. In time he did not feed the star the proper amount of energy sustaining elements. Instead, he simply maintained it as he desired or remembered. Either the star would burn too brightly or begin to dim. What do you think the Lord will say concerning that Angel’s work?
To bring this thought down to earth consider that the star the Angel is placed in charge of is a star not visible to earth. Much like this blog. I write as I feel led. And I write that anyone reading might be compelled to consider the Lord. What does it matter to me if no one reads it? I am given this task of building a resource for the Lord. Regardless the popularity or visibility. And if I fail to continue to build it, I alone will answer to Him. It is not my responsibility to provide the eyes of those who might benefit from this blog. It is only my responsibility to continue to build it.
I could stop building posts here. But wouldn’t that become a thing of the past? Something I rely on to have done. Perhaps some would read what was written and walk away with a renewed spirit for what they gained. But would I be able to tell the Lord that I kept my place? Or would I have to confess that I built for a while but no one came to visit. So I stopped building. That’s not what I want to be telling the Lord who made His way all the way to the cross and allowed the third nail to penetrate His body. It would be better for me to be able to say “It is finished”, when I can no longer add to what He has allowed me to watch over.
Isn’t that what religion can become? We begin to attend the needs of our religion as we see fit. We no longer desire that it should match the Lord’s desire and demands; which are in place due to His wisdom. It is wise for us to consider the Holiness and Purity of the Lord as we attend our religion. We are the ones who will be held responsible for what we know to do. Whether we succeed or fail to deliver our full attention to what we know is right, we will be held responsible. Be careful that you do not fall into disrepair for lack of understanding. You alone are the one who will answer for what you do with what you have been given.
By His Grace.
Image by louisvolant via Flickr
A curious problem is beginning to gel in my mind. By “gel” I mean I think I’m grasping the importance and answer to a problem that plagues all men, but especially Christians.
If we allow ourselves to interpret what we do as who we are we will surely learn to hate ourselves when we find we can’t do any more.
I’ve seen many come to anger, bitterness, hatred, and selfish thinking, when they come to the place in their lives where they are no longer able to accomplish what they thought was their strength. The allowed themselves to become identified by the work they could accomplish.
Beyond the power of words to convey, it is important to remember that a servant is not a king. You are only a servant. And you will wear out. You have no right to claim praise for what you do. Doing good deeds is what is expected of you. And the fact that so many don’t do what is good should not allow you licence to consider yourself a “good person”.
The one who remembers this will enter into inability with peace. When life brings you to that place where you can’t do anything to be proud of (and it surely will), you will become a servant of inability. Any other approach will lead to everything negative. A rock is a rock, regardless where it finds itself. Be like that in your heart. And remember that Jesus is the Lord, not you.
By His Grace.
Image by Daniel Slaughter via Flickr
I thank you Lord:
Because I was destined to burn with destruction. But You told me this was so.
Because I became consumed with my plight. But You showed me a way out.
Because I couldn’t muster strength to endure Your presence. But Your love and mercy were so very sweet.
Because I faltered and stumbled, bringing alarm to my soul. But You gave me tears of repentance.
Because I could not perceive Your forgiveness. But You cleansed my conscience.
Because I ran about with Great concern for the sins I had held dear. But You teach me The Better Way.
Thank You Lord God Almighty! Your Mercy and Wisdom excel! Thank You, Jesus, for Your hand is powerful enough to save.
By His Grace.
Image by Irish Typepad via Flickr
20And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21“Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. 22“Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. 23“Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets. 24“But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. 25“Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 26“Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.
Woe to all who call good evil and evil good. Woe to those who mix drinks with abandon. Woe to those who do not consider the Holiness of God in their daily doings. Woe to those who live their lives as if there were nothing beyond this place of testing. Woe to those who consider the testimony of Jesus as a fairy tale. Woe to those who make no attempt to grasp the meaning of life on this earth. And woe to those who, after hearing the message of Jesus, turn from it with shrugging shoulders.
Glory and honor, and promise belongs to those who endure for His Name sake. Blessed is the man who considers the abject horror of his sins. Blessed is the man who sobs at what he has done contrary to the Word of God. Blessed is he who hates his life in this world, yet longs for help from He who cannot lie. Blessed and filled is he who finds the repentance necessary to secure the forgiveness of God in Christ Jesus.
And Blessed is the Lord for making this place of testing. He has set the wall between Himself and us with a firm foundation. There is but one Gate. And, as the Lord Himself has said, “Few there are who find it.”
By His Grace.
We: Live, Die, Face Judgment. Jesus or die twice.
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