Matthew 7:21-23
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
In marriage, a woman may take on her husband's name, but this does not prove her love for him. This only says, "I want the world to see that I am a bride. I wear my ring, I have his name."
A name does not prove a love. Love must be sincere, cultivated both inside and out. This is the importance of relationship, it is the cultivation of this love.
Shall we then say this: religion is the outward, corporate gathering as a community inspired by inward, personal cultivation.
Cultivate your life with Christ as an individual, share that life as a community.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Unholy Hurt
“The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”- Romans 13:9-10
Everything that was in me when I logged on was/is wrong. Ironic that I was going to be spiteful, immature and vindictive-all in talking about how I'm not vindictive, spiteful, but sadly immature.
I'm hurt, but I will tell you I've no right to it. It will be gone soon. The Holy Spirit is most gracious in that it shows us when we're wrong. This is inconvenient to the flesh, but beneficial to the spirit. God is so kind that He provides us with the opportunity to make right ourselves for him, in alignment with him. When we seek God we seek a perfect being, THE perfect being. Stand next to perfection and you see your own flaws, HIS light exposes YOUR darkness.
"Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." Hurt inhibits our ability to love, it stands in between us and our neighbor. It becomes a wall where love should be our tether. It inhibits us, it destroys us.
No man has any right to be offended, whether the world find it just or not. Call this a rant against myself, or call it a confession. Just don't assume that you know what I'm talking about when I talk about being hurt-I'm not saying this to be rude, but generally people get this wrong.
I'm not satisfied with this blog, but then again its here so I can say what I want.
Everything that was in me when I logged on was/is wrong. Ironic that I was going to be spiteful, immature and vindictive-all in talking about how I'm not vindictive, spiteful, but sadly immature.
I'm hurt, but I will tell you I've no right to it. It will be gone soon. The Holy Spirit is most gracious in that it shows us when we're wrong. This is inconvenient to the flesh, but beneficial to the spirit. God is so kind that He provides us with the opportunity to make right ourselves for him, in alignment with him. When we seek God we seek a perfect being, THE perfect being. Stand next to perfection and you see your own flaws, HIS light exposes YOUR darkness.
"Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." Hurt inhibits our ability to love, it stands in between us and our neighbor. It becomes a wall where love should be our tether. It inhibits us, it destroys us.
No man has any right to be offended, whether the world find it just or not. Call this a rant against myself, or call it a confession. Just don't assume that you know what I'm talking about when I talk about being hurt-I'm not saying this to be rude, but generally people get this wrong.
I'm not satisfied with this blog, but then again its here so I can say what I want.
Monday, February 1, 2010
February 1st, 2010
"It is a travesty to say that Jesus Christ travailed in Redemption to make me a saint. Jesus Christ travailed in Redemption to redeem the whole world . . ." -Oswald Chambers
I've been rolling the same thought over in my head for days now, "Have we forgotten that all have been called?" We struggle too much with condemning others, we judge them, but Bonhoeffer would say that we have usurped God's jurisdiction when we do. Those which do not pursue God with unfailed passion have not made themselves enemies of the Cross, how could they when it is through the cross that they have been called friends. All are sheep, though many fall from the fold. (Matthew 18:11-13)
Let's put this another way: all are called, though few seek the Master's voice. Shepherds of old knew their sheep and their sheep knew them. It would be selfishness to think that I am the only one that hears the Shepherd's voice. Though their are few that recognize his voice and even fewer that seek his face, all who hear about him hear his voice.
Christ died that the whole world be redeemed, the tragedy is that most will not take up this redemption. They will not take up that easier yoke (Matthew 11:30).
1 Corinthians 1:17 (New International Version)
17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
My calling is to preach the gospel, that is the calling of ALL Christians. First we are called to Redemption's side, but then, by the voice of that same Redeemer, we are called to preach. We must be both doers and speakers of the Word. If our actions are not matched by our words then is that life which seems so much worth living worth sharing? Men and women see your actions, they'll see love but if they do not hear about the Gospel then they'll never know WHY you love, why your cup is overflowing with the love of God. If your words are not matched by your actions, then are they so shallow and worthless that not even their speaker would employ them?
