Tag Archives: Righteousness

The great chasm

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Unholy is he who desires to please man.  Unholy is she who dresses to entice.  The way of the Lord is narrow; only what is holy can walk in it.

Do not the fool by the prosperity of the wicked.  By decree they are allowed to walk close to the path.  Even if they stretch their feet to be near the path, they are by no means on it.

What is holy is life.  What is unholy is death.  What man can divide between the two?  Such wisdom comes from God alone.

Man will say he loves.  But his life is apparent by his appearance; desire for this world and a love of self dresses them. 

The love of God is full of wisdom, discernment, holiness, justice, righteousness, mercy, propriety and continuity.  The division between what is holy and what is unholy is eternally fixed.  It is divided by an endlessly deep chasm.

If some man would walk the narrow way, he must receive from God.  It cannot be that a man should read and do.  The good things he may read are not from man.  They are delivered by He alone who has life to give.

Many men

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Many men do the things that are good.  Thousands and millions, even now, give praise to God through Christ Jesus.  Forced to their knees in prayer by the Holy Love that is Christ, they give earnest prayer that their life might come to reflect the will of the living God.

His holy law is written on their hearts and seared into their mind.  And before the world awakes, these have come before Him that they may be prepared for the things the day will bring.  He will honor what is His.  And as he gives to them, they receive.

The world will see them all day long.  The world will see the witness that glows in all their actions and speech.  The world will know these men are different.  But they will not understand the reason or means for it.

Thousands and millions have received.  But millions and billions are yet blind, deaf and righteously infirm.  They do not have foundation of life. 

It is for the sake of these dead that Jesus has given what is His.  It is for the sake of the millions and billions that He dresses His people in righteous behavior.

Not one of His people were born righteous.  They are of those dead; those millions and billions of lifeless souls.  Their eyes have been opened and their ears released to hear. 

If you would be a part of them then ask.  Appeal to God.  Seek His face while it is yet dark.  Go into a secluded room.  And ask.  Make it your habit to seek the face of the Holy Lord.  For God is not willing that any should die.

He searches the earth to listen and to see. 

Finding those who bend a humble knee.

Those who cry out loud, “God forgive me!”

These catch the attention of HE.

For now, but then

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For now we suffer a little.  How shall our suffering compare to that of Christ?  Where is our righteousness that the nails should pierce so sharply, releasing Holy blood?

For now we live in confusion.  But how does that compare to, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  how should we say our questioning is just?

For now we look to die.  But how does our death compare to that which was foretold; Not a bone will be broken.  He will make no complaint as he is led to slaughter.  And, to rise into immortality in three days?

We worship the Son of God for he is a utterly unlike us.  His faithfulness to the Holy Father is without fault.   Our righteousness is by faith alone.  But the righteousness of the Son of Man has been from the beginning, unblemished.

For now we have nothing to offer that belongs to us.  Every good thing we have is given from above, full of Mercy and Grace.  How shall that compare to the sacrifice of our Lord?  He has given that which has belonged to him from eternity, and that for the sake of his enemy.

For now we see as through a glass darkly.  But then we will know fully and be perfected by the strength that is Jesus, the Christ of God and our Lord.

Let us free ourselves from all that is unrighteous.  For now, let us worship Him in all that is true that he may then receive what is rightfully his.  Let us renew an earnest heart, for the sake of our appearing before Him.

By His Holy promise we shall be perfected.  Even though, for now, we stumble about as blind men in a freshly plowed field.  We trust, and rightly so.  For Christ Jesus has earned the right to sit as King of Kings!

The greatest possible

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It is impossible that a man should find himself standing anywhere other than where he puts his feet.  What he has done and what he is doing is where he is.

All the while the man has traveled to be where he was he was always where he found himself.  Whether he traveled in righteousness or wickedness, there he traveled.

All the while the Holy Lord has remained where He is.  It is man’s to wander and to do.  And everywhere he has wandered the Holy Lord has been aware.

According to a man’s faith, according to what he believes is true, the Holy Lord has either been the greatest of possible friends or the greatest of possible enemies.

The sovereign God does not move between wickedness and righteousness.  This belongs to men.  Either we embrace the Holy Lord and all His righteousness, or by measure upon measure we remain wicked.

Jesus has been sent to draw us to what is righteous.  He has been sent to cause us to cease our wandering.  He has been sent to bring righteousness to where we stand.  So that when we perceive our location we find a friend in the Holy Lord.

When and where will a man submit?  When will he stop and find himself at peace with the Most High God?  He will find himself arriving when he learns to listen to and obey the Son of God.

Either the living God is your greatest of possible friends, or he is your greatest of possible enemies.  Jesus has appeared at the will of the Father to bring us into friendship.  We began as enemies.  By His grace we end as friends.

By His Grace

“But I love sin!”

