36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22: 36-40
Baseball is a sport where failing can be a good thing. If a batter successfully hits the
baseball for a hit, one-third of the time, he stands a very good chance of wining a
batting title!
The Mosaic Law, ten commandments delivered personally by God to Moses and
then given to the Hebrew people, were not designed for success! When I look at
those Holy commands, then search for my success rate, I fall way short of being
successful. Back before I realized what Christ was saying in His list of "but I tell
you's," I thought I was doing okay in some areas. After all, I hadn't killed
anyone. Then Jesus expanded upon those commands in rebuking the Pharisee
legal attitudes..... example....
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[a] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 6
I guess the fact that I had, at one time or another, wished for the demise of another
person sort of qualified me for failure.
Then, amazingly, I discovered that Jesus answered a question by naming two great
laws or commands that were to be followed. Oh boy, now I stood a much better
chance. No I did not!
The bottom line, here, is that we, as humans, filled with sin, are unable to
accomplish any of the commands, whether ten or two, that God laid out as
goals for righteous behavior and standing.
So the point is (was)...
WE NEED JESUS! They were designed to point us to our incapacity and
to the one true Fully man who could and did fulfill the law. Did His success
in keeping full righteousness cancel the law? No. He said that He came to
fulfill it, not to cancel it.
We who are in Christ are being transformed, being sanctified by the work
of God's Holy Spirit toward men and women who are more and more
righteous and more and more like the one true second Adam. We won't
get there, won't stop sinning until we go to be with Jesus in a place
where there will simply be NO sin.
Glorious! Praise our God!
Showing posts with label sin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sin. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Forgiven for how long?
Micah
Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
Guilty. It's a common feeling when we, as Christians, come to the realization that
we are sinners. Before coming to Christ, we may have been conveniently unaware of
the degree or frequency of our sins, yet once we have been justified, we still will sin.
I believe that it is quite important to come to grips with the nature of this 'forgiveness'
given through the grace of God and the sacrifice on the cross of The Son of God.
Is this forgiveness conditional? No, the forgiveness is not conditional.
Is this forgiveness temporary? No, it is not temporary.
Is this forgiveness earned? No, we did nothing to deserve this gift of forgiveness.
Is this forgiveness one that can be removed? No, there will be no removal. Once and
for ever.
Why then, will we not simply allow this free gift of forgiveness for sinners who still
sin to cause us to simply sin more? The answer, quite simply, in a word, is Jesus. He
is not about to allow us to continue our paths without a regeneration of the heart,
a movement toward sanctification. He has gathered us to Him and He has the absolute
power to maintain us and grow us in righteousness. You can take that the bank!~!
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
That feeling of guilt comes upon us when God the Holy Spirit reminds us that we
have sinned. He is our counselor and He will not fail to grow our recognition of sin
and our desire to avoid and combat our sinful tendencies. We are in His good and
capable hands.... forever!
Praise God!
Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
Guilty. It's a common feeling when we, as Christians, come to the realization that
we are sinners. Before coming to Christ, we may have been conveniently unaware of
the degree or frequency of our sins, yet once we have been justified, we still will sin.
I believe that it is quite important to come to grips with the nature of this 'forgiveness'
given through the grace of God and the sacrifice on the cross of The Son of God.
Is this forgiveness conditional? No, the forgiveness is not conditional.
Is this forgiveness temporary? No, it is not temporary.
Is this forgiveness earned? No, we did nothing to deserve this gift of forgiveness.
Is this forgiveness one that can be removed? No, there will be no removal. Once and
for ever.
Why then, will we not simply allow this free gift of forgiveness for sinners who still
sin to cause us to simply sin more? The answer, quite simply, in a word, is Jesus. He
is not about to allow us to continue our paths without a regeneration of the heart,
a movement toward sanctification. He has gathered us to Him and He has the absolute
power to maintain us and grow us in righteousness. You can take that the bank!~!
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 2:1
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.Hebrews 10:17
Then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”That feeling of guilt comes upon us when God the Holy Spirit reminds us that we
have sinned. He is our counselor and He will not fail to grow our recognition of sin
and our desire to avoid and combat our sinful tendencies. We are in His good and
capable hands.... forever!
Praise God!
Saturday, September 13, 2014
You will sin and you can't hide it!
Psalms 5:4 For You [are] not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor
shall evil dwell with You. 5 The boastful shall not stand in Your
sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. 6 You shall destroy those who
speak falsehood; The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
It has been said or written that one can tell the true nature of a
person by what he or she does when no one is watching. It does
seem true that being in the midst of others might act as a
deterrent to doing wrong; yet, our very nature assures us that
we will sin.
If it weren't of eternal significance, one could almost find humor
in the way people deal, at times, with sin. We create our own
hierarchy of sin. The little "insignificant" ones aren't so bad as
the nasty ones. The sins done by "bad" people are surely more
reprehensible than those little mistakes by a good person. Plus
if we aren't caught...... did a sin really happen?
We have a problem when it comes to God and sin. He doesn't like any
sin. He must punish all sin to remain true to His holy, righteous
nature. What's even more problematic is the fact that He knows
of all our sins- every one- and we cannot hide them from Him. We
can pull the covers over our head, close all the blinds and curtains,
even build a lead-lined fallout shelter; He knows. In fact He knows
of each sin before we commit it.
Accepting Jesus into our hearts, believing on Him and being
adopted into the family of God means we have been forgiven
our sins once for all; yet, even then we sin.
I would suggest that we listen to the Holy Spirit, recognize our
sins, go to God and present them openly AND use the fact that
we cannot hide them as a mighty help in avoiding them in the
first place. Christ took our sins on His back to the tree
at Golgotha; we need not add even one to His precious sacrifice
if we can avoid it.
Praise God!
person by what he or she does when no one is watching. It does
seem true that being in the midst of others might act as a
deterrent to doing wrong; yet, our very nature assures us that
we will sin.
If it weren't of eternal significance, one could almost find humor
in the way people deal, at times, with sin. We create our own
hierarchy of sin. The little "insignificant" ones aren't so bad as
the nasty ones. The sins done by "bad" people are surely more
reprehensible than those little mistakes by a good person. Plus
if we aren't caught...... did a sin really happen?
We have a problem when it comes to God and sin. He doesn't like any
sin. He must punish all sin to remain true to His holy, righteous
nature. What's even more problematic is the fact that He knows
of all our sins- every one- and we cannot hide them from Him. We
can pull the covers over our head, close all the blinds and curtains,
even build a lead-lined fallout shelter; He knows. In fact He knows
of each sin before we commit it.
Accepting Jesus into our hearts, believing on Him and being
adopted into the family of God means we have been forgiven
our sins once for all; yet, even then we sin.
I would suggest that we listen to the Holy Spirit, recognize our
sins, go to God and present them openly AND use the fact that
we cannot hide them as a mighty help in avoiding them in the
first place. Christ took our sins on His back to the tree
at Golgotha; we need not add even one to His precious sacrifice
if we can avoid it.
Praise God!
Thursday, July 31, 2014
The Devil Made Me Do It!
