The war. The battle. The temptation. The weakness.
The repair. The change of mind. Determination:
It takes a while. Reside in prayerful attitude.
It takes a while to journey,
For we reside so far from
HE.
Tag Archives: willingness
What is the Measure?
He moved into his new apartment. Of all the things he enjoyed, there was one new thing that intrigued him the most. The kitchen faucet was different.
The first time he went for a glass of water, the faucet dispensed but a few drops. Pulling his glass away, he turned it off then on again. A flow came out that would’ve filled his glass. “How curious.”
He put his glass under the spigot again. Turning it on, he got one third glass of water.
Over the next few weeks it was like that for him. He asked no one for help, simply enjoying the intrigue.
We approach God in prayer, asking for many things. By our faith we expect a response. And surely enough, we get one.
Sometimes it’s but a dribble. Sometimes we ask, with the weakest of faith. We walk away from prayer missing the overflow he intended to give. Without possibility of explanation, we know what we missed. So our intent to gain faith strengthens.
But the giving seems random, doesn’t it.
Here is the understanding I reach tonight. The sum of his giving to us is not found in the small experiences we receive. The sum is found where the sum belongs; at the end of our life.
How many people give up because they are not satisfied with the small things he gives? Rather than remaining faithful, they turn away in disgust and futility. But the faithful remain, fully believing that God will accomplish those things he promised at the start.
Of course I want you to ponder these things. Of course I wrote this so that we all might benefit for the sake of God’s glory in Jesus. But doesn’t it break down to this, it is up to each of us to develop the faithfulness required
There is a wedding to attend. No wedding is complete without gifts. And no gift will be accepted but those things which have come from God; The profitability of his Spirit at work in those who remain faithful. Amass a mountain, or a mole hill if you will. But by all means and desire, bring him something.
Sharing?
Sometimes when the mind sees the truth, it comes with such blazing clarity that words can’t possibly define it. And the truth comes so quickly, as if In a vision. (A mental snapshot of the unseen).
I just had one of those encounters with truth. But I don’t know if I can summon the words to portray it correctly. Nevertheless, I’m compelled to try.
I was thinking of how impossible it is for a man to influence another’s relationship with God. In my own mind I saw a wall between myself and any other man.
Then the thought expanded, quickly and greatly.
It’s not a wall between men. It’s a cylinder around every man that reaches to the very throne of God.
Sometimes it’s darkened to blackness at the top, and no light can come from God. Other times it varies in degrees of brightness, depending on the man’s willingness to love the one who made him.
We cannot influence another man’s relationship with God. The man must do it himself.
How useless then, to think that all these writings have any positive affect at all. It is still the will of every man and woman to either believe or not.
Still, how can I keep such things to myself?
Love is Life
Two roads diverged, in a vast wilderness. From the womb they went separate directions. Unknown to her, the mother gave birth to a broken heart.
One was full of love and nurturing, and never ceased to be straight. As soon as it could stagger, the other road turned a crooked difference away.
Mama and her son.
From time to time the roads would intersect. But the traveler wore a knapsack full of deviance. Worn and tattered as it was, he had no intention of laying it down.
When he would come near, mama would speak with every resource she had. “I love you. Come home and love me.”
Sometimes he would stay. But he never could love his mother. Eventually he would go back on his crooked path. Eventually the flood of tears would come to mama.
Again and again and again and again, sorrow broke her heart.
The mother died alone. A few decades later, the son also died. Estranged in life, estranged in death, estranged from each other for eternity.
The horror of this story dragged on for 40 years. And the horror of the story is forever written in stone.
How many billions of times must this story be written!
……………………………
The point of the story may be hidden from most who read it. If you understood it before now you are one of the very few.
Nothing can change the will of a man to love. No words, no deeds, no pleading, no promises, no rewards, nothing. If a man will not love willingly he will not love at all.
And if anyone had told the man, “You should go home and love your mother”, he would’ve been filled with indigence. Isn’t pride lord over deviant hearts?
Isn’t this the plight of our God? So willing to embrace ALL humanity. So deeply craving to be loved, so that he can give Life. But in almost everyone, he is considered a last resort. He’s just a place of warmth, security, familiarity, food, clothing, and trinkets.
He promises eternal peace to those who love him. But like the man who could not love his mother, greed for the things she would leave him when she died is not the same as love while she was living.
There are no words I can say. There is no deed I can do. There is nothing outside of a person that can change the will of anyone to love God. We either love him or we don’t. And if we don’t we never will.
No promise of reward, no threat of destruction, no encouragement from our brothers, nothing. Salvation to glory forever rest in the will of every person. God is willing, are we?
And by this I am struck with amazement, even in myself.
“Many are called but few are chosen.”
Fruitless Abandon
With agony of soul, I woke up this morning. I saw God’s desire clearly laid out; “Bring my word to the people that they may have life.”
I looked to the people and saw how they reject this call! I saw how they turn their face from anyone who will be bold in Christ. And the agony grew.
Oh! How much He is willing to give! How fearful we are to receive! All the while, today will end like many others have; fruitless for eternity, filled with fear, perplexed at the growth of wickedness, and resigned to simply endure.
Let everyone examine. Is this right?
Sitting to be Sent
There was a day when men would seek out those who “knew”. At their feet they would listen intently. Even if they could not believe, they believed in that “something More”.
Is that day like today? Everyone is forced to say no.
The worldly mind praises the accomplishments of Man. The religious man praises the accomplishments of god-ward thoughts and traditions. The sinner praises his bold rebellion. But who seeks the fullness of God within His Holy Christ?
Many have come. Many have returned to the world. Who remains? Who seeks to become the intent of God? Who sits at the feet of those who know? Who remains in belief and listens intently?
What have we learned, in regard to this world? Yet what have we desired to learn of the things of Heaven?
God knows those who are His. His eye is intently set on their souls. God is not like limited man. God sees with penetrating understanding; what man can conceal from man cannot be concealed from God. You may fool me for a while, but the Spirit of God quickly points to the truth we can expect from those who belong to Him.
7 “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.” (Galatians 6, the living translation) There will be a noticeable DIFFERENCE.
Isn’t the door of understanding from the Living God’s Christ wide open? Who is willing to enter? Who will bend their will toward all that is Holy? Those who do so will be sent.
Isn’t the world in dire need of truth? Who will “go”, that they may be sent?
Words From There 