war...the conflicts go on and on. Jesus said 'do not be alarmed..'(Mark13:7) War does not surprise Him. Neither does famine and earthquake.(vs.8) The conflicts and the devastations are global, common to all humanity… and we feel so powerless. But we are not. (continued in comment)
We can donate time, donate money to provide physical help, those things are important. “..if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” (Matt.10.42)
But the most pressing battles are spiritual. ‘What profit is it if you gain the whole world, and lose your own soul?’ (Mark 8:36)
'..though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.'(2Cor. 10:3) We have His power available to us. 'The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world...they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”(2Cor.10:4) We have a weapon that has no earthly match. ‘..take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.’(Eph 6:17)
His Word as recorded in our Bible is not just a bunch of ink and paper. It is our only weapon. Have you picked it up? Do you know what it is capable of doing? (Heb.4:12)
Friday, August 13, 2010
Blessed...
blessed...what do you think of? Got a mental list yet? House? Job? Cars? Stuff of all sorts.. or maybe health? Family? Friends? How about this...'Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, BECAUSE of the Son of Man.'(emphasis mine Luke 6:22) I've been there...i...t didn't seem like much of a blessing. Maybe we should examine our definition
Makarios=‘blessed’ in the original language of this passage. It's definition includes the concept of being approved by God and marked by a fullness from God, and it indicates the state of the believer in Christ. You see, the most valueable thing we can have, is His approval. Yet we are not capable of earning it, even when we make all sorts of resolutions about our conduct. If that were possible, the simple Ten Commandments would have done the trick.
So….where does that leave us? Lost…without His approval, that’s where. UNLE SS we get help. And we certainly need help….(especially when ‘men hate you and exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil…’ Amen ??)
Luke wasn’t saying that we are blessed BECAUSE we are hated and insulted….he says we are blessed by God in spite of it!! Blessed because we choose His way over our own or that of the culture around us. Who cares what anybody says when God gives His approval !!!??? Oh His standards are indeed high, but He helps us! ... See More
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him …… He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” 2Peter 1:4
You notice that this hinges on our knowledge of Him? And SO often, we have little or no knowledge, and even more often we have the WRONG knowledge. (my opinion…)
Who is He to you?
He has give promises. Do you know them?
Makarios=‘blessed’ in the original language of this passage. It's definition includes the concept of being approved by God and marked by a fullness from God, and it indicates the state of the believer in Christ. You see, the most valueable thing we can have, is His approval. Yet we are not capable of earning it, even when we make all sorts of resolutions about our conduct. If that were possible, the simple Ten Commandments would have done the trick.
So….where does that leave us? Lost…without His approval, that’s where. UNLE SS we get help. And we certainly need help….(especially when ‘men hate you and exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil…’ Amen ??)
Luke wasn’t saying that we are blessed BECAUSE we are hated and insulted….he says we are blessed by God in spite of it!! Blessed because we choose His way over our own or that of the culture around us. Who cares what anybody says when God gives His approval !!!??? Oh His standards are indeed high, but He helps us! ... See More
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him …… He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” 2Peter 1:4
You notice that this hinges on our knowledge of Him? And SO often, we have little or no knowledge, and even more often we have the WRONG knowledge. (my opinion…)
Who is He to you?
He has give promises. Do you know them?
Harmony...
harmony....I'm teaching my grand-daughter piano and voice. Yesterday's lesson included just a touch of the concept of harmony. God created harmony. He created the instrument we call 'voice'. In singing, we use our voices in different ways, creating harmonies that can stir every emotion God made in us.
Some voices sing the melody...the saprano, or lead. Some voices add other tones that harmonize, we call them alto, tenor, baritone, or bass.The lead may carry the melody, but it is not fully complete without the other parts.
The voice is an instrument, and we must learn our own particular voice, discover the function of it, identify it, explore its use...and train it. The voice that is regularly used becomes more capable and sure...able to produce sounds that were not possible before. It is more dependable, less likely to squeak out off key or crack and make you want to hide, never to sing again!!!
There is other harmony as well...the harmony of His Body, the church."the body is not made up of one part but of many'.(1Cor.12:14 ) Here to, we must learn and train....learn who we are in Him...learn what part of the melody is ours to sing..."they form one body...So it is with Christ." (1Cor.12:12)... See More
We must learn He has created in each of us, a part of the harmony...a place and purpose..'God arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be' (1Cor.12:18) He did not leave you out.
'There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord' (1Cor.12:5)
'Those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable" (1Cor.12:22)
You may not sing the lead...but the song is not complete without your voice
Some voices sing the melody...the saprano, or lead. Some voices add other tones that harmonize, we call them alto, tenor, baritone, or bass.The lead may carry the melody, but it is not fully complete without the other parts.
The voice is an instrument, and we must learn our own particular voice, discover the function of it, identify it, explore its use...and train it. The voice that is regularly used becomes more capable and sure...able to produce sounds that were not possible before. It is more dependable, less likely to squeak out off key or crack and make you want to hide, never to sing again!!!
There is other harmony as well...the harmony of His Body, the church."the body is not made up of one part but of many'.(1Cor.12:14 ) Here to, we must learn and train....learn who we are in Him...learn what part of the melody is ours to sing..."they form one body...So it is with Christ." (1Cor.12:12)... See More
We must learn He has created in each of us, a part of the harmony...a place and purpose..'God arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be' (1Cor.12:18) He did not leave you out.
'There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord' (1Cor.12:5)
'Those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable" (1Cor.12:22)
You may not sing the lead...but the song is not complete without your voice
Hear...
hear...at times, I get so tired of sounds. My ears are very sensitive, my mind processes every sound...sometimes yards away from me... I find myself hearing, though I am not listening. Sometimes, I'd like a switch to turn it off.
