Acts 5:15
The sick, lame, and demon possessed were brought out on the street so that perchance even the very shadow of Peter passing by may fall on them and they would be healed. Then what? What were these people looking for? The immediate need would seem to be that of being healed. It appears that it was the driving reason they came to the streets. How many of them left after being healed and never gave God another thought? I think about the increased turn out in church attendance immediately after 9/11 and how people sought answers from God. The attendance didn't last long, and soon all was back to normal. They came seeking comfort, got what they were looking for and didn't get what they needed.
What am I seeking? What is it that draws me? What is my motivation and what will happen when / if I get it? God saved me from eternal destruction in the lake of fire. It was completely unexpectedly. From that point on I have sought something. What is it? I want to be the disciple that leaned on His breast. I want to have His power working through my and in my life. Really? Always? Not always. Several times I want the temporal things of this world. God is so patient with me and merciful to me though, that He always brings me back. How hard can things get? Hard enough that God will have to work mightily to take me through and He alone will get the glory for it. Hard enough that I will have cause for great rejoicing when God reaches forth His hand and accomplishes His purpose. If I'm to see that happen, I must be with Him regardless of what happens, or what I think might happen (Jn. 11:7-16; 12:26).
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Where was God?
Num. 20:21
Wasn't God leading Israel visibly by a pillar of cloud in the day and a pillar fire at night? Didn't He lead them to the borders of Edom? Why, then did Moses even ask for permission to pass through? Hey, if God's leading and I'm following who is Edom to stand in the way? Who would dare to defy God? Plenty of people as it turns out. In this case, a whole army, a whole nation. Even as it almost is today in America and every nation on earth.
God will not force His will on anyone. He will one day judge all the earth for the things done in the body, but He won't force anyone to submit to His will. In judgment there is no choice. We are not to walk around demanding that people allow us to do this thing or that thing. We are to expect no permission and assume no rights.
God brought Israel to Edom's borders. Moses asked for permission to enter and pass through promising not to steal or cause harm. It was God's will for Moses to ask. He had to ask. He may not of wanted to, but it was God's will. Why won't we ask? It is God's will. I mean why don't we ask before turning away without even making an attempt to enter? It's just a question: why not ask it? Maybe that person really does want to know for certain how they can escape the torments of eternity in the lake of fire and be able, rather to live for all eternity with a loving Father? Ask! Ask! Ask! The next person you meet is the border of Edom: ASK!
So many times we get into arguments over the Truth, the Way, and the Life. We develop the position that the person we're talking to MUST accept Jesus Christ and try to force our will on them. Jesus said shake the dust off our feet and move on (Matt. 10:14). At the point that they make it clear, as Edom did when they came out against Israel, we should be wise enough to leave at least that conversation alone. God may bring you back another day, as he did with my dad, to try again. And try again!
Wasn't God leading Israel visibly by a pillar of cloud in the day and a pillar fire at night? Didn't He lead them to the borders of Edom? Why, then did Moses even ask for permission to pass through? Hey, if God's leading and I'm following who is Edom to stand in the way? Who would dare to defy God? Plenty of people as it turns out. In this case, a whole army, a whole nation. Even as it almost is today in America and every nation on earth.
God will not force His will on anyone. He will one day judge all the earth for the things done in the body, but He won't force anyone to submit to His will. In judgment there is no choice. We are not to walk around demanding that people allow us to do this thing or that thing. We are to expect no permission and assume no rights.
God brought Israel to Edom's borders. Moses asked for permission to enter and pass through promising not to steal or cause harm. It was God's will for Moses to ask. He had to ask. He may not of wanted to, but it was God's will. Why won't we ask? It is God's will. I mean why don't we ask before turning away without even making an attempt to enter? It's just a question: why not ask it? Maybe that person really does want to know for certain how they can escape the torments of eternity in the lake of fire and be able, rather to live for all eternity with a loving Father? Ask! Ask! Ask! The next person you meet is the border of Edom: ASK!
So many times we get into arguments over the Truth, the Way, and the Life. We develop the position that the person we're talking to MUST accept Jesus Christ and try to force our will on them. Jesus said shake the dust off our feet and move on (Matt. 10:14). At the point that they make it clear, as Edom did when they came out against Israel, we should be wise enough to leave at least that conversation alone. God may bring you back another day, as he did with my dad, to try again. And try again!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Peace and Safety
John 11:8
I have a comfort zone. If I get outside of it I will do one of two things; either I will seek to return or seek to be comfortable where I am. The Jews sought on several occasions to return to Egypt. We read that and think about how foolish it is. Sometimes I need to go back and read the pages of my life. The place from which I come may not have been as bad as Egypt, but it can not be as good as where I am going, although I don't know where that is. The journey sometimes takes us through a wilderness; possibly even into the camp of the enemy. Will I seek to be comfortable there? I'm afraid so. What must I do to be comfortable? Deny Christ (Matt. 26:70-75). No matter how I slice it, that's the only alternative. Warning! 2 Tim. 2:12. I won't be denied a place in heaven, but there are other things I would like to not be denied. I am called to follow Christ. Where He goes, I must go or suffer loss. He's going to the camp of the enemy where danger and even death may lie. How can I do this? Be of the same mind as Christ, endure the cross by looking to the joy that is set before us (Heb. 12:2; Rom. 8:18). Jesus promised that the gates of hell will not prevail (Matt. 16:18). Gates won't come to me, I must go.
I have a comfort zone. If I get outside of it I will do one of two things; either I will seek to return or seek to be comfortable where I am. The Jews sought on several occasions to return to Egypt. We read that and think about how foolish it is. Sometimes I need to go back and read the pages of my life. The place from which I come may not have been as bad as Egypt, but it can not be as good as where I am going, although I don't know where that is. The journey sometimes takes us through a wilderness; possibly even into the camp of the enemy. Will I seek to be comfortable there? I'm afraid so. What must I do to be comfortable? Deny Christ (Matt. 26:70-75). No matter how I slice it, that's the only alternative. Warning! 2 Tim. 2:12. I won't be denied a place in heaven, but there are other things I would like to not be denied. I am called to follow Christ. Where He goes, I must go or suffer loss. He's going to the camp of the enemy where danger and even death may lie. How can I do this? Be of the same mind as Christ, endure the cross by looking to the joy that is set before us (Heb. 12:2; Rom. 8:18). Jesus promised that the gates of hell will not prevail (Matt. 16:18). Gates won't come to me, I must go.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Rebillious Fear
Numbers 14:9
Take the land. Go in and conquer. We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:37). Rebellion is to fail to do so. Trust the Lord - Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:31)! Failure to believe is failure to act. Why don't people believe and be saved? The fear they will lose what they have. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it (Matt. 10:39). What of fear? Fear comes where doubt enters. Do I doubt myself? Yes; and I should. Do I doubt God? Yes, and it results in my rebellion. As Eve chose whom she would believe, so to do I choose to believe other than God: to my shame. Perfect love casteth out all fear (1Jn 4:18).
Take the land. Go in and conquer. We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:37). Rebellion is to fail to do so. Trust the Lord - Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:31)! Failure to believe is failure to act. Why don't people believe and be saved? The fear they will lose what they have. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it (Matt. 10:39). What of fear? Fear comes where doubt enters. Do I doubt myself? Yes; and I should. Do I doubt God? Yes, and it results in my rebellion. As Eve chose whom she would believe, so to do I choose to believe other than God: to my shame. Perfect love casteth out all fear (1Jn 4:18).
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