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A man may say to me, “God cannot save me.  I am too vulgar.  I am too grounded in the things that are wicked.  I adore the pleasure of the body.  And though I would like to be saved, I cannot imagine why God would want me.  I cannot imagine that he would even want to try.”

My friend, by what you say I see two things.  The first is that you know God is Holy, and that he expects holiness from his people.  And the second is that you do not understand the gospel of Jesus Christ.

You understand well enough that you are sinful and hopeless as you live the way you do.  Good.  Then begin where you are.  That awareness is the very first step a man must take.

In regard to the holiness of God we will say these things.  Holiness does not only have to do with righteousness; as if we speak only of judgement.  The holiness of God has first to do with love. 

The love of God is not defiled by opinion.  Nor is it subject to a change in attitude. He is the very definition of all that is pure and lovely. 

If you admire those who are able to love the unlovable, this ability finds its unceasing fulfillment in the love of God.  He loves without ceasing.

Along with this love comes judgement righteousness patience and mercy.  The love of God is what sustains all life for eternity.  If there is the slightest lack in the love of God eternity will cease.  So we are able to trust without fear.  God is love and he is eternal.

In regard to the gospel we will say these things.  What you lack is what you desire.  What you desire has come to us long before you were born.

Jesus is the perfect representation of the love of God.  God’s love compels him to be merciful.  Just as surely as his love compels him to protect eternity from wickedness.

God has sent His Son to be the sacrifice for all who desire life.  Those who run to him will be transformed.  God’s love has so desired you that He has given his son over to death for your sake.  How precious then are you?

For now, you perceive the love of God as law and judgment.  But if you are willing, he is willing to show you differently.  This is why it is written, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.”  That it’s all God requires from you.

He has heard your confession of sin.  He knows that you love wickedness more than life.  And his love has already provided you what you need.

Approach him with these truths that you have told me.  Do not be so ashamed of your ailment that you refuse to go to the doctor. 

He has it in his hand to be able to heal you and cause you to become a righteous man.  He is willing and able to teach you how to live so that your life is pleasing to God the Father.

The wise will understand what has been written here.  Reach deep within yourself and find strength.  Do not look for strength to be a righteous man.  Simply look for the strength to fall to your knees in prayer. 

For now you stand with pride.  That is the strength that will lead to death.  But a humble acknowledgment of these things will lead you to life.

He is waiting for you.  He is not waiting to judge you.  He is waiting to help you. 

I will add this.  You see that I write these things.  You consider that I am a godly man.  But you do not know who I was.  If any man was evil I was his equal, quite likely even more so.  What I have described here is the very path I have taken.  And over the years this is what I have come to be.

Not one ounce of my strength was spent to arrive in this place.  The only model I have fun is to retain a desire for righteousness.  Everything good that I have has been given by Jesus the Son of God. 

If you will only trust him you will rise far above the place where I stand.  This is the firm and trustworthy promise of the Most High God in His Son Jesus his Christ.

By His Grace

Be Not Ashamed

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From his rightful and lofty place above all creatures, the Lord rules with joy.  He is the definition of Good.  Therefore it is His right to define what is good.  He gives life generously to all who set their heart toward Him. 

His righteousness is life.  All His laws are righteous.  Therefore his laws are joy.  He gives the right of righteousness to all who receive the life in His Son Jesus.  And as many as will listen to the Son, will find their lives transformed.

Wicked men attribute their own nature to the living God and His Son.  They think that because they are corrupt, even God must be corrupt.  Because of their depravity they cannot imagine something pure and fully Good.  Still the Holy Lord holds off the end day.  His compassion and His patience are evident among us.

For now, the wicked are encased in a dark, pathetic and unholy accusation.  For it is impossible for them to give glory to a creature such as themselves.  If this is how they perceive while they are here, they are not likely to be able to change their mind when they appear before Him.

If any man will only believe that God lives and is Good, he will open the door for the Lord to come in.  The Great Physician cannot heal a wound if a man will not let Him near.  No matter how great the Lord’s desire, such a man remains in death.

All these things that are written here are true.  Therefore I am not ashamed to testify.  I do not testify as a man who has become righteous by his own strength.  What righteousness now covers me has appeared from the Lord Himself.

Moment by moment He has taught me how to live so that I could please the Holy Father’s righteous demands.  More than just forgiveness, the Lord teaches us how to live so that forgiveness need not be constantly considered.  The freedom of righteousness now takes the place of wickedness.

He is wise, compassionate and patient with His people.  He allows His people time to learn.  And he teaches us how to love His Father’s ways.  What we once perceived as an angry and corrupt God now appears as Good! 

Little by little we begin to live righteously.  Little by little joy overtakes despair.  Strength overcomes weakness.  What is holy destroys what is unholy.  Thread by thread we become dressed, prepared for a great wedding feast.  And the dread of judgment is replaced by a great joyful hope!

Come join us!

By His Grace