I wish I could hear like that with my spirit and my heart. Jesus often said 'He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.' (I can give you at least half a dozen verses for that if you want them.) He knows I have hears...but do I have hears 'to hear'...or have I switched that off? (Seems I have no problem switching off THAT hearing!)
Do I only hear what is comfortable and pleasant? Is my spiritual hearing as sensitive as my ears seem to be sometimes? Or does God have to speak really loud before I pay attention?
"And the Lord came and stood and called as at other times....'Samuel...Samuel...' and Samuel answered, Speak:for thy servant heareth."(1Sam.3:10) ... See More
'Connie....Connie...." When He speaks, I want to hear....the first time He calls.
I wish I could hear like that with my spirit and my heart. Jesus often said 'He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.' (I can give you at least half a dozen verses for that if you want them.) He knows I have hears...but do I have hears 'to hear'...or have I switched that off? (Seems I have no problem switching off THAT hearing!)
Do I only hear what is comfortable and pleasant? Is my spiritual hearing as sensitive as my ears seem to be sometimes? Or does God have to speak really loud before I pay attention?
"And the Lord came and stood and called as at other times....'Samuel...Samuel...' and Samuel answered, Speak:for thy servant heareth."(1Sam.3:10) ... See More
'Connie....Connie...." When He speaks, I want to hear....the first time He calls.
Answers...
answers...I don't have them all. What I do have is an inside scoop to THE Answer Man.('search the scriptures....they testify of Me.' John5:39) Sometimes I get answers immediately. Some I'm still waiting on. Sometimes I get a 'yes'....sometimes a clear 'no'.
There is nothing special about me, you have the same opportunity to this Answer Man. But following Christ must really be about following HIM...seeking His FACE, not just the blessings of His Hand. Oh, don't think I've got this down pat...I'm a work in progress. But I am confident that He will continue His work in me till it is completed.(James1:4... See More) 'Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked,"What do you want?"...'(John 1:38) So...what is it you want from Jesus. Do you seek His kingdom?... or yours? His glory?....or yours? Be honest with yourself. He knows the truth of it anyway...but do you ? Lord Jesus, give us sight.
There is nothing special about me, you have the same opportunity to this Answer Man. But following Christ must really be about following HIM...seeking His FACE, not just the blessings of His Hand. Oh, don't think I've got this down pat...I'm a work in progress. But I am confident that He will continue His work in me till it is completed.(James1:4... See More) 'Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked,"What do you want?"...'(John 1:38) So...what is it you want from Jesus. Do you seek His kingdom?... or yours? His glory?....or yours? Be honest with yourself. He knows the truth of it anyway...but do you ? Lord Jesus, give us sight.
Friends..
friends...Our culture calls lots of things friendship. But having a true friend is a treasure, being one is not easy. It is a relationship and requires commitment and work. On Facebook, we collect friends and number them. People 'request' to be your friend, and we have the option of accepting or rejecting. I rejected... a request last night, and it has made me wonder if I do that in 'real life'.(continued in comment)
"Every man is a friend to him that gives gifts"(Prov.19:6) Do I look for friendship only from those who have something to offer me in return? When it's beneficial for ME? When I am comfortable with it? Jesus Himself calls us friend. If we look for benefits from friendship, He is THE ONE. But it's a relationship and requires commitment and work. "... See MoreYou are my friends when you do the things I command you"(John 15:14MSG) That would be a tall order without His grace, without being connected to Him, for He is the PowerSource. "..apart from Me, you can do nothing"(John 15:5) Lord help us be good friends to each other.
"Every man is a friend to him that gives gifts"(Prov.19:6) Do I look for friendship only from those who have something to offer me in return? When it's beneficial for ME? When I am comfortable with it? Jesus Himself calls us friend. If we look for benefits from friendship, He is THE ONE. But it's a relationship and requires commitment and work. "... See MoreYou are my friends when you do the things I command you"(John 15:14MSG) That would be a tall order without His grace, without being connected to Him, for He is the PowerSource. "..apart from Me, you can do nothing"(John 15:5) Lord help us be good friends to each other.
Alarm...
alarm..woke up this morning to our smoke detector going off. When that sounds, take heed...your house may be on fire. Relax...we didn't have a fire, just need new batteries. But we got up and checked the house. What alarms do I ignore? And what do I suffer that would be avoided if I'd just heed the warning?
In scripture, Jesus has issued a 'take heed...' many times. Luke 17:3 issues a 'take heed' about forgiveness. I am to recognize sin and confront it, but in Mark 4:24 He addresses how I measure and reminds me of His advice about the mote in my brother's eye and the beam in mine. (Matt.7:3) I could list dozens.
But even if we could hear all the ... See Morealarms, even if we respond to every threat, we can never defeat sin and death. We can not fix the problem of humanity. But we can live without feeling alarm. "The peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus."(Phil.4:7) Yes, I take that personally. My heart and mind feels no alarm.
(I'm hearing the old hymn 'Living By Faith' in my head....)
In scripture, Jesus has issued a 'take heed...' many times. Luke 17:3 issues a 'take heed' about forgiveness. I am to recognize sin and confront it, but in Mark 4:24 He addresses how I measure and reminds me of His advice about the mote in my brother's eye and the beam in mine. (Matt.7:3) I could list dozens.
But even if we could hear all the ... See Morealarms, even if we respond to every threat, we can never defeat sin and death. We can not fix the problem of humanity. But we can live without feeling alarm. "The peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus."(Phil.4:7) Yes, I take that personally. My heart and mind feels no alarm.
(I'm hearing the old hymn 'Living By Faith' in my head....)
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