Tag Archives: Righteousness

The “Now”.

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crumpled sentiments

This post has the potential to be a “TL:DR” (That’s “too long: didn’t read, for us un-techy folk.) But this potential is at the very core of this post.  If you read it, you’ll be glad you did.  If you don’t read it all the way through, it’s proof that this post is true.

On a date, the man wonders if he should venture a kiss.  Consider the possibilities.  She’ll slap me.  She’ll think I’m too much a weirdo.  She might not like me that much.  It might lead to something sinful.  She might consider honor and patience more important than pleasure.  And on it goes in the man’s mind (That is, a man of conscience and godliness.).

And in all our daily activities we ponder the outcome of a simple action.  Should I do this or that?  What will be the end outcome if I choose this way?   What man or woman can know?   Yet God knows.  Is it possible to learn His perfect will in all things?  According to the Bible, the answer is an absolute yes.  While there are certain things the Lord of Life will never share with mortal man, He is very willing to teach us how to accomplish the best of each situation.  And to put it bluntly, He is very willing to teach us how to what is pure and good, according to His wisdom.

How does a someone begin to appropriate such knowledge from the Lord?  The answer is very simple. Yet the application of the answer is the hardest thing you’ll ever do.  Humble yourself before the Lord in prayer and in all your ways (That is to say, in everything you do, every thought you have, and every attitude and action.).  In every part of you, submit to the leadership and Lordship of Jesus.  Through patience and submission, you will learn more and more of the Lord’s will in everything you approach.

Only God knows the particular order of true success.  He alone knows what is about to happen and what has happened to cause something in the future to line up correctly.  Why would you risk not knowing?  All we have to do is let God be God and become what we were created to be, SERVANTS.  But look into your own soul right now.  Can you see the resistance to being a true servant of God?  It’s there.  Submit.  Ask for help to understand His will in your submission.  And learn to always regard His way as more desirable than your own.  For you know you’ve heard many testify that the Lord is Good.  And the closer you get to Him, the more you’ll learn to agree.

As an example of my own experience in this, I’ve stood on the porch and leaned against the railing, considering what lay before me at the moment.  I don’t try to consider the day ahead or the months and years.  I try to focus on the “now”.  Always, what needs to be done first comes to mind.  Now the test begins.  Will I humble myself and go do that thing which has come to mind?  It’s in this “now” that I find the Lord’s leading.  And it is the “now’s” that make up the overall picture.  Did you see that piece of paper on the floor and notice that it was you who were able to pick it up?  Why didn’t you do what you knew was right?  And so it goes all day long.

Have you heard your mind remember that you should pray?  Can you tell yourself why you didn’t?  Have you heard a thought tell you to call
someone and encourage them?  Can you tell yourself why you resisted and eventually forgot?  Can you explain why you’ve failed to do a
million things you know you should have done?   It’s called rebellion and thus SIN.  Now, let’s be real about this to each other.  Do you really believe such sin will be allowed before the Throne of the Most High God?   And what excuse do you think He will buy when you try to justify
yourself before His Eternal Wisdom?

Learning to do the right thing at the right moment is the very heart of obedience to the Lord’s leading.  And God’s Righteousness is found in doing absolutely everything exactly when it needs to be done.  But trying to do all these things on your own will only lead to obsession.  Listening to the Lord’s coaching is the central key to success in all things.  Jesus is the savior of souls.  And this saving is a “now”.  For all you know, that piece of paper should be left for someone else.  Perhaps it should remain of the floor so that the next person’s
obedience can be tested and proved.  Listen to the Lord!

What would the world be like if every one of us listened to the Lord in this manner?  Why, it would be Heaven, of course.  And this is why
the Lord told us that, “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  But only he who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven.”

By His Grace.

The Joy of Sharing Jesus is Overwhelming!

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Jesus The Christ: The debt paid in full.

I sit here pondering this magnificent privilege of spreading “the Faith” in the words of this blog.  What a joy to share Jesus the Christ of God!  In the former blog He let me create, buttermilk80.wordpress.com, I felt this same joy.  It’s consuming to speak of Jesus when He is the object of all my desires.  Consuming, even to the point of drowning out the world around me. 

He is absolutely wonderous to behold through these eyes of faith!  OH WHAT VISIONS OF PROMISE JESUS IS!!!  And even sealed lips will not stop praise for His ways.  He is no respecter of man.  His focus is directly pointed on the will of His Father in Heaven.  And how marvelous Jesus is!  From the foundation of the world He was destined to suffer for fools like me.  Regardless my place in His Glorious Kingdom, I will praise Him forever!  Even if the grave would hold me for 10 million years I would sing of the praises of Jesus (if indeed He lets me speak in that place).  For He is the mercy of God in bodily form.  The oil of Joy that covers Him must be a wonderous thing.  He rules with an iron scepter.  And will never bend toward the sin of man.  He calls from Heaven to turn all men from wickedness to the Righteousness of the Father in Heaven.  And every soul will bend the knee in reverence to His Glory!

By His Grace.

Related articles

What We Believe Matters.

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Political commentator Glenn Beck at the Time 1...

Image via Wikipedia

I respect Glenn Beck‘s “ministry”.  I know that in the world of media he stands out rather loudly for the best man can aspire to under religion.  Glenn will often refer to the doing of good on the part of those who care about what is right.  And I find no direct fault with the world seeking what is good.

But I hear something missing among his words.  Though it is good to pursue righteousness, there is a certain righteousness on this earth which man will rarely aspire to accomplish.  What is “good” among men might not reach to the “Goodness” of God’s perfect will.  Glenn is promoting that “We will be the key” to positive change toward righteousness in this world.  I am forced by the word of God to differ.  Man will never be the key toward the Righteousness of God.  God’s will alone can accomplish the eternal and therefore perfect Righteousness. 

