Tag Archives: mercy

Not a Single One

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They assemble at dawn.  Each one taking his place along the benches provided.  The thickness of the wall dictates how many will assemble.  There is then, a fixed limit.

What do they do?  They pour out wisdom mixed with mercy.  If they preach, it is a quiet whisper.  Let the passing crowd listen as they will.

Let a man stop and ask.  Let him ask for advice or judgment in a matter.  This one has a right to expect truth from these aging men poised to serve.

 

Mercy clothed them as they made their way.  Their own failings accompanied mercy’s making.

The Righteousness of God is ever-present.  Let mercy attend their dispensing of truth.

Which one of them can perform the entire Law of God?  The answer is “not a single one”.

Are those who pass by any more able than those who sit in the city gate?  The answer is “not a single one”.

 

Then let mercy attend those who pass, just as it attends those who sit waiting to serve.

Let justice be dispensed with understanding.  Let wisdom be filtered through a man’s own willingness.

 

The dance of men moves with Grace, to the sound of God’s mercy.

Listen, you wise of God.  Listen to the sound of Love.

Dance with your partner, who strives alongside you in fear.

Learn to restrain your own feet, lest you step on the toes of your brother.

 

Such is the wisdom dispensed in the Gate of the Gospel; “the Good news of Peace from God”.

“Enter in to the store house of Righteousness.  Enter in among the Holy Army of God.

But let it be known that all who enter in will stand.  For the Master is able to make them stand.

Be merciful, my lovely servants; those who dispense the wisdom of God.  Be merciful to those who pass you by.

For they too will, some day, take their place in your well-worn benches.”

“The Righteous State”

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We could write about the joy and war of walking in “The Way”.

But what a waste of words for those who pleasure all the day.

The quiet joy of righteousness they know no thing about.

Just mention “Thanks through holiness”,  you’ll see them shudder and pout.

For what they need to hear will fall on plugged up ears.

They consider such great words as only from their peers.

But shall we hold the pen in place,

Though such refuse to run the race?

Perhaps tis not to them we write,

But those who seek with all their might.

The audience is not the question.

We simply write God’s clear Salvation.

They cannot say amen to such,

As love the way of man so much.

But there are those who hunger still.

We write that they may have their fill.

For none will have eternal part,

But those clean hands and purified heart.

No sin will never enter in.

Beautiful wretches!  Let them begin!

Lovely souls with hearts contrite.

Lacking hope and void of might!

Their beds awash with tears of fright,

From crying all throughout the night!

Come repentent ones and taste

Forgiveness and “The Righteous state”.

By His Grace

The Invisible Bridge

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I have found something interesting, something I have known, but not fully understood.  The elders talk about it.  The Deacons point toward it.  The world denies it with frothing lips.  It remains, however, before every child of God to encounter.

The majority of our walk before Christ Jesus is spent in discovery.  We cannot use excuse, before the Holy One, for our disobedience.  Yet there are reasons why we falter as we do.  Discovering these reasons comes hand in hand with growth toward maturity.

We learn not to blame anyone for our fault.  Yet we recognize that the whole of humanity has caused every sin.  And in this way, the Lord Jesus teaches us to sacrifice blame for personal responsibility.

But what shall a man do when he understands this as fully as his mind is able?  What shall we do when a man finds himself repeating offenses yet finds no one but himself to blame?

Here a man comes face to face with the fullness of the gospel.  No longer perceiving as a child.  Now he perceives as a man.  The fullness of blame rests on the one who has sinned, rests heavily.

From here one can receive the forgiveness of Christ with renewed interest.  From here the glory of God takes a prominence in all his thoughts.  The man no longer tosses about the subject of blame or innocence.  Condemnation becomes exceedingly personal.  Here the glory of God rages even brighter to consume his enemies.  Here the glory of God’s mercy blazes even brighter within the flame.

I have come to discover: the Glory of Christ Jesus is stronger than our sins.  Not only in his teaching, but more so in our learning.

If you continue in the way you will discover this also.  It is the crossing of an invisible bridge.  And I speak of it so that when you yourself encounter this, there will be memory within you.

It is a difficult place to encounter.  For here a man is starkly naked before the Holy One.  But having reached the other side of the bridge I can testify, “Even in this he is able to save”.

