Tag Archives: Religion and Spirituality

Practise

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You have heard that nothing corrupt will ever enter eternity with the Lord.  I know I’ve mentioned it a time or two.  And you’ve noticed how corrupt you are, I hope.  Now there’s a problem here, ya think?  It’s a problem we all struggle with.  You’ll be cruising along just fine one day and, all of a sudden, you realize you’re pondering or doing something you KNOW the Lord will not allow entrance into Heaven.  It’s one thing to ask for forgiveness from the Lord and believe you have received it.  But what will you do next time?  Is there a place a man can live where he commits these wicked things less and less?  I can testify that there is such a place.  And though I don’t know how Jesus will deal with you personally over these issues, I know of a clue to learning how to obey Him more often.

When you were a child you learned how to do many wicked things.  You learned early how to lie.  It was, at first, a way of keeping out of trouble.  But remember, there was also a time when you had no clue how to lie.  So you learned how to be wicked so you could do what you wanted and get away with it.  From that moment on lies became a tool in your tool box.  And you’ll notice that through out every day lies still come to mind.  You might not play them out.  But they’re still hangin around. 

The key to transforming your mind from wickedness to purity is called learning.  Think of the things you used to do as a child.  How many things have you forgotten how to do?  Like crawling through the grass.  Adults don’t do that much.  But children love it.  How did you come to forget how to enjoy that?  The answer is, you stopped doing it.  You learned to lie the same way.  You stopped living in innocence.  It’s our practise that leads to who we become.  If I practise playing guitar, I get better at it.  If I stop playing guitar for a year or two I hardly even think of it anymore.  It’s not that I can’t remember if I pick it up again.  But I will have to learn all over again how to get pretty good at it.  Practise.

Be innocent of what is evil and wise about what is good.  But how do we become innocent of what is evil if we have lived evil lives?  How do you forget what is evil if that is all you’ve been all your life?  The Lord’s reply is amazingly simple.  “Practise doing what is good and you will forget what is evil.  Just as when you begin to practice what is evil you forget what is good.” (As I heard Him whisper to me one day)

Peter put it this way:  As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.  But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy because I am Holy.’” (1 Peter 1: 14)

But the Apostle Paul pens the words like this:  “. . . but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.”  (Romans 16:19)

Learn from the Lord by listening to the Word of God in the Bible.  Learn from the Lord by listening to His leading in your conscience.   Learn to listen to His voice of guidance from the Holy Spirit within you (if, indeed, you are a Christian).  For if you are not a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, it will do you no good to practice what is good; for you are still bound by the father of lies.  Only in Jesus can we hope to find help in our attempts to become holy and practice what is good.  Before Jesus within us, we can only play like children at accomplishing the holiness God the Father demands.  The power to please God comes from an intimate relationship with Jesus.  And we have heard that those who practise evil will never enter God’s peace.  Practise!

By His Grace.

got love?

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As I sought to worship with the Lord one morning, I had a most wonderful experience.  A feeling of acceptance began to roll over me.  It started as a peace and ended up in great tears.  Beautiful, wonderful, peaceful, pure, and full, are words which begin to describe the experience.  The Lord had come near. 

Still marveling at the experience, I hooked my trailer and began to drive my route.  As I drove through town I noticed people walking.  And for the first time in my life I saw them as the Lord sees them.  There are a number of radical differences between how we see people and how He sees them.  There was no judgment against them.  He considers no fault at their door.  He knows their plight and desires to relieve them from their burdens.  He doesn’t notice their appearance.  Yet He knows the very grains of dirt their feet crush as they walk.  He knows where we are at all times.  He would help them do what they are doing (if, indeed, what they are doing is struggling to do what is good).  Forgiveness and an embrace of love is waiting right at the end of their nose, if they would just reach out and take it.  In short, He desires to Love all of us. 

Many see the Lord through the eyes of do and don’t.  In this perspective Love cannot flurish.  But a few, who have been touched by this Great Love come to understand Him from an entirely different perspective.  All of a sudden, nothing I encounter matters.  This is how those who Love Him can endure such horrible beatings.  His love swamps them with marvel as their captors engage them with impliments of torture.  This is how His children can endure the loss of anything and still echo back to God’s Holy Throne, “Thank you Lord, for all Your Holy Love”.

There is a horrible story in the book of Matthew.  I’d never seen the impact of this story like I do today.  You’ll find it in Matthew 22: 1 – 14.

 1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

   4“Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

   5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

   8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 10So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

   11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.

   13“Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

   14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Take note of verse 11 and 12.  Who is this man?  He is one who understands the Lord is love and that the invitation is open to attend.  But he does not love the Lord.  His purpose in attending is to escape the estrangement from the Lord of Life and Love.  He’s there because he is cheating.  Though he understands the nature of God, he did not dress himself in this Love which he knows God offers and demands from His people here on earth.  Where are his clothes?  And how did he think he would go unnoticed among all those others who shine so brightly?

I testify that the Lord is Love.  But He reserves the right to limit enterence into Heaven according to His wisdom.  No wickedness will enter eternity.  On the other hand, He is offering you that beautiful gift right now.  Are you ready to work with Him to transform your heart and mind?  Are you willing or even able to put down your tools of sin and war?  If you take an inventory of your willingness and realize you’re not able to join Him in this Holy war of transformation, reach your heart toward Him and beg for His gorgeous wisdom and mercy.  Now is the day of transformation.  If you wait for heaven to do the will of God, you will become like that one who was not dressed for the wedding.

By His Grace.

Christ Alone

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It has often been said, “Christ Alone”.  And in the meaning of the usual, this indicates that no other belief or work will accomplish the Father’s will in our salvation.  But there is another understanding for “Christ Alone”. 

Leaders and those who comment on the current state of affairs in this world are so very perplexed at what they are doing and witnessing.   Something is happening but they are pressed beyond their understanding to grasp the speed and vicious nature of these happenings.  The answers they are looking for are in the hand of Jesus.  They think and think, ponder and ponder, to find the truth of these things.  But they are missing the very key to their understanding.  Jesus is in control!  Christ Alone is King. 

By His Grace.

Something Rather Odd.

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I had heard and believed that it was the man who chose to be saved by professing a faith in Jesus.  And I cannot dismiss the power of that confession.  The modern church teaches that this profession is all that is necessary for salvation.  And even the Lord said that “All those who call on the Name of the Lord will be saved”.  But I find something a bit odd about that.

As I’ve walked a few years and encountered many different facets of salvation, I’ve come (rather continually) face to face with the source of that confession.  It is the Lord who raises a man’s soul to reach out to Him.   As it was the Lord who gave life to the soul who now calls His name.  In all things, it is the Lord who IS.

Why does this prompt an entry in this blog?  Because I think I hear a different story coming from the mainstream churches:  Some how, they profess, there is a way a man can save himself by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus.  Though there might be some merit to this “calling out” in regard to the Lord’s ears, I have some issue with using man’s will as a basis of salvation. 

I find that regardless where I stand before the Lord, it is the Lord who is the end all game decider in my salvation.  And it is to Him that every appeal and item of “The Faith” belongs.  In all things, it is Jesus Alone who saves (and this to the Glory of the Father in Heaven).

Consider what I’ve entered here with trembling thoughts.  If you think differently on this issue, the Lord will make it plain enough in time.

By His Grace.

One World Charity

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Do you recognize the difference between “One World” charity and Christian Charity?  It’s easy.  Listen for the name of Jesus.  Look for the glorification of the God who made us.  In the One World approach, you’ll hear nothing about God.  But you’ll hear a whole lot about how good man can be when he does good things.

“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.