Tag Archives: trust

By Faith?

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You read the first chapter of Genesis and take note that its all the way to the 26th first before God pronounces the reason for creation.  “Let us make man in our image.”

And then you read in 1st Peter chapter 1, an allusion to something similar.  “Even angels long to look into these things.”  And this remark is given after a short discourse on the value of faith.

Everyone of us has wondered why faith is so important.  It is because faith has to do with performing God’s will even though we don’t know the outcome.

Take note as to how all the creatures involved in creating what is creation, did not hear the reason until some distance into the building.  And even while salvation among men is in full swing, the angels still long to look into these things.  Unless the translation is wrong, I noticed that Peter did not use the past tense of the word “long”.

Remaining obedient though  we have no clue, is not only essential now, it is a pattern of behavior for all God’s creatures for eternity.  And this ought to renew our devotion to serve without full understanding.  Frankly folks, that will be our state of affairs forever.

Surely there are moments  of revelation,  or revealing, like when a truly disasterous experience comes to us, only to reveal later, it was the only way to a magnificent blessing.  

But there is a great plenitude of times that we will simply have to serve in pure faith.  I would take this to strongly urge myself to produce a willingness to believe.

We love him.  We trust him.  And our love and trust never disappoint us.  If he asks us to rub two asparagus together for an hour and a half, who are we to question his orders? 

(Frankly, I can’t imagine the slightest possible good that can come from rubbing two asparagus together for an hour in a half.  But it was the most ridiculous exercise in faith that my imagination could conceive. 

. . . If the lord ever asks any of you to do that, please take the time to drop me a line and tell me what the outcome is.)

By His Grace

The Advent of Impurity

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The beauty of a tiny child is magnificent.  But then they learn to speak, don’t they.  And when they have learned to speak they learn to understand our words.  From purity they are forced into a world of greed, and this from our very own mouths.

Show me then, what man can proclaim he is innocent of sin.  Everyone of us then needs the mercy of the Living God.  That mercy has a name.  Inexpressibly beautiful, that name is Jesus.

But I profess, with surety and boldness, that the forgiveness of Christ can pull us back to the purity of a child.  As we learned from our parents, are we willing to learn from the Father of Life?

Let this message entice you.  Push things around in your heart and make a place for it. 

2 “From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength
            Because of Your adversaries,
            To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.”

By His Grace

Risk Belongs to the Valliant

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A rich man drove his new BMW to an important meeting.  In the crowded traffic he became stuck in rush hour.

A dirty ragged man came to wash his windshield, at least that’s what the rich man thought.  Instead the bum came over to his driver’s window.

With serious and intelligent eyes, the bum encouraged the man to roll down his window.  With regret, the window move down about 2 inches.

“Give me your shiny car and I will give you all the money in my pocket.”  The bum said.

The rich man smiled.  His eyes lit up, like a hunter who has spotted a trophy.  He opened the door and stepped outside.  He handed the bum his keys and said, “Where can I send you the title”.

With a great loving smile the bum reached in his pockets.  His dirty craggy fingers hauled out five rather large rolls of hundred dollar bills.  “I’ll Drive you to your office and wait for you while you get the title.”

The deal had been struck.  With compassion and abandon for life, the rich man had gained a precious memory. 

The title was exchanged.  When the rich man counted the money, the total came to the price he had paid for the car.

What became of the bum and the car, no one knows.  But what became of the rich man’s heart was easily seen by the life he later chose.  He had been released from the fear of greed.  And all because he was not afraid to take a chance.  He counted compassion as more valuable than money.

“From the days of John the Baptist until now, life is given unto the kingdom of the heavens, and the valiant take hold of it.”  (Matthew 11:12, Jubilee Bible 2000)

By His Grace

“Scare Me Daddy!”

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If it were a game (This war between heaven and hell that resides in the soul),  the startled response of men would touch the humorous bone.   Their reaction to the truth of God in Christ Jesus (The rejection of the gospel among men), would be funny.  The fearful look on their faces is often a caricature of humor.

As if the game that fathers and children love to play, “I want you to scare me daddy, so I can laugh at fear”.  What delight there is in giving.  What solace there is in receiving.  A game of loving kindness dressed in terror.

But this is no game my friend, and I am not enheartened by their fear.  This is no joke.  This is no game: “The one who sins will die”.  The terror on a soldier’s face, as the sounds of battle approach, is not funny.

This Father, The Holy One, will not allow the fear of death to be swept aside.   His Holy demands stand strong, and eternally serious.  There is acceptance, yes.  But there is also a rejection at His Holy Throne!  Just as they are enthralled with his Beauty, that very moment of His unveiling, the fear of death shakes their soul to blackness.

There will be no laughter at failure.  Rejection is void of humor. 

Though we are children, He addresses us as men and women; fully grown and able to comprehend.  When we were children, we played such games to prepare for this very war! 

As you laid aside your toys, now let us take seriously the truth God offers.  Let us perform the old saying, “Grow up”.  As you entered into adulthood, now let us enter into sobriety.  It is certainly the natural progression of things.

The game of “Scare me daddy” is long gone.  May the fear of God assail our frail hearts.  The game prepared you to trust, despite your fear.  Now employ your learning.

By His Grace

Trust

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Of the things of Heaven,

I have not a clue.

By force of hope,

I am thrust to trust you.

Not by sounds or syllables,

Are my ears confused.

But by the very truth,

You are forced to use.

You are our eternity,

Blessed and always to be.

While we are of the tiny things;

Death is all we see.

Cataracts born of temporary,

Obscure your Glory from me.

Yet I will dare to hope.

For what You say will be!

By His Grace

Promises

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A man says, “I am a man of my word”.  This one means well, but I would rather be a man of God’s Word.

If I boast that I am able to keep my promises, I trust in myself and I will fail.  Sickness and misfortune, forgetfulness and sloth, crouch behind the corner and wait for a weak moment.   The one who boast in his own ability does not understand his own frail nature.

But if I trust the one who is the Living Word I will never fail.

The man who boast in His righteousness, boasts from the perspective of this world.  The man who trust in God, boasts that God alone is good.

I am a man of God’s Word.  You will find fault with me.  But you will not find fault in the one I trust.  I do not ask you to trust me.  Even I do not trust me!

By His Grace