Tag Archives: the gospel

The Shill of Man’s Joy

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He was born in obscurity.  He readied himself with quiet humility.  He taught with words few understood.  He was condemned in private.  He was beaten in seclusion.  Then he was murdered in public.

The greatest of his joys is talked about the least; the moment when his feet left the ground.  At the end of his perfect ministry to man, he was taken up to be with his Father forever.

In this season, we talk about the baby.  In this season, we talk about his humiliation.  Though people marvel at the child.

But let us inject His glory to the story of our Lord.  For that tiny obscure child will return with explosive Holiness.

The world loves the innocent and helpless child.  But they have no regard for the glorious Lord he became.

The baby speaks no words of condemnation.  He is innocent and beautiful in their eyes. 

But make no mistake, at that time in his ministry, he was so treated by those who lived in his day.  Those same people who passed by with a smile, also screamed out the words, “Crucify him”. 

Christmas leads to three bloody nails.  Do not let the joy of the world confuse you.  They do not love The Christ, they love pageantry.

By His Grace

Spurned Beauty

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All men love the truth, for a moment or two or three. 

Whisper in their ear, and their eyes alight with glee.

But speak of their obligation, and their lamps quickly grow dim. 

For they desire glorious reception.  Certainly not to obey Him.

By His Grace

Chaotic Building Materials

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He who would save his life will lose it.  Yes, the Lord said that.  But did you know there’s an absolutely logical reason for it?  The saying is not a threat from God.

Nothing man can build, in the way of a life, can last.  The only items he has in his hand to build with, come from chaos. 

He gathers and digs, and scrapes together items that form his life.  Where did he get these things?  He got them from the mass of chaos that is this world.

It can be compared to a man trying to build a house out of rotten and twisted lumber, rusty nails and screws, and a tape measure that was drawn by a child.  He tries to build a straight house on a foundation that is crooked and rough.  To top it all off he builds in a place prone to storms.

Chaos is chaos, it can’t be anything else.  Such a life is bound to explode into futility, and horrible frustration.  The one who desires to save this life, will find himself busy in repair forever.  So yes, he who desires to save his life will certainly lose it.

But the life that God offers is not built on chaos.  God offers a man the things that are built on eternal life.  By their very nature, they are perfectly unshakable.

Here’s the rub my friends.  All we have ever known is a life of constant repair.  We have been duped into believing this is life.  Pathetically, we are secure in this belief. 

When the offer of life from God arrives, it is perceived as another form of chaos.  It threatens to tear down the sweat and blood house we have built.   Since a man is already busy, beyond his ability, repairing what he has, there is an automatic rejection of more demands.

Only those people who recognize the futility of their life, receive God’s gift readily.  But God is insistent.  “I’m trying to give you life.  Let go of what you have and you will live a joyous and full life.”  So a struggle unto death becomes.

The resulting war is no joke at all.  A God born faith is required, as if a man stares down a hungry lion.  But the battle will not relent.  The only closure to this war, is the grave itself.  Sadly, many millions have gone to the grave, embroiled in this battle but never receiving God’s grace. 

Not every man perceives these things.  Most often the battle is rejected without consideration. 

Look at it this way, you will fight a war with something until the day you die.  Why not wisely pick your battle?

The Apostle Peter addressed this: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”  (1 Peter 4: 12)

Give up and live.  Strive to retain what you have and you will die. 

Chaos cannot give birth to life.  Life cannot give birth to chaos.  The two are forever opposing.  Chaos will destroy itself.  Life lives forever.

Christ Jesus offers life.  But who will take it?

By His Grace

What’s in a Name

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Do you realize there are millions of people who do not know who Isaiah is?  When they see the name Job, they think of employment.  Abel is only what they can do.  Methuselah only hangs around in the English language as an expression of impatience.

Yet these men are with God for eternity.  And every eye will see the one who saved them.  And the willingly ignorant won’t know why.

If you are afraid of men, and keep the gospel to yourself, at least mention such wonderful people.  For without the work of God in them, you would not have the Gospel as you do.

If you find yourself so full of fear that you are too ashamed to speak of Jesus, at least educate.

Men talk about Gandhi, Hitler, Socrates, Plato and other such names.  And there is no offense taken. 

How small is man and how great is Jesus.  Why are we so ashamed of his holy name?

By His Grace

The Profitable Child

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I considered myself wealthy.  So much that I could not spend all that I had.  So desire was conceived in me to raise up the child.

I am no amoeba.  And I have no partner in “The love”.  So I ask the Holy One to give me a child.

His response was quick and the child was born far before its time.  It was born in the night when my strength was spent.  So I put the child to rest and went to rest myself.

In the morning I woke to see my child in the daylight.  With my mind and eyes sharpened, the vision came much clearer.  To the eyes of man this child is ugly, misshapen and obscure.  But to my eyes of love and desire it is beautiful to behold.

There is no place of nursing.  The child is able to fend for itself.  The birthing was longer than the child’s maturity took.  So I gave it clothing and set it on its way.

My desire for a child was not that I may have a place to love, but that my Lord may benefit from my life.

So now the child is set among the many.  Let it be gawked at.  Let it find ridicule.  Or let it be embraced and cherished.  The child belongs to the Lord.

He has given me my desire that he may have his.  And in our mutual desire, many others prosper also.

As oddly as the child was conceived, so is its name.  As is its state of letting go, so is the place it remains.  Maturity, prominence, acceptance or rejection, who cares?  Let those who love him benefit.

This is the name of the child:  https://hiwaychristian.wordpress.com/2014/11/03/the-righteous-state/

By His Grace

“The Righteous State”

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We could write about the joy and war of walking in “The Way”.

But what a waste of words for those who pleasure all the day.

The quiet joy of righteousness they know no thing about.

Just mention “Thanks through holiness”,  you’ll see them shudder and pout.

For what they need to hear will fall on plugged up ears.

They consider such great words as only from their peers.

But shall we hold the pen in place,

Though such refuse to run the race?

Perhaps tis not to them we write,

But those who seek with all their might.

The audience is not the question.

We simply write God’s clear Salvation.

They cannot say amen to such,

As love the way of man so much.

But there are those who hunger still.

We write that they may have their fill.

For none will have eternal part,

But those clean hands and purified heart.

No sin will never enter in.

Beautiful wretches!  Let them begin!

Lovely souls with hearts contrite.

Lacking hope and void of might!

Their beds awash with tears of fright,

From crying all throughout the night!

Come repentent ones and taste

Forgiveness and “The Righteous state”.

By His Grace