But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led
astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 2 Cor. 11: 3
It's who Eve blamed. He is the great deciever, the father of lies, author of all sin, prince of the power of the air; the names go on and on. He is right there to tempt and make sin look
like an option when it simply is never a good one.
As I mentioned yesterday, he is often thought of in these times as an afterthought, someone
who really isn't a big deal any more. I had a friend tell me that he felt that 'Satan got a bad rap.' People really don't want to acknowledge his power and his relentless efforts to rest
souls from the path of righteousness, even after it is known that he has been defeated by
the glorious Resurrection of Christ Jesus. His time is limited and he knows it. Yet, he seems
determined to go out swinging and he's swinging at each of us with reckless abandon.
I've used the expression in the title before. Usually it feels somehow a relief to 'blame'
a sinful moment on someone else. Surely it wasn't I who made the choice to do evil, I
must have been duped. Well, not so much. God presented us with a dubious gift when He
gave us free will. We are born with a conscience, knowing right from evil, and we are
totally responsible for each decision we make that leads to sinful behavior. We can blame
it away; yet, we really know that we can stop sinning if it is in our hearts to do so. Easy?
No. Will we be unsuccessful? You betcha. So where does that leave us?
It leaves us with the challenge of calling upon all the help we can muster. The Holy
Spirit within us will gladly draw our attention to slip ups. Prayer before making decisions
is a mighty tool. We need the armor of God upon us because in the end, without the
power of Jesus, we will stray; it's in our nature.
So the devil did not make me do it! I made me do it. First I need to admit this and
give up excuses. I need to strive with all my heart to avoid re-crucifying and adding
sins onto the precious back of glorious Jesus. He died for me to remove my sin account; I need to ever show my appreciation by honoring Him with my best!
Praise God!
astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 2 Cor. 11: 3
It's who Eve blamed. He is the great deciever, the father of lies, author of all sin, prince of the power of the air; the names go on and on. He is right there to tempt and make sin look
like an option when it simply is never a good one.
As I mentioned yesterday, he is often thought of in these times as an afterthought, someone
who really isn't a big deal any more. I had a friend tell me that he felt that 'Satan got a bad rap.' People really don't want to acknowledge his power and his relentless efforts to rest
souls from the path of righteousness, even after it is known that he has been defeated by
the glorious Resurrection of Christ Jesus. His time is limited and he knows it. Yet, he seems
determined to go out swinging and he's swinging at each of us with reckless abandon.
I've used the expression in the title before. Usually it feels somehow a relief to 'blame'
a sinful moment on someone else. Surely it wasn't I who made the choice to do evil, I
must have been duped. Well, not so much. God presented us with a dubious gift when He
gave us free will. We are born with a conscience, knowing right from evil, and we are
totally responsible for each decision we make that leads to sinful behavior. We can blame
it away; yet, we really know that we can stop sinning if it is in our hearts to do so. Easy?
No. Will we be unsuccessful? You betcha. So where does that leave us?
It leaves us with the challenge of calling upon all the help we can muster. The Holy
Spirit within us will gladly draw our attention to slip ups. Prayer before making decisions
is a mighty tool. We need the armor of God upon us because in the end, without the
power of Jesus, we will stray; it's in our nature.
So the devil did not make me do it! I made me do it. First I need to admit this and
give up excuses. I need to strive with all my heart to avoid re-crucifying and adding
sins onto the precious back of glorious Jesus. He died for me to remove my sin account; I need to ever show my appreciation by honoring Him with my best!
Praise God!
Friday, June 13, 2014
Lest you have forgotten...You are Forgiven!
For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8: 12
'Cause we all make mistakes sometimes
And we've all stepped across that line
But nothing's sweeter
Than the day we find
Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Forgiveness Toby Mac from Eye On It
Sin is interesting once one becomes a Christian. (meaning Jesus is happening
in our hearts) We are different in our relationship to sin, even though we continue to sin and will do so until we die. We need to be careful in the ways we react to and think about the
sin that is an on-going part of our nature.
There is, to a certain extent, some bliss in the ignorance one has toward his sin when he
is not convicted of it by the Holy Spirit. But once we are reborn into Christ we are no longer
unaware of even the smallest of our sins. It's no longer okay to make excuses, pardon
ourselves with a variety of reasons or act as though no one has noticed. Even the smallest
of sins puts us at enmity to God; He cannot tolerate or accept any sin, and He notices
our sin...always. It feels really bad to realize that we, even on our best days, cannot live
up to His high standards.... yet....
We have been forgiven!
It is frustrating to want badly to stop falling into temptation, to avoid sinful thoughts and
actions only to find that we are repeating them. I (and this is surely not original) look at sin
as Satan In Nature. We are born with a sinful nature as a direct result of the original sin
against God in the garden. That serpent was the devil. The great deceiver. Even though
it surely is not acceptable to ignore these repeated slip-ups, we can always strive to
go to God with our confessions and seek His help.
The power of confession lies not with the person who makes it but with the God that hears it! Lucado from Grace
God wants to know that we are contrite and opposed to our sins. He wants us to come
to Him with our heart-felt wishes to be better because of His forgiveness.
Perhaps the most meaningful use of energies that come from all this lies in the
ability of those who have been forgiven to forgive others as a result. Despite our
fallen nature, our repetition of sinfulness, God has promised us that He will not
remember our sin because He looks upon the righteousness of His beloved son who
is there at His right hand in our behalf. How could we not, therefore, be forgiving
of others?
It's best to put on that armor of God and do battle against Satan with all the help of
God and glorify Him for the grace He has shown, is showing and will continue to
show.
He is a loving gracious Father God. All praise, glory and honor to His name.
'Cause we all make mistakes sometimes
And we've all stepped across that line
But nothing's sweeter
Than the day we find
Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Forgiveness Toby Mac from Eye On It
Sin is interesting once one becomes a Christian. (meaning Jesus is happening
in our hearts) We are different in our relationship to sin, even though we continue to sin and will do so until we die. We need to be careful in the ways we react to and think about the
sin that is an on-going part of our nature.
There is, to a certain extent, some bliss in the ignorance one has toward his sin when he
is not convicted of it by the Holy Spirit. But once we are reborn into Christ we are no longer
unaware of even the smallest of our sins. It's no longer okay to make excuses, pardon
ourselves with a variety of reasons or act as though no one has noticed. Even the smallest
of sins puts us at enmity to God; He cannot tolerate or accept any sin, and He notices
our sin...always. It feels really bad to realize that we, even on our best days, cannot live
up to His high standards.... yet....
We have been forgiven!
It is frustrating to want badly to stop falling into temptation, to avoid sinful thoughts and
actions only to find that we are repeating them. I (and this is surely not original) look at sin
as Satan In Nature. We are born with a sinful nature as a direct result of the original sin
against God in the garden. That serpent was the devil. The great deceiver. Even though
it surely is not acceptable to ignore these repeated slip-ups, we can always strive to
go to God with our confessions and seek His help.
The power of confession lies not with the person who makes it but with the God that hears it! Lucado from Grace
God wants to know that we are contrite and opposed to our sins. He wants us to come
to Him with our heart-felt wishes to be better because of His forgiveness.
