The desire for “being loved” is a strong engine. We see people do amazingly stupid things just for the notion of being loved. And God set the bar higher than our innate desire for love. In many ways God has said, “I set this consuming fire before you. Enter it and you will receive pure love”.
For all the stupid things we do to get a notion of love. Few are willing to die for it.
By His Grace.
I can’t remember who the preacher was. He was speaking of Jesus’ request that the Father take this cup from him. He said what I believe was right:
It was not the pain of having his beard pulled out that caused such agony.
It was not the beatings across his sinless face.
it was not the spit dribbling down his face.
It was not the humiliation of being mocked for being the Son of God.
It was not the bone and glass shards which ripped the skin off his back.
It was not the trek to Golgotha.
It was not the nails tearing through his hands and feet.
It was that moment we heard him cry, “My God! My God! Why have You forsaken me!”
He knows. I say it again, He knows about the feeling of being removed from His Loving Father. And all He did to deserve that was to Love His Father’s will unto death.
By His Grace.
How amazing is the Lord Most High. We consider our world as though it has always been. For we only know of this place. But I ponder that this place has a place of origin. It began somewhere. This causes me to ponder why. God didn’t need to make us, or did He?
Eternity was rolling on. Then at one point, God said, “Let us make man in our image”. Why? I’ve come to call this world a “Place of Testing” for this reason. I’m not a smart man. And I can’t remember everything I read or write. But I rely on a general body of knowledge for the following. Perhaps a scholar can add the pointed scriptures to support what I’m about to write. I’ve written about this before. But it just blows me away to consider the Greatness of God in this topic.
There was perfection from eternity. God had created what was Good. Since there’s no lie in God, no lie was in creation, until. . . There was an Angel who thought he knew better than God what was good. Rather than have to explain to an innocent creation what a lie was, he created a world of choice. A people were given the choice to follow what is Good or chose to disobey.
God is just. Along with creating this place of testing, He also chose One to redeem those who would certainly fall to disobedience. The only thing which marks us as able to be redeemed is that we are blind to the Glory of God. But God is also going to put an end to the liar and all his ways. And this is what we speak today. Repent and seek the Redeemer.
There is a whole lot more to this story. But with this as the basis, I find a great responsibility to seek Him. He began this place. He will end it. Those who spend their life serving Him by the power of Jesus’ sacrifice will receive a certain reward for their loyalty. Those who follow after the lie which started all this will receive a certain reward also.
I’m sure I’ll write more about this later. But my meager mind runs out of words quickly.
By His Grace.
All you of flesh, praise the Most High God! It is He who has made you. It is He who has made this place of testing! It is His hand which has given you breath. Praise Him with all He has given you. Turn to Him and give Him the fruit of His doing. It is God who will be praised forever. Why wait to begin? Why would you hold what you cannot keep?
Turn to Jesus, the Christ of God. Praise Him, for God has lifted Him to a Glorious place. It is He who speaks on your behalf. It is He, even Jesus the Christ, who speaks in your favor. Turn to Him who can rescue you from the bonds of this wicked place. Praise Him and give Him your service, for He is worthy.
By His Grace.
If you want peace, serve God.
If you want prosperity, serve God.
If you want your family back, serve God.
If you want righteousness, serve God.
If you want hope, serve God.
If you want eternity, serve God.
If you want power, serve God
All other paths but Jesus lead to death.
By His Grace.
The whole world strains after a brand of peace and joy. It’s as though they peer over the edge of a railing. Wide eyed and full of anticipation, they look forward to the next “new”. Yet when it comes is their heart satisfied? Let’s say the next new gadget comes out on the market, or the next sequel of their favorite movie. Is there a deep satisfaction when they get to spend time with their next “new”?
Let’s be clear here, I was once part of that straining. I too sought for that peace and joy in the things I could experience. I too complained about the laws of God. It seemed to me that the only thing God wanted was to destroy my straining for peace and joy. And that “seeming” proved to be right. God did, and still does, want to destroy that temporary peace and joy I so longed for. And in it’s place He gave me a peace and joy that lasts. This peace He gives is the very essence of joy.
How I long to share that joyful peace with those who still strain over the railing. I know they won’t understand what I’m talking about. Just as I hated even the mention of God and Jesus, they hate Them too. How do I plead that they will respond? What words or actions can I say or do that they will consider the lasting peace of God?
Billy Graham has spoken millions of words about that peace. The whole world has heard of his name. But where is the great throng which turned from sin to embrace God’s ways? Sadly, there are few who truly embraced his message. So words won’t change the world. Those beautiful words did change thousands of lives. But there remains millions who still strain.
Mother Teresa did many things in the name of her God, my God. And her name is known by the world in a powerful way. But I’ve heard my fellow drunks speak of her name with reverence and contempt. She worked tirelessly to provide for the poor. She did what she could to show the message of peace and joy which comes from God. But where it the great throng which turned from sin to embrace God’s ways? Sadly, there are few who truly embrace her message. So actions won’t change the world. Those beautiful deeds did change thousands of lives. But there remains millions who still strain.
All God’s children hunger for you. They have something precious to share. Please give the message of the Cross a serious consideration. I testify as one who has been transformed from worldly to godly by the power of that Cross. You can too. And I tell you a truth; the peace I found in Jesus is absolutely marvelous!
By His Grace.
We: Live, Die, Face Judgment. Jesus or die twice.
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