It may well be you do not understand what I’m saying.  But the time for every man will appear.  I will try it with one example to express this in understandable terms.

As a man goes to a school of learning, he learns enough to do his trade.  But he has yet to enter the workforce and apply it.  Often the world will scoff at the little bookworm who seems to know all. 

But one day he goes to work and understands why they laughed.  He presupposed his importance.  And difficulties have proved his knowledge insufficient.

Now he grapples with humility.  Now he is faced to join them in their derision of the novice.  Yet even while he makes fun of pretense, he is forced to remember that he once also walked in that way.

What comes from this place I do not know.  It is not as though these things happen among men.  But this has come to me before the Holy One in all its brilliance.  Stark and true, it shines a light within my soul to illuminate every possible miscarriage of righteousness.

May understanding come in due time.  I enter into this place in full view of those who have gone before me.  And I speak of this with the humility that knows others have understood this long before I arrived.  And I have to confess the question, “Do I yet understand as I should?

By His Grace

False Sdvertising

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Sin will say to you, “Come and take from me I am delightful and endless variety.  See how my wares fit your desire. 

You may say to me, ‘But God has said no.’  I will provoke your faith.  Is God not full of grace and mercy, compassionate understanding and patience?  With God, you may have both he and I.”

Sin says yes to all.  But God says yes, only to himself.  God is law eternally.  My friends, you cannot have both.

Two rooms

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In my house are many rooms where I may live and thrive.

But two stand out as special rooms, for Him they glorify.

One room is bare, kept clean for prayer.  The other is kept for man.

In one my anxious heart is healed.  The other for words to send.

A path between the two is worn; a richly trodden way.

This is the path I’ve taken thrice, this wondrous golden day.

The room of send abounds with shelves, and a pile upon the floor.

The shelves contain the rarer words.  The pile I use the more.

What words appeal?  What words reject?  What words will action bring?

My fingers scurry through the mess to cause your heart to sing.

” Praise God all creatures big and small.  Adore his Holy name.  His righteousness and mercy sent has saved my soul from shame!”

Stupid

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I have often been told that the way I perceive the world is different.  I’m not talking about my Christian perspectives.  People try to put it nicely but in the end they simply say, “You’re just a little different.”

I’ve been told that I go about tasks from an entirely different direction.  I make so many mistakes that I wonder why I try to accomplish anything at all.  Futility and Murphy’s Law seem to be my best friends.  And I am not overstating.

That is the nature of my life.  I am not complaining, nor am I looking for sympathy.  What possible good with either of those accomplish?  I could complain, but I’d still be stupid. You could feel sorry for me, but that won’t make me smart.  I spoke of these things for a purpose.

Though I am an oddball, I am certainly not alone.  God made cherries, grapes, peaches, apples, bananas, Kiwi and the like.  They are not all the same.  But their purpose is to be consumed.

He has allowed that man should be the same; richly diverse in wisdom, knowledge and ability.  Yet the purpose of every man is to be consumed by the things of God and for His Glory.

How should a man complain to God, “Why have you made me like this”?  Should a grape complain because it hangs on the grapevine?  Should the unintelligent sheep desire to be a fox?  Perhaps the oak should wish to retain its leaves in winter.  How is it man is the only creature who desires to be something else?

Are you smart?  Good for you.  Then by all means be smart.  You couldn’t be stupid if you tried.  Are you stupid?  Then by all means be stupid.  You couldn’t be smart if you tried.  Do you crave responsibility?  Then take it upon yourself, and do well.  Do expectations terrify you?  Simply make sure people know you can’t be trusted.

But let every man learn to be at peace with what God has allowed him to become.  What good is greed, envy or judgemental hatred?  Take pride in God, for he has determined that you should be as you find yourself.

There is wisdom that God will give, free and without judgement.  The smart man needs it.  The stupid man needs it.  The average man needs it.  For it will guide each man into all good things.

But let every man put away comparison.  Let every man learn, by the wisdom of God, to be at peace with what he is.  And find some mercy within you to embrace the stupidity of others.  (or as is “PC”,  “Their curious lack.”)

P. S.
If I have offended someone by the use of the word stupid, I allow that you should consider the source.  I readily confess, I am stupid.  I have a right to speak of such things.