Perhaps the most meaningful use of energies that come from all this lies in the
ability of those who have been forgiven to forgive others as a result. Despite our
fallen nature, our repetition of sinfulness, God has promised us that He will not
remember our sin because He looks upon the righteousness of His beloved son who
is there at His right hand in our behalf. How could we not, therefore, be forgiving
of others?
It's best to put on that armor of God and do battle against Satan with all the help of
God and glorify Him for the grace He has shown, is showing and will continue to
show.
He is a loving gracious Father God. All praise, glory and honor to His name.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
You can run, but.......
Proverbs 15:3 - The eyes of the LORD [are] in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
I have read that the definition that a sociopath is a person who does not know the difference between right and wrong, good and evil. I am not buying that definition! We, all of us, are born in the image of God. This implies the existence of at least a rudimentary conscience that does know the difference, even from childhood, of right and wrong.
So, and I am talking here about myself, too, we can try to sweep our sinful nature under
the rug, we can hide it in the closet, we can camouflage it with good deeds, we can even
try to convince our sinful selves that something isn't a sin....yet, if God counts the hairs
on our heads, knows our every tear, understands what we want and need even before
we seek it...how can we REALLY think that He doesn't see our sin before it rears its
ugly head?
That creates a big dilemma! The fact is that we will continue to sin even after becoming
one who loves Jesus and asks for His grace and salvation. That's a real kick in the pants!
Try as we might, and I believe we honestly do want to please and honor Jesus, sin just
refuses to go away. Blame it on Eve, on the devil, on temptation....it's always a battle to
avoid that fight it.
So what can be done?
Well, the Holy Spirit helps us by convicting us when we sin. You have felt it...it's more than
guilt. You give in and 'wham!' you immediately know that you have lost a battle, disappointed yourself and added another sin to the back of Jesus as He hangs on that
tree. Nasty stuff, that!
We can immediately repent and ask God, who already knows about the sin, to forgive
us as we try to turn away from the sinful act, idea, thought... the list goes on! Giving our
direct plea for forgiveness is what we are told we must do as fist step in sin removal.
Just the knowledge that God has, from before the beginning of time, prepared a
way for us to escape His wrath by substituting Jesus, a perfect lamb, for us through
His sacrifice upon the cross, has to give us confidence that we can strive to be thankful
by challenging our sin as a way of thanking God's grace.
Even the apostle of the gentiles, Paul, admitted that he fought the fight and still came
up short. The key is that he fought, battled and strove to eliminate as much sin as
possible with the help of God.
Praise to God always and forever! May we live each day battling the sin that corrupts
us!
I have read that the definition that a sociopath is a person who does not know the difference between right and wrong, good and evil. I am not buying that definition! We, all of us, are born in the image of God. This implies the existence of at least a rudimentary conscience that does know the difference, even from childhood, of right and wrong.
So, and I am talking here about myself, too, we can try to sweep our sinful nature under
the rug, we can hide it in the closet, we can camouflage it with good deeds, we can even
try to convince our sinful selves that something isn't a sin....yet, if God counts the hairs
on our heads, knows our every tear, understands what we want and need even before
we seek it...how can we REALLY think that He doesn't see our sin before it rears its
ugly head?
That creates a big dilemma! The fact is that we will continue to sin even after becoming
one who loves Jesus and asks for His grace and salvation. That's a real kick in the pants!
Try as we might, and I believe we honestly do want to please and honor Jesus, sin just
refuses to go away. Blame it on Eve, on the devil, on temptation....it's always a battle to
avoid that fight it.
So what can be done?
Well, the Holy Spirit helps us by convicting us when we sin. You have felt it...it's more than
guilt. You give in and 'wham!' you immediately know that you have lost a battle, disappointed yourself and added another sin to the back of Jesus as He hangs on that
tree. Nasty stuff, that!
We can immediately repent and ask God, who already knows about the sin, to forgive
us as we try to turn away from the sinful act, idea, thought... the list goes on! Giving our
direct plea for forgiveness is what we are told we must do as fist step in sin removal.
Just the knowledge that God has, from before the beginning of time, prepared a
way for us to escape His wrath by substituting Jesus, a perfect lamb, for us through
His sacrifice upon the cross, has to give us confidence that we can strive to be thankful
by challenging our sin as a way of thanking God's grace.
Even the apostle of the gentiles, Paul, admitted that he fought the fight and still came
up short. The key is that he fought, battled and strove to eliminate as much sin as
possible with the help of God.
Praise to God always and forever! May we live each day battling the sin that corrupts
us!
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Two steps forward...one step back!
Matthew 5: 12-14
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
It's been a frustrating week. As we travel along this road to becoming more like Jesus, we are a Christian work in progress. the "work" being done is being done To us, not By us. That, fortunately, is the blessed job of the Holy Spirit, the worldly active member of the trinity of God. In some cases, there is a lot of work to be done; it's probably not going to be finished anytime soon. I'm talking, here, about me!
This week I was fortunate enough to be challenged, lovingly, by two people who are the love of my life, my daughter and son-in-law. They were loving enough to gently, but firmly, discuss some real issues...sins that were creeping into prominence. I could suggest that I had absolutely no idea that they were showing up in my actions and thoughts, but that would not be true. I realized that they were there, and I was giving into them. I guess that shows that not all sinfulness is hidden, unknown and subtle, even when we truly wish to be living lives of righteousness.
Well, I was so fortunate that they cared enough to "convict" me of these issues; to be honest, I was crestfallen because I do not wish to be sinful! The problem is...I am. We all are. It's our fallen human nature. We move ahead, try hard, pray to be just, and then sin just reappears and slaps us up side the head.What's to be done?
I think the realization that becoming more Christ-like is a long one that requires persistence, giving in to the knowledge that we aren't going to achieve it on our own, praying that we will be open and anxious to repent and turn away when we realize sin has reappeared, are all steps in the process.
The key is Jesus! In remembering what He has done in our behalf.. it is a crucial life goal to please Him. To do that which brings honor and glory to Him. To not pile additional sins on those blessed shoulders or that cross of grace. He deserves better than our sinfulness! He is our Lord and King, worthy of our best.
Pray along with me, that in Jesus' name, the Holy Spirit will bless us with His continuing efforts, His loving guidance, and, when needed, His honest adjustment.
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
It's been a frustrating week. As we travel along this road to becoming more like Jesus, we are a Christian work in progress. the "work" being done is being done To us, not By us. That, fortunately, is the blessed job of the Holy Spirit, the worldly active member of the trinity of God. In some cases, there is a lot of work to be done; it's probably not going to be finished anytime soon. I'm talking, here, about me!
This week I was fortunate enough to be challenged, lovingly, by two people who are the love of my life, my daughter and son-in-law. They were loving enough to gently, but firmly, discuss some real issues...sins that were creeping into prominence. I could suggest that I had absolutely no idea that they were showing up in my actions and thoughts, but that would not be true. I realized that they were there, and I was giving into them. I guess that shows that not all sinfulness is hidden, unknown and subtle, even when we truly wish to be living lives of righteousness.
