Year: 2015

We can’t fool God

My reaction shows my attitude

Genesis 4:6-7 NLT
“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

PERSONAL COMMENTARY
———————————————

If we call ourselves Christians, how do we react when we are made aware of something that we are doing that is wrong?

Do we appreciate the correction/advice, or do we become angry that it has been uncovered?

The attitude that we have in response gives us perspective on the direction that we are headed. If we are headed towards Christ in repentance, we should see the light being shined on those parts of our lives that need correction and improvement as a helpful guide to point out opportunities for improvement.

If we are not interested in repentance and want to sit comfortably where we are without having to make any changes, we will see the light being shined on those areas that need improvement as a hassle/obstacle/limitation/restriction – as we continue to try to scramble to hide those things in the darkness, avoiding redeeming change throughout our lives.

Our attitude in response to correction, in response to discipline, in response to challenges – that response is an indicator of either a healthy attitude of growth and improvement, or an unhealthy attitude of guilt, shame, lack of belief, or denial.

No, we are not yet perfected. But if we aren’t being perfected, have we even put ourselves into the potters hands to be reformed?

So, now that I am admitting to myself that I need to improve my attitude, how do I change my attitude? No amount of our own work or effort changes our attitude. If we have a bad attitude, we don’t make it go away by doing more good works or practicing our religion harder, no.

Prayer, time in the Word, praise and worship, fellowship with other believers – these things shouldn’t be religious practice. No, they should stir the Holy Spirit within a believer, they should motivate us. And when the Holy Spirit is stirred and active, that is when the changes inside occur that strengthen us and teach us and prepare us for the opportunities ahead.

We change our attitude by understanding and accepting the truth of our situation and circumstance. Because once we realize and believe that we are condemned without Christ, but we are freed by our faith, then how can our grattitude for this Grace – God’s mercy and forgiveness and love – not extend and cover us in the peace that passes understanding?

And if we have this peace, and we have this faith that He is teaching and guiding us, won’t we seek to repent and change our lives for the better? And won’t we see correction and discipline as a step ladder to help us reach our lofty goals, instead of a stumbling block keeping us from remaining in darkness?

And let’s not let it stop as just good intentions, let’s change.

Help me be open to encouragement and correction from others, and to seek diligently the trustworthy correction and guidance from the Word of God.

Let the light shine on those things in my life that need correction, so that I can make positive changes and continue growing. If we say that we are children of the light, let us be drawn closer and closer to the light.

Let the imposters be proven by their running away from the light, so they might understand themselves to be blind and naked in the darkness – so they might seize the opportunity to receive this salvation of Christ, and believe, and receive this baptism of the Holy Spirit, of Christin us, and draw near to the light in a renewed life of repentance.

Let’s grow in our faith and in the changes and redemption in our lives as we are refined and perfected by this Holy Spirit in us. It is this renewed relationship with God, this drawing close to His Spirit, that is both our blessing and the proof of our faith.

Come to the Party!

Matthew 22:14 NLT
“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

PERSONAL COMMENTARY
———————————————

I’m inviting you to the greatest wedding of all times, friend. You officially have been invited to the party! Please, come as my guest.

This is a celebration of Jesus Christ, who is God come in the flesh, to save the world from the condemnation that it is under.

Some of you might chuckle to yourselves, thinking, “Let’s see what this nut is trying to sell us now. ” – because I know many of my friends are not professing Christians, and I know many professing Christians who I couldn’t make out as any different in a lineup beside the lives of the worldly. (If I am stepping on toes – Sorry, I’m just being honest, not calling anyone out in particular.)

So the first question is, will you come to the party, or will you just throw away your invitation? Before you admit that you are ready to throw away your invitation as worthless nonsense, I ask you for one simple favor as a friend. Before you decide to throw away this invitation as nonsense, I ask you to read what amounts to 26 pages in my Bible – the book of John in the New Testament. If you don’t have a Bible, message me and I will buy you one and have it shipped directly to your house – all on my dime.

Now, for those that say yes, I have my invitation, I will be there, I wouldn’t miss it for the world. My question is, are you dressed for the wedding? Are you ready? Or do you think that just having the invitation in your hand is all you need?

