To never leave


Many Christians struggle desperately against sin.  One day, perhaps one week, they are fine.  They cling to righteous behavior and find their prayer life normal.  Then a small miss step occurs and the tumble begins.

With their consciences blackened, they bow before the Lord in prayer only once or twice a week.  And when on their knees before the Most High God they can only mutter a few words and then must run.  Perhaps some canned prayer is all they can lay their hearts to.

But the problem is not the first missed step.  It’s all the steps that lead to it.  Jesus tells us, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.” 

The opposite of that is also true.  “Cursed to continue in sin are those who do not desire righteousness with a burning heart.”  You won’t find that in the scripture.  But you will certainly find that on the lives of those who constantly tumble.

What would your life look like if you never left the Lord again?  What confidence and joy would you have if your prayer life spiraled up to heaven itself?  How would your understanding and witness be transformed? 

All this trouble can be so easily avoided. And all you have to do is fan your desire for God into flame. The Lord Jesus is watching and waiting. A continual crying out for mercy and righteousness will certainly bring a powerful response.

By His Grace

Holy respect


God is no respecter of man.  This is understood to mean he does not respect a man’s position in this world .  But God does not respect the wisdom for works of man either.

Even if a man were to gain respect of all men for his great wisdom and crafty ability, he is not right to expect a warm celebration when he appears at the judgment of God.

God respects only what is true and faultless.  God alone is true and faultless.  Therefore we can conclude that God respects only himself, and rightly so for he is life.

To whatever measure a man contains the righteous truth of God, he can be sure he has the respect of the Sovereign Lord.  Whatever is not of God within a man will be burnt away and utterly destroyed when he appears before the Most High.  What remains cannot be shaken.  For what remains is God.

The Apostle Peter warned us, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 

We have only one life to prepare to meet the Holy Lord.  Therefore we are encouraged by these words to strive all the harder.  Put away from ourselves the filth of this world.  Allow the Lord Jesus to dress you in what is his Father.  Only then can you rightly expect a warm welcome.

By His Grace

“do-gooder-ism”


It’s so curious that the most wicked age is the age consumed with so much “do-gooder-ism”.   I guess self righteousness needs to take its place among the folly parade of man.  It’s not wise, however, to consider He who watches as if He were a child.  “Throw Him a bit of candy and He will leave us alone.”  Not wise at all folks.  This isn’t that kind of parade.

Instead, lay down your version of righteous behavior and spend quality time worshiping Him.  He will show you what He considers righteous for you.  He alone is Good.  By the way, His name is Jesus.

How could you!


A man caught in a small amount of trouble receives the accusation that if he were given the chance he would do far worse.  When asked to explain himself, the accuser goes on to describe some heinous crime.  And in the accusation he points at the poor man as if this man had already done these things.  From his own wicked imagination the accuser hopes to destroy another.

Sadly I am not just writing fiction here.  This happens all day long across the entire surface of the globe.  From their wicked imagination men blame others for faults they do not possess.  Then, as if that were not sufficient, they turn to look at the ugliness around them and blame God.

They themselves have caused this putrid stench.  Yet they have the gall to blame God.  But the Lord will remain blameless, for even as they accuse He holds out his hand that He may save them.

For now they do not know righteousness.  They do not know love.  They do not know kindness, mercy, or justice.  They do not know the living God we serve through Jesus The Son.   But this is why I have written this post.  I write this that some may come to their senses and learn from Him who is Love.

Hope!


In your struggle against that sin of addiction, you wake to understand.

Though there was a time when you could not resist; that time “was”.

Look at the guilt you own now.  Notice how you realize that you have become free to choose.

The addiction is gone, while habit remains.

The Lord of life has heard your cries.  He has watched you flail about as you tried to put on righteousness.

And you know something you had only heard of before.  “If He has been merciful to release you from that, He is trustworthy to cause you to stand on that day”.

You are covered with stench but He cares to touch you.

You will find that covering yourself with faith becomes easier now.

All the while, He has been and will be your gloriously white garment forever.

Struggle.  Go ahead, it is necessary, it is appropriate, it is useful before the eyes of God.

Only take note that the work you could never do is being done.  He cares.  He is willing.  He is able.  His righteousness is that big.  And He does not lie.

By His Grace.

The Love of God


People try to get around the gospel by saying that God is love.  What they obviously mean by that is that they can do as they please because, in their belief, God will not punish them.

I know they don’t know the nature of God because what they say does not align with what Jesus taught. But there is no need for ridicule. Instead there is need to understand.

God is love, yes.  But do you remember the scripture also saying that love does no wrong?  In other words there is absolutely no shadow of sin or turning away from righteousness within God.

What will happen to those who proclaim the love of God to cover their sin?  May their faith save them.  May they truly believe that God is love.

But God will not let sin enter into eternity.  And the best case I can see that they can expect, is that God will strip away from them everything that is Sin.  Only righteousness will remain.

With even that weak understanding in hand, why would someone choose to play games with the Gospel?  But man will make up their own truth for the sake of their pride and ignorance.

Perhaps I have taken license with my understanding of eternity for the sake of sinners.  But let each man consider what is true instead of what is false.  Let us chase after righteousness and not myths or opinions.  But I am not so stupid so that I don’t realize what will come of these words.

They will be ignored by the proud.  They will be laughed at by those who hate God.  I am in hope that someone will read them and take them to heart.

Yes God is love.  But God is also the master teacher.  What he offers is transformation here and now.  Who will take it?

By His Grace.