Well, I was so fortunate that they cared enough to "convict" me of these issues; to be honest, I was crestfallen because I do not wish to be sinful! The problem is...I am. We all are. It's our fallen human nature. We move ahead, try hard, pray to be just, and then sin just reappears and slaps us up side the head.What's to be done?
I think the realization that becoming more Christ-like is a long one that requires persistence, giving in to the knowledge that we aren't going to achieve it on our own, praying that we will be open and anxious to repent and turn away when we realize sin has reappeared, are all steps in the process.
The key is Jesus! In remembering what He has done in our behalf.. it is a crucial life goal to please Him. To do that which brings honor and glory to Him. To not pile additional sins on those blessed shoulders or that cross of grace. He deserves better than our sinfulness! He is our Lord and King, worthy of our best.
Pray along with me, that in Jesus' name, the Holy Spirit will bless us with His continuing efforts, His loving guidance, and, when needed, His honest adjustment.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Seeking a "degree" of Thank-ology
Love to mess with the titles. No..I won't be going back to my beloved Ohio State
University to earn a new degree. Been there and done that. No need to return to worrying about mid-terms, finals, papers, being on time, etc. No dissertation or oral exams
to contemplate.
By degree, I mean amount, in this instance. I am looking to increase, exponentially, my
conscious appreciation for the blessings given to me by my God. They are so many,
it's difficult to imagine the number. They are magnanimous, unearned, gracious
loving examples of the generosity and love that I receive, daily, from the God of the
universe.
The problem, and I am sure I share this with many who may be readers, is taking
the time to remember to be thankful. I am in the real retirement mode, at this point.
I have stopped working part-time and am not actively seeking employ. My career
has long been a thing of the past so I am left with exercise, taking care of my cat, trying
to avoid over stretching my relationship with the daughter I love: translation... I have a
lot of time. So no real excuses; I have the time to concentrate on thanking Him for
everything. It's a conscious decision, one that I am making more frequently, but, still,
I have to remind myself to speak these thanks to Him.
One thing I have done is to take the thanks down to the basic level. I am thankful
for each and every heartbeat, each and every breath I am blessed to be able to take.
I am thankful for each day spent out of hospital, each day filled with the realization
that life is tenuous, fleeting and temporary.
I use my walking time to remind me to thank Him for this beautiful created world I
live in. Sure, it is broken, but it still is a representation of the greatest creative force
in the universe.
Believe it or not, I thank Him for my brokenness. It helps me to keep humble when I
realize that I am sinful and very much in need of a savior. It keeps me grounded in
the knowledge that I need to use the awareness of my rebellion to seek to repent
in earnest and turn, with the Spirit's help, away from temptations and sinfulness.
Then there is the Gospel; what a blessed reason to give thanks. Thanks to the
Lamb of God who became corporal and walked toward death, the only thing that
would establish a way for me to be forgiven and seen as acceptable to God.
Finally, I am thankful for a future of hope. A future complete with the upcoming
residence in the presence of God, Jesus and all others who will live in an eternity
of blessing. THANK YOU, GOD! (Did I remember to say, "THANK YOU?")
University to earn a new degree. Been there and done that. No need to return to worrying about mid-terms, finals, papers, being on time, etc. No dissertation or oral exams
to contemplate.
By degree, I mean amount, in this instance. I am looking to increase, exponentially, my
conscious appreciation for the blessings given to me by my God. They are so many,
it's difficult to imagine the number. They are magnanimous, unearned, gracious
loving examples of the generosity and love that I receive, daily, from the God of the
universe.
The problem, and I am sure I share this with many who may be readers, is taking
the time to remember to be thankful. I am in the real retirement mode, at this point.
I have stopped working part-time and am not actively seeking employ. My career
has long been a thing of the past so I am left with exercise, taking care of my cat, trying
to avoid over stretching my relationship with the daughter I love: translation... I have a
lot of time. So no real excuses; I have the time to concentrate on thanking Him for
everything. It's a conscious decision, one that I am making more frequently, but, still,
I have to remind myself to speak these thanks to Him.
One thing I have done is to take the thanks down to the basic level. I am thankful
for each and every heartbeat, each and every breath I am blessed to be able to take.
I am thankful for each day spent out of hospital, each day filled with the realization
that life is tenuous, fleeting and temporary.
I use my walking time to remind me to thank Him for this beautiful created world I
live in. Sure, it is broken, but it still is a representation of the greatest creative force
in the universe.
Believe it or not, I thank Him for my brokenness. It helps me to keep humble when I
realize that I am sinful and very much in need of a savior. It keeps me grounded in
the knowledge that I need to use the awareness of my rebellion to seek to repent
in earnest and turn, with the Spirit's help, away from temptations and sinfulness.
Then there is the Gospel; what a blessed reason to give thanks. Thanks to the
Lamb of God who became corporal and walked toward death, the only thing that
would establish a way for me to be forgiven and seen as acceptable to God.
Finally, I am thankful for a future of hope. A future complete with the upcoming
residence in the presence of God, Jesus and all others who will live in an eternity
of blessing. THANK YOU, GOD! (Did I remember to say, "THANK YOU?")
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
What Does God Want?
Disclaimer: This is a blog. I did not do an interview with God and I certainly am no
expert on His thinking! I have read and am reading His word and other books and am
blessed to be surrounded by a lot of God-loving folks. So, to a certain extent, I am
just expressing my feelings. I pray they are somewhat accurate.
Does God want to hold a prominent place in our hearts?
NO! God wants to hold THE prominent place in our hearts and in our lives. He is,
after all, the one who created us. He knows us completely and loves us. He has given,
through His saving grace, an opportunity to belong to Him and to, one day, live in His
majestic presence.
Does God expect us to be Holy?
YES! He has told us that we are to be Holy. The problem, here, is that He is Holy, Holy,
Holy. We, on the other hand, strive to be righteous. It is a long journey we take with the
aid of His spirit, a journey where we are guided toward being more like Jesus. I believe
we never quite get there until we achieve sanctification in heaven.
What does God think about our sin?
He loathes it! Can't get a whole lot more specific than that. He hates all sin. Unfortunately,
we are born into sin. We sin even when we strive not to do so because we are human.
God, in a plan devised before the beginning of time, sacrificed His son on a cross and
loaded upon Him all of our sins: past, present and future. These sins were exchanged for
the righteousness of Christ Jesus. It's the only way sin could ever be forgiven. NOT accepted,
forgiven. That's the good news of the gospel of Christ.
Does God want is to be healthy and wealthy?
God has a plan for our lives. He is in charge; we are not. He makes all things happen for His
good. This life of ours will have both good and bad times. We won't always be healthy; we
won't necessarily have wealth, other than the wealth of knowing God as our father. He
has granted us sufficient grace to handle anything that we may encounter. He is with us
and loves us; we can lean upon Him to bring us through any and all obstacles we may
meet along the journey toward heaven. Won't it be wonderful to be in His presence
and learn all we have longed to know.
God is GREAT!
expert on His thinking! I have read and am reading His word and other books and am
blessed to be surrounded by a lot of God-loving folks. So, to a certain extent, I am
just expressing my feelings. I pray they are somewhat accurate.
