Tag Archives: Service

Mental Fog

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When something really bad happens to us, there’s always a few moments of disbelief.  It’s like our brain goes into fog mode. 

Depending on the severity of the problem, that fog mode can last a couple of seconds, or up to a couple of weeks.  Some people never return to normality.

There are millions of people depending on Jesus to save them.  But they do nothing in return.  I guess they figure they’ll just walk through unscathed.

It’s impossible for me to come away with that kind of response to the gospel in the Bible.  There so many warnings to the faithless, the fearful, and the thankless.  One warning that stands out, really tall, is: “Cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers”.

How can you read that and have no response?  How can you read that and have no fear; the kind of fear that motivates?

I don’t claim to know what happens after death.  But I wonder if that mental fog will fall on those who don’t get what they think they’re going to receive.

Will there be a moment of incoherent oblivion, as the angels come and snatch him up?  Coherent thought returns just as he falls down into the pit.

If you won’t serve the Lord out of love, at least let fear motivate you.  We are told that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  It would be wise to begin somewhere.

You won’t serve Him in fear long.  He told us, and I testify it’s true, My Father will honor the one who honors me”.

By His Grace

Afraid to DEATH

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Afraid to testify.

“Oh my!”

Afraid to be rejected.

(Afraid to be included,

By the only One who matters;

Afraid to be singled out,

Afraid of the label of Christian,

Afraid to be introduced to what is

Holy, lasting, pristine.

Afraid to take part with Christ

In this Holy war of will.)

Afraid to lose.

Afraid to win.

Afraid of hell.

Yet afraid to enter in.

SO BE IT!

Do you think you’ll go unnoticed,

When you stand with all the rest;

When God throws away the useless,

And blesses what is best?

May it be done as you have believed.

How much fear do you think you will own,

When your name is not found in the book?

For now you fear their perception.

Don’t you fear God’s contemptuous look?

If fear has held you hostage,

What will that moment be?

For now you fear what Man can do;

Who can only harm your body.

A man belongs to whom he serves.

Dishonor strives to keep what is his;

Not considering the honor of Christ.

Honorable love fears the One who IS.

Understanding that Holy, paid price.

SO BE IT!

Honorable love honors He who IS.

It says, “I will stop my cowering.

I will give myself to what is His”.

“SO BE IT!”

Weeping and gnashing of teeth belong

To the weak and faithless many.

Who hid among the rebellious throng,

Trying to save “life“,

As if pennies.

By His Grace

To Marvel is no Proof at All

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What value is the man who only marvels at Christ Jesus?  We are told that every man who ever lived will do that.  Even the most vile of humanity will bow his knee and give glory to Christ Jesus.

What can be said of the man who marvels and obeys?  We are told there are few who will ever do that.  What makes the difference between the few and the many?

We can do nothing without him.  And what we do is an extension of who we have become.  What can be said then of the man who marvels, yet becomes nothing?

If I see a king and marvel at the things he has, I need give him no respect in order to marvel.  But if I adore the king, I think it right and just that he should be adorned in royalty.  Yet how can I adore him if I do not know him?

The wicked man may look on the riches of the king and desire them out of greed or envy.  But the righteous servant will love the king, and rightly desire him to be blessed.

The wicked man will be a difficult citizen of the land.  But the righteous man will be a blessing to the one who rules.  True righteousness then, is not a product of citizenship.  True Christianity is not a membership in a club.

As such things are so here, they will be vastly more so in heaven.  If you do not love the Lord Jesus, it would be good for you to fall in prayer and confess.  Let him dress you in love, as he reveals who he is.

The wicked man will never hear, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant”.  But the one who is taught to love the Holy Lord,  can look forward to such a kiss in his ear.

This transformation is not something a man can conjure up from his own mind.  If that were so, the ingenuity of man would make the few many.  It must be received; it must be revealed from the Lord Himself.

No man has ever truly loved a woman he has never met.  How can a man be married to no one?  But let the man meet the woman who rings true in his soul, and he will love her unto death.  A willing love is provided by true respect.

This provokes the difference between religion and “The Faith”.  This provokes those coveted words from the Holy One on that great day.  This makes the difference between the few and the many.

By His Grace

Carrying His Cross

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I would live alone in a cave, deep in the woods.  That would be my choice were this world the end of my life.  For anxiety fills me when I am near my brothers of flesh. 

I am not anxious because I am afraid.  I become anxious because they are anxious.  Questions do not pester them.  And answers, not requested, elude them.  I become anxious, for the living God within me demands testimony.

So if given my choice, I would remove myself from them.  But their anxiety leaves me no choice. 

The very things that God has shown me, force me to desire to stay.  And this desire is stronger than my own. 

In this, those I meet are neither righteous nor wicked.  They have simply appeared beside me along my way.  And I will speak.

The message of God within me is a thriving holy crop.  And I will gladly offer a bounty to the hungry stranger.  I must refuse to eat alone.

I toil in the garden all day long, sweating neath the Blazing Sun of his  Righteousness.  Weeding my garden with the tools of judgement, restraint, and mercy.  Forgiveness carries the living water.  And his crop grows taller everyday.

I will not go seek the place of peace in this world; the peace as my flesh defines it.  For the Holy Lord of Life has set me in a place.  His love calls sweetly, and I will obey.

What is it to me that anxiousness should fill my heart?  It has replaced terror and confusion.  I will not return. It will not leave though I swat at it as flies. 

Embrace it I must.  Embrace it I will.  Shall I throw down my cross seek peace?  NEVER!

“Places Everyone!”

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For some odd reason people do not consider their place in heaven.  I don’t know what people believe concerning this.  For I cannot recall anyone ever speaking of it.

The Lord speaks of the rewards of heaven as being somewhat equal.  But there are places to be given.  There are honors to be handed out.

Some will be given great things.  Others will receive the barest of necessities.  There is a greatest and a least.

When the unsaved are judged we are told there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  They will perceive what is to be gained yet see nothing for themselves.  And the Lord speaks of surprises even among his people.

When many see what is received by those who have been diligent in the gospel, they will be their breast with regret.  Though they are given eternal life and the joy that accompanies such a gift,  their loss will be appreciable.  And they will know the fault is theirs.

Let this message Sink in.  Many will poo fa this as opinion.  Still many others will give this no consideration at all.  The sad thing is none of them will debate with me.

As a man sows, so shall he reap.  Those who join in the Battle of the cross are bound to receive a proper reward for their service.  Judge for yourself, what reward might there be for simply sitting on the sidelines and watching the blood flow?

A Rock is Just a Rock.

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Image by louisvolant via Flickr

A curious problem is beginning to gel in my mind.  By “gel” I mean I think I’m grasping the importance and answer to a problem that plagues all men, but especially Christians.

If we allow ourselves to interpret what we do as who we are we will surely learn to hate ourselves when we find we can’t do any more.

I’ve seen many come to anger, bitterness, hatred, and selfish thinking, when they come to the place in their lives where they are no longer able to accomplish what they thought was their strength.  The allowed themselves to become identified by the work they could accomplish. 

Beyond the power of words to convey, it is important to remember that a servant is not a king.  You are only a servant.  And you will wear out.  You have no right to claim praise for what you do.  Doing good deeds is what is expected of you.  And the fact that so many don’t do what is good should not allow you licence to consider yourself a “good person”. 

The one who remembers this will enter into inability with peace.  When life brings you to that place where you can’t do anything to be proud of (and it surely will), you will become a servant of inability.  Any other approach will lead to everything negative.  A rock is a rock, regardless where it finds itself.  Be like that in your heart.  And remember that Jesus is the Lord, not you.

 

By His Grace.