Tag Archives: The living God

Zachariah chapter 7

by

0


If you ask The Lord a question, regardless how seemingly legitimate, are you able to understand the answer? If you understand the answer are you willing or able to give it room in your heart?

Does our will lean toward the will of the Living God in Jesus, or have we created our own religion full of self-sacrifice?


Are we then dis-heartened by God’s refusal to answer? Are we surprised that our religion of self-sacrifice is not acceptable before the Living God?


Consider the value of the sacrifice of Christ against anything you can do. Bottom line, who’s sacrifice is saving you?   Consider how far you intend to go.  Consider what your eternity looks like.  Consider what your version of paradise must be.  


Here is a more poignant question: “Who then is your God”?

In God We Trust

by

0


“In God we trust.” I know what that means. You know what that means. Our minds understand the definition. But our lives will prove something greatly less.  

In the history of Man, only Jesus could say it fully; “In God I trust”. Everyone else holds something in reserve to themselves.  


It is because of our living definition (the proof of our choices) that we find so much tragedy in this world. Every single place we reserve the right for judgment, wisdom, righteousness, and doings, we add to the chaos of this world. Everyplace we deny him the right to be our God, we frustrate his desire.    


You want a New Year’s resolution? Improve your intent to trust God. Strive to let Jesus be your master more and more this year.  


It was said that when Jesus knew his time was near he set his face like flint toward Jerusalem. As we employ that same attitude we can refine our definition of trust in the living God.  


May God grant us eyes to see and ears to hear that he may have what rightfully belongs to him.  


Amen.  

The Road

by

0


The materials we use to build a road are worthless, and we consider them worthless. Except for the expense of labor and machinery, there is no value in asphalt. It’s just a mixture of tar and rock.  

But come with me in your mind. Look at the streets of heaven. God is the living God. And in his kingdom there is no worthlessness. Everything is of him. Even his streets.  I surmise that everything in heaven is living.  And that there is no such thing as worthlessness.  


What do we know about such a place as this? We travel all the roads without a single thought to the surface we are riding on. We throw trash out the window not the slightest concerned that we are making the road filthy. And every inch we travel is forgotten before we get to it.  


Let me make a leap in thought. If this is the condition of difference between our world and the kingdom of heaven, what do we know about God’s righteousness? If we can’t even conceive the nature of God’s streets, how can we hope to understand the nature of his glorious sacrifice?


Like our roads, we know about Jesus. But isn’t it true that before we experience one moment of his glory, it is forgotten in the chaos of the day?


If we try to think on these things to deeply our brain just gives up. The best we can do is give him the best place of honor in everything that we are.  


I’m not going to go into the contrast between how the world treats Jesus and how we should treat Jesus. But I sense how radically astounding the difference is.  

Belief Matters

by

0


What is it to believe in Christ? Is it just being righteous in some kind of religion? Is it just a clean conscience? How am I going to speak the answer I see?

If you believe the Living God has forgiven your sins. If you believe that you will live forever in a perfect body. What kind of joy you should fill your every day? What kind of love would you be pressingly anxious to deliver every moment in this life? I guarantee you it’s not the same joy and love the world talks about. They try to motivate each other all day long, but nothing ever changes does it.  


Look at this. These are just words. And that’s how most people take them. That’s not what they’re intended to be. They are the promise of the Living God in Jesus his honorable, faithful, righteous, and beautiful Son. And it is impossible for God to lie. They are words that are sealed with the blood of Christ, as if a wax seal on the scroll.  


Yes, I talk about God constantly. It’s because of his promise. And I would do it a lot more if I wasn’t shut down every place I turn.  


People say they believe in Jesus. There are a couple of definitions about believing. One definition is believing like a demon, “Yeah, I know God exists. And that doesn’t make me all too happy”. The only thing such a creature ever sees is sorrow and trouble. He thinks all there is to life is sorrow and trouble. He thinks all there is in eternity is sorrow and trouble. He thinks God is nothing more than sorrow and trouble. It’s no surprise that people who believe like the demons struggle in their faith and religion.  


Demons have a religion too you know; avoiding the Son of God if at all possible. They practice absolutely everything but what is good. They are eternally devoted to being utterly useless. And there are billions of people who follow their example.  


The other definition has to do with believing that God cannot lie. If he promised eternal life and forgiveness of sins, it is as if it has already been done. Such a creature lives for one specific purpose: to receive the things of God’s joyfully extended promise. And in the receiving there is a phenomenally generous giving. It’s impossible to shut that kind of person down.   


That’s what a Christian is. It’s got nothing to do with religion. It’s got to do with an enormously thankful heart. It’s got to do with the developing love for the One who has given life.  


Yeah, these are just words. But they are endlessly full of potential. Who will dare to believe? And how can such a believer be afraid of what others will think? Everyone will do what he has purposed in his own heart.  

What is Forgiveness

by

0


Lord Jesus, Holy Father:

That you should be willing to forgive our sins as we forgive others. Such an awesome mountain of failings blown away by a breath from your nostrils. And all we have to do is humbly ask you and receive. Living out a life of thanks in the valley of penetrating knives. Just as you showed us should be done.  


What incredible power to overcome that is; eternally beyond our words to describe. Not only does someone love us, but the very creator of all things!


Spoken at your birth sustained by your righteousness forever: “Peace has come to earth, and goodwill to all men” (paraphrase).


Billions thank you. Recognizing that we can’t thank you enough. And even while we thank you, doesn’t the next failing prepare.    


By your display and patience you are astounding! Ceaseless and endlessly powerful is the love of God for all who call on his Holy name.  

The Reason

by

0


The Lord Jesus has not so much saved us from something, but he has saved us to something.  

Yes, he saves us from the anguish of our sins; the guilt of the mind, and the waywardness of the heart.  


But more, he saves us to praise his Holy Father. We find obedience comes easy because we have learned to love him. That love brings us to joy no matter where we find ourselves.  


It is said that the lord Jesus loves humanity enough to die for them. But he died for them and loves them because he loves his Holy Father more than everything else.  


He wants us to do the same. Appreciate creation. Strive to do what is right. Be joyful in the work of Christ on your behalf. Be patient in every affliction. But it is the Lord’s desire, that we do all of these things for love of the Living God. 


Here we see life in a myriad of form. But Jesus lives in an endless symphony of life, that IS his Holy Father. That is what he loves. And he has died to share it with us.  


Religion tells us to see it only from one perspective; “The work of Christ covers my sins”. But love for his Holy Father teaches us the reason why.  


And that same love is the central power that enables us to claim righteousness as if we own it. God’s people love him because God has loved them first.  


Psalm 22

22. I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you.


23. You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!


24. For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.


25. From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows.


26. The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise him—may your hearts live forever!


27. All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him,


28. for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.