Does God want to hold a prominent place in our hearts?
NO! God wants to hold THE prominent place in our hearts and in our lives. He is,
after all, the one who created us. He knows us completely and loves us. He has given,
through His saving grace, an opportunity to belong to Him and to, one day, live in His
majestic presence.
Does God expect us to be Holy?
YES! He has told us that we are to be Holy. The problem, here, is that He is Holy, Holy,
Holy. We, on the other hand, strive to be righteous. It is a long journey we take with the
aid of His spirit, a journey where we are guided toward being more like Jesus. I believe
we never quite get there until we achieve sanctification in heaven.
What does God think about our sin?
He loathes it! Can't get a whole lot more specific than that. He hates all sin. Unfortunately,
we are born into sin. We sin even when we strive not to do so because we are human.
God, in a plan devised before the beginning of time, sacrificed His son on a cross and
loaded upon Him all of our sins: past, present and future. These sins were exchanged for
the righteousness of Christ Jesus. It's the only way sin could ever be forgiven. NOT accepted,
forgiven. That's the good news of the gospel of Christ.
Does God want is to be healthy and wealthy?
God has a plan for our lives. He is in charge; we are not. He makes all things happen for His
good. This life of ours will have both good and bad times. We won't always be healthy; we
won't necessarily have wealth, other than the wealth of knowing God as our father. He
has granted us sufficient grace to handle anything that we may encounter. He is with us
and loves us; we can lean upon Him to bring us through any and all obstacles we may
meet along the journey toward heaven. Won't it be wonderful to be in His presence
and learn all we have longed to know.
God is GREAT!
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Repent me, Jesus
Romans 7: 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but
what I hate, I do.
7: 21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there
with me.
It is obviously crucial to be able to repent. Being sorry that we sin is, in part, a
function of our conscience, that part of us that recognizes the difference between
good and evil. Moving on to repentance is the act of turning away from the sins
we commit, heading the opposite direction, if you will, in an attempt to eliminate the
sinful actions from our behavior.
Simple enough, right? Not so much. You recognize the speaker of the Bible verses
above. It is Paul, converted along the Damascus Road by Jesus, himself. Paul, or
Saul of Tarsus, renowned former persecutor of early followers of Christ. Paul, one
of the most intelligent, persistent, hard-nosed characters found in the Bible who
recovered his sight, a changed soul who went on to be the Apostle to the Gentiles.
Paul, whose ability to bring churches into being, preach the gospel and withstand
torture and imprisonment was astounding. Yet, he, Paul, is stating that even he has
tremendous difficulty doing what is righteous. After personal conversion at the
voice of Jesus and acceptance of the Holy Spirit, he still struggles with sin.
So here's my point. We know that we will never be without sin, no matter how
our heart wishes that we could be. This means that we will constantly be
bombarded by the will to sin, will sin, and then be faced with the need to confess
our sins to God and repent. I am suggesting, with the title of this little blog, that
repentance needs to be done To us, not By us. We need to pray that God, Himself,
through His Spirit, will be right there with us as we attempt to turn away from
sin. We are asked to look into our own hearts....I agree with the person who called
that looking into a fun-house mirror. We're just not capable of reading our hearts
and our intentions with accuracy. So we need to lean on Jesus...that is lean on His
love and desire to help us become more like Him. Not on our own! We need all the
help we can get. Who better to seek out for this help than the Holy God who created
us. Praise His Holy name!
what I hate, I do.
7: 21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there
with me.
It is obviously crucial to be able to repent. Being sorry that we sin is, in part, a
function of our conscience, that part of us that recognizes the difference between
good and evil. Moving on to repentance is the act of turning away from the sins
we commit, heading the opposite direction, if you will, in an attempt to eliminate the
sinful actions from our behavior.
Simple enough, right? Not so much. You recognize the speaker of the Bible verses
above. It is Paul, converted along the Damascus Road by Jesus, himself. Paul, or
Saul of Tarsus, renowned former persecutor of early followers of Christ. Paul, one
of the most intelligent, persistent, hard-nosed characters found in the Bible who
recovered his sight, a changed soul who went on to be the Apostle to the Gentiles.
Paul, whose ability to bring churches into being, preach the gospel and withstand
torture and imprisonment was astounding. Yet, he, Paul, is stating that even he has
tremendous difficulty doing what is righteous. After personal conversion at the
voice of Jesus and acceptance of the Holy Spirit, he still struggles with sin.
So here's my point. We know that we will never be without sin, no matter how
our heart wishes that we could be. This means that we will constantly be
bombarded by the will to sin, will sin, and then be faced with the need to confess
our sins to God and repent. I am suggesting, with the title of this little blog, that
repentance needs to be done To us, not By us. We need to pray that God, Himself,
through His Spirit, will be right there with us as we attempt to turn away from
sin. We are asked to look into our own hearts....I agree with the person who called
that looking into a fun-house mirror. We're just not capable of reading our hearts
and our intentions with accuracy. So we need to lean on Jesus...that is lean on His
love and desire to help us become more like Him. Not on our own! We need all the
help we can get. Who better to seek out for this help than the Holy God who created
us. Praise His Holy name!
Saturday, October 12, 2013
George, the skeleton, Talked!
My teaching friend and one of the best friends I ever had, kept a replica adult
skeleton at the front of his classroom. Around its neck hung the sign, "George
Talked!" Quite a discipline maneuver. There, of course, was always a bit of
humor in his classroom; he was loved by students and fellow teachers! He died
several years ago of complications of diabetes; I'm not sure where George hangs
out, these days.
We all have skeletons in our closet! They are the things that we really do not want
others to know, and may be things that no one ever finds out. Most of these
skeletons center around things we have done that would fall into the category
of sin.
I am not sure how I would survive being a Catholic who goes to confession. I
am not sure I believe that a priest would have the power to forgive sins that have
already, by the grace of God, been forgiven. I am guessing that even with a priest,
there would be some skeletons still unknown, and that it wouldn't matter how many
"Hail Mary's" I said, there would still be those things I am embarrassed to share.
There is nothing you can do to make God love you more.
There is nothing you can do to make God love you less.
I love that quote, and I have forgotten who to attribute it to. The point, here, is
that the one avenue of "safe revelation," it seems to me, even for those really
nasty sins, is the avenue of discussing them with our God. The obvious point is
that God has the key to that skeleton closet. He already knows what hangs in
there and, through the work and blood of His son, Jesus, those skeletons are
a moot point.
He forgives sins of the past, of today and of the future. The priest may say, 'Sin
no more," but we will. God knows this. He is bigger and stronger than our sins.
When we talk to Him, He listens and understands. It's called GRACE! What a
remarkable God we love!
skeleton at the front of his classroom. Around its neck hung the sign, "George
Talked!" Quite a discipline maneuver. There, of course, was always a bit of
humor in his classroom; he was loved by students and fellow teachers! He died
several years ago of complications of diabetes; I'm not sure where George hangs
out, these days.
We all have skeletons in our closet! They are the things that we really do not want
others to know, and may be things that no one ever finds out. Most of these
skeletons center around things we have done that would fall into the category
of sin.