While Glenn will encourage others to reach up toward God for help, it is more on the order of “enlightenment”.  Perhaps it would best be summed up as, “Lord, help me do the right things”.  And in one respect, this is a right request.  If we are asking that we might understand and do the Will of God, we are in the right vein.  But if we are only asking that God bless the work of our own hands we stand slightly amiss.

This difference of belief could be considered subtle by most.  But in the end, only those who do the will of God the Father will be allowed entrance into His peace.  What is the will of God the Father?  To believe on the Son of God, Jesus.  To obey Jesus’ commands to do everything Jesus tells us to do.  We are not set aside to redeem the world.  That is to say we are not saved to retain human implements of freedom on this world.  We are embraced in the blood of Christ Jesus to be implements of the will of God.  It is quite possible that man’s freedom will be dashed by God.  And I find this latter idea holds a great deal more water than manipulating government policies so that we can do anything we please. 

What we believe matters!  Who we obey and serve matters.  Believe in the directing of Jesus and you stand on solid ground.  Believe in the “goodness” of man and you stand amiss.

By His Grace.

Vain Superstitions

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We are not called to frolic in the guestimations of the world regarding the Holiness of God.  We are called to join with Him in implementing His will among men.  While men make guesses regarding end times, the “Way”, the nature of Jesus’ salvation and glorification, God remains steady and sure.  He does not shift or change according to the limited understanding of man’s wicked contrivings regarding Holy.  God is.  And it is enough for us to live by the faith He gives each one of us.

Cease your constant wandering and rest.  It is God who works His will in His people.  Do not be swayed by all kinds of foolish words with which man builds his kingdoms.  They speculate about what is true.  It is God’s domain to KNOW what is true.  The one who follows Jesus will lay aside all this foolishness and pick up what is absolute.  God is willing to share wisdom to anyone who will ask.  And He will share this vast resource without judgment of any man’s history or bend toward wickedness.  Only, let us not give in to believing all the short sighted superstitions the world begs us to endure.  Hold firmly to Jesus and the truth He reveals.

Let those who will chase after vain knowledge; knowledge that is puffed up by the mind and wicked heart of man.  It is not the lot of Christians to cave to the foolish of the world around them who do not know the Lord of Glory.

By His Grace.

Allowing Time for Change.

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We all have someone in our life who we would love to see grow in maturity, or experience the freedom found in Christ Jesus, or take responsibility for their own actions, or even forgive an offence.    This desire to see positive growth in that loved one is a good thing.  No doubt, in that desire is found everything “good”.  There are even places in each one of us which might draw that same desire for ourselves.  “Oh, I so wish I could just…………….”. 

Will you permit me to ask a really hard question?   What serious change, or radical change, has ever come upon anyone over night?  Oh, there might be realizations that change our direction.  But the really concrete change (so as to never go back) happens slowly.  First we realize we have a problem.  Then we try on different fixes like a child tries on daddy’s shoes.  And finally we find what we know will solve the problem.  But it’s at the last point where we realize how absolutely huge and difficult change is going to be.

Even coming to Jesus with a problem we find the same three increments: realize, try variations, come to grip with the real fix.  Our lives are slow, yet hopefully sure, steps toward what we know is “good”.  I post this because I see a whole lot of people kind of stuck in a mire of doubt and inability.  I absolutely know that Jesus is the answer to any problem you might have going on.  But there’s an element of natural progress that must be embraced.

When we see someone we want to change toward what is “good”, what are we expecting?  If we expect them to just “Get with the program”, we’re bound to be disappointed.  Look at yourself.  What are you expecting?  Since even we can’t change over night, why do we expect it from others?  And what might the first signs of change look like?  The person we are focusing on, whether someone else or ourselves, is already dysfunctional in some manner.  Do we expect the first signs of wellness to appear void of this dysfunctional behavior?

This is what forgiveness is all about.  Openning the door to the sickness. so that when we see change we are willing to embrace it.   And this is why it is said that Jesus offers the fix to our problem.  His forgiveness and teaching are sure, real, and effective.  Let yourself receive forgiveness from Him.  Let yourself receive forgiveness from yourself.  Offer that same forgiveness to others.  This is the beginning of healing for everyone, even YOU.  Put on patience and love as if you were going to a stately dinner.  Wear patience for yourself.  Love without regard to who needs it.  This is the key to healing from wounds too deep to touch.

By His Grace.

Dear World

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Dear World:

I see that you are becoming upset at the current state of your ways.  You witness happenings around you that you consider negative toward your desires.  One might even say that you are pondering your current plight with perplexity.  You want your way with all things as you have always wanted them.  And you have been duped by the witness of your ancestors.  They have handed down to you a testimony of greed, corruption, idolatry, immorality, drunkenness, lies, murder, and a seeking after every form of pleasure.  I know you’re worried about being able to continue this legacy.  And I know that in your heart you have a deep desire to pass this “freedom” down to your great grand children.

I have bad news for you.  What you are witnessing is real.  Slowly, your ways (as itemized above) are stripping your future from your hands.  You will lose everything you have sought to gain and keep.  And you will shed great tears as your desires are taken from you.  Yet, not all is lost.

I have good news for you.  Jesus stands ready to receive your repentant and contrite heart as you lose your precious sin.  He offers you eternally good things to replace the toys you have invented for yourself.  You will lose all those toys.  But what He offers you will never lose, if you take Him up on His offer.

You are the creation of God.  He has given you a body and soul.  He provided a place for you to live that you might seek Him and find Him and return worship to His Holy Name.  But you chose to desire the work of your own hand.  The door is closing on you now.  I know you can hear the squeek of massive hinges as the Wind of God slowly closes your world around you.  Turn and be healed.   Continue to rebel and die.

By His Grace.