This is the wonderful nature of the Gospel, its compelling. When we are exposed to it, we are forced to make a decision, there is no building block system where we gather some outside opinions then deliberate for a time. NO! We decide what we think of it when we meet it. Sadly many choose to disregard it, even those that take kindly to it don't always become doers of the Word, but merely shallow hearted agree-ers. When we accept the Gospel and the call to salvation, to servitude, and put it to work in our lives we are automatically built into a new life. This life is too beautiful to not share. Why not just live like the heathen until you die? Because you don't understand the meaning of this Redemption, not if you're asking that question. True redemption is encountering true Truth (John 14:6). If someone rejects this initial introduction (which is common) there is still hope. You cannot scoff Truth and never expect to see it again. If you believe that you have successfully ignored Reality then you have, of course, entered into the unreal, imaginary life. Instead of accepting the God of love, the God that IS love (I John 4:8), you have made a dark and dismal god of whatever falsehood that you've tried to build into reality. You build your own casket, you lay down in it, and you begin to bury yourself.
I'm here to tell you that the God of redemption raises people from the dead, brings them out of darkness and into the light. There is life beyond a worthless casket, there is a kingdom of Glory that God reigns over. He has called us Sons, He has called us Daughters, He has called.
Recognize his voice, seek his face. Salvation awaits.
I've been rolling the same thought over in my head for days now, "Have we forgotten that all have been called?" We struggle too much with condemning others, we judge them, but Bonhoeffer would say that we have usurped God's jurisdiction when we do. Those which do not pursue God with unfailed passion have not made themselves enemies of the Cross, how could they when it is through the cross that they have been called friends. All are sheep, though many fall from the fold. (Matthew 18:11-13)
Let's put this another way: all are called, though few seek the Master's voice. Shepherds of old knew their sheep and their sheep knew them. It would be selfishness to think that I am the only one that hears the Shepherd's voice. Though their are few that recognize his voice and even fewer that seek his face, all who hear about him hear his voice.
Christ died that the whole world be redeemed, the tragedy is that most will not take up this redemption. They will not take up that easier yoke (Matthew 11:30).
1 Corinthians 1:17 (New International Version)
17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
My calling is to preach the gospel, that is the calling of ALL Christians. First we are called to Redemption's side, but then, by the voice of that same Redeemer, we are called to preach. We must be both doers and speakers of the Word. If our actions are not matched by our words then is that life which seems so much worth living worth sharing? Men and women see your actions, they'll see love but if they do not hear about the Gospel then they'll never know WHY you love, why your cup is overflowing with the love of God. If your words are not matched by your actions, then are they so shallow and worthless that not even their speaker would employ them?
This is the wonderful nature of the Gospel, its compelling. When we are exposed to it, we are forced to make a decision, there is no building block system where we gather some outside opinions then deliberate for a time. NO! We decide what we think of it when we meet it. Sadly many choose to disregard it, even those that take kindly to it don't always become doers of the Word, but merely shallow hearted agree-ers. When we accept the Gospel and the call to salvation, to servitude, and put it to work in our lives we are automatically built into a new life. This life is too beautiful to not share. Why not just live like the heathen until you die? Because you don't understand the meaning of this Redemption, not if you're asking that question. True redemption is encountering true Truth (John 14:6). If someone rejects this initial introduction (which is common) there is still hope. You cannot scoff Truth and never expect to see it again. If you believe that you have successfully ignored Reality then you have, of course, entered into the unreal, imaginary life. Instead of accepting the God of love, the God that IS love (I John 4:8), you have made a dark and dismal god of whatever falsehood that you've tried to build into reality. You build your own casket, you lay down in it, and you begin to bury yourself.
I'm here to tell you that the God of redemption raises people from the dead, brings them out of darkness and into the light. There is life beyond a worthless casket, there is a kingdom of Glory that God reigns over. He has called us Sons, He has called us Daughters, He has called.
Recognize his voice, seek his face. Salvation awaits.
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