I am not sure how I would survive being a Catholic who goes to confession. I
am not sure I believe that a priest would have the power to forgive sins that have
already, by the grace of God, been forgiven. I am guessing that even with a priest,
there would be some skeletons still unknown, and that it wouldn't matter how many
"Hail Mary's" I said, there would still be those things I am embarrassed to share.
There is nothing you can do to make God love you more.
There is nothing you can do to make God love you less.
I love that quote, and I have forgotten who to attribute it to. The point, here, is
that the one avenue of "safe revelation," it seems to me, even for those really
nasty sins, is the avenue of discussing them with our God. The obvious point is
that God has the key to that skeleton closet. He already knows what hangs in
there and, through the work and blood of His son, Jesus, those skeletons are
a moot point.
He forgives sins of the past, of today and of the future. The priest may say, 'Sin
no more," but we will. God knows this. He is bigger and stronger than our sins.
When we talk to Him, He listens and understands. It's called GRACE! What a
remarkable God we love!
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Ignorance Is Bliss....um..not so much!!
That saying is from a Thomas Gray poem of long ago.
Back in my name calling days, I frequently called folks "ignorant" when I was
angry. To me, it meant that they were just stupid, not so smart... Turned out it
was me who wasn't real bright.
The condition of ignorance is really referring to being unaware or lacking in
knowledge. "What we don't know can't hurt us," is another phrase that
really can cause trouble.
I spent 60 years of my life in ignorance when it comes to Jesus and the gospel
of grace. That is truly frightening. It wasn't that I was uneducated...I did go to
church infrequently, but my life was void of the understanding that there was
a God who offered a "sonship," a God who was reaching out to one who is
totally undeserving, a Holy, Regal, Transcendent, Majestic caring God who
created me. In looking back, I'm convinced that He was patiently tapping me
on my shoulder just waiting to enter into my life and my heart. How
fortunate I am!!!
I was also ignorant of the being who works within the boundaries of this
world, having been thrown out of heaven. He's the former angel whose
agenda is to bring us down, to make us feel guilty, hopeless, evil, worthless..
I could go on. He has been defeated and sentence has already been passed.
His job, it seems, is to ruin souls, and he works in direct opposition to
the grace of God. The Resurrection of Jesus put an end to death, to Satan
to our inability to ever be righteous in the eyes of our Father in Heaven.
Yet, an unawareness that this being is working against us can effect our
lives and our eternal salvation.
When one is ignorant of the gospel, the hardships, the stress, the sadness,
the miseries of this life are daunting. We are left to stand alone, purposeless,
ignorant of the grace that exists within the loving hands of the Prince of
Peace.
Turn to Him. Pray to Him. Glorify Him. Ignorance be gone..you too, satan.
Back in my name calling days, I frequently called folks "ignorant" when I was
angry. To me, it meant that they were just stupid, not so smart... Turned out it
was me who wasn't real bright.
The condition of ignorance is really referring to being unaware or lacking in
knowledge. "What we don't know can't hurt us," is another phrase that
really can cause trouble.
I spent 60 years of my life in ignorance when it comes to Jesus and the gospel
of grace. That is truly frightening. It wasn't that I was uneducated...I did go to
church infrequently, but my life was void of the understanding that there was
a God who offered a "sonship," a God who was reaching out to one who is
totally undeserving, a Holy, Regal, Transcendent, Majestic caring God who
created me. In looking back, I'm convinced that He was patiently tapping me
on my shoulder just waiting to enter into my life and my heart. How
fortunate I am!!!
I was also ignorant of the being who works within the boundaries of this
world, having been thrown out of heaven. He's the former angel whose
agenda is to bring us down, to make us feel guilty, hopeless, evil, worthless..
I could go on. He has been defeated and sentence has already been passed.
His job, it seems, is to ruin souls, and he works in direct opposition to
the grace of God. The Resurrection of Jesus put an end to death, to Satan
to our inability to ever be righteous in the eyes of our Father in Heaven.
Yet, an unawareness that this being is working against us can effect our
lives and our eternal salvation.
When one is ignorant of the gospel, the hardships, the stress, the sadness,
the miseries of this life are daunting. We are left to stand alone, purposeless,
ignorant of the grace that exists within the loving hands of the Prince of
Peace.
Turn to Him. Pray to Him. Glorify Him. Ignorance be gone..you too, satan.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
To Err is Human, to Forgive.....
Devine. (Alexander Pope)
Yep, we are pretty good at erring! There's not much doubt that the ability
to do wrongly, or to sin, is a part of our human dna. How we look at this rather
problematic component of ourselves is very important. Sin as quite simply
acting in a way that is counter to God's will and wishes. The middle letter
in the word sIn is symbolic of our acting with ourselves in mind. It is
amazing that once we are made aware of our sinful nature, we see countless
examples daily of evil in the thoughts, words and actions of our lives.
It would be rather easy to allow this sin to overwhelm us, to make us
depressed, to feel that we are beyond hope. In some instances this might
result in the attitude that we may as well go ahead and live it up, since
there is little hope of finding forgiveness from a Holy God.
It is somewhat ironic that at the same time we are capable of sinning, we
find it very difficult to forgive others. Yet God makes it explicitly clear that
we must forgive others for His forgiveness to apply to our lives.
So the Devine part of the quote is tremendously important. God is fully
aware that we sin, yet He has provided the ultimate sacrifice to atone for
the sins of our lives. The fact that this sacrifice included His only son, Jesus,
makes God's love for us and his ability to forgive us abundantly clear.
The last words of our blessed Lord Jesus, John 19:30..."it is finished,"
indicated that the sacrifice was for all of us who would seek Him through
the blood of the Son. The plan was in place from the beginning. The
payment had been made. Atonement had been realized. Love had
conquered Sin, Death and Satan through the precious blood of Jesus.
Praise and Glory to God!
Yep, we are pretty good at erring! There's not much doubt that the ability
to do wrongly, or to sin, is a part of our human dna. How we look at this rather
problematic component of ourselves is very important. Sin as quite simply
acting in a way that is counter to God's will and wishes. The middle letter
in the word sIn is symbolic of our acting with ourselves in mind. It is
amazing that once we are made aware of our sinful nature, we see countless
examples daily of evil in the thoughts, words and actions of our lives.
It would be rather easy to allow this sin to overwhelm us, to make us
depressed, to feel that we are beyond hope. In some instances this might
result in the attitude that we may as well go ahead and live it up, since
there is little hope of finding forgiveness from a Holy God.
It is somewhat ironic that at the same time we are capable of sinning, we
find it very difficult to forgive others. Yet God makes it explicitly clear that
we must forgive others for His forgiveness to apply to our lives.
So the Devine part of the quote is tremendously important. God is fully
aware that we sin, yet He has provided the ultimate sacrifice to atone for
the sins of our lives. The fact that this sacrifice included His only son, Jesus,
makes God's love for us and his ability to forgive us abundantly clear.
The last words of our blessed Lord Jesus, John 19:30..."it is finished,"
indicated that the sacrifice was for all of us who would seek Him through
the blood of the Son. The plan was in place from the beginning. The
payment had been made. Atonement had been realized. Love had
conquered Sin, Death and Satan through the precious blood of Jesus.
