Posted in Blood, Forgiveness, Jesus | Tagged Forgiveness, Jesus, White a snow |
Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.” Matthew 23:27.
He meant they appeared to be clean on the outside, but inside they were nothing but a grave, full of the bones and carcases of dead men. Jesus was getting at the issue of holiness. Holiness is not outward compliance with rules and regulations . . . that is the definition of legalism.
Holiness is a heart transformed, desiring to go God’s way. For the truly holy man or woman, no outward rules are required. The desire to please God, to obey God, to maintain fellowship with God will keep him or her from evil. The Christian has very few outward restraints on his or her conduct. The restraint is borne out of relationship with God.
May your heart be transformed so that you require no outward rules to make or keep you holy, but only a desire to please the heart of the Father, a love for the Son and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Posted in Attributes, Bible, God, Holiness, Holy, Legalism, Walking with God | Tagged Bible, God, Holiness, New Testament, Relationship with God |
The expression “born of the Spirit” is used by the Apostle John in Chapter 3 of his gospel. Being born of the Spirit means to become a new creation by the spiritual washing or purification of the soul, by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God at Salvation.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 says, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”
As a result:
- What was before (the old life) is gone
- The past does not control the future
- All things have become new (they are not what they were)
- All things are now of God (God is ruling my life, so everything is subject to Him)
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Posted in Bible, Bible Basics, Born of the Spirit, Devotional, God, salvation | Tagged Born of the Spirit, God, Holy Spirit, New Creation, salvation |
One of the most anticipated and exciting times in a new parent’s life is when his or her child hints at walking. Even before it is close to being a reality, the parent will stand the baby up on his wobbly legs and encourage him to take a step.
So it is with God. Like the parent of the child learning to walk who doesn’t condemn the child when he fails to walk the first time up or falls after only a few steps, God is focused on our standing and not our falling. He is most concerned with our progress and not bogged down with our failures, our fits and starts, our do-overs.
For our failures, which will surely come and perhaps more often than we’d like, God has provided the blood of Jesus.
God has also given us tools, weapons to help us stand. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:13.
Posted in Bible, God, In times of difficulty, Jesus, Relationship with God, Walking with God | Tagged falling, God's interest in our spiritual progress, God's view of our failures, Standing, Walking with God |
As with everything worth conquering, fear is a worthy adversary. Fear can be rational like when you fear for your life when driving in a snow storm and your car makes a 180 degrees turn, so you are facing oncoming traffic with just as little traction as you.
Or fear can be irrational, totally disproportionate to age, experience, or actual conditions. Irrational fear is more crippling. It keeps one from starting or finishing, from forgiving or leaving, from loving or risking, from living or dying (to self).
Joshua gives great encouragement, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Whew . . . the LORD your God is with you wherever you go?!! Problem solved. Fear banished . . . for now.
Posted in Bible, Faithful Companion, Fear, Friend, God, Joshua, Old Testament, Relationship with God, the LORD, Walking with God | Tagged Battling fear, fear, Irrational fear, Joshua, Joshua1:9, Rational fear |
We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 1 John 5:18
It is much preferable to read about what God had done for me, what God is doing for me and what God will do for me. My part doesn’t seem as interesting, so when I come across a verse like 1 John 5:18, it begs the question: “How do I keep myself?” The following are some ideas:
- We need to submit or if you prefer, surrender ourselves to the will of God (as clearly stated in His Word)
- We need to know what the scriptures say about where our help and hope lies
- We need to be committed to worshiping God for who He is
- We need to be committed to serving Him only (e.g. we need to be about the LORD’s business)
Posted in 1 John, Bible, Books of the Bible, Knowing God, New Testament, Relationship with God, Surrender, Walking with God, worship | Tagged 1 John 5, born of God, Dependence on God, Keeping myself, Relationship with God, surrender to God, Walking with God |
The idea that we need to repent is not new. In the Old Testament, God speaking through the prophets, called the people of Israel to repent. Jeremiah 25:5; Ezekiel 14:6, 18:3 After 400 years of silence, John the Baptist came telling people, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Matthew 3:2 From the beginning of His ministry, Jesus preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17 Jesus was emphatic about the fate of one who failed to repent. “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. ” Luke 13:3 and 5 In time, this became Peter’s message also. Acts 2:38
What does “repent” really mean? Is it the same as saying sorry? Is it the same as asking for forgiveness? Repent has elements of both being sorry and asking for forgiveness, but it is more.
Repentance:
- Requires you change your mind about your sin
- Requires you change your direction (turn in the opposite direction from the sin in which you were engage)
- Requires you take sides with God against yourself about your sin
- Requires you obey when Jesus says, “turn to me”
Posted in Bible, Repentance | Tagged Bible, Repent, Repentance | 2 Comments »
I asked for strength that I might achieve–
He made me weak that I might obey.
I asked for health that I might do greater things–
I was given grace that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy–
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men–
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life–
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I received nothing that I asked for,
All that I hoped for.
My prayer was answered.
–Author unknown
Posted in Prayer, Uncategorized | Tagged poem, Poem on Prayer, Prayer |
[from Toward Jerusalem by Amy Carmichael]
Hast thou no scar? No hidden scar on foot, or side or hand? I hear thee sung as might in the land; I hear them hail thy bright, ascendant star. Hast thou no scar? Hast thou no wound? Yet I was wounded by the archers; spent, Leaned Me against a tree to die; and rent By ravening beast that compassed Me, I swooned. Hast thou no wound. No wound? No scar? Yet, as the Master shall the servant be, And pierced are the feet that follow Me. But thine are whole; can he have followed far Who has no wound nor scar?Posted in Amy Carmichael, Bible, God, Jesus | Tagged Amy Carmichael, Jesus, poem, Scars, Toward Jerusalem, Wounds |
Rooted and Grounded 