If we believe that this is the wedding event of the ages, then shouldn’t we make sure that we have our wedding attire squared away and ready to go? Or do we think that we are going to just blend in with the crowd and go unnoticed if we aren’t prepared? Or do we think that we are such an honored guest because our family is good friends with the groom, we’ve done so much work for the groom’s family in the past, etc – and that our seat will surely be up near the front?

Matthew 22:1-14 NLT
Jesus also told them other parables. He said, “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come! “So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’ But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.
“The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.
“But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply. Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

I love you friend. Let’s examine ourselves and ask if we are called and chosen? Are we prepared?

You have been handed the invitation, friend. Come join the party.

Refined by Fire

Luke 6:39-42
He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY
——————–

Brothers and Sisters, Let’s know that we are saved, but not forget that we are undeserving. Because it is this perspective that gives us the right attitude towards our neighbors and towards our brothers and sisters.

If we remember that we are undeserving, how much harder is it for us to judge others for falling into the same tricks and traps that we have fallen into ourselves? And even if we are foolish enough to think that we are walking upright and without error today, who can say that we have not made the same mistakes ourselves in the past. We recognize the specks in others because we are familiar with the logs in our own lives. We know how to spot fault in others because it is first a warning to us to examine our own lives and understand and fix where we fall short. If I see something in another person that convicts me strongly, do I see my own faults reflected in them?

So yes, let’s know the difference between good and evil. Let’s cling to a life of repentance, because if we are blind with a log in our own eye – won’t our neighbor with a speck be familiar with and recognize the log in our life also? And how can we be a guide or a help to anyone if we are blind ourselves – focusing on removing specks when we should be asking for the refining fires to burn the logs in our own lives.

I share because there is a fire in me burning these logs. I spent my life stacking up logs for a great fire, enjoying and seeking the pleasures of life’s senses and physical indulgences, not believing that a fire would come to destroy it all. I was not fearful of the fire and punishment of the after, because even though I knew the word Christian, I didn’t believe it to be true in my heart. I knew religion from childhood familiarity, but we are not called to religious practice, we are called to faithful belief, repentance, and service.

Now I am thankful that these logs are being burned and refined before the opportunity is gone. Because this is the evidence and proof to me that I am His and that He cares enough about me to bless me with these refining fires, trials, sufferings, blessings, and these fruits of the Holy Spirit. Because the fruits of His labor, His work that is done in us and through us – oh, those are the fruits that have flavor that last and do not fade away.

If your logs are not burning and being refined today, please know that I share this in love – Your logs WILL BURN one day.

The only question is will they be burning today as a REFINING FIRE that turns them into treasure that:
– changes your life and your direction to grow
– breaks down your hardness of heart
– breaks the chains of that sin that you are trapped in
– frees you from that voice of guilt and shame that tortures you

Or, will they not be set ablaze until only the time for the FIRE OF JUDGEMENT AND SEPARATION remains, once you have no more opportunity to accept and receive this refining change in your life?

I love you, friend.

Do you know?

You hear the voice calling you. You know that He is drawing you near. You don’t have to run away and hide from it any longer. The voice is the voice of the Good Shepherd. He is calling you home to the green pastures and renewed life of purpose that He has for you. See past my words that sound religious and that are not strong enough to fully describe His true nature and glory. Instead open your eyes to see His touch and your ears to hear His voice in your life today.

I love you, friend. But I would much rather have you as a brother or sister in Christ that is redeemed and renewed, than see a neighbor on the way to a life of disaster and trap after trap.

Do you know Jesus Christ today as your Savior? Even as your way and as the light for your steps today? If you don’t friend, it is not too late for change in your life.

It isn’t where we are, but it is where we are headed. No matter how high your logs are stacked, He can set them ablaze today, and refine your life into a blessing and an honor, that will touch and serve those around you, with the love that they also need so dearly in their lives.

I don’t invite you to a religion, friends. I invite you to accept the Love of Jesus Christ into your lives.

Peace be with you and guide you and bless you today, brother and sister. You hear the voice. Join me and let’s rejoice together!