Praise and Glory to God!
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
I'll take "perfection" for $100, Alex
I appear almost daily at a local McDonalds for coffee and morning
paper. I try to avoid the food when I can.
There are a few folks who also frequent this restaurant in north
Texas, and I would describe them as conservative, Republican and
Texan, to the core. Most of the conversation, centered around Fox
News on the TV monitor, is such that I just keep quiet and read my
Columbus Dispatch on the Kindle.
One morning, it was announced that the current governor of Texas,
who I would also describe as a real Texan, had decided that he would
not run for re-election. This, apparently, was met with some consternation
by the group and the following conversation ensued....
Texan: Well I don't blame him for not running!
Texan 2: My neither! Why some folks seem to think he's way too
left and some not conservative enough.
Texan 1: Yes, it's as if people expect him to be perfect!
Texan 3: Yes and we all know that No one is perfect!
Well, at this point, because I saw an excellent opportunity to raise the
level of this conversation, a bit, I said...
Tom: Well, there was, of course, one person who walked this earth
who was fully perfect, always.
SILENCE......
Texas 2: (After a protracted silence...) Oh, that's right... Ronald Reagan!!!
Tom: Ah.... I was thinking of our Lord Jesus Christ.
SILENCE.. !
That's why I usually remain quiet!
paper. I try to avoid the food when I can.
There are a few folks who also frequent this restaurant in north
Texas, and I would describe them as conservative, Republican and
Texan, to the core. Most of the conversation, centered around Fox
News on the TV monitor, is such that I just keep quiet and read my
Columbus Dispatch on the Kindle.
One morning, it was announced that the current governor of Texas,
who I would also describe as a real Texan, had decided that he would
not run for re-election. This, apparently, was met with some consternation
by the group and the following conversation ensued....
Texan: Well I don't blame him for not running!
Texan 2: My neither! Why some folks seem to think he's way too
left and some not conservative enough.
Texan 1: Yes, it's as if people expect him to be perfect!
Texan 3: Yes and we all know that No one is perfect!
Well, at this point, because I saw an excellent opportunity to raise the
level of this conversation, a bit, I said...
Tom: Well, there was, of course, one person who walked this earth
who was fully perfect, always.
SILENCE......
Texas 2: (After a protracted silence...) Oh, that's right... Ronald Reagan!!!
Tom: Ah.... I was thinking of our Lord Jesus Christ.
SILENCE.. !
That's why I usually remain quiet!
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Perfect: for one day!
That's the challenge. Care to try? Here's some obligatory information before
the start:
1- God cannot accept even one sin because he is Holy
2- God, through loving GRACE, and the blood of His son, Jesus, has provided
an opportunity to have our sins forgiven
3- Those forgiven sins include sins of the past, present and future
4- We must accept our need for redemption, repent and turn to our Lord Jesus
in a lifetime relationship of the heart wherein He resides as out Savior and
Lord
Okay, those are some basic preliminaries. Now, the challenge. One full day,
from wake to sleep, of perfection...no sins. That would include sinful thoughts,
sinful words and sinful actions.
After all, Jesus was able to do this for approximately 33 years. Okay, He may
have had some advantage in being fully God as well as fully man, but He
was perfectly without sin because He had to be.
I will confess that I'm just presenting this challenge with the full knowledge that
I have absolutely NO SHOT! In one of my previous blog entries I suggested that
I cannot make it from my door to the parking lot without sin. (keeping this
in the family frame, I will just hint at one of my personal problems...)
Poetry in Motion
Johnny Tillotson
..Poetry in motion,
See her gentle sway,
A way down by the ocean,
Could never move that way.
Yep, it's a real problem, even when I try my hardest to have it not be. But, I still
would challenge all to try.
Realistically, the goal, it seems to me, is to show appreciation for the GRACE given
through the loving-kindness of our Creator by making an attempt from the heart
to avoid sin, and when slippage occurs, to go to God, apologize, repent and move
onward. He loves us and knows we sin. We love Him by giving our all to be holy!
the start:
1- God cannot accept even one sin because he is Holy
2- God, through loving GRACE, and the blood of His son, Jesus, has provided
an opportunity to have our sins forgiven
3- Those forgiven sins include sins of the past, present and future
4- We must accept our need for redemption, repent and turn to our Lord Jesus
in a lifetime relationship of the heart wherein He resides as out Savior and
Lord
Okay, those are some basic preliminaries. Now, the challenge. One full day,
from wake to sleep, of perfection...no sins. That would include sinful thoughts,
sinful words and sinful actions.
After all, Jesus was able to do this for approximately 33 years. Okay, He may
have had some advantage in being fully God as well as fully man, but He
was perfectly without sin because He had to be.
I will confess that I'm just presenting this challenge with the full knowledge that
I have absolutely NO SHOT! In one of my previous blog entries I suggested that
I cannot make it from my door to the parking lot without sin. (keeping this
in the family frame, I will just hint at one of my personal problems...)
Poetry in Motion
Johnny Tillotson
..Poetry in motion,
See her gentle sway,
A way down by the ocean,
Could never move that way.
Yep, it's a real problem, even when I try my hardest to have it not be. But, I still
would challenge all to try.
Realistically, the goal, it seems to me, is to show appreciation for the GRACE given
through the loving-kindness of our Creator by making an attempt from the heart
to avoid sin, and when slippage occurs, to go to God, apologize, repent and move
onward. He loves us and knows we sin. We love Him by giving our all to be holy!
Monday, September 23, 2013
Blessed Surveillance
Luke 12:7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Many folks have expressed concern about the government programs that
seem to be intruding into our lives. The NSA, the FBI, the CIA, TSA.. the list
goes on. Are our emails being flagged and shared with folks that we haven't
sent them to? Are there cameras everywhere that record our movements
here and there? (1984 reference) is Big Brother watching?
One obvious reaction to all of this is to lack concern if one's life is as
boring and simple as mine! We can always argue about whether or not
these types of interventions are necessary in today's world where
terrorism is a term we hear often.
Well, we ARE under surveillance! The living God knows all! Because He
is omnipresent and omniscient, He is aware of everything at all times.
Amazing, isn't it! The Bible tells us that His awareness of us, right down
to the hairs upon our heads (and there are fewer and fewer on this head)
is a loving, caring value that He places upon those He has created. Jesus
was assuring those He spoke to that God certainly valued even the
sparrows that fall from the sky. We, therefore, should not be worried.
So how do we feel about this constant surveillance? I am reminded
daily that God is fully aware of my sinful thoughts, words and actions.
This is a deterrent that guides and shapes my ways because, despite my
sinful nature, I desire NOT to disappoint God, the Spirit and Jesus, who
died for me. There's no hiding from His awareness of my life. He knows
my inner heart...reads me like a book, as it were.
God doesn't need to hack into my heart, doesn't need satellite imaging,
doesn't need a wire tap nor hidden cameras. He is right here and that,
in my opinion, is a good and comforting thing!
Praise His Holy name!
Many folks have expressed concern about the government programs that
seem to be intruding into our lives. The NSA, the FBI, the CIA, TSA.. the list
goes on. Are our emails being flagged and shared with folks that we haven't
sent them to? Are there cameras everywhere that record our movements
here and there? (1984 reference) is Big Brother watching?
One obvious reaction to all of this is to lack concern if one's life is as
boring and simple as mine! We can always argue about whether or not
these types of interventions are necessary in today's world where
terrorism is a term we hear often.
Well, we ARE under surveillance! The living God knows all! Because He
is omnipresent and omniscient, He is aware of everything at all times.
Amazing, isn't it! The Bible tells us that His awareness of us, right down
to the hairs upon our heads (and there are fewer and fewer on this head)
is a loving, caring value that He places upon those He has created. Jesus
was assuring those He spoke to that God certainly valued even the
sparrows that fall from the sky. We, therefore, should not be worried.
So how do we feel about this constant surveillance? I am reminded
daily that God is fully aware of my sinful thoughts, words and actions.
This is a deterrent that guides and shapes my ways because, despite my
sinful nature, I desire NOT to disappoint God, the Spirit and Jesus, who
died for me. There's no hiding from His awareness of my life. He knows
my inner heart...reads me like a book, as it were.
God doesn't need to hack into my heart, doesn't need satellite imaging,
doesn't need a wire tap nor hidden cameras. He is right here and that,
in my opinion, is a good and comforting thing!
Praise His Holy name!
Saturday, September 14, 2013
The Wondrous Curse of Free Will
God's plan for this world included the concept of human free will. A creation that had
no free will brings to mind things like "The Borg," where resistance was "Futile!" A creation that is controlled like a puppet show would surely not provide satisfaction. Although
mankind quickly fell into sin using free will , I would suggest that God foreknew this
as an eventuality as part of His plan for eventual salvation through the Lord Jesus
Christ.
Nevertheless, free will creates all sorts of problems and dilemmas because we are
broken and susceptible to sinful wrong choices. If it is really free will, then I would
suppose that God does not control or predetermine what our choices will be. I do
believe that prayer and faith may lead to clarity of choice. I am sure that God does
not want or encourage us in any way to make choices that are sinful. The fact
that only one human being ever made all the right choices means that God is aware
of the pitfalls that come along with human free will. This world and the influence of
the great deceiver make choices difficult even if we have the best intentions.
God, nonetheless, has provided some safety nets. His word in His Holy Book offers
hope and direction through the lives of those within. The Holy Spirit within us
makes us aware, when we grieve Him, that we have reason to repent and pray for
guidance. Being in the presence of fellow Christians and the church provides
encouragement and support when we need it and even when we, on our own, may
be unaware of a choice poorly made.
Of course, the most devastating and calamitous decision would be to reject the
gospel of Jesus Christ, a decision that would literally be eternally damning!
The greatest provision is the Gospel message of forgiveness, atonement and
love that asks us to accept the One who died on the cross to make us righteous
through His blood and acceptable to God. It was always part of the plan. We are
created beings blessed by the love and will of our holy God.
no free will brings to mind things like "The Borg," where resistance was "Futile!" A creation that is controlled like a puppet show would surely not provide satisfaction. Although
mankind quickly fell into sin using free will , I would suggest that God foreknew this
as an eventuality as part of His plan for eventual salvation through the Lord Jesus
Christ.
Nevertheless, free will creates all sorts of problems and dilemmas because we are
broken and susceptible to sinful wrong choices. If it is really free will, then I would
suppose that God does not control or predetermine what our choices will be. I do
believe that prayer and faith may lead to clarity of choice. I am sure that God does
not want or encourage us in any way to make choices that are sinful. The fact
that only one human being ever made all the right choices means that God is aware
of the pitfalls that come along with human free will. This world and the influence of
the great deceiver make choices difficult even if we have the best intentions.
God, nonetheless, has provided some safety nets. His word in His Holy Book offers
hope and direction through the lives of those within. The Holy Spirit within us
makes us aware, when we grieve Him, that we have reason to repent and pray for
guidance. Being in the presence of fellow Christians and the church provides
encouragement and support when we need it and even when we, on our own, may
be unaware of a choice poorly made.
Of course, the most devastating and calamitous decision would be to reject the
gospel of Jesus Christ, a decision that would literally be eternally damning!
The greatest provision is the Gospel message of forgiveness, atonement and
love that asks us to accept the One who died on the cross to make us righteous
through His blood and acceptable to God. It was always part of the plan. We are
created beings blessed by the love and will of our holy God.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
The cartoon on your shoulder
Remember (I'm dating myself, here) the cartoons where a person about to make a decision
had two little characters on his shoulder? One was a tiny angel with halo; the other was a tiny
demon complete with pitchfork! Kinda cute..... maybe not.
The understanding of right and wrong seems to be inate; we have a conscience provided by
our creator in whose images we have been created. I can remember feeling guilty at a very
early age! Now some ignore this moral thermometer; there are some who are labeled a sociopath,
someone who either does not know right from wrong or who chooses to ignore the difference.
But, sociopaths are the exception. So if we know what's right and wrong......?
Well, that little devil on your shoulder is very very powerful! He is the personification of sin and
he is cunning, wise, knows us all too well and is quick to provide rationalization when we let
him lead us astray. The Bible talks about putting on the full armor of God. That armor is
specifically designed to help us fend off the sinful nature that is within all of us. We need all
the help we can get because the "pull" of sin is a substantial enemy. We can believe that we are
strong, that we can make the right decisions, that we can remember the cost Jesus paid on the
tree to provide atonement for our sins... and yet, it seems that even that cannot erase the temptation
to fall back, to sin and to disappoint.
Not so easy to flick that little demon off of our shoulder, is it? Go ahead, put on that armor and
fill your heart with the determination to do what is right. That and prayers to God will help make
this battle a bit more even.
Flick!!!
had two little characters on his shoulder? One was a tiny angel with halo; the other was a tiny
demon complete with pitchfork! Kinda cute..... maybe not.
The understanding of right and wrong seems to be inate; we have a conscience provided by
our creator in whose images we have been created. I can remember feeling guilty at a very
early age! Now some ignore this moral thermometer; there are some who are labeled a sociopath,
someone who either does not know right from wrong or who chooses to ignore the difference.
But, sociopaths are the exception. So if we know what's right and wrong......?
Well, that little devil on your shoulder is very very powerful! He is the personification of sin and
he is cunning, wise, knows us all too well and is quick to provide rationalization when we let
him lead us astray. The Bible talks about putting on the full armor of God. That armor is
specifically designed to help us fend off the sinful nature that is within all of us. We need all
the help we can get because the "pull" of sin is a substantial enemy. We can believe that we are
strong, that we can make the right decisions, that we can remember the cost Jesus paid on the
tree to provide atonement for our sins... and yet, it seems that even that cannot erase the temptation
to fall back, to sin and to disappoint.
Not so easy to flick that little demon off of our shoulder, is it? Go ahead, put on that armor and
fill your heart with the determination to do what is right. That and prayers to God will help make
this battle a bit more